Police Steed – bobby on a Beeza. When British motorcycles reigned supreme the local forces used the best of ’em to get along the road with speed. Nice monochrome ink painting advert with a happy sergeant copper swinging his police boots over an A10 escorting some VIP no doubt.
Che – standing in proud resolution as if photographed by Alberto Korda, who captured the famous Ernesto Guevara image, this Triumph Cub evokes its mid Century heritage. The black headlight nacelle is elegant engineering against the steel blue tank.
Five Crows – companions on a ride. Appropriately a Triumph 6T Thunderbird. The linocut is quite perfectly composed, with the necessary dark and light creating the image beautifully. The crow is one of my favorite birds; intelligent, curious, blue black plumage as dark as a storm. From the capable artisan hands of Matylda Mcilvenny from Sweden. See her work at the Etsy shop GoneUndoneSthlm.
Dad’s Army – classic BBC comedy from the seventies. Currently being repeated on Netflix; well written, and superbly acted. Captain Mainwaring and his second in command Sergeant Wilson in charge of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard which includes Lance Corporal Jones, Privates Frazer, Walker, Godfrey and Pike…
Tat’s a nice motorbike- late sixties Bonnie laid up outside an Inking establishment. Lifetime Tattoo is a parlor located in Denver so our Coloradan ‘Lydia’ enjoys mile high biking of the British kind.
“Lydia, oh! Lydia, say have you met Lydia
Oh! Lydia, the tattooed lady
She has eyes that folks adore so
And a torso even more so
Lydia, oh! Lydia, that “Encyclopedia”
Oh! Lydia, the Queen of tattoo
On her back is the Battle of Waterloo
Beside it the Wreck of the Hesperus too
And proudly above the waves
The Red, White and Blue
You can learn a lot from Lydia…”
Attorney J. Cheever Loophole
Specifications
Make Model
Triumph Trident T150 750
Year
1968 – 70
Engine
Tansverse three cylinder, pushrod OHV, 2 valves per cylinder
Capacity
741 cc / 45.2 cu in
Bore x Stroke
67 x 70.5 mm
Compression Ratio
9.0:1
Cooling
Air cooled
Lubrication
Dry sump
Induction
3 x 26 mm Amal MK1 carburetors
Ignition
Individual points & coils
Starting
Kick
Max Power
58 hp @ 7250 rpm
Transmission
4 Speed, constant mesh
Final Drive
Chain
Gear Ratios
1st 13.00 / 2nd 9.00 / 3rd 6.64 / 4th 5.26:1
Frame
Single downtube, duplex cradle
Front
Telescopic fork, hydraulic
Rear
Swingarm, dual shocks
F Brakes
8 in TLS drum
R Brakes
7 in TLS drum
Front Tyre
3.25-19, Dunlop K70
Rear Tyre
4.10-19, Dunlop K70
Dimensions
Length: 86.0 in
Width: 33.0 in
Height: 43.5 in
Wheelbase
56.3 in
Ground Clearance
6.5 in
Seat Height
32 in
Dry Weight
460 lbs
Fuel
5.0 US gal / 4.2 Imp gal
Top Speed
105 mph
WAAF – Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, furthering our WW2 flight theme look at this tiger gaped Bonneville. Jerry can pannier is a appropriate detail, and the big wartime yellow ringed roundel seals the deal. As they say: ” Smoke me a kipper, I’ll be back for breakfast!”
Air Force Blue – here’s what the pilots would have used to tear across the airfield to get to their aircraft and take off to fight against the Luftwaffe. A BSA M20 in splendid condition sitting under the wing of a Hawker Hurricane.
Mike the Bike – born this day in 1940 Mike Hailwood went on to become one of the most naturally talented road racer of all time. As well as a maestro at GP in all sized engines he could also beat the best of ’em at the Isle of Man TT. His 1978 comeback for the Senior TT is the stuff of legend. Mike looks most comfortable as pillion to James Bond Film actress and ’69 Miss World Eva Rueber-Staier on a Triumph motorcycle. photo taken at Thruxton, UK, on 1st August 1971
He was awarded the George Medal for bravery after pulling Clay Regazzoni from his burning F1 car at the S Africa Grand Prix in 1973.
Royal Air Force – turns 100 today. From beginnings during The Great War, through protection of various Empirical Territories it revealed its true strength in the skies over England during The Battle of Britain where, in Churchill’s words “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few,”
Brighton 1964 – if you were there you were either a Mod or a Rocker. The scene to bee seen along the seafront of Kings Road. This smart chap has a leopardskin seat cover on his faired Triumph Cub whilst some other clean-cut youths gaze on. Horror films on show for period entertainment though the daily lifestyle of these two iconic subcultures were heady enough. Great photo though!
Cafe Society- perfect looking Thruxton given a suitably photogenic black and white portrait treatment. Luv Cartier-Bresson would be impressed that even in this day and age of high-def imagery we always fall back on the nostalgia of monochrome photography.
Blade Runner – Currently watching The Directors Cut of this sublime film based on Philip K. Dick’s novella. Illustrator Syd Mead was behind many of the futuristic visuals for the vehicles, buildings and daily accessories in the dystopian realm. We’re only one year away from its date: November 2019… Who’s to say if we don’t descend into that state of affairs by then?
“Fiery the angels rose fall, and as they rose fall deep thunder roll’d. Around their shores: indignant burning with the fires of Orc.” William Blake / Roy Batty
Ship of the Desert – clean example of a Triumph Trophy TR6C that sold a few years back for just shy of $15k at a Bonhams auction. Bikes like this was de rigeur for desert racing in the sixties. The twin high pipes adorning this cactus green example and appropriate Camel advertising set up a sandy outlook for the deep pocketed owner.
(The camel connection was for Hump-Day)
Dr Jekyll – the beast within. Specialist motorcycle performance component guru Norman Hyde has a solid history in making Triumph run quicker and faster. Under the tutelage of Doug Hele at the Triumph Racing Development Department he cut his teeth on making Bonneville’s and Tridents go like the clappers. Records were made on the drag strips with his meticulously engineered machines. Norman looks rather dapper in his weskit & jaiket astride a newer Bonneville for which he’s developed many performance parts.
My Bonneville has Norman Hyde rearsets and clubman handlebars… well, I think it goes quicker…
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