Once the largest motorcycle manufacturer in France Motobécane was crucial to Gallic all two-wheeled transport for over half a century. Literally “motorized” “bike” its logo is quite striking with the capital “M” and facing Mercurial or Hermes heads. I saw this on a locked up bicycle today and had to capture as part of my ongoing collection of M’s (my wife’s name begins in this strong symmetrical letter).
By mid-week sometimes I don’t know if I’m coming or going: this chap certainly does though! Reading a motorcycling periodical at the same time too. Hope he doesn’t hit that hump!
“Protective headgear sir?” “A Bowler Sir! It’s the hat that won The West would you know!”
Assembled! After a few pairs of forks from past rebuilds under my belt; familiarity breeds confidence. These took 15 minutes to put together and are ready to slot into the triple trees atop the frame currently growing into a true chassis.
Carrowdore 1957; 17 Bertie Mann Triumph Cub, 43 Tommy Robb James.
Old action photographs can show so much more than their content. This field race has a pair of lightweight motos but NOT lightweight racers haring around with speed blurred spectators behind. Summer fun in Blighty!
Oft-time biker and Scot James McAvoy enjoys motos like the best of us passing his bike test before a car one. He’s looking somewhat surly with this new Bonnie. James was in Atonement with Keira Knightley who we also know from That Coco Chanel advert for their Madamoiselle parfum, in a skin color, snug race suit aboard a matching Ducati 750…
Those Italian motorcycles can certainly look good on the right company…
Rebuilding the forks this weekend! Tubing, bushes, seals, springs, bolts ‘n’ all: it’s all about oil management under compression. We need to absorb bumps and jostles on the lane so the hand grips aren’t wrenched out of your control. The new stanchions and recently powder coated lower legs will give it a nice appearance. But I’ll be putting bellow’d boots over the shiny bits to stop mud ingress to the all too precious seal.
A bevvy of moto-riding ladies all sitting proudly on their bikes in front of this House of Chrome somewhere on Long Island NY. Left to right: Beemer, Trumpet, Harley, Beeza(?), Ariel & Matchless. What’s not to like?
Back in 1920 youth of the day had one adventuring inventive lad called Tom Swift to read about. His first foray in print was a tale regarding motorcycles.
After acquiring it after a friend crashes it he restores it and learns how to operate it on the dusty lanes of Upstate New York. The teenage protagonist chases down patent thieves on his derring doings.
The original hardcover book has appropriately contemporary graphics from the time. Victor Appleton was a pseudonym for Edward Stratemeyer, creator of other notable YA (young adult) tomes such as Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and the Bobbsey Twins. He prolifically penned, though some ghostly, over 1,300 stories.
For any Mad March Hares lolloping around here’s a race poster for a Big Bear event where our top marque topped the leader board. I’d love the idea of 150 miles on the varied terrain aboard a sled would be a heap o’ fun but exhausting.
Hinckley, UK
April 1, 2014
A statement earlier today from Triumph Motorcycles rung dismay in the strengthening British industry for two-wheeled vehicles. With their state of the art factory in the heartland of Leicestershire and worldwide facilities in the Far East, and soon Asian and South American markets, their future indeed looked bright. However owner John Bloor, 70, made a press release stating that he was “selling up!” And “Moving to The Caribbean”, to “Play more golf”, and “do more fishing” as well as “drink more cocktails on sunny beaches”.
A new owner has already been found which will entail a re-badging of all current and future products. A certain Teutonic company who have a strong stance in both the car and motorcycle industry have stepped forward as the new management of this organization.
A spokesman from BMW, Herr Gruberwurst, 54, said: “we are thrilled at this opportunity for an expansion of our current line-up; however some changes will of course have to be made; the renowned Bonneville with half a century of history behind it will be renamed “Der Gutstadt” and the all-terrain Tiger “Die Panzerrad” Also with some duplication with our current models some of the englisch mottorrad may be canceled…”
As Mr Bloor will be taking the name “Triumph” with him to into obscure retirement, renaming a Bahaman atholl he has procured Isle Triumph, all existing owners will be sent blue and white checked rondel badges with the famous Bayerische Motoren Werke logo to apply to their tanks as well as a pair of decals for bodywork. Of course those with the original Meriden Triumph motorcycles can keep original logo badge due to their ‘historical significance’ towards British history.
In other motorcycling news Honda are eyeing up a certain Milwaukee motorbike maker for a takeover…
Burt Monro left (for it is he), Bud Hare, center, and rider Jeff Gough at The Salt with one of Bud’s center hub steering Triumphs, obviously looking for a good run top speed. This is a triple and would see close to 170 mph.
Mad? You betcha. Mad and fast as a Hare!
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
There’s nought but care on ev’ry han’,
In every hour that passes, O
What signifies the life o’ man,
An’ ’twere na for the lasses, O.
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
The warl’y race may riches chase,
An’ riches still may fly them, O
An’ tho’ at last they catch them fast,
Their hearts can ne’er enjoy them, O.
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
But gie me a cannie hour at e’en,
My arms about my dearie, O,
An’ warl’y cares an’ war’ly men
May a’ gae tapsalteerie, O!
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
For you sae douce, ye sneer at this
Ye’re nought but senseless asses, O
The wisest man the warl’ e’er saw,
He dearly lov’d the lasses, O.
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears
Her noblest work she classes, O
Her prentice han’ she try’d on man,
An’ then she made the lasses, O.
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
Robert Burns 1759-1796
An early sixties Triumph model brochure shows off their available models. This technical airbrushed illustrations was typical of the time. It shows off the details of the bikes well.
Here’s an old photograph of a hillclimb race in the fifties. It is up one of the grassy valleys amongst the foothills of the Cheviots in North Northumberland. I grew up here and spent summer days riding my bicycle up and down these tracks. Great to know there was motorcycling history here.
