Just what you need to get into the top end so that the tappets can be adjusted: Little Fingers! This little feller is quite interested in this propped-up pre-unit Triumph engine; better than a pile of blocks or soft toys. I believe there are photos of me with such a cap and similar ‘harness’. As a lad I would have been into this thing quicker than you can pick up a screwdriver and monkey wrench.
Wall of Death! Pillion here sits across the handle bars with no hands as the captain of the near vertical centrifugal escapade takes his steed up to the perimeter advertising banner. Round and round she goes! This is a Two-Wheeled skill that requires years of practice including setting up and breaking down the wooden walls. Confidence inspiring pairing here!
What bikes were made for: The double corner! Tip ‘er in, through the ogee, wind it on for the next apex, heave over on to the other heel, fling through the second curve and power out like a stone out of a slingshot. It’s the loop-the-loop of the motorcyclist. A brace of Triumph Thruxtons take on a winding road over a grassy moor. I love the superlative and dynamic composition of this image.
Some storms passed our way over the weekend. Indeed unseasonable tornadoes touched down across parts the Midwest causing catastrophic damage for some. Here’s a vintage image of a pair of Ariel riders refueling in some English village. Better bring yer wellies!
Keep Calm and Paddle On!
Need to give ‘er a push into next week. Just put yer back into it!
Nikon have launched this new digital SLR… And what a corker it looks too! Just like my old brass edged F3. But at $2800 for the body only way out of my reach…
A pair of motorcycle army couriers seek relief from the front during the horrendous hostilities of World War 1. Photo courtesy of The Imperial War Museum.
The Triumph model H single cylinder 550cc motorcycle was a true precursor to the Twentieth Century’s history of British ‘cycles. It was the first Triumph to have a single cam wheel with 2 cams instead of separate cam wheels for the inlet and exhaust valve. The entirely new cylinder casting had a larger valve head diameter and the valves were spaced further apart. Another great improvement over the 1914 style 3-speed hub is the Sturmey Archer countershaft gearbox: allowing for heavier and stronger gearing. Furthermore the primary chain drive was enclosed by an aluminium protective cover.
The Model H became a dependable and successful moto with some 30,000 supplied to the British and allied forces during the Great War.
Here’s a beautiful portrait of the engine by the esteemed motorcycle photographer Daniel Pierce.
In 1916 the war was well and truly in its bloodiest hour with the Battle of the Somme at its core. 57,000 casualties on the FIRST DAY. One can’t imagine… But one can’t forget either.
A sunny sky greeted this early November weekend morning so without much ado the bike was kicked into life and a great ride up through Lake County was had. Leaf fall blew through the woods and grassland of adjacent forest preserves; a skip through Zion along a churned azure Lake Michigan rounded the loop. Roads weren’t too busy so it allowed comfortable progress along the way.
Lad getting together for a weekend on the motorbikes. Leathers, Barbour, bin lids and a good craic. I can eve guess their nicknames; from left to right: Pud’n, Chaz, Peachy, Lofty, and Swiftly Mike. Out for a hare along the A57 from Sheffield to Glossop.
A snatched ride along a sunlit glowing Sheridan Road bounded by the reds, oranges, browns and yellows of the fall canopied trees. Blue-blue skies complemented the golden hues and a cool air kept the lung vigorous. Not bad for an early November spin!
“At no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell,
The ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste,
And more honeysweet where you feel it touching the first sounds.
Containing depth within itself, darkness, something of the grave almost.”
Rainer Maria Rilke
We’ve covered The White Helmets display team before: those finely balanced or overladen Triumph riders of the Royal Corps of Signals. Here a few more vintage images of early thrillery . . .
Remember these are motos from the thirties so are lacking in oomph by modern standards (or even 70’s Triumph power) as well as being heavier machines… So some of these exploits need a certain level of daredevil slant.
Flying over the cars to show off gravity defying deeds too.
The wheel swap is a classic though- here caught mid heave. Keep ‘er steady capt’n!
All good stuff but the lads and lasses of The ‘ Signals still keep up their duty at the sharp end of military worldwide action setting up and maintaining critical telecommunications. Usually first in.
Here a pair hare across a Mideast desert…
Autumn weather can be questionable at times… Especially when trying to grab a late season ride. A mix of gray skies, spitting rain with an occasional breath of pale sun followed our short ride north this afternoon.
The bikes were raring to go too; seen here whilst we stop for a warming pumpkin spice latte.
Smiles abound with fall color’d roads though!
“Gemacht in Großbritannien” as they spracht in Dusseldorf…
Photography by Tanya Chalkin
Scrambler by Triumph
eBay is a good location for a spot of restoration research: the seller usually posts numerous detail photos of the motorcycle which can be utilized as excellent reference for assembly or ideas for component setup.
Here’s a cute yellow Cub that is in fairly complete trim. This has been listed with a nice selection of the needed views…
Nice dull gray cases; a patina of oily rag polish.
Bolt patterns, spacers; mounting brackets and cable routing. When parts come loose in a box this is essential information.
Also its good to see the little beating heart in slumbering pose.
The top end showing the arterial oil lines feeding the ready to go moving parts. You can nearly hear the ticking of the valves for this diminutive but doughty motor.
Amal: any British vintage bike owner worth their salt gets to know the needles, screws and orifices of the fuel and air blender. More mounting details are exposed. Gas hose routed from the fuel tank to the carb itself.
Oil feed comes from the small tank, a little peep of the oil hoses and exhaust.
Controls now; throttle, clutch lever and bracing to the nice wide bars. Lemondrop tank tarts up the deal.
Triple tree, headlight ears and handlebar mount clamps.
Front and rear for the laced hoops of the wheels. Knobbly rubber to offer grip over tarmac and gravel. One of my next tasks is relacing, so seeing the spoke pattern is handy.
As we’ve said before: the whole is greater than the parts.
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