Scaled Down – another model bike for my select collection. This one is an eighteenth scale Tiger 800.
it has a decent level of detail for the XR version of the multipurpose Triumph.
October 15, 2018
7:30am
Early Start – the new day broke clear, though chill, with a bright low sun and temperatures in the mid twenties. The Tiger started easily and took her packs without a shred of notice. I stayed at the friendly Homestead Inn ($39.95 a night) being fed the promised fresh coffee and ginormous cinnamon buns made by the proprietress Mary. Wrapped up against the chill and a steady road home I made good progress back to Chicago. All in all 930 miles and 5 1/2 tanks of gas. Good outing with a huge variety of riding conditions.
May 27, 2018
6 o’clock shadows of
Shadow Bar – the evening light with its low warm illumination lights up the orange tanked Bonnie to good effect. The shadow of you and your bike speeding along beside you is quite mesmerizing.
April 12, 2018
To ride a rocket into the Dark
Star Man – today marks the 57th anniversary of Colonel Yuri Gagarin’s flight into space.
Poyekhali!—Let’s go!
February 13, 2018
Custard Speed
Yellow Peril – Privateer racer John Parker built this Trident in the late seventies successfully competing in over 100 races.
Fettling includes: a Norman Hyde big bore kit; a Rob North frame; a stroked crankshaft; works cams; works steel-billet con-rods; lightened timing gears; triple Amal 30mm carburettors; works specification valves; Lucas RITA electronic ignition; a Quaife 5-speed close-ratio gear box; Ceriani forks; Essex wheel hubs; Borrani alloy wheel rims; Twin Lockheed front brake calipers; and a 3-into-1 exhaust system.
Fast? You betcha!
January 26, 2018
cycle guide
‘Zine Cover- sunny lemon backdrop and a profile portrait of a racing green Trident and coo’ing model in pure sixties vibe. Fifty years ago when the T150 was introduced.
January 25, 2018
Blau Neun
Number Nine – Today also sees the birthday of Gary Nixon, 60’s & 70’s Triumph team roadracer who took the hearty triple to good results. In his own words: “Watch the starter, get a good start, ’n then in a few laps, start lappin’ guys. An’ then you win the race.” Sound easy? Well it was for him.
Oh, it’s my birthday too!
January 20, 2018
Legs Eleven
Hipster – with my recovery from hip surgery going splendidly I am now swinging around on a pair of crutches. Luckily being in the clutches on winter here in the Midwest my riding is otherwise thwarted. Hopefully I’m back to full leg strength by springtime so I don’t have to scoot around like our chopper chap here…
January 1, 2018
Twenty Eighteen
MMXVIII – let’s hurtle into this year with the vigor of a stunt cat jumping through a hoop of fire.
December 27, 2017
With great power comes great responsibility!
Marvel! Tomorrow (28th) we celebrate the 95th birthday of comic legend Stan Lee. Co-creator of such greats as The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spiderman; The Mighty Thor; and Captain America.. as well as The X-Men, Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner, Dr Strange, Daredevil to name a few. His characters came to vivid life with the stunning penmanship of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and John Romita. Only getting the odd Marvel comic when going to Newcastle for my eye check-up that came to appreciate the American work. I grew up with the writings of John Wagner & Pat Mills of 2000ad, whose creations were illustrated by the likes of Brian Bolland, Carlos Ezquerra, Mike McMahon, Dave Gibbons, Massimo Belardinelli… it is by reading, studying and copying these I learned to use a pencil and pen allowing me to have a comfortable fluid draughting hand – but they ALL draw a dynamism from Stan’s exciting creations. Happy Birthday Mr Lieber!
December 19, 2017
Jock’s Bike
Banbury Road Racing Nutcase, Ken Drysdale on his Harris Framed 1976 Triumph T160 Trident. This is a serious piece of machinery whose sole purpose is to go quick. Some details gleaned off the interweb about it:
It was the first one Norman Hyde raced in the early 80’s. Geoff Johnson won on its maiden outing to Cadwell Park where it was running at about 1000cc at the time. Ken took possession in 1996. Neil Beadling built a new 930cc engine in 2015: Carrillo con rods; Neil own Nova big-bore barrels & pistons with 9.5-1 compression; Half race cam; head ported & flowed with bigger valves fitted; breathing with three 31mm Keihin smooth bore carburetors. Power transmitted to the rear wheel through a racing clutch with 40% stiffer diaphragm springs; and a Quaife 5 speed close ratio gearbox. Proceeding brought to a stop with AP racing brakes. Everything mounted to the Harris frame, Supporting Marzocchi forks and Maxton rear suspension. Racing Avons tires shod on race specific Astralite wheels…. It was advertised for sale in May… £16,000.00
(please email clivescarfe@hotmail.com for more information)
December 18, 2017
Trois sur Cinq
Five of Three – though only in production from 1968 until 1975 the deathbed gasp of Meriden based Triumph was a stout hearted machine that came a little lacking and a little late with the appearance of Honda’s CB750. But in those short 7 years while the company was self destructing the model adapted as it could to meet the demands of the riding public. The first part of its life as the T150 saw a 750cc three cylinder, dry-clutch, with drum brake giving way to disc, and imaginative detailing such as the now classic ray-gun silencers. It’s final iteration under the T160 designation saw an electric start fitted, gear shifting moved to the left, and the confine tilted forward to improve weight distribution. The tank colors aren’t bright primary or indeed complementary ones, but are quite sophisticated hues that are very much associated with the late sixties and early seventies.
