December 13, 2011
On 8th August 1970 this factory special Triumph Trident 750cc machine was entered in the 24 hour Bol d’Or endurance race, the last to be held on the historic Montlhéry circuit. The riders were Paul Smart and Tom Dickie who won at an average over 70.50mph, a race distance of 1838 miles, 469 laps, beating their nearest rivals by 9 laps. The riders averaged 20mpg, went through 4 rear chains and broke 1 throttle cable.
I think the headlights of the modern Triumph Triple may hark back to this look. Which gave rise to the streetfighters of the 80’s and early 90’s built from the Suzuki GSXR’s.
Posted in 70's, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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December 12, 2011
Bassist and lead vocalist from the punk group The Stranglers JJ Burnel is a long time motorcyclist; in particular Triumph. Mobbed by fans what better moto to be seen on than a Bonneville!
Posted in 70's, Gals, Triumph Bonneville |
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December 7, 2011
Imagine you’re haring down the A1 in your Aston Martin for a nite-out in the West-End when all of a sudden you see blue flashing lights in your rear mirrors; it’s the Fuzz! Chasing you down on their Triumph ‘Saint’; an upgraded TR7 750cc motorcycle. fairing, tank mounted radio, panniers… “you’re nicked mate!”
These days if you’re spotted at speed in your Beemer on the M3 outside of Brighton, you’re more than likely going to be hailed down with a police atop a late-model Triumph Daytona 675.
Posted in 70's, Triumph Motorcycle, Uncategorized |
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November 20, 2011
An unusual adaptation of a 70’s oil-in-frame Trophy. A pair of motocross forks, wide bars, an alloy uni-link swingarm, sportsbike wheels and tires, and to top it off, a dirt track seat and I’m sure some interesting engine internal upgrades and I bet this is a G-R-I-N inducing ride.
A back road scratcher for sure!
Posted in 70's, Triumph Motorcycle |
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November 19, 2011
A book cover graphic with a whizzing wheeled, wheelie-jumping twin ridden by begoggled rider; possibly a Triumph or Norton. Great 70’s look and neat title: ‘Wonder’ being the operative word. I wonder what goodies would be found in these pages….
…it seems to cover everything about motorcycling! It’s also written by a certain Robin Lawrie; my fathers name. I’ll have to search out a copy for my motolibrary.
Posted in 70's, Book, Motorcycle Art |
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November 17, 2011
A stunning photo our our daredevil friend Evel Knievel jumping the fountain at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas. What a showman!
Posted in 70's, Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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November 11, 2011
In the satirical movie Shampoo Warren Beatty plays a womanizing hairdresser haring around Beverly Hills on his Triumph Tiger; his Mason Pearson hairbrush sticking out of his back pocket. Julie Christie & Goldie Hawn play the love, or more accurately sex, interest. Nevertheless he looks cool on the 500.
n.b. this was a pre-Princess Leia debut role for Carrie Fisher with a very Lolita-esque character.
Posted in 70's, Movie, Triumph Motorcycle |
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October 29, 2011
Shiny, shiny cafe’d oil-in-frame Bonnie. Red framed and chrome tanked as well as a comfy Corbin seat. Nicely detailed and crafted to be a real head turner!
Posted in 70's, cafe racer, Triumph Bonneville |
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October 20, 2011
Back in ’73, a Triumph becomes the basis for a seventies period cafe racer: blue and yellow, chesterfiled plush saddle, big disc brakes with alloy rims abd the typical clip-ons and rear sets. The onlookers have an obvious interest in it at least!
Posted in 70's, cafe racer, Triumph Motorcycle |
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September 22, 2011
A couple of really sharp race roundel signs. One displaying unstoppable #9 Gary Nixon ‘flying’ on a dirt oval steed; the other is Eddie Mulder #12 (The Squirrel).
Posted in 60's, 70's, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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September 17, 2011
A well known bike to millions of American TV viewers of the 70’s is comng up for sale. The ‘cool’ Triumph we see The Fonz riding on during the opening credits of Happy Days. It’s a 50’s 500cc TR5 Trophy with rigid frame. A moto used by the desert racers in SoCal at the time; this one beginning in the hands of Bud Ekins. When Happy Days was in it’s conceptual infancy Hollywood called their biker pal Ekins to supply a chopper for a new cool character to ride on; he put high bars on, stripped the front fender and sprayed the tank silver… an icon was born!
Roll-on 3 decades and Ekins was clearing out his not inconsiderable collection passing a warehouse of bikes, parts and memerobilia to another Triumph dealer ‘Mean Marshall’ Ehlers. This old Trumpet was sitting forlornly amongst it all. Now Mr Ehlers needs to sell it so this bike is up for grabs to the highest bidder through Bonhams.
Posted in 70's, Triumph Motorcycle, Triumph Movies |
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September 13, 2011
There was a time when some riders got bored with the staid styling of the Triumph machines. They responded with a few choice add-ons to achieve a hot-rod, chopper, dude look. Some weren’t so successful as these two images show…
First off: a pipe bending excercise that even Uri Geller would be astounded by. I believe you can fire spears out of them. But windows will be broken nonetheless!
Hi-Back? Ape Bars? Captain Britain? At least getting this lost soul back to stock would be a fairly straight forward proposition. I believe my Bonnie met this fate sometime in its shady past before I rescued it.
Posted in 70's, Triumph Motorcycle |
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August 3, 2011
After the refreshing ride on Saturday morning I stopped in at Bobs Deli, a local 7-11 in Highland Park. What was needed was a good cold, classic bottle of “ice cold”. The moto cools in the background, I cool in the shadows.
“I’d like to buy the world a Coke”
Coke slogan 1971
Posted in 70's, Triumph Motorcycle |
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July 24, 2011
Growing up in North Northumberland one of the highlights of late summer was the annual arrival for two weeks of the ‘shows’. A small travelling fairground called Slaters. Among the shuggy boats, ‘big’ wheel, and octopus rides as well as the gaping mouth clowns and pingpong goldfish bowl arcade was the “Speedway” ride. a rolling carousel of bikes and chairs. It was, for a 7 year old, the first effects of speed and centrigugal forces sitting atop a ‘motorbike’ although it was fixed!
Ahh, the heady smell of candy-floss, diesel and trampled summer-dry grass; backed by flashing lights, 70’s disco music and whirring machinery.
Posted in 70's |
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July 20, 2011
My sister, Ruth, found this ultra clean example of a Norton Commando 750. Super sharp details and nice polished finish. The top box reflects a user who rides for a purpose, though obviously only on good days!
Posted in 70's, Norton |
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