The birthday card I got from my Ma & Pa this year (Jan 25th) shows some crafty prickly fellas getting one back at a Trumpet riding biker…
May 27, 2012
Robert Zimmerman
“I had been in a motorcycle accident and I’d been hurt, but I recovered. Truth was that I wanted to get out of the rat race. Having children changed my life and segregated me from just about everybody and everything that was going on. Outside of my family, nothing held any real interest for me and I was seeing everything through different glasses. Even the horrifying news items of the day, the gunning down of the Kennedys, King, Malcolm X…I didn‘t see them as leaders being shot down, but rather as fathers whose families had been left wounded.”–Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s career was going stratospheric when, on July 26th, 1966,he took his Triumph out for a jaunt and managed to wrap it, and himself around a stationary object. Some believe it was a front to just jump off the planet chaos. Here’s an interesting painted interpretation of his mishap. It was his birthday on the 24th.
May 22, 2012
A Charged Particle
Like some feint streakline of a charged particle in a bubble chamber, such as an alpha or beta ray; here is some image manipulated view of a Scrambler. The glowing outlines defining the effervescent lines of this Brit modern classic.
May 16, 2012
Tubed Triumph
The Central Line takes electron passengers from Battery to Earth; meanwhile on The Northern Line some passengers are mad they’ve been redirected to the District so then the lights go off on the Piccadilly line…
This coloured schematic of the wiring typically seen in a British Moto reminds me of the classic graphic map used on The London Underground.
I may as well just take the bus; where is a Routemaster when you need one!
April 26, 2012
Paul Smith: Go-Faster Stripes
Wanna look snappy in a three-piece suit and shiny oxfords? Well to go with that Saville Row look you need a special edition Paul Smith Triumph Bonneville. That fresh, laid back designer look matches a 60’s icon seamlessly (excuse the pun). The PS Stripes are a fashion barcode defining British creativity. His collaboration with John Bloors Bonnie begat 9 one-offs each with a distinctive look, of which two designs led to 50 production specials each: “The Multi-Union” & “Live Fast”.
April 19, 2012
NORTON
As mentioned previously in this blog, the Norton logo has all the classic lines of a perfect moto-graphic. A balanced counter to its Triumph competition: in red on a giant ‘N’ over a BMW-esque rondel this badge is worthy of any racers tank.
Then when boldly cast into the polished and cherished engine timing cover it brand echoes like some engine tattoo permanently stamped on the proud pounding chest of the twin-chambered heart of matters.
April 14, 2012
He who rides a Tiger is afraid to dismount
Tiger T-Shirt: sharp claws, teeth and stripes. The Tiger has the power to Roar. The logo for Triumph T100 built from the early forties through the seventies.
A good graphic for a bikers tattoo…
(Title is a Chinese Proverb)
March 25, 2012
Eighty Two
That’s how old Steve McQueen would have been yesterday; and he probably would have looked like Henri Charriere who he was cast as in Papillon, when he came out of isolation for the second time. However his youthful craggy face and blue-eyed twinkle as well as laid back demeanor is how he’ll always be remembered. Here’s a hand drawn card for him.
March 14, 2012
HB or not 2B
Nice pencil sketch of a 1937 Triumph Speed Twin. nearly like some charcoal scribbling by Leonardo of a future 2-wheeled transport.
March 10, 2012
It’s Triumph Time
A successful installation of a ‘new’ timing cover to the old gal today. Well ‘new’ from Ebay anyroads! A fairly straight forward job as I had ensured the electronic points were replaced in exact realignment so no timing had to be done. She kicked over first hoof of the kick-start lever. Now what do I do with the old cover? Well some folks place a suitably sized clock in it and hang ‘er up to count the misspent hours fettlin’ the bike in the ‘mancave’. Back to Ebay….
March 8, 2012
When the Wind Blows
Nice graphic; evocative of the open road on a Triumph. Indeed there is a dedicated site to our Mr. Toepfer and his motorcycling and photography exploits. It’s better in the wind. There’s even a great short film there.
It’s Better In The Wind – Short Film from Scott Toepfer on Vimeo.
February 5, 2012
Wear the Badge with Pride
Getting ready to install the newly finished tank. One decision still needs to be made: the tank badges. They currently have a light gold inner finish, this looks too similar to the orange tank itself, so I’m considering painting the inner black (or a navy blue). See comparative images.
February 3, 2012
Un-American Graffiti
Wall Art: painted logos on a peeling wall in some garage. Red, Blue and White
December 19, 2011
…the road to Gretna Green…
A young chisel jawed ‘greasy’ biker elopes with his gal at the consternation of her father. It’s obvious she wants the life of the open road, freedom of the skies and the scent of gasoline on her shoes. Ah! Young Love! Even better, it’s in full color glory by the DC comic book creators of the likes of Batman and Superman; they keep good company. Go on! “Have a Fling!”
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