Daytona – little brother of the Bonneville. Though only 500cc’s against the 650 T120 it still managed to maintain an enviable racing career. This original example is owned by Ed Zender; he’d just pulled it from storage the day before. I’m including the old shop sign from the earlier location up on Route 173 near Richmond IL.
Hurricane – in an attempt to win over a flagging US customer Triumph and BSA employed industrial designer Craig Vetter to create bodywork for the new and fast triple that would appeal to the American market. Though a BSA Rocket Three at heart, by the time the X75 was released it was emblazoned with a Triumph badge. The deep orange with yellow swoosh are inspired with an hourglass shape that provides a sexy line to this muscle of a motorbike. Triple stacked silencers on the timing size are keenly futuristic. This example was built by Ed Zender for a customer. He says it runs well with a powerful and tight power unit. In the sun it’s a sublime example of a special British motorcycle.
Hound – it takes a canine nose to enjoy the fast winds from a moving vehicle. Especially if it’s a cafe racer. Be-goggled pup smiles and wags their tail to promote speed conjuring components.
Woodcut Wheelie! Stunning black and red print-like graphic of some riding dude hauling their Triumph onto its back wheel.
BAAK Moto – proud custom Thruxton tracker parked-up on a warmly lit French street waiting to take its owner around le campagne de Massif Central. Wot a bruiser!
Of Ink & Skin – in the vein of a Sailor Jerry Tattoo this graphic has a rosy cheeked brunette surrounded by classic ink symbolism. Piercing daggers and forkéd tongue serpents represent the Roman god Mercury for transportation or trickery. The red rose promises new hopeful beginnings. Safe travel is borne by the wings of a bird. And Lydia, for she IS the tattooed lady, has the German Kriegsmarine cap emblazoned with the Triumph motorcycle logo for winning effect.
Denim – on this day in 1873 businessman Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis took out a patent for heavy canvas work trousers. Utilizing copper rivers at stressed corners and an indigo dye for color the modern jeans were born. Though not the best for heavier riding at higher speeds, the sturdiness of a good pair of ‘Levi’s’ are both comfortable and cool. Roll up the lower leg turnips, wear a suitable denim jacket, blonde roper gloves, engineer boots and a puddin’ bowl lid and head out on the roads looking VERY James Dean. Blue Jeans are a symbol of the Working Man; the counterculture hippy,m; a grunge rocker; and the low-rise sagging apparel of skaters or hip-hop. They are a cry from the norm, a symbol of the rejection of the values of mainstream society. Rebellion!
A Full Head of Steam – Fill the boiler, stoke the fires, crank the flywheel, spin the governor. The Age of Steam Power fed the Industrial Revolution the explosion of society that would eventually become modern times. Some inventive folk like to adorn Victorian garb and assume an air of a contemporary age still driven under James Watt’s engines. Steampunk! Here’s a custom Triumph Triple set up as as if it were a 19th Century era Motorcycle.
Greeting Card – a work colleague saw this card built up using layers of cutout paper. Nicely done – I made a request for my next birthday…
St George – patron saint of England. It seems fitting that a saddle cover emblazoned with his crusader inspired red on white cross is available for a Triumph Bonneville. His lance was called Ascalon, which apparently is the name Winston Churchill gave his private aeroplane during WW2. His horse is always depicted as white.
LEGO – a brick set from the mid seventies just when I was taking notice of motorbikes. Not bad when there was limited styles of pieces.
Technical Lines – side elevation of a racing spec Triumph T120TT. Reminds me of a draughting table, set square, and 0.15, 0.25, 0.5 & 0.7 Rotring drawing instruments.
WAAF – Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, furthering our WW2 flight theme look at this tiger gaped Bonneville. Jerry can pannier is a appropriate detail, and the big wartime yellow ringed roundel seals the deal. As they say: ” Smoke me a kipper, I’ll be back for breakfast!”
Blade Runner – Currently watching The Directors Cut of this sublime film based on Philip K. Dick’s novella. Illustrator Syd Mead was behind many of the futuristic visuals for the vehicles, buildings and daily accessories in the dystopian realm. We’re only one year away from its date: November 2019… Who’s to say if we don’t descend into that state of affairs by then?
“Fiery the angels rose fall, and as they rose fall deep thunder roll’d. Around their shores: indignant burning with the fires of Orc.” William Blake / Roy Batty
Ship of the Desert – clean example of a Triumph Trophy TR6C that sold a few years back for just shy of $15k at a Bonhams auction. Bikes like this was de rigeur for desert racing in the sixties. The twin high pipes adorning this cactus green example and appropriate Camel advertising set up a sandy outlook for the deep pocketed owner.
(The camel connection was for Hump-Day)
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