Police Steed – bobby on a Beeza. When British motorcycles reigned supreme the local forces used the best of ’em to get along the road with speed. Nice monochrome ink painting advert with a happy sergeant copper swinging his police boots over an A10 escorting some VIP no doubt.
Che – standing in proud resolution as if photographed by Alberto Korda, who captured the famous Ernesto Guevara image, this Triumph Cub evokes its mid Century heritage. The black headlight nacelle is elegant engineering against the steel blue tank.
Pretty – handcrafted bobber from an artisan workshop in Buckinghamshire. Purdy Motorcycles. Bespoke components adorning a spare frame. Pre-unit engine provides locomotion. Tweeds, leather tunic, goggles and gauntlet gloves would serve for garb.
Suspended Season – On the First Day of Spring let’s look at what the boffins at the Triumph factory conjured up to make the ride smooth and rider content. It’s all about damping: taking the uneven jolting from the rough surface and dispersing the imparted kinetic energy into heat energy, typically an oil filled shock absorber, before it can transfer into the saddle.
Cowhide Couple – the twosome that ride together ‘hide together. Prim pair sporting neat and stiff Langlitz Leathers. These Cascade jackets are still available from the 70 year old manufacturer. Spanking new Triumph is ‘fashion accessory’.
Throwback Thursday- what better way to enjoy the ‘back-end’ of the week than leap o’er the bumps that can populate the weekdays and head in breakneck fashion towards the weekend. A ’56 Triumph TR5 would be the ideal vehicle…
Murder is Easy – Agatha Christie jape with multi-talented actor Benedict Cumberbatch as the lead detective in a 2008 television adaptation. Originally published in 1939 it was the successful mystery writers first step away from Hercule Poirot, though this TV show rolled in Miss Marple as the main protagonist with Benedict’s character Luke Fitzwilliam as a younger less-experienced ‘sidekick’. More to the point: what’s ‘e ridin’? Well a marvelous 1950 or 51 Triumph Speed Twin in glorious amaranth red. When are Triumph bringing that color back? It would look smashing on their new Bobber.
The blue car, tell us about the blue car! Well, that’s in the story too, the love interest, Bridget Conway, drives a powder blue 1960 MGA open top roadster.
Leather driving gloves, silk scarves and cases lashed to the parcel rack… how very English!
Beryl & Tony – a current series on Netflix is The Crown, about The Queens life as a monarch from early days post WW2 to the present day. Its second season is covering the late fifties which, whilst the country has to deal with the Suez Crisis as well as Sputnik, her younger sister Margaret-Rose is enduring life as a royal single gal. She’s just met Antony Armstrong-Jones a hip photographer and lad about Town. He sweeps her off her feet for a tear through London’s streets on a peachy period TriumphThunderbird. Goggles and domed lids keeping them protected as they scoot over the Albert Bridge and along the Embankment. Ably played by Vanessa Kirby and Matthew Goode it reminds me of my days taking my wife-to-be home from her job at a bookstore in Kensington. The main photo is the real couple on a Norton. He snapped his photos with a Leica Rangefinder for naturally lit spontaneity.
Wooler – one of the more esoteric motorcycles from the mid Twentieth Century was the swansong of John Wooler. A vertical flat four with truly inspiring styling for its day – (vertical H) The petrol tank extending beyond the steering head with front mounted headlight are signature.
Sidenote: I grew up in a village in North Northumberland called Wooler.
All Fall in – we’re still experiencing unseasonably mild weather for late October day. A good ride out was planned, undertaken and enjoyed.
We stopped off at Morries Place in Ringwood McHenry County before a 40 mike sojourn into Wisconsin. I always enjoy peering at the old stuff Ed Zender has in his ‘showroom’ . A sample of vintage ‘cycles from the 30’s to the 70’s. The signs on the walls a suitable backdrop too. His workshop is lined up with many projects, maintenance jobs and carefully catalogued and shelved parts.
Blessed are the Rockers – on this day in 1916 the cartoonist known simply as Giles was born. His inked single panels were both full of detail yet graphically spare. Typically commenting on topical news items or daily English life the collection annuals became a record of the years events. This splendid piece shows the Ton-Up Club 59 having their Cafe racers blessed by the Reverend Bill Shergold. Also known as ‘Farv’ – cockney accented father, he owned the original of this particular strip.
Entertainment for Men – Playboy was first published 63 years ago here in Chicago by bon vivant Hugh Hefter, who died yesterday aged 91. It promoted a sophisticated male lifestyle with writing, art, fashion, and a Playmate of the month who adorned the cover as well as centerfold.
NBT DGR FAB – plenty of vintage motorcycles out on the road last Sunday. These ones in particular piqued my interest. A pre-unit featherbed framed Triton (owned by organizer Larry Fletcher), a BSA C11 single , and a clean example of the great Triumph Trident. Like a one, two, three..
Lady Stardust-
People stared at the makeup on his face
Laughed at his long black hair, his animal grace
The boy in the bright blue jeans
Jumped up on the stage
And lady stardust sang his songs
Of darkness and disgrace
And he was alright, the band was altogether
Yes he was alright, the song went on forever
And he was awful nice
Really quite out of sight
And he sang all night long
Femme fatales emerged from shadows
To watch this creature fair
Boys stood upon their chairs
To make their point of view
I smiled sadly for a love
I could not obey
Lady stardust sang his songs
Of darkness and dismay
David Bowie – Tge Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars (1972)
Chequered Ruby – Blue leathers, denim, silk scarf, and shades. The pre-unit Triumph certainly looks the part.
Labor Day weekend coming up. Woo-hoo!
Photo by Douki Patrick
geordiebiker.com 