February 25, 2012
Lisbeth Salander the hardened protagonist of the Stieg Larsson novel “Girl with a Dragon Tattoo” played with surgical method by Mara Rooney (nominated for an Oscar for her role this year), is given a choice vehicle to scoot about on during her escapades in the movie of the same name. A sweet little black cafe racer number.
The cafe’d Honda is a CL 350 (thanks Gogglesdown for clarification); a scrambler style moto from the late sixites -early-seventies. It’s distinctive high pipes a desired look by the kids of the day. For the movie it was given a nice rough cafe treatment, knobbly front tire for the cobbled streets of Stockholm, and slick rear boot for a speedy rort along the country roads. Ace bars, flat black trim finish the goth appearance fit for Lisbeth.
Posted in cafe racer, Honda, Movie |
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February 8, 2012
A brief scene in the 1986 movie “Peggy Sue Got Married” shows a classic ride of the time, a pre-unit speed twin Triumph (probably). The rock ‘n’ roll age was blooming, kids were dancin’ to the tunes and the bikes were fast and cool. Kathleen Turner is P.S. and her beau is Nick Cage – later to be the fiery Ghost Rider. The inspiring music is of course the incomparable Buddy Holly.
Posted in 50's, Gals, Movie, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 28, 2012
After yesterdays sixties bike chic; here’s the previous decades look: James Dean, the Original Rebel, on his Triumph. Collar up, cigarette askew, amgst-laden frown.
Posted in 50's, Movie, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 21, 2012
One of my favourite films of recent years in the story of Burt Monroe. A New Zealander who after years spent racing around the antipodean reaches of the Empire wanted to take his 1920 Indian Scout (heavily modified) to The Salt and see what she could do. He achieve a record for the 1000cc class which still stands today. One memorable scene is the beach race with a bunch of Rockers on their Triumph and BSA’s. He rockets past them in one scene, however turning problems allow them to overtake for the home run. Later we see them gather round him with a collection for the boat trip to the ‘States.
Posted in 60's, Movie, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 20, 2012
Actor Daniel Day-Lewis dons his leathers with tucked in scarf ready to romp off on his Triumph Scrambler.
Posted in Movie, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 19, 2012
David Essex, rocker from the 70’s takes on the biker persona with this 1980 model 750cc Triumph. Black leather coat and tan cowboy boots date his appearance perfectly. His other moto links are a role in the original Evita musical as Che Guevara. He also starred in a low budget British movie about a motorcycle racer “Silver Dream Racer”.
Posted in 80's, Movie, Music, Triumph Bonneville |
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December 10, 2011
When negotiating the Matrix, Neo’s comrade in arms and love interest Trinity (Carrie Ann Moss), took every opportunity to hare around the virtual world improbably on two wheels. The later movies had her on a Ducati superbike but an earlier scene in the original had her astride a Speed Triple when chasing after Keanu Reeve’s ‘chosen one’ character.
Posted in Gals, Movie, Triumph Motorcycle |
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December 8, 2011
…found one at last! A shot of Elvis Aaron Presley mid-creek with gal on a Triumph. “Stay Away, Joe” is the motion picture; a ’68 comedy starring the Memphis rocker as a Navajo returning to the Reservation; Burgess Meredith plays his father (oh the casting of classic movies!).
“Thankyouverymuchandgoodnight!”
Lookin’ like a Triumph TR6 650cc set up for desert work a la McQueen – was Elvis trying to look like THE King?.
Posted in Movie, Triumph Motorcycle |
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November 26, 2011
“Let’s roll Pilgrim!” Usually seen atop a big horse, here we see the Pappy of all Action Heroes aboard a Honda dirt-bike. Dressed in his Big Jake garb, ready to give chase to some gang of outlaws.
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November 25, 2011
A fairly recent film from Canada starring Joshua Jackson (of Dawsons Creek, Fringe etc.) also has a starring role for a Norton Commando. The story’s premise is our main character learns he has cancer so decides to ride across the country to the west coast in search of himself. Carefully played, beautifully shot (especially the riding scenes) and a fine movie to see.
Josh obviously enjoys Brit Iron; seen here below, begoggled, on a later model Triumph.
Posted in Movie, Norton, Triumph Motorcycle |
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November 17, 2011
James Dean looks on somewhat bemused as Jim Backus (Mr. Magoo among other roles!); possibly extolling the virtues of wearing a frilly and flowery pinafore. Jim played Frank Stark, Dean’s anguished character Jim’s father. “You’re tearing me apart!!”
Lovely Thunderbird sits waiting for a twist of the throttle. Fancy a ride up to the Observatory?
Posted in 50's, Movie, Triumph Motorcycle |
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November 16, 2011
The actor Ryan Phillipe with his black Bonneville.
Taylor Kitsch aboard an ebony Bonnie too; with camera. The link?
They both star in the film ‘The Bang Bang Club’ about a group of photojournalists in South Africa during the demise of apartheid; a period on unrest, violence and their pursuit to stand witness to it for the world.
Kevin Carter
The savage and iconic picture that Kevin Carter took in 1994 that gained him a Pulitzer Prize; A starving Sudanese child slumped in the sun while a vulture looks on. Sadly he took his life a few months after that unable to take the horrific images he’d wintessed from famine and war zones.
The Welsh band Manic Street Preachers had a song ‘Kevin Carter’ from their award winning 1996 album: “Everything Must Go”.
…another hit of theirs is ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’ a great early nineties rebel song from their debut album ‘Generation Terrorists’. Inspired by SE Hinton’s book ‘Rumble Fish’ it was made into a cult youth/counter culture film by Francis Ford Coppola starring Mickey Rourke and Matt Dillon.
Rumble Fish (1983)
Posted in 90's, Movie, Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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November 13, 2011
Johnny Strabler taking a laid back approach to life as the Black Rebels Motorcycle Club leader in the classic biker picture The Wild One. A movie loosely based on the events of a fictiionalized hell-raising by a motorcycle gang in Hollister CA in the early Fifties. A Time magazine article spread the word about the Bad-Boy image of bikers that still lives to this day; helped with a not too bad part of Brando in the lead role.
Atop his Triumph Thunderbird 6T, this film andoubtedly promoted the popularity of Triumph motorcycles in the US when they, along with BSA, were the dominant world force of motos. A reign that would last two strong decades until the Japanese bikes came along. His white t-shirt, askew cap, black leather jacket, engineer boots and turned up jeans and surly sideburned appearance became the image of the rocker-rebel for generations.
Posted in 50's, Movie, Triumph Motorcycle |
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November 12, 2011
Another action guy used to hauling around on or being seen with British Iron is Brad Pitt. Obviously at one with the cool value offered by this great marque. Here he is in the retro-life Benjamin Button.
The silver blue Thunderbird coloured Tiger with nacelle headlight is a beaut!
Trying on the McQueen mantle of two wheeled freedom.
Posted in Movie, Triumph Motorcycle |
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November 12, 2011
Hugh Jackman a.k.a. Wolverine is a keen motorcyclist it seems. Being seen here with a nice looking 70’s Bonnie.
Even the comic-book Logan is seen cruisin’ on a Trumpet…
Of course in the X-Men: Origins movie has Jacko haring around on a big American Iron. Get those claws out!
He’s the baddest, meanest, best superhuman mutant out there!
Of course, as with all Stan Lee creations the supporting merchandise must follow!
Posted in Motorcycle Art, Movie, Toy Motorcycle, Triumph Motorcycle |
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