July 26, 2011
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!
Here’s the original red-headed beauty for comparison…
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July 23, 2011
An evocative painting of Percy Tait aboard a racing Triumph in the late 60’s. One time Triumph road tester he also raced the bikes; including Slippery Sam, which gained its name when the oil pump spewed Percy’s boot with the black stuff at a Bol d’Or 24 hour race. Percy was at the very sharp end of Triumph testing in the sixties especially the powerful triples racking up an estimated million miles around the roads and racetracks of the UK for Triumph.
Painting by Derek Sparkes.
Posted in Motorcycle Art, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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June 29, 2011
This could be prior to his infamous moped accident in late ’66. Where he cut his lip and chipped a tooth. Anyway he’s atop a Thunderbird, glossy black with spiffy nacelle headlight.
I don’t know why she’s ridin’ so high.
She oughtta think twice.
She oughtta do right by me.
A 1962 Thunderbird
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June 28, 2011
A McQueen fix, here’s wor Steve looking on at the ISDT rides quarantined from the riders pre-race. His is the one in front no doubt “278”. Pensive before the six days ahead!
Posted in Racing, Steve McQueen, Triumph Motorcycle |
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June 26, 2011
A new model in the Triumph line-up: the 1600cc parallel twin cruiser in a blackened finish called the Thunderbird Storm. Twin headlights, wide seat and chunky rubber underfoot. It looks like a GOOD ride, comfy width seat and bars, with, I’m sure, power to boot! Well, if ever I did go down the cruiser route, this is the one for me!
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June 25, 2011
In the last breath of life in the Meridan existance of the Triumph name, one model was promoted in a small way for a very specialist use: the street scrambler. Using a name made from desert racing no doubt, the Tiger 750 model, TR7R, was, in 1982, given a fresh lick of paint, big front hoop with knobbly tire, long front forks, engine bash guard and natty headlight mesh. A little too heavy against the lightweight two-strokes offered by Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawaaki and Honda; or even the 600 4 stroke singles for that matter. The only direct competions would be the newly released BMW GS80, embryonic monster trail, grandpappy of the big GS1150 used by globetrekkers now.
The blackened engine is aimed at the Yamaha crowd of the time. As is the boxy silencer.
Here’s a clean example on display at the Motorcycle Museum in London, wheel displayed aloft in expected ride style! Big plastic off-road mud guard in front, very un-triumph!
A clean example at the Ace cafe; a brace of enthusiastic onlookers enjoy it’s company!
Left hand gears, disc brake front, drum rear, short seat, wide braced bars, kick starter. This looks like it would actually be a fun ride for adventure travel! Just need some period looking aluminium panniers! Shades of todays Scrambler 900 model? Here’s a couple more views of this little corker of a ride! Enjoy! Oh, and it seems to be as rare as hens teeth!
Posted in 80's, Motorcycle Poster, Triumph Motorcycle |
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June 24, 2011
Why Triumph? Is it the name?
tri·umph
play_w2(“T0370800”)intr.v. tri·umphed, tri·umph·ing, tri·umphs
1. To be victorious or successful; win.
2. To rejoice over a success or victory; exult.
3. To receive honors upon return from a victory in ancient Rome. Used of a general.
4. To be in motion rapidly along a roadway, either straight or curvilinear in alignment, upon a two-wheeled transport from the Midlands area of the United Kingdom. See: to hare
n.
1. The fact of being victorious; victory or conquest.
2. A noteworthy or spectacular success.
3. Exultation or rejoicing over victory or success.
4. A public celebration in ancient Rome to welcome a returning victorious commander and his army.
5. The pre-eminent motorcycle from the Midlands area of the United Kingdom.
….seems about right!
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June 23, 2011
Here’s an ample selection of details from the bike at the show; all Triumph of course! Starting with the tank badge of my favorite, the green Speed Triple. The mean bug-eyed monster.
