Rita Nebraska – Lauren Hutton takes on a perfect pose with this track’d Bonneville. She starred with Robert Redford and Michael J Pollard in the 1970 comedic drama Little Fauss & Big Halsy flick about motorcycle racing. With her distinctive gap-tooth grin she still models into her seventies.
The Bandit – 70’s actor Burt Reynolds passed away today at the age of 82. His breakout role in ’72 was in the acclaimed John Boorman film Deliverance, pictured above. His other notable character was Bo “Bandit” Darville in Smokey & the Bandit, a goofy car chase film set across middle America involving truckers, police, bikers and a high power Pontiac Grand Am.
Rain – been wet weather of late… looks like Tigers can swim… photo from the antipodean NSW launch where reviewers took the XC through its paces in the gnarly bush.
The Eye of the Tiger –
“Risin’ up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I’m back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive
So many times, it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive
It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger”
Manticore: The White Tiger. Back in ’14 a pair of stock Triumph Tiger 800XC’s were fettled to take part in the Baja 1000. Both prepped by Motoworks in Chicago; one being piloted by shop owner Johnny Scheff. Though up against more purposeful off-road motocross bikes these middleweight managed to make the finish line.
Manticore was the white tiger that Siegfried & Roy used in their Las Vegas Show…
Dusty Cat – we still have some late summer heat here. Temperatures in the 90’s today. That would make for clouds of dust thrown up by a speeding Tiger.
Wash Out- on our drive out of Chicago today for a weekend in Cleveland Ohio we encountered a flooded West Loop causing a 2 hour back up. We needed the Tiger with its long legs to splash through the deluge.
Balancing Act – ONE WOMAN, ONE MOTORCYCLE, ONE YEAR
Lea Rieck, circumnavigating the world with Cleo, her Triumph Tiger 800 XCA.
Cornering – Through the esses from one lean to another. The Tiger sits sturdily on its boots and the wide bars give ample leverage for easy flickability.
Hump-Day: sometimes to leap into the leeward side of the week you need to get some air. Richard Parker the Jumping Tiger .
“Actually, it was not so much the speed that was impressive as the pure animal confidence, the total absorption in the moment. Such a mix of ease and concentration, such a being-in-the-present, would be the envy of the highest yogis” Life of Pi -Yann Martel
Sideways – there are plenty of images online of the Tiger is full action. We’ll use them as suitable blog material until we get Le Corbeau out onto the highways and trails.
Silly Old Bear -“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” Winnie the Pooh
Bear Grylls enjoying the open countryside on his Tiger.
One Two Three- stable is full now with a single, twin and triple. Enough fun to be had all ’round!
The Tyger by William Blake (1757-1827)
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!
When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Close-Up – finishing off the week with some choice details of several motorbikes from last weekend. From Arial, Honda, Kawasaki, BMW, to Norton and Triumph. Some original, some personalized; from badges to pinstripes; tank, fairing, frame and fender.
geordiebiker.com 