Sunlit Shores – I took a quick spin on this draughty Sunday afternoon to fettle some running tuning. Lake Michigan had a deep turquoise horizon and steel grey water before lapping against the sandy shore.
February 26, 2017
Azure Lake Horizon
February 25, 2017
Brr a bit parky out there…
After last weeks brush with spring-like 60’s temperatures the true nature of February claws its icy talons back into our locale. We’re experiencing close to single digit wind chills right now. An inventive Triumph chopper owner takes snow removal into his own hands with this street-sign homespun plow. No snow here right now… perhaps if a whiteout beckons I’ll finagle a shovel attachment onto the Cub…
February 24, 2017
Pup
Pre Cub- a smaller Triumph before the Tiger Cub was the Terrier. At 150cc the diminutive scoot was a pocket watch against the larger carriage clock scaled 500 & 650 motos. But hey when you just need it to be motorcycle o’clock any two-wheeled machine will do! Miss Bobbie certainly appears happy.
February 23, 2017
Giddy up
Gearing Up – the work involved in stepping up from a 19 to 21 tooth front sprocket required some notching to be done to the case so the larger diameter gear could be slotted into the primary drive axle. 21 equally spaced grooves. Whilst I was in there the clutch was renewed which gives an very noticeable grab when throttle is applied. The gearing give about 12% extra wheel revolutions for the same engine speed.
February 22, 2017
Andy’s friend
Pop Art – like some 60’s Roy Lichtenstein this piece has an exciting dynamism to its layout. As well as the rider coming through a hole in the page, necktie aflutter, the sweeping ink brushwork, and a splayed onomatopoeic engine sound: VROOOOM
February 21, 2017
Hacky Dorty
Swarfega! – working on old motorcycles can be filthy work. I always find myself with oil ingrained hands even after a minor fuss of the bike. When doing the sprocket there was two chains to deal with, a road crud encrusted underside, some aluminum filings, and general grubbiness.
February 20, 2017
Impress
Sketchy View – the image filters available as apps can accomplish some marvelous visuals. This linocut one gets a stark graphic of the Bonnie in crisp sunlight.
February 19, 2017
Sunny Excursion
Rather terrific weather today. Though a chill in the air under motion, the sun was warm with a crisp light and the roads clear. Taking back road that offered more than a few stretches, to let the newly geared engine stretch its legs, I can confidently announce that there’s a hefty bit more grunt in the parallel twin. She lowped along comfortable at 60 with more to spare.
February 18, 2017
May days in February
Climate Change – with an unseasonable warm-up over this February weekend, where the mid sixties are being reached, I’ve had to work this last week in getting the Bonnie ready for at least one days riding. I’ve changed the front sprocket from a 19 tooth to a 21 so I can squeeze a little more speed out of the engine. The work necessitated removing the clutch and making alterations to a sprocket access hole in the back of the primary case. I’ll show that work in a blog post later this week. I put in new clutch friction plates for renewed ‘bite’, and installed a new clutch basket as the current one had notches in the tang grooves.
February 17, 2017
Try Triumph
Three Twins and a Triple – let’s close the week off with this clutch of Hinckley goodies. The new cafe 900 Street Cup in bumblebee yellow striping and black engine cases certainly looked the part. A pearly tanked Speed Triple sitting like a repose cat ready to strike its prey. ‘Hard tail’ Bobber sits low and purposeful (I felt a bit cramped on it) ready to customize with a catalogue full of eye candy. Finally the sublime Thruxton in ‘Go-Faster’ red: I could look at this all day…
For some reason I didn’t take any photos of the Tigers… the 800 seems to be the most practical bike out there.
February 16, 2017
Twin
Big Opposing Twins – whether from Springfield MA, Milwaukee WI, Berlin Germany, or Mandello del Lario in Italy; these beauties all have a pair of cylinders in flat or vee form, longitudinal or transverse. But, the all make good power and each have individualistic looks, sounds, and heritage. Dang! This is all good stuff! Current motorcycle models on offer make the prospective owners spoilt for choice.
February 15, 2017
Stick & Rudder
A Good Viewpoint – there’s nowt better than being in the pilots seat of a fast motorcycle. Low bar angle, poise for streamlining, and a speedo maxing out at the double ton. The Big Green ZX14 from Kawasaki is one such beast. Surely a rocket of the ballistic type. It feels sturdy. Then there’s the cockpit of the Thruxton. Beautiful detailing and exquisite visual balance. I’ll take one of each please!
February 14, 2017
❤️
L❤️VE IS – gazing adoringly at the sublime lines of classic British motorcycle engines. They are the pulsing heart of these machines; the very cardiac cycle of an industries history. These examples were beautiful examples of their marque on display at the motorcycle show.
February 13, 2017
Bullet
Built like a Gun – or so their advertising header says. Now from the sub-continent, these classic singles look like they hark from the fifties; but with modern day build. Some polished models with pinstripe details, others in olive drab military garb. The single-minded cafe racer Continental GT certainly looked that part too. All still have their kick-starts as standard too!
February 12, 2017
Showstoppers
Customs Officer – there were some superlative one-off builds at the show. Here are a couple of period Triumph bobbers in similar style yet very different execution. One has a brushed finish, luscious tank paint, open primary case, and a Jow Hunt magneto for spark. The other was polished to a mirrored finish – nearly to the point of distraction- with a sublime red flake frame paint job. All great work though.
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