A late sixties Triumph is used as the grips transport. Here during the climax chase scene in the 1968 Clint Eastwood film Coogans Bluff.
Don astound as the antagonist is on the dolly bike, whilst Clint takes the shiny Bonnie. Director Don Siegle went on to make the Dirty Harry movies as well as Escape from Alcatraz.
Here’s the actual scene. Filmed at Fort Tryon Park at the north end of Manhattan. Cool stuff!
Dr Oliver Sacks the world renowned neurologist passed away last weekend at the age of 82. I life exploring the inner workings of the mind and consciousness, identity and memory.
He was portrayed by Robin Williams in the film Awakenings, based on one of his many books about patient cases.
He was also a biker: here, a young faced rider grinning widely after a hare about on a classic Norton Dominator DeLuxe 600.
He was also a big swimmer, an early muscular physique show off his powerful arms and legs. Again a solid motorcycle his steed. At this time in the early sixties he also sampling in the hallucinogenic drugs of the time “pharmacological experimentation”; further expanding his mind.
BSA – Birmingham Small Arms. I enjoy seeing the other great British make on show. These sixties unit Beezas were a varied selection of their available machines that folk looking for a Triumph alternative which every bit as good as the Meriden Iron, were drawn to. These bikes utilize a superb balance of fine engineering and style.
If Triumph was the Beatles then BSA is the Rolling Stones…
Firebird 650 – high pipes, big tank, knobbly tires – desert sled?
Though it was a hot 90 degree day we managed to get out to the west suburbs where a well attended show took place at the Triumph Ducati dealer in Villa Park. The parking lot was divided into show bikes and parked bikes. I had mine in the common or garden parked bikes. There was a great selection of clean examples of old rides in both areas. This little original condition Benelli starts things off. Small in stature but grand in character.
A ’73 Harley Davidson combination owner was very proud of her outfit. She had toted a tree in the chair earlier this year. Wherever she drive it people would wave and cheer!
Another outfit: this time a BMW r75 wartime rig. Fully dressed for European action with MG34 machine gun, jerry cans and trailer. A true enthusiast.
The parking lot contained new Triumphs, this new Royal Enfield Continental GT, Beemers, Kawasakis, Hondas, an odd Harley or two. Motorcycle gawkers heaven! This week I’ll show the congregation of Nortons, Beezas, and other fine examples of older machines.
Sixties Fab Fun: The Kandy Kolored Tangerine Flake Streamline Baby Trike. Rebellious model kit for aspiring custom bike builders. An honorable mention to author Tom Wolfe and his new journalism writing style which evoked a vivid reality in a world of hallucinations.
Gotta just love those late fifties and early sixties ad men. They want the consumer of what they’re promoting to get out there and put a smile on their faces. Here a cute couple stroll hand in hand to a sweet little Baby Bonnie. The Tiger Cub.
This Rickman framed Triumph stood out in proud orange at Ed’s shop. Next to it an immaculate pre-unit Bonneville. Both truly desirable bikes. But that repli-racer: it’s a stunner!
Ground-up concours restoration of an amaranth red Speed Twin. Sublime and worth gazing at for hours. Put it on a plinth and enjoy the artistry that was Meriden engineering at its best.
A hourglass figure as prepared on an X75 Hurricane. Craig Vetter inspired lines and color maje this much sought after machine a beauty to behold!
A Big Zed! Power in a Can… Just love this, one of the first giant slayer muscle bikes to come from the Far East. I’m going to have to build a bigger garage!
Triumph Cub painting settles a ruby Cub parked in some country cottage yard. Barrel catching roof runoff caught from the distant gloomy skies downpour. Holly bush denotes ancient sacred ground or border marker. A greenhouse offers protected warmth for prize winning flowers to display at an upcoming agricultural show.
Meanwhile the cat sleeps on contentedly…
Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface forty six years ago today. Reflected in his visor is Neil Armstrong and the lunar module lander. I love this image; it shows what we are capable of as a people and what an individual can achieve.
Neat little 1:24 scale model of Steve McQueen spluttering through the East German mud aboard his Tr6 #278.
Just love these three-color screen print poster for the late fifties Harley Davidson range of motor’sickles’. Loose lively line work with simplistic onlookers waving arms and cheering on. The top frame model line up and title footer balance the overall page well. Sans serif bold font anchors the scripted ‘sound bite’ itself a precursor to Hondas “Meet the Nicest People” or Kawasakis “Let the Good Times Roll” slogan. Ad men were having fun then….
The Star Spangled Banner: a strong symbol to many and flown proudly on this day.
I’m wearing my #278 ISDT tee which was Steve McQueens race number in the 1964 International Six Day Trials Where he bore the flag for the U.S. Team. In the parade through East Germany’s Erfurt he held Old Glory in what he considered one of his proudest moments. Bud & Dave Ekins, John Steen and Cliff Coleman marched with him.
Italian Triple. “Il Bruto” the mighty Jota in glistening orange. It had a radioactive glow in the midday sun.
Cleveland Cycle Works little quarter liter custom scrambler. U.S. Built small Moto with sweet styling suitable for city flitting. It’s like a new version of my Cub…. We’ll write about CCW another time.
Board tracker blitz: twenties Titan for zooming the banked oval. The pure engineering on these things is as brave as the riders who piloted them.
Muscle Magic! Not a bike but by ‘eck it’s a steroid built machine for rippling the Tarmac and busting licenses. It has a 440 7.8l V8 Magnum engine that took the Hemi-Orange monster to Dodges swan song in the 60’s through 70’s muscle car spacerace.
The Avenger boss played by Patrick Macnee always had fine clothes, finer wine and the finest women around him. My favorite was Honor Blackmans portrayal of Cathy Gale. Here she has Steed apillion on a Royal Enfield back in the day. He was the quintessential Englishman with she as the perfect Action a Woman.
Patrick Macnee 1922-2015
geordiebiker.com 