Yet more deft action in the nimble hands of experienced trials riders here the diminutive Triumph Cub can certainly perform. Whether up steep tree rooted slope or down the other side a balanced technician can handle an appropriately set-up Tiger with obvious aplomb.
Here are a few photographs showing modern trials riders clambering up the wet and rocky footpaths above Kinlochleven. They are all on Triumph Cubs and look as though they are enjoying the outing. I have trekked many a mile up the Scottish bens on foot but would love to experience these ways aboard an old trials moto.
Cloudy skies typical of Scottish weather don’t dampen spirits here. I can smell the heather clad slopes from here and the salty air drifting up from the loch beyond.
The images are really giving me some inspiration for my own Triumph Cub trials motorcycle currently in the works. Though I would wear more period garb: such as army boots, cotton twill trousers tied up at the ankles, wool shirt, leather riding gloves and a flat cap. Although the cap me have to be swapped out for a tidy white open face brimm’d helmet. Waxed leggings and jacket obviously optional for typical ‘fair droukit’ Scottish weather.
George Greenland in 1958 at an XHG Tigers event, the Priory Trophy trial, riding Des Smallshaw’s very tidy Tiger Cub special. The XHG were dispatch riders from the 7th Hants Home Guard and the tiger Club formed in 1945 and are still going strong. Hampshire being on the south coast would have been very busy during the war years and I’m sure there were plenty of DR riders haring to and fro along the country lanes back then.
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.
Chorus.-My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart’s in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.
Farewell to the mountains, high-cover’d with snow,
Farewell to the straths and green vallies below;
Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods,
Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.
Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Ray Sayer on Loch Eilde Path in 1959. What a stunning photograph with Loch Leven beyond, Kinlochleven below and the magnificent Aonach Eagach ridge overlooking to the south.
Fifty Years Ago…
Photo of USA Team Triumph Riders #278 – Steve McQueen and #276 – Cliff Coleman at the International Six Day Trials. Usually this event is seen in black and white but these images in living Kodachrome give this a vigor that feels younger than the half century of time passed. The Triumph Trophy #278 itself is at Johnson Motors in California.
Here’s the bike post trials… All photos by François Gragnon
A new front sprocket arrived in the mail yesterday. Fourteen teeth. Nice long unworn teeth that haven’t been chomping on a chain for miles and miles and miles.
The original setup is an eighteen tooth front sprocket and forty eight tooth rear wheel one. That gives a ratio from the gearbox of 2.66:1. With the 14 front and a big sixty tooth one that will give me a ratio of 4.30:1. Nearly a 60% increase. A good trials gearing!
Tree trunks? Nae worries!
Dieter says: “You are beautiful and angular.”
Another view of the Kit Cat Cub. The timing side this time and some more details in evidence. Open frame with the oil taken by the main down tube. Nice skinny big hoop on the front and doughty shoe out back with plenty of travel on those rear shocks. No seat? Of course trials are carried out standing up. I’m ticking my way through the factory parts manual and the list of parts still to acquire seems to be growing! Yes it’s a pocket watch of a moto but the inner workings are still complex…
The Top Cat Cub as built by Charles who otherwise specializes in BSA “Otters” a special oil in framed B40 lightened and set up for pre 65 observed trials. www.bsaotter.com
A great resource for other off road shenanigans.
Like this blue frame article though. It uses an Electrex ignition which is probably the way I’ll go with my Cubby.
During research for a suitable ignition system for the Cub restoration I navigate the Boyer Bransden website. They’re known for a broad range of electronic ignitions for vintage points and distributor motorcycles and cars. In their gallery I spied a nice trials Cub owned by Julie from Leicestershire.
There are some good details I can hopefully use on my restoration. It’s a nifty looking machine.
Need to give ‘er a push into next week. Just put yer back into it!
After the war Bert shoehorned a lawnmower engine into a wheelchair and invented motorized transport for the disabled. The Invacar was born. That’s where that story ends for us… But a two-wheeled one begins: Bert was a keen trials rider so branched into motorcycling. The most notable model being the Challenger. My first experience of it was a Britain’s toy scrambler.
Here it is in the real world…
A green and white dirtroad killer. A 350cc useful tool which when first competed in ’64 won the Terry Cups Trial under the deft handling by Garth Sheldon. They also met success at the ISDT supplying bikes for the ’63 British team in Czechoslovakia.
Greeve’s are noted for their leading links forks; a simple design which when set up with the correct rubber dampers and trail angle seemed to do the trick. Seen here in trials form and balance over a rocky section.
The main reason I’ve been looking at the Greeve’s is its color scheme: the green and white would be a nice one for the Cub project. Even Mini’s of the sixties had this mint and cream look. Nifty!
Two-Wheeled tiptoes… A perfectly balanced Triumph Tiger Cub in trials form; simple, purposeful, awaiting orders from a deft hand and a stance in sweet equilibrium. Inspirational for the project.
Back in the day when Tiger Cubs was a fresh new model from Triumph the trials riders saw its supple format a the ideal tool one bloke from Bradford utilized its lithe characteristics to great effect.
He was a Scottish six day trial rider, and national competitor on the technical off-road circuit in the fifties and sixties. He stayed on British iron, including AJS at a time when riders were turning to the European and Japanese two strokes. In latter years he enjoyed beekeeping on the Isle of Man. I’m sure he enjoyed the TT spectacle each year from some hedgerow line corner.
Artie Ratcliffe has died in 2009 at an Isle of Man nursing home aged 83.
Good style on the Cub though, and a lovely looking machine too.
A few choice illustrations by a fine Canadian artist include these action trials paintings. Very evocative of a Highland scene with appropriately clad riders in tweed, flat cap or boiler suit.
An Ariel Hunter set up for slow speed over rugged terrain. Sammy Miller special.
James: two stroke beaut! Lightweight and geared to hop like a rabbit; in the bright hands of course.
Suzuki mid wheelie: another two stroker being revelled over damp grass. The Barbour jacket uniform of the ISDT rider. Must be Scotland!
geordiebiker.com 