Somewhere in Belgium a motorcycle despatch rider delivers documents on his trusty Douglas.
Flat twin in pristine condition dated as 1914. It is a 500cc flat twin with about 3 1/2 ponies. Douglas provided 70,000 machines for the Great War many which probably ended up to their handlebars in mud.
Apart from yer lid, and yer gloves, …and yer jacket, there’s nowt more important for chewing away miles than a good pair of boots. Good firm leather, rugged soles, over-the-ankle protection and if course a no-nonsense look.
A high laced pair of Doc Martens would always look the part. Black or Tan sir? Take your pick!
Simple zip-up and buckle police jobs can get you noticed was a serious biker too.
Sleek, well heeled items with a sock-like fit built on an Italian last would suit a Bonneville owner or Daytona hooligan alike. Or just go the whole hog and dress up the pair of engineers boots with a Union Jack and logo.
Gotta look the part when hoofing along to Goodwood. Calf-length riding footwear, stiff canvas trousers, Tweed (Kevlar lined mind you) and a hefty divers watch – Doxa or Seiko.
Motorcycle – Tico & the Triumphs: http://youtu.be/S-4d3NxqrZU
Paul Simon, who is 73 today wrote this catchy tune in ’61 with the band Tico & the Triumphs. Love the film clip that goes with it.
He grew up near Duluth MN and headed out on the road picking up songs and singin’ heading out to New York. This weekend we’re staying on the North Shore of Lake Superior where the northern stretches of HWY61 hugs the coastline.
Must come back to ride it on a motorcycle. Wearing a t-shirt like Dylan.
Wish I had this when starting my Bonnie restoration four years ago. Its a nicely completed Oil in Frame Street Tracker. Spare details and clean lines. Single carb too for cease of tuning.
For this weeks Girl-Friday we have a Nubian Nefertiti taking to the dunes on a Triumph 550 ND Side Valve Single. Camel drivers look on on envy.
…the sun never set!
Distinguished Gentlemans Chicago 2014:
http://youtu.be/wWzZq_8tQGY
A YouTube video of the recent DGR with a couple of action shots of GeordieBiker rorting by…
Nope, it’s not a tire burnout. Though a steroid made Speed Triple is good at that…
and no, it ain’t a pack of Marlboro…
I have a good bellow of white smoke from the Bonnie when kicked over and started from cold. A little burning oil and condensation, but it revs strong. It needs a good run. Light anyone?
A mastermind of engine technology. Mr Turner stands with the marvel of the vertical twin used for nigh- on fifty years. Here’s the birth of a child of the British motorcycle industry: its first iteration a 500cc Speed Twin.
Looks good now; it must have looked outstanding back then. The modern day Bonneville T100 takes a serious visual note from this very engine.
Over 60 years ago on October 5th one Mr Turner and a couple of colleagues took factory Triumph Terriers on a jaunt from Lands End to John O’Groats. Retold in the book “Traveling with Mr Turner”.
Of course Edward Turner was the father of The Speed Twin, the Thunderbird and their smaller brethren: the aforementioned Terrier and doughty Tiger Cub.
The Bonnie has been suffering from a little wet-sumping. That’s motorcycle incontinence to the general public; with this Triumph typically when a mote of debris has been sucked up from the scavenger into the oil pump. Itself a pair of pistons driven from an eccentric pin off the inlet camshaft.
Sprung ball bearings prevent backflow but can be jammed open with said unwanted grunge. Access and disassembly is straight forward under timing cover.
Buttoned-up, kicked over and timing sweetened. Took the old gal around the block and all seems good.
Angry Toy: Black brick biker (*assembly required).
I learned a lit about how things are built using the basic blocks of LEGO. These days there are countless mouldings to allow anything to be made. Early Technic sets started the idea of gears, axles, riveted beams and the like.
An early motorbike kit had the option of building a combination or chopper, both with working piston engine and chain drive.
I loved the assembly drawings.
Classic looks for a classic bike.
Fifties gal on a Thunderbird Looking for a freshly poured superslab parallel to old Route 66.
European vintage esoterica, and a Honda Dream. As well a a healthy dose of Triumphs (oddly no Norton’s) these interesting models were risen (not hidden) at the weekends event. The Paul Smart Ducati, though a modern classic, is sugar to the eyes; a sunshine toned Gilera like a wind-up toy; the Teutonic cream framed Beemer; and the nicest peoples favorite in tomato red round off these world beating motos.
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