An open day at Motoworks Chicago I just HAD to try the latest Thruxton for size. “Like a Glove” is my response. Looks good from all angles and detailed nicely! Now where did I put that piggy bank?
January 10, 2014
Page Three
A frequent glamour model for The Sun’s third page pinup was the curvy Samantha Fox. The British tradition in the late Twentieth Century of adorning the tabloids with young nubile girls to maintain a ‘phwoar’ for the working male population. As well as sellin’ millions of inky ‘news’ rags to line the pockets of media moguls like Rupert Murdoch.
We have scanty fronted leathers here for Ms. Fox and a razor sharp looking Harris GPZ 550 – pure 80’s: Phwoar! And in another pic with probably one of the last Meriden models off an assembly line we have our Friday Fox aboard a Triumph…
She also had a singing career, but, let’s not get into that….
January 9, 2014
Incoming Wounded
It was the keen eared Radar who spoke those words on one of my favorite TV shows. M*A*S*H whereby the insanity of war is given comedic status in a serious belly laughing manner. The staff of the 4077th bump through the highs and lows of a mostly forgotten Korean war.
Though it was mostly Jeeps and bubble canopied Bell choppers some promotion oriented company took it upon themselves to develop a Hawkeye Pierce motorcycling doctor.
It looks more like a cafe racer with broad fairing. He even wears his white surgical apron…whilst looking for this I happened upon a Triumph TR6 and Spitfire advertisement with none other than Alan Alda at the open topped wheel of the sunny yellow TR6.
That’s as good an endorsement that you could want for me!
“I will not carry a gun, Frank. When I got thrown into this war I had a clear understanding with the Pentagon: no guns. I’ll carry your books, I’ll carry a torch, I’ll carry a tune, I’ll carry on, carry over, carry forward, Cary Grant, cash and carry, carry me back to Old Virginia, I’ll even ‘hari-kari’ if you show me how, but I will not carry a gun! –” Hawkeye
P.S.
BJ Hunnicut did have a yellow moto….
San Fransisco 5426 miles
January 8, 2014
(½)+ (½)
Take a couple of beat up old Cubs, with plenty of parts missing, and with some thoughtful reassembly you could end up with a whole…
These forlorn relics of youthful two-wheeled exuberance have seen better days but a restorers eye and greasy fingers and furrowed brow dripped in sweat; as well as the ubiquitous emptying wallet, could very well let them, as One, ride the lanes again!
E pluribus unum: out of the many one…
January 7, 2014
Of Stamp & Toy
This small cast metal toy motorcycle has a clunky charm to it that would surely fill any youngsters imagination with two wheeled deeds of daring-do. Indeed it has a striking resemblance to the noted stunt team of the Royal Signal Corps.
Here’s a First Day Cover type commemorative posting of a Royal Mail stamp with the classic Triumph and uniformed white helmet rider tearing across the mailing in fine style. This actual mailing was even more special using Forces mail to an Earls Court Cycle exhibition in 1980. Charming stuff…
January 6, 2014
Be sure to wear flowers in your hair…
Scott McKenzie’s counterculture anthem of the late sixties gave young folks to heed Tim Leary’s phrase “turn on, tune in, and drop out” and head west… Well the cool were already there! Here’s Steve above the Bay on a splendid Triumph in a pose that makes me want to saddle up, kick over, and ride out to the west…
January 5, 2014
Snow Days
A Winter Weather Advisory: drifting snow and plummeting temperatures here in the Midwest allow alternate moto activities to be planned and undertaken.
Winterize your ride! Don’t let a salty ice crust build up or an errant plough tip it into the road side snowbank. Take it into a dry indoors where the typical preparations, maintenance and upgrades could be undertaken. Plenty have written about the furlough storage needs so I’ll not go into them here.
Or you could put studs on your tires, dress in weather appropriate hard and whizz around a frozen lake oval. Here’s a Tiger being put through such paces. It looks fun!
