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!
September 15, 2011
Shinya Kimura
One of the great recent motocycle craftmen on the west coast is Shinya Kimura; he shapes, hones, whittles the frame, tank, fairing of Triumphs…
A great short film about his ethos in bikebuilding.
“The Needle”
September 14, 2011
Triton fit for a Queen
The classic True Triton: pre-unit Triumph engine enveloped by the curvy Norton Featherbed frame. A choice combination shown here at speedwith appropriately dressed rider: Frank Thomas boots, gauntlet gloves, puddin’ bowl lid. Poetry in motion.
August 29, 2011
Triumph Tiger
Further to yesterdays post regarding the ‘ideal’ modern 500cc; here’s a beaut of a 500cc Triumph. The ’71 Tiger set up with reproduction Avon fairing and race seat. All in a nice carmine red and black scheme. I’d love to put a nosepiece like this on the Bonnie.
It would be a tricky set up: the subframe, fairing in right colour, bubble screen, healight and indicators. Here’s a fairing available in white or black…
August 28, 2011
Ninja Cafe: half litre racer
I was walking the dog just thinking that Kawasakis little 500cc twin would make a nifty cafe; when there parked was the very model sans fairing and adorned with a round headlight. A few more clean-ups and a great ride could be cojoured up for not a lot. Super reliable too. I had a GPZ500s in London… great bike.
There I am wrapped up for a November jaunt from the North East down the M1 to London. 1997.
August 9, 2011
MULE Motorcycles – Brighton Cafe Streetmaster
Enjoy this sumptuous Triumph Cafe created by MULE; based on a modern Hinckley Bonnie. Speed Twin colour scheme and beautiful period details such as th elarge 4LS front brake, Ace bars, skinny single seat and lumpt tires. Yupe, I’d take one… …in a heartbeat!
June 25, 2011
Muds vs Ruckers pt. six
A few cafes from other makes also made appearances at Delilahs: starting off with a sweet Kawasaki W650, the twin based on a 60’s motor; more so than the newer Bonnies. Clubmans, alloy petrol tank, ally rims, rear-sets, bum stop seat: what more could you want?
Triton, Triumph, Egli-Vincent! A Hat trick!
The Triton, resplendent with well patch’d leathers and chequered puddin’ bowl.
The Pre-Unit BSA A10, a smashing example of this fine, fine motorcycle. Very close to my very own RGS.
Geordies ‘cycle… the blue Parilla racer. Streamlined noses abound!
June 22, 2011
Rods vs Mockers Part Four
Here are the older Meriden Triumphs at the street show, each with their owners mark on them, each with mileage and aged patina giving an certain ‘life’ to them.
Plum late 60’s Bonnie: Simply Gorgeous.
Mid 70’s oil in frame left shift 750 Bonnie. Carefully prepared and maintained.
A bobbed 650, pinstriped thruugh like Blackpool Rock!
My Bonnies dark brother, A clean 71/72 OIF Bonnie.
Mid 60’s Unit lump; A fine engine.
Super clean early 70’s OIF, nice white ‘horns’ on the ebony tank.
Pre-Unit hardtail chopper. Funky ape hangers, high, high pipes and batwing pinstriping.
Mirror finish cafe’d Trumpet. Rocker ready!
June 21, 2011
Mods vs Rockers Part III
Some neat ‘Flyers’ were prepared to promote the show; Mods vs Rockers as the inspiration. A BSA Goldie for the backdrop in neon pink and orange is inspired. Nice clean poster.
A close-up of the MvsR graphic, puddin’ bowl and cap. RAF roundel mod emblem & spade ’59’ badge.
A super ‘screen-print’ image for the weekly meeting at a local hang out for bikers.
June 5, 2011
Mid Seventies Bonneville Cafe
A clean example of a cafe’d Oil-in-Frame Bonnie, Right hand shifting, discs, so must be T140V from 75 or 76. Nice black paint scheme and grey frame. This helped my own rebuild inspiration…
The racing hump seat , a reupholstered cover available from Vietnam of all places, affords a further speedy line to the desired appearance.
Eliminated front fender gives a bobbed look too. Clip-Ons the correct stance.
Close-up view of frame, timing side of engine and rear sets. The standard ‘boxy’ side covers actually look right with the grey frame finish and dull engine casings.
Anotehr view of the Norman Hyde rearsets, close in appearance to mine, as well as the gear change lever.
A final rearview shot of the rounded ‘rump’ and the long pipes; altogether a balanced build with clean lines and serious purpose of speed.
May 20, 2011
All in a Row
Nicely lined up, a chorus of Trumpets ready to blare…
A very proud owner of a pre-unit engined Triton. Nice high pipes, a solid 4LS front brake, low profile polished alloy tank. A swell machine.
Let those who you pass at speed know what you’re riding!
Gorgeous fairing clad Bonnie, alloy wheels, bum-stop seat, rear-sets, M-bars a true cafe racer.
May 11, 2011
Gulf color on a Honda 550 cafe "Le Mans Special"
Here’s a beautifully detailed cafe racer prepared in glorious blue and orange. Thiunassuming rebuilt 1975 model has been methodically reconstructed with special care to details such as the sumptuous tank, tail section and he controls.
The orange painted frame is a great detail (ooh if I’d only had that thought with mine!)
A super little feller, probably fun to ride too.Build by Chris Trotter from Bozeman, Montana.
May 8, 2011
Triton: Son of Poseidon
One other bike at the show yesterday was a suitably set-up Triton, Norton Featherbed frmae with Pre-Unit Triumph engine. A white tank with black pinstriping set off the cafe/manx look. Long bodies and sleek looking…
geordiebiker.com 