I learned to ride on a Chinese motorcycle like this HaoJiang 125cc. A simple motor to zip about South London on for a week during a rainy November in 1996. Here’s how a Chinese family use one of these rides: crammed aboard, wrapped for the weather and raring to go.
Earlier Cub in technically clean appearance. Plunger rear end, nacelle headlight. The overall lines are balanced with a just-so form.
What better way to recognize the true end of the old year and beginning of the new one than a jaunt to the grandest of Ancient Monuments: Stonehenge. Sitting proudly on the Wiltshire plain as it has done for over five millennia it truly is a connection to our prehistory and its mystic ways.
Lately (well the last hundred years or so) it becomes a gathering spot for neo-druidism. Here’s a photo from the seventies with the winter sun peeking through a pair of standing stones. I found this photo of some travelers stopping off at the site in the mid sixties. A Triumph steed sits with baggage for a decent looking roadtrip.This was when everyone could stroll across the lawns to it. A Morris Mini sits parked nearby.
I like to see a city promoting two-wheeled traffic; especially when it comes to parking your vehicle safely ( and in numbers) . San Francisco had dedicated spots for the active day-to-day riders that get about town in the most effective way. Even the famous steep streets don’t pose a problem, just align as necessary, roll your back tire to the curb and drop the side stand.
Watch out for the polished cable car and tram tracks though!
The picturesque road that heads north through Marin County leads you to a quiet and rugged headland. 20 miles of a narrow twisting road, across cattle grazing farmland gives Oceanside views along vast beaches and distant coastline.
We had perfect weather as the Bonnie swooped us along to the edge of the earth. Hawks spied grassland for prey from telegraph poles, deer hopped across maritime heath, and the below of unseen seals echoed up the seaworn cliffs.
It was just like Scotland… But without the rain… Or the midges…
Baz is taking things easy in his caravan during some race event in the seventies. Flowery curtains. Smoking was cool then…
Even on his No. 7 Suzuki. He drags on his fag.
Giants of the British racing scene in the sixties: Photo of British Trophy Team in regulation Barbour International jackets L-R Ray Sayer, Ken Heanes, Ray Peplow, Sammy Miller, Johnny Giles, and Arthur Lampkin. All individual champions; put ’em together and a great team to romp across Sweden in ’66. This is a Triumph engined and forked BSA.
Here’s a view of someone fettling the ignition mid-route of Lampkins BSA/Triumph mongrel.
Just lovin’ these race photos of Triumphs used in anger at the ‘Trials. It seems a waxed jacket is correct dress for the conditions expected: wet and muddy. Big off-road boots too. Jim Sandiford (above) gravelly cornering in style on his Cheney 504 Triumph. Darned good looking motorbike.
Dennis Glover of the Metropolitan Police team in ’73 zooms through the undergrowth. Slow and fast riding of the Saint Trophy specials.
Johnny Giles (below) makes it look easy…
Steady does it!
A good film to watch some of these exploits is Bruce Browns 1971 documentary ‘On Any Sunday’ which, amongst other two-wheeled adventure, show off Malcolm Smiths excellence in any realm on a moto.
Triumph was a major player up until the early seventies in the International Six Days Trial. Here are a few classic ‘action’ images of what the riders had to endure. Rocks, roots, rivers, roads,,,
Quick tire changes obligatory. As are all on road repairs being undertaken by rider with carried tools.
The clock is ticking too! The event has been held for 100 years (as of 2013) except for the war years. Now it is the ISDE (E for Enduro) and truly globally located – up until the early 80’s is was European. 1250 miles is a long way under trial and scrutiny.
Let’s keep on events and life of one hundred years ago. Horses needed fed and the noises of the whizz-bangs startled them. Pour petrol in the flat tank; set the oil lubrication, air in the balloon tires, leather drive belt tensioned and off you go.
It also became everyday transport for the lad about town post conflict.
A fashion shoot where cool meets beauty atop a Triumph. Jean Shrimpton the original supermodel celebrates her 72nd birthday today. Here is an image from a February ’65 Harpers Bazaar with Steve.
Photography by Richard Avedon. “Set your Nikon to 1/125th and f1.4 and smile baby, smile!
Up on Wooler Common in the rolling foothills of The Cheviots. The heather clad upland which was a backdrop to my childhood. Here are members of the Glendale Motorcycle Club out for a romp across the grassy moors. Sometime in the early fifties these lads all seem to have new rides; be they Triumphs, Beezas, Norton’s, Enfield or Matchless. Goggles, caps and great coats seem de rigueur.
A few errands to carry out in downtown. A couple hared past on their Triumph Scrambler. It looked like the ideal cool-tool for urban transport.
Michigan Avenue onto Lake Shire Drive. Those pipes look spiffing.
Mirrored view not bad too.
When I had the venerable Original Ninja my jaunts went further afield. It could zoom the big roads with ease and be a nimble ride on the back roads of Wisconsin. Here I am up by Lake Geneva I nice hour circuit around it through rolling countryside. I always stop in at the Yerkes Observatory; its 40 inch lens being the largest refracting telescope used for research.
Tank mounted baglux with map. Ready for the unknown roads. A very comfortable bike to ride…
Photos taken on Kodak slide film with a trusty Nikon F3.
This october morning was met with brisk fall weather. Hazy blue skies overhead and blazing autumn colours around. We took the Triumphs out for a spin north on fairly quiet roads stopping at a diner in Lake Bluff for coffee and pancakes. 50 miles in all and bike runs like a top.
geordiebiker.com 