Spindrift Shadows – low arctic sun, hazy frozen sky and wisps of ice particles wash across some upper latitude highway. Make sure you’re wrapped up and heated devices and garnets are switched to ‘Sahara’. This looks cool – literally and figuratively.
One Two Three – here we are in midwinter and the riding season is months away. A plan needs to be put in place to get each of my Triumph ready for their particular outing requirements. The Cub to take to some off road trails in Wisconsin; the Bonneville for some local riding and vintage shows; and the Tiger for long stretches of American highways and backwaters.
Dare to be Different- traveling across Rajasthan, avid adventurer Sonia Jain enjoys the versatility of the Triumph Tiger to broaden her travelers horizon. The thinking gals Enfield Bullet!
Peaks & Passes – I love mountains; especially high snowy ones with rugged features. Adventure riding can be had by swooping up switchback highways, punctuated my cafes or teahouses to the frigid cols where some remote monastery shines above strings of flapping prayer flags. Ride a Snow Tiger to the Hills.
Taiga Tiger – snow daubed coniferous forests and a rough road that’s more stream than trail. Wrapped up with the heated grips turned on you’re sure to encounter a grizzly.
Half Dome – winter wonderland in Yosemite National Park for Tiger rider Ivan Hidalgo. Soaring granite above John Muir would prefer to be on foot but I’d take the Triumph any day.
A Speed Twin called Daisy and her exploits in the Highlands.
“There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing.”
Burns Night – in celebration of The Bard here are some fun photos taken by a Triumph owner back in 2002 as he rode his Amaranth Red hub sprung Triumph through the lochs and glens of Scotland. As they romp through Glencoe they stop at the layby near it’s summit where they ask the piper to pose with Daisy.
Stormtrooper- I recently scored a deal on eBay with this pair of Aerostich ‘Combat Touring Boots’. Made by the Italian firm Sidi they are now discontinued and becoming quite sought after. They’ll be ideal for the Tiger and roadward adventure yet to be. Leather is in good condition with a nice broken-in patina, buckles in good order as is the Velcro side tabs. Sold have a bit of life left in them too.
RTW – global traveling- it’s always the goal of the adventure seeking wanderer to go towards the horizon and keep going. Through the lands beyond it, they eventually return to the start with tales to tell and experiences of the planet. This Round The World trip is one such dream carried out by 60 year old Aditya Kapoor who rode his Triumph Bonneville 35000km from India, through Russia, Europe, the US, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Resolute – It is typical of the New Year for us to put on the mask of Janus and look back at what we achieved (or not) the previous year and thus look forward to the coming twelve months and make a determination of what we want to achieve. Usually in an effort to better ourselves; and, in a way, make this time we have count. Me? I’m not a big one for ‘resolutions’ but it’s fun to think of things that you would like to try and do. A list you ask? Well, here goes:
Quilt – Another offering in attire from Lucky Brand. This one is a lightly insulated khaki jacket splashed with a proud Japanese inspired illustration bearing the Triumph logo, a crouching Tiger and catchy slogan.
Jagged Little Pill – Canadian American singer songwriter Alanis Morissette poses at an overlook near Big Sur California with a hazy Pacific melting into the hazy west. Her black Bonneville is a suitable ride for PCH Highway 1 with its endless twists, turns and open views along one of the prime roads in the world.
Tower Bridge -stunning portrait of this iconic London landmark with a ’49 Triumph Tiger parked on south bank Butler’s Wharf near Shad Thames. The Tower of London’s White Tower can be seen in in the left background. The raised road deck bascules reach up like triumphant arms to the sky. I used to commute over this bridge when I lived in London. Most memorable moments were waiting for the spans to lower with other bikers at the front of the traffic queue.
Eye Candy – the dealer here at Hotel Ignacio is a Triumph Ducati KTM outlet called Moto Europa. Their showroom floor has plenty to look at from the newest Bonnie’s and Monsters, to the Daytona’s and Scramblers.
St Louis – a road trip down State sees us in the Gateway City on the banks of the Mississippi. Our hotel has a restaurant off its lobby called the Triumph Grill. And yes, its theme is motorcycles. Did I also mention the motorcycle museum is part of it and a Triumph/Ducati dealership too?
“I’m as excited as a terribly excited person who has a really good reason for being terribly excited.”
geordiebiker.com 