Jade Chair – seafoam pearl combination mounted to a suitable Trident ready for the driver and passenger. Operating an outfit is on my to-do list…
March 1, 2018
Synthesizer Scoot
ELP – Prog Rock piano and keyboard master Keith Emerson astride his aped Norton Commando clad in full leathers. Forming the group The Nice he developed a mix of classic, rock, jazz, blues, and boogie-woogie amongst others first on a Hammond organ and later on a Moog. I would hope he took musical inspiration whilst hating around on his black motorcycle.
February 25, 2018
Here come’s the Sun
The Quiet Beatle – George Harrison would have been 75 today; whilst John & Paul collaborated to create some of the most memorable songs, and Ringo was one of the greatest drummers; it’s George whose music stays with you in a deeper more spiritual way. The triple album ‘All Things must Pass” is a mainstay of my Desert Island disk list. Here he looks happy on a Triumph Bonneville photographed by wife Pattie Boyd. “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there”
February 23, 2018
Rouge dans la Nuit
Red Molly – flowing crimson locks under a moonlit star-studded sky. The muse in Richard Thompson’s most known song; who was given the keys for a ’52 Black Lightning by her dying beau James Adie, as he gasps his last breath from injuries sustained from armed robbery.
Illustrator Brett Breckon from the UK has created a stunning vision of le femme Moto.
Using a process called scraperboard it is the removal of black ink to reveal a white subsurface. The dark mass of a Vincent and it’s leather-clad rider are perfect for such a media.
February 19, 2018
Felix Frame Fame
Fritz the Cat – Egli frames are seen to be the perfect chassis for high horsepower powerplants such as this olympian KZ beast. The large diameter backbone and triangular geometry tubing give a stiff mount to impart the engines capabilities to the road. The cat approves in true feline curiosity.
February 13, 2018
Custard Speed
Yellow Peril – Privateer racer John Parker built this Trident in the late seventies successfully competing in over 100 races.
Fettling includes: a Norman Hyde big bore kit; a Rob North frame; a stroked crankshaft; works cams; works steel-billet con-rods; lightened timing gears; triple Amal 30mm carburettors; works specification valves; Lucas RITA electronic ignition; a Quaife 5-speed close-ratio gear box; Ceriani forks; Essex wheel hubs; Borrani alloy wheel rims; Twin Lockheed front brake calipers; and a 3-into-1 exhaust system.
Fast? You betcha!
February 10, 2018
Eranu or Uvavu
Shooting Stars – Funnyman Vic Reeves recently told the story of racing legend and hero Barry Sheene’s life of speed and triumph on a BBC documentary. As Jim Moir, his real name, he gets to ride the early mount, a 125cc Suzuki, which our Baz cut his teeth on around the GP circuits of the early seventies. The other machine on show is the world beating XR14 it’s red, yellow, black and white livery the very thing of boyhood dreams. The screaming demonic 500cc Suzuki was the ideal foil to Kenny Roberts Yamaha.
February 8, 2018
Dinosaur
Skeletal Remains – like some machine archaeology the bare bones of a Trident frame and accessory components hint at a fully assembled and running motorcycle. Fossil remnants of a T-Rex giant lizard displayed through the interior spaces of a museum are only a cursory attempt at the frightening might they must have been. Likewise this assemblage of rolling chassis need fleshed-out to achieve brutal speed along a roadway.
February 5, 2018
The British are coming!
Twenty – Maestro rider Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood took the bulbous faired lines of a Rocket 3 through its paces on the banked track of Daytona in ’70 & ’71. His machine broke down but other riders took the triples to sweeping victories.
February 1, 2018
The Gordon Clan
Homage to Loewy- further examples of Alastair Laurie’s ballistic bikes. Sleek machines which practically need a pilots license for sub-orbital flight.
January 29, 2018
Hold On!
Alley Cats – a couple of greased hair rockers compare their Triumph machines in an atmospheric image.
January 24, 2018
Party for Hitler
Undercover Hero – “Soft Beds, Hard Battles” a little known Peter Sellers movie from 1974. He takes on several roles, including a very convincing Hitler, but the main character is Major Robinson who, due to his BSA M20 WD breaking down, ends up as an an Intelligence officer in a Paris brothel. Thank Zarquon for his last film “Being There”.
January 21, 2018
Mr & Mrs
Stylin’! – Motorcycle clothing can ensure unqualified coolness; but make sure you have the hair-do, heels and neckscarf to compliment the look otherwise forget it! Cafe’d moto is a late Sixties Honda CB450 Black Bomber. Sunglasses are aviator. Silk cravat? Pure Carnaby Street…
January 18, 2018
Bike British
NVT – as the motorcycle industry’s last gasping breaths rattled across 70’s Britain the offerings from the combined Norton Villiers Triumph were what held the meager company together. Commando’s, Trident, & John Player Racer. Classic stuff. Powerstuff!
January 17, 2018
bœuf anglais
Beefy Bonnie – classy rear-end view of a 70’s Triumph. A magazine advert promoting the good price of this five speed model which at £501.93 or you could get the doughty Tiger for £459.56. For reference the weekly wage was £40 a week, a loaf of bread 10p, a pint? 25p.
