A superb sketch advert from the mid-fifties of a Triumph acting as tea delivery ride in a car race. The effortless linework achieves a sense of speed and fluid brushwork on the people add livliness. wash and white lines fill the graphic. “It’s Easy-” The cheeky chappy with the T-UP sign… priceless like Dandy comics.
Kawumph
You have your Triton’s, Norbsa’s, Norvin’s, and other marriages of engine and frame. Well here’s a novel one: a 750cc T140 shoehorned into a late 80’s Kawasaki Ninja 600 frame! A curious merger which has a balanced look to it, though I’m sure it gets double takes when people hear the classic twin sound come from a sports bike!
Kids in the Hall
Taiyo LaPaix
I found this illustrator on another moto blog and really like his style; superb handsketching with a distictive line. Both coloured pencils and paint. He’s based in Asheville NC and most of his work includes his muse Pappilla LaPaix, an imaginary gal with an unassuming self confidence. You believe she’s real with the expressions he has her ‘pose’. Fun and lively stuff! Oh, and she’s sitting on a nice Bonnie Bobber.
Colour of Orange
The Black Adder
Flippin’ through a mag at the local supermarket I saw spied this chooper Triumph. A ride for Capt’n Blackadder I suppose?
“And in Genoa, ’tis now the fashion to pin a live frog to the shoulder braid, stand in a bucket and go “bibble” at passers by.” Edmund Blackadder.
Here’s a tasty close-up of the ultra clean engine and details; surgical in execution; lovely.
Maybe she’s Bonnie with it!
MULE Motorcycles – Brighton Cafe Streetmaster
Custom Bobber Bonnie Indiana style
On weekend trip to Fort Wayne Indiana we stoped in at Pierceton, a small town on Route 30. A couple rode in on a pair of bikes; one with a distinctive twin sound, parallel rather than 45 degree V. Here’s the well built chopper with Bonnie engine; hard tail, forward controls and nice hefty (but not too big) forks and well valanced fenders. The split harley tank with green flame set it off.
Seperate octagon oil tank, long brake rod and low-slung battery box, typical details for this chopperization of a Brit Iron.
Gary Nixon 1941-2011
Gary was one of the greats who made Triumph a big name in performance motorcycles in the’States. Taking flat-track and road race set up motos to numerous victories such as the Springfiled Mile, Daytona and other great venues. (he was also a Burns Birthday lad; same as me January 25th)
Speed Triple
The Cold Crisp Taste of Coke…
Robert M. Pursig? There’s no Zen involved, just sweat, cursing, oil and more sweat!
I spent the better part of this morning into the afternoon installing an in-line screw on oil filter. It entailed draining the frame ‘tank’ then checking the mesh filter and assembling the C-Clamp attached bracket into a very small space under the rear swing-arm. Reconnecting oil lines became problematic with different sized hoses: 5/16″ ID into 1/4″ ID adapters anyone?
All this was carried out in the storage garage under the office, warm, steamy, filthy floor. I was a true wet, oily, mucky mess! Nothing a good shower, swim then shower at the Y couldn’t amend! Well it’s on now so I can keep the oil clean for the engine!
This chap has certainly got a Tiger by the tail; it’s a late 70’s LH shift single carb 750cc Triumph Tiger. That crazed look is familiar!
A Wee Ride up a Hill
Triumph Hurricane X75 ReDux
The Iconic X75, restyled Trident by Craig Vetter in the early 70’s was meant to be the shot of styling adrenaline the company needed to unseat it from the shoals of economic strife. However it was not to be relating to various mismanagement politics; however it’s still a powerful look for the very capable triple. Here one Jean François Vicente has taken a late 90’s Hinckley Adventurer and graced it with the vetteresque bodywork, the striking orange and yellow colours, hefty upside-down forks, modern roadgoing tyres and three upswept pipes. Spiffy!