Clocks from a newer Bonnie, nice clamp name detail.
Bonneville ‘Oil Tank’ name and flag. Patriotic or what!
Center tank bolt cover badge. I need one for my tank.
The Lucas Ammeter, the ‘Lord of Darkness’ reigns supreme! Or so this indicates!
A Tiger and its stripes.
The clean monochrome look on the Trophy touring bike. Sublime.
…and finally the Smiths Chronometric speedo; 120 m.p.h. sir? On a Bonnie in favorable conditions? Nearly! Neverthless a beautiful graphic, used in British ‘cycles and sports cars of the period.
Posted in Chicago, Motorcycle Art, Triumph Bonneville, Triumph Motorcycle |
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June 19, 2011
I concentrated on the Triumphs: starting with a good range of the newer Hinckley models, each with their own personalized modification to varying degrees.
Local dealer Motoworks were thre showing a few bikes; the green Speed Triple was my fave…
The modern Tiger, tall legged ready for roadgoing adventure.
A pair of Thruxtons with small fairings for a lively race look.
Bonnevilles galore…
Tangerine and delight.
Seeing triple!
The McQueen inspired Scrambler; a suitably fun based ride.
Bikes glow in appreciation.
The sublime powerplant of the 2300cc Triumph.
The rounded lines of the late nineties Trophy, competent speed and distance tug.
All tastes covered, from the clean touring bike to a colorful cafe…
…and finally, a bobbed Triumph. Hardtail and sprung saddle; though clip-ons and forward placed footrests may make an awkward seating position. But obviously a well-loved ride.
Posted in Chicago, Triumph Motorcycle |
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June 17, 2011
If all you’ve got is a small fenced yard then you’d better chain ‘er down. Hope this ride is loved otherwise and sees plenty of miles under her wheels!
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June 15, 2011
Back in the early 70’s physicist Carl Sagan helped promote and realisation of adding a message plaque to NASA’s Pioneer spacecraft. He devised a graphic representing an understanding of molecular physics as well as our position in space, down to which planet in the Solar System we are on. Also on it are images of a man and woman.
I’ve added the outline of a Triumph to let the extraterrestrials know that we ride motorcycles too!
Posted in 70's, Motorcycle Art, Triumph Motorcycle |
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June 15, 2011
Ann Margaret flinging her ‘bye, bye, birdy’ persona to the desert winds and taking off down the road Captain America style. Point it to the horizon and keep going!
Too Kool 4 Skool, fer shure…
Hardtail triumph with well sprung seat.
Redhead Sara and her ride, low seat and flipped bars; a moto for the road.
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June 14, 2011
Over the years the Royal Mail have used motorcycles for rapid delivery; much before FedEx and the like. We’ll look at some of their bikes later, however in 2005 they created a commemorative series dedicated to British bikes including: a Rotary Norton, Royal Enfield, Vincent, BSA and Brough Superior.
Taking pride of place at 47 pence is a Triumph Speed Triple.
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June 12, 2011
The late 60’s and early 70’s was the time when the chopper culture entered it’s golden, glitzy, chrome-laden, and psychadelic colored era. Here’a couple of examples of the style. Not necessarily raked forks all the time, but a semi-bobbed style. This one has a super open-road portrait stretching into the distance. Insect-like headlights, but a comfortable riding geometry.
U-shaped bucket seat, peanut tank and raked hardtail frmae; that’s chopper style. The british twins were used as much as the harley v-twins are seen today in these custom specials.
Crumb-esque drawings add to tne light hearted nature of the lifestyle…
…keep on ridin’!
Posted in 60's, 70's, Motorcycle Poster, Triumph Motorcycle |
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June 12, 2011
Ooh, to have a place to wheel in a British Iron needing some tinkering, overhaul or just plain looked at! A space with a workbench, tools, wireless playing, a shelf with a cat curled up with sleepy eyes watcing over your work…
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