We’ve seen this truck before… It’s rescued a couple or three breakdowns on the Bonnie in years past. The white Ford Ranger owned by Dean Rennie. It’s been up on chocks for a couple of months while the brake lines were getting replaced. Today I gave Dean a hand at dropping the truck bed back on. A solid little work horse.
Though discontinued in the US in 2011 there arewhisperings from Detroit to bring back this mid-sized truck platform .
…with Kirsty MacColl.
A screenshot of the 100th episode of Jools Holland’s inexhaustible show “Later..”. Here sittin’ at the piano with the irreplaceable Kirsty. Her writing,singing and musical attitude were a wonderful thing. From “Fairy Tale of New York”, to “Looking for a New England”, and a heartfelt “They don’t know”. Such a loss. Jools is sporting an Ace Cafe Tshirt; and the world can’t have enough motorcycle themed t-shirts in it!
Didn’t know what time it was and the lights were low
I leaned back on my radio
Some cat was layin’ down some rock ‘n’ roll ‘lotta soul, he said
Then the loud sound did seem to fade
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase
That weren’t no D.J. that was hazy cosmic jive
There’s a starman waiting in the sky
He’d like to come and meet us
But he thinks he’d blow our minds
There’s a starman waiting in the sky
He’s told us not to blow it
‘Cause he knows it’s all worthwhile
He told me
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie
David Bowie 1947-2016
A few loose end from the demise of the UK MC industry. Remember that Matchless from a couple of entries ago? Well there was a little epilogue to that story: in the 80’s one certain Les Harris took a 500cc Rotax single, slotted it into an oil carrying frame, added a few select European components and tried to ply it against the Asian offerings. However the price point couldn’t match the Yamaha SRX single. So out come the Tories extolling British Industry at its best: and who none other than Maggie and Dennis…
Give ‘er a lump of coal and Dennis a stiff drink!
Well move on a decade and the tables turn; in more ways than one: New Labour arrives and our pal Tony get ‘is leg over the smart new Daytona. Smarmy git! Glenda Jackson glowers in the background…
A Trident reborn. Back in the nineties when John Bloor was reinventing the Triumph name, his engineers plumped for a triple cylinder format. The grunt of a twin with the ‘smoothness’ of a four. Today’s local Craigslist has a clean ’96 example with 6000 miles (that’s 500 per year!) for three grand. The blackened engine and tank adorned with a retro red swish…
In 1997 Triumph came out with a couple of world conquering motos, a new bug-eyed Speed Triple, the T509, and this, the T595 Daytona. Sumptuous lines proclaiming great British design, with the grunty 959cc triple cylinder engine housed in a curvy tubular frame, laying down power to the tarmac with a clean single-sided swing arm. Yes, Ducati held the world in sway with its iconic 916 but give me this dragonslayer anyday! The yellow like a fiery blast from this historic marque. The phoenix was surely reborn. it has gone from strength to strength since then.
The Thunderbird’s name comes from the common belief that the beating of its enormous wings causes thunder and stirs the wind. When Triumph was reborn in the 90’s their model range based around the muscular triple engine created this brute of a classic bike. The name seemed appropriate both historically in salute to earlier models as well as the legend above. As a choice I belive it is a close run between this and the modern Thruxton.
Half Litre Gee Pee Zee: With some miles under my belt with the 125 I traded in for this outstanding Kwak. The twin cylinder sporty bike was a LOT of fun for zooming around the Big Smoke, home counties, as well as trips farther afield. The parallel engine had a great sound and nipping through the traffic was a doddle. Late night flights over the Thames bridges as well as my daily commute over Tower Bridge was truly memorable. Sadly I had to sell it for my move to the ‘States in ’98.
Back in the mid-nineties soon after I got my motorbike license; I picked up this fun ride to gain experience toting around London. The fates must have known I would one day own an old British classic as this Italian Cagiva 125cc had it’s fair share on mechanical and electrical foibles. It was a screaming two-stroke with low plump seat, hefty back wheel and a somewhat smile inducing ride. On the open road it had a speed of its own measured by the calendar. It could manage single digit A roads but no more.I tried the M4 for 50 miles but even with feet back on the passenger pegs, a prone riding position and thrashing it on the downhills the traffic cruising along at eighty sped ahead with ease. A city-bred roadster this was, and ideal for learning the craft of basic road sense too!
Brick by brick by brick: a full size model Triumph bike constructed entirely of LEGO blocks. The streamlined fairing and black engine superbly fashioned.
The original Daytona; the beefy triple from Triumph in the mid-nineties. A modern classic!
Steve ‘Hizzy’ Hislop 1962-2003
To celebrate this Scottish evening of haggis, tatties and neeps, washed down of course by whisky, we’ll take time to celebrate the racing career of a truly fine Scottish rider. It is of course the 25th of January Robbie Burns Night (my birthday too!).
Hailing from Hawick (pr. Hoyk) in the Borders of Scotland, he went on to win several and notable races on the Isle of Man as well as in the British Superbike Series. His most famous victory came in 1992 in the Senior TT Mountain course where, upon a rotary Norton, he pipped the great Carl Fogarty at the post, Carl going hell for leather even set a lap record that sat for years. This race is considered one of the greatest of the TT’s history.
…A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an’ a’ that;
But an honest man’s abon his might,
Gude faith, he maunna fa’ that!
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
Their dignities an’ a’ that;
The pith o’ sense, an’ pride o’ worth,
Are higher rank than a’ that…
Seen on Craigslist today: ’95 Triumph Speed Triple (885 cc). $2,950.00. A storming naked muscle-bike from the nineties. In black…
geordiebiker.com 