Parked on the grass parking lot at the swapmeet was this pearly beauty: a latter day Triumph Speed Triple. Muscle-bound; fine tuned; bug-eyed thrill of a ride. Jugular-looking tube frame, black hearted motor… cor-blimey guv! Sorted ride mate.
April 16, 2012
Swap Shop
More of my Sunday morning dawdle amongst the wrecked, ruined and disowned all awaiting someone to fulfill their project needs. Let’s start off with this pair of Tigers a decade apart but both beauty’s. ALthough it’s the single carb version of the Bonnie, it’s still a worthy roadbike. This racing green ’77 750cc and it’s older cherry ’69 650cc both examples of what clean-machines these can look. The tastiest eye candy?
Next up is a ’60 Cub; its diminutive stature belies a fun-on-two-wheels nature This one is all present and correct: a bargain at $1,700. Historical note: In 1960 the UK law was changed restricting learner motorcyclists to a maximum of 250cc and the Tiger Cub became one of the most popular ways of getting onto two wheels.
Last up is a super 500 Trophy; a similarly clean example which was started up with one kick to a musical twin sound. Magic! I believe the owner was using it as a draw for his boxes and tarp laden piles of rusty and oily parts…
April 15, 2012
Woodstock Walneck
A Swap Meet at Woodstock IL today allowed a plethora of vintage bikes, parts, and ‘cyclists to be regarded. I’ll spend the next few days going over the finds I saw: obviously some British Iron was represented, as was a LOT of Harley Davidson, but a few 70’s Japanese gems was seen too. Starting today with some of the Triumph findings…
This trailer has a whole early seventies Bonneville, a rolling chassis pats bike and was fresh out of the barn; a project for the taking only $2500. Go on! Haggle!
Lying askew on the grass at the estimable Ed Zenders (Morries Place) spot was this forlorn 650cc engine. A little rough around the edges, but all seemed to be there; internals would be a secret only to be revealed upon cracking this nut. Then the fun would begin!
April 14, 2012
He who rides a Tiger is afraid to dismount
Tiger T-Shirt: sharp claws, teeth and stripes. The Tiger has the power to Roar. The logo for Triumph T100 built from the early forties through the seventies.
A good graphic for a bikers tattoo…
(Title is a Chinese Proverb)
April 13, 2012
Date Nite
Either a Prom or Debutante; either way this ’55 racing Triumph is a worthy suitor! Comes with floral bouquet and a shelf-load of trophies. If you look closer at this speed modified T100R, a “Special” Tiger; the handlebars are placed at the lower triple tree, the rear-sets at waaay back and no front brake. This velocity beast was owned by John Melniczuk, owner of J&M Enterprises. That 2 into 1 into 2 pipe setup looks smashing too.
April 10, 2012
Of canvas and a primus stove
Pack the tent, food hamper and don’t forget the missus. Enjoy life on the open road with: fresh air, countryside and nature as your companions. As well as a dripping canvas fly sheet. “pass the pork pie pet and crack open the bottle of stout will you?”
April 9, 2012
Scotch Moto
Oor pal Ewan gan oot oan his Trumpit six-fifty. Keepin’ waam wi’ his donkey jacket and spit ‘n’ polished bike he’s ready fer a wee scoot aboot toon.
Must be somewhere overseas, it ain’t raining!
April 8, 2012
Scramble!
Not so much a muddy hillside; more an urban, potholed, cobbled, taxi-caddeb cityscape. The knobbly shod Triumph Scrambler is a true city mount ready for anything a metropoilis can throw at it: high stance, wide bars, and eye-catching classic look; this is a solid performer to get you down through Tribeca or up along the Upper East Side. This one was seen and photographed in the Big Apple.
April 2, 2012
Hang On!
When the Krazy Boyz stunt folk who tear up the highways wheelying their Ninjas, Gixxers or CBR’s were but a twinkle in their grandpappy’s eyes; this bloke, Kenny Brown, was touring the drag strips doing wild shenanigans on Brit Iron. Steel soles essential…
March 31, 2012
Rocket Red Thunderbird
The Thunderbird’s name comes from the common belief that the beating of its enormous wings causes thunder and stirs the wind. When Triumph was reborn in the 90’s their model range based around the muscular triple engine created this brute of a classic bike. The name seemed appropriate both historically in salute to earlier models as well as the legend above. As a choice I belive it is a close run between this and the modern Thruxton.
March 30, 2012
Oranges are Not the only Fruit!
Our Scottish pal Ewan McGregor looks on at some vintage racing Triumph at Brooklands. Look at the angle of those bars, a speed set-up this surely is! Meanwhile the Teutuls look on in somewhat due respect; it ain’t a chopper boys, but it’s go like a hare bein’ chased by a hound! More about Ewan in future posts, being a bike nut ‘n’ all.
The Brooklands Museum, was the very first banked track course. Designed purely for the attainment of speed on the burgeoning car and bikes being built and adapted to go fast at the turn of the 20th Century. It’s crumbling slopes now host gatherings of vintage transport as well as a great collection of aircraft; including one of the retired BOAC Concorde ` indeed Brooklands can be considered a major part of the Concorde story.
March 29, 2012
Three ain’t a Crowd
When you’re on a Triumph Trident T160 that is! A delightful triple cylindered moto which took the British bike industry a step further into the seventies. However Honda and Kawasaki were waiting in the wings with their impeccable ‘superbike’ fours, the CB750 and 900cc Z1. Nevertheless the T160, here a ’75 model, was a suitable ride for distance and twisty road work. Electric starter, disc brakes and plush ride, what more could ya want? This bike begat Slippery Sam as well as The Hurricane: both examples for the waning Meriden years to be proud of (to some degree…)
March 27, 2012
“Short, back and sides Sir!”
Fabulous image of Paul Newman lounging lazily atop a Triumph getting a trim from the studio barber. Even reading the New York Times he looks cool.
The date can be confirmed by the cover photo of Lyndon Johnson confirming Thurgood Marshall to Supreme Court. This was July 13th 1966. A few days before “Harper” was released in which he starred.
March 22, 2012
Monkey Business
Little Drummer Boy: Micky Dolenz of The Monkees enjoying a caper aboard a Triumph. That recognizable squinty face with floppy quiff streaming behind the BritIron speed.
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