Tomorrow morning temperatures are expected to be -20 Fahrenheit… With won’t chill reaching fifty below…. Stay Warm! Me? I have my Cub Project to plan!
January 4, 2014
Warbird
When cars were named after heroes: the Triumph Spitfire was one such; a two-seater 1500cc powered roadster that heralded the best of British spirit. WWII ace Ginger Lacey cheekily grins from his flying cap, he saw tremendous action in the 1949 Battle of Britain over the southeast as well as flying over Japan during the close of hostilities. This car needs a white silk scarf a-flutterin’ behind the driver to evoke its namesakes legacy. Ginger is true ‘boys own’ stuff with 28 definite downed aircraft to his name he gained the DFM with Bar.
January 3, 2014
Havin’ a Fantastic Friday!
Mr ‘Foxy’ Fox says so; so there! Here waving enthusiastically whilst piloting his beemer combination. Son Ash Fox rides pillion whilst nephew Kristofferson Silverfox, and Kylie the possum takes the chair. Obviously upbto some cunning highjinx.
The original characters were created by the colorful mind of Roald Dahl and brought to life by Wes Anderson. Marvelous!
January 2, 2014
January the Second
A braw Scot’s based advert proclaiming the virtues of another mode of transport in the garage… Thus could be revisited for today! Perhaps it could say: ” make your first car a motorcycle!”
Again, good clean graphics of a cartoon nature. Two-color printing used to great effect from the kilts tartan, swooshing scarf, and the red “2”.
January 1, 2014
Happy New Year
“We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin auld lang syne.”
Robert Burns
Photo by BA Motos with story behind photo here:
http://thebullitt.blogspot.com/2012/09/ride-your-own-biography-ba-moto-on.html?m=1
December 31, 2013
Schumi
Seven times Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher is in critical condition after a skiing accident in the French Alps. He’s in an induced coma with lowered body temperature to enable a speedy recovery.
He was wearing a helmet, which probably saved his life. Skiing has just become more familiar as a helmet wearing sport for personal safety.
Schumi also takes to two-wheels on occasion; gunning a bee-colored Triumph Sport in this shot. Although being one of the highest earning sportsperson he is a huge contributor to worthy causes, most notably UNICEF.
We wish him a swift and full recovery!
December 30, 2013
Advertising Vision
A simple orange window’d backdrop sets off this Tiger well. The slogan is to the point too! Speed and efficiency in a Triumphant package; letting the akimbo’d rider visit the sights of Britain.
In a similar vein this blue advert scheme gives the rider and his Thunderbird something to ponder on: Exciting is the key word here! Those integrated lines look so slick even today.
The green green grass of home lets us view a smashing ride from the pilots eye view if a crisp airbrushed photo of the 350. De Luxe? Delightful!
December 30, 2013
Shivers Icicles and Snowflakes
Icy days: it’s been dropping to waay below zero temperatures here in wintry Minnesota. Might be a bit frosty for this snowbound Cub. You’ll be needin’ some studs on the tires there pal!
Yup, both Centigrade and Fahrenheit well into double digits. Exposed flesh? Keep it covered! And don’t touch bare metal!
Here’s the Real Winterized Cub…
December 28, 2013
in Deutschland gemacht
The early break-away arm of Triumph that developed in Germany had a few smaller machines just right for the continental two-wheeled lifestyle.
It looks like Cupid’s arrow will shoot an arrow into any speedsters heart here. Crisp pen and ink graphics with speed lines, spinning wheels and a determined rider. On a lighter note: all can enjoy the range if mooed, combination or roadster and have fun at the sane time.
These engines use a split barreled single two-stroke engine. Utilizing a single combustion chamber and two pistons. The company TWR or Triumph-Werke Nürnberg AG produced these models such as the 200cc Cornet and 350cc Boss from the thirties thought to the fifties when the company was swallowed by Grundig, a typewriter manufacturer… (Now yesterday’s Cub Reporter seems apt!)
Here’s a very Teutonic machine ready for serious typing.
Still lovely graphics though on latter advertising in the sixties…
