Nous sommes tous Parisiens | Terrible news from France today as fire engulfed Norte Dame. It is a City I love to stroll around “flâner à Paris” looking at the architecture; and would one day hope to ride a Moto around doing likewise; stopping at the occasional street cafe and carry out another French pastime: people watching.
The Lady will be rebuilt and Paris will Triumph.
Thighmaster | someone loves their Bonneville. So much so that they’re willing to get it tattooed onto their upper leg.
Illuminating | Off-season project for the Bonnie. Replacing the headlight to clean-up electrics and lighting. The cafe look has gone with the low bars and rear-sets replaced by more standard fare.
Mercurial Mademoiselle | silver tank’d Bonnie and its brunette rider get us to weeks-end. Celebrating Frīġedæġ, meaning the “day of Frige”.
Marcus Motorcyclist – lead singer of folk rock musician troupe Mumford & Sons enjoys Triumphs old and new. His distinctive raspy voice is a perfect accompaniment to the upbeat music that husband performs. Lookin’ cool MM!
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.
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:
Vanishing Point- nice graphic used for a screenwriter school ad. Using Easy Rider as an example of ‘write your own movie!’ The artist uses a tweed garbed scholarly academian with a worried look about him riding into town on a classic Triumph Bonneville.
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.
Remember Remember – in 1605 Guy Fawkes and his Catholic conspirators were thwarted in their plan to blow up parliament. V for Vendetta, V for five, V or Victory. The Triumph Bonneville gains an extra gear in 1972 from four to five. They celebrated this added ratio with a Roman numeral V to the side panel decal.
Fall Roads – another photo from the weekend. Here Dean looking pensive under his balaclava as we sped along Old Green Bay Road through Lake Forest.
Fall Color – a nice autumnal half century jaunt up north on the owld gal. Both Bonnie’s were riding pretty good albeit the cooler start. Trees are magnificent right now: ruby, gold, amber, scarlet, and all other fiery displays. I must say the Tiger has spoiled me for ease and comfort. Older bikes need more input to keep a smooth progress along the road. But they’re fun in their own right.
Also, the bike will be going up onto the workstand for a winter sort through. For one the rear sets are coming off… getting too cramped for comfort!
Twenty Scored- today we celebrate our 20th year as a happily married couple. Here’s an old photo we reconstructed with us posing like design couple Charles & Ray Eames.
Gilmore Car Museum – Hickory Corner, Michigan. One barn at the excellent automobile museum here in south west Michigan held a good selection of two-wheeled delights. From barn- fresh Harley Flathead to a polished to the nines Vincent Black Shadow. It was a good collection covering a century of motorcycling. One of The Fonz’s Triumph TR5 was there too; as well as an immaculate ’59 T120 Bonneville and a gutsy looking Indian hill climber.
