PopBangColour – Bold artwork in strong colour carried out with a confident hand. This oil pastel looking piece is as lively as an itchy wool sweater. Just enough detail to feel real yet in a looseness to seem that the engine is ticking over.
The artists site is Here.
Norton – My earliest memories of motorcycles was seeing these big beautiful machines roaring around the roads. The golden bagde quiff’d across the ebony tank and the perfectly balanced assemblage of parts are burned in my mind as the ideal motorcycle.
Behind the Bars – perfect April weather today. A warm breeze wafted across northern Illinois With the engine purring like a cat. Forsythia blooming sunshine yellow and redbud dappled in complementary purple. Brushed against the Wisconsin State Line along Russell Road and swung back down along the Lake.
Louche Lady – I’m sitting in the car listening to the haunting sound of Elliot Smith and the fresh sunny April skies hint at the seasons awakening. Trees are budding in response to earlier rains. Grass smells of growth. Good Friday sits astride Spring from a receding chill with the promises of warmth ahead. Hope I can get out on the bike this weekend.
And it’s goodnight from him – Ronnie Barker is captain of this endless tandem passengers by other bowler hatted riders as well as Blue Peter favorites John Noakes and Lesley Judd. The front end is definitely motorcycle rated and the structural truss frame very engineered. This was October 5th 1972. The Vigintipede (21) was used by Littlehampton Rotary Club to raise money for the RNLI and the Blue Peter lifeboat.
50-59-68-72-06-16 Five of the Best. From Ed Turners Speed Twin, through the original Bonneville’s of the late fifties, sixties, and early seventies; to the New Century Bonnie’s right up to the latest Twins. 500cc’s up to 1200.
Screenprint- artist Ryan Quickfall has some evocative motorcycle illustrations. Go to his site Here. This particular one is of AMA great Gary Nixon.
Place de la Concorde – a vintage gathering Gallic style. As well as some older Citroen, Mercedes, deux chevaux there is the odd British bike.
Century – A private of the Royal Engineers on his motorcycle. The chevrons on his lower right sleeve show he is in his third year of overseas service… One Hundred years ago today saw the start of a British offensive at Arras which, by its end a little over a month later saw close to 400,000 losses and casualties on both sides. The motorcycle is a wartime stalwart Triumph Model H.
Edward Thomas a notable wartime poet was killed in action this day. His work extolled the virtues of the English countryside and its invigorating open airs. One of my bosses twenty years ago was the godson of Thomas’ nephew, born in May 1918 he was named after his uncle.
“And I rose up, and knew that I was tired, and continued my journey”
Black Dog – Neptunes spear was the Trident; also the sharp stick used by Triumph to win a bevy of races in the late sixties… it’s also the possible next project for Geordie Biker Workshop. I saw this one at Morries Place as a suggestion from Ed Zender. Nice powerful three cylinder tool… a seed is sown!
“Trishula” is Sanskrit for trident and was the weapon of Shiva.
Indian Beauty Gul Panag is the latest belle du jour for the current classic Triumph models, specifically the Mighty Thruxton. Like many Indian people she started on two Wheels at an early age.
Blue Thursday – absolutely stunning ink drawing by the indomitable Alex Oxley who did some great cartoon motorcyclethemed illustrations in the fifties. His work included ‘It’s Easy on a Triumph’ ads and caricatures of racers of the day. This one captures brush ink work at its best. From the thin line of a delicate nose to a heavy line of the lid and glisten of lipstick. Superb!
Trailer Traveller – if I ever needed to tote my old Triumph to a distant destination I could get a bike specific hauler and know my Mini Clubman ‘Shooting Brake’ is up to the deed. Here’s an owner taking their Speed Triple to ‘greener pastures’.
Straddled Strider – Proud owner and his cafe’d Triumph. Nice monochrome portrait perfect narrow depth of field and crisp focusing of subject. It looks like my bike, with big tank, however the twin disc forks and bum-stop seat are added extras.
geordiebiker.com 