Each year there is a celebratory gathering of Triumphs held in the middle of Europe. Under looming alpine peaks and cuckoo clock villages the rolling Austrian countryside sees Spaniards on Tigers, Italians on Speed Triples, Brits on Daytona’s and Germans on big touring Trophys. Triumph Motorcycles being the common denominator. Like a Tutonic Sturgis for British Iron…
Bobby Stilwell winning the 1958 50 mile Amateur race at Daytona Beach. With that gorgeous red Chevy truck to tote his bike around in he swept the board in the fifties on Triumph Twins.
Here’s the Triumph dealer down in New Orleans Louisiana. Our man on the ground Dean Rennie was down in the Big Easy for a conference and had a few moments to pop in and see that southerners are being offered the same Bonnevilles, Daytona’s, and the usual range as up here in Chi-Town where the Delta Blues ended up.
Nice display with plenty of sparkling new product being looked over by choice vintage specimens, such as this Tiger. Of course our correspondent was also enjoying the outstanding music Nawlins has to offer. Ask the Big Chief:
Noel Whittall, 77, a writer and motorcyclist from Rawdon, England, on his 1918 Triumph Model H near the Cow & Calf at Ilkley. His period tweeds: jacket plus-fours and flat cap, are a perfect Yorkshire outfit for a ramble on’t moor. His nearly century old machine would transport you lazily from Leeds along the A65 through Otley and on to Skipton wi’ Wart on t’Wharfe peering down from across dale.
Yorkshire is a most beautiful country (locals do consider it an independent State).
Not really the intent of today’s Terran celebrations but this here Scrambler looks the business for rainforest rambling, tundra trialling, sand dune swoops and countryside cavorting. Knobby tires, imitation leather saddle and the coolness of a British bike. Earth awaits!
Our four legged furry pup from yesterdays posting leads us on to this pair of Hairy Bikers. It’s Si King and David Meyers. They present a cookbook show in the vein of Keith Floyd meets The Two Fat Ladies. Traveling the length and breadth of the British Isles in search of food delights of blighty. The two bikes here are immaculate stunners: Si is on an early Pre-Unit Bonnie and David a BSA Rocket Gold Star.
Other motos used include these mike munching Triumph Rocket 3. 2.3 liter heavyweight. John O’Groats is a short spin away.
This is Smudge, a young Jack Russell who enjoys riding with her owner Rob Fuller, 50, from Hull. She enjoys her slinger stance on her pop’s chest wearing a pair of doggles to peer into the rushing wind.
Indeed she’s such an accomplished passenger that she’s toured Europe with mom Lyn on pillion too. The moto? A beefy black Triumph Tiger.
Bathroom breaks are easy too; she rests her paw on dads arm. Turning heads and making friends at home and abroad.
There’s a hidden gem in Austin TX for those who enjoy the finest vintage motorcycles. Harris Vincent Gallery (by appointment only). A restoration garage that specializes in those wonderful British twins. Immaculate Black Lightning, patina’d Rapide, several tarped projects, a Black Prince in the shadows… A bitsa called Guido that was kicked into life with the growl like a panther on the prowl. Run by one-time attorney Herb Harris with a very capable team of mechanics headed by chatty Tim; it’s overriding mission is to ensure Phil Vincent’s machines stay roadworthy.
It’s like being in the room with immortals. These will pass down time, in the guardianship of their owners. Hopefully ALL will be occasionally taken out for a fast spin along the road letting their hefty engines stretch their legs.
The Shadow is an appropriate subject with the partial solar eclipse that occurred over northern Europe earlier today…
Full of cold. So lying on the sofa in the den, Charley keeping me company and reading Ted Simon’s second Round The World book “Dreaming of Jupiter”. 28 years after his legendary Jupiter Travels narrative globe trekking on a Triumph Tiger he takes to the roads again aged 70 on a BMW.
Walking the dog near work today I spied these two Triumph. A Thruxton and a Tiger. The BIG Tiger. Oh to have such a choice… Kinda like the long legged mike muncher; looks like I would fit it like a glove on a chickens lip.
He’ll rough it, take the back roads, eat whatever is available; but now he’s a frontman for the big bad Triumph Tiger. Bear Grylls is man versus wild and mountain, sea, desert, forest traveler extraordinaire. Good bike to choose for his lifestyle.
It’s cold cold cold here in Chi-Town. Minus five Fahrenheit tonight. So a venture to the car show down at the vast McCormick Conference Center was in order. Plenty to gawp at. Lots to sit in. Others to shy away from. The all rounder that appealed to me was the 2015 Ford F150 truck. Its aluminum chassis drops a third of a ton of dead weight and the eco-boost 2.6 v6 is meant to be a decent powerplant. Plenty of leg and headroom inside with a spacious back seat crew cab.
The Airstream will be towed ably to destinations galore!
Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,
The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.
My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here;
My heart’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;
A-chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands wherever I go.
Farewell to the mountains high covered with snow;
Farewell to the straths and green valleys below;
Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods;
Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.
My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here;
My heart’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;
A-chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands wherever I go.
Robbie Burns (1759-1796)
Triumph Bonneville in Glencoe
Somebody was feeling quite optimistic. A 200cc Triumph Cub with fairing, rack and fresh tires. Large tank with a long legged range will take you along the back roads to the Cote d’Azur.
Someone has turned a recent model Bonneville into a capable mile muncher. Some suspension mods, aluminum cases, windscreen, tank bag. Back roads have never seemed more attractive.
More esses on the path ahead!
geordiebiker.com 