When I lived in London in the nineties part of my daily commute on either bicycle or motorbike was over Tower Bridge. An exciting section to speed over especially being at the front of the queue waiting for the bascules to be lowered. Indeed the one time I experienced a snowfall was on Tower Bridge.
THIS is why I ride Triumph. As Stuart Smalley would coin: “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!”
“…and that’s….. Okay!”
A Tiger gettin’ ‘hacky dorty in the mud. For effect only I’m sure; especially when the chrome is still shiny. Git yer wellies on and gan doon t’the scramblin’ field and howk away at the clarty ruts wi’ yer knobblies.
A magical note from the twin cylinder when revs rise from a lumpy burble to a high raspy whirr. When the engine is purring and the lanes smooth and clear it’s a beautiful song. A symphony of orchestrated parts moving in unison.
…are NOT suitable garb for sitting pillionward aboard a Triumph! And what curves are they referring to?
Just have a read of the adventuresome lifestyle a Triumph owner would experience by riding the legend British twin. James Bond comes to mind! Plenty of scantily clad gals as well as: skydiving, rapids in a kayak martial arts, deep sea fishing. Quite outlandish: but that’s how the sixties and seventies must have been like.
This is where motorcycling really comes into itself. The road with curves, bends, esses, right handers, sharp left turns, chicanes, swoopers, and all corners where destination isn’t important.
A poster with all necessary upgrades for your desert sled from some moto magician Edward in SoCal. What a machine! Its period precision for arid adventures.
A mag strip ad promoting machines for the ‘serious’ rider. Here’s a couple of old lads looking like they were sand bled for a few thousand miles: one in original wear, another spruced up somewhat.
High pipes, q filter, knobbly tires, thick seat. Ted setup, or something inspired by that! By the T-shirt if you can!
A jolly good ride across the bucolic countryside enjoying the fresh airs draughting through the lungs. Crack open a fresh packet of Players and let the worries of the real world was away…
Thunderbird: Bike of Britain!
Yup: that about sums it up! In its day a machine to be reckoned with… This smiling fella looks like he’s pushing his. I’ve been there! But it does look nice!
Peerless
Purposeful
Perfection
The other Rob Williams; Robbie that is; once Take That lead singer who went on to a terrifically successful solo career. Tries the ‘Cool’ look further with an off road Triumph a LA McQueen.
Desert road, dusty highway, knobbly tire’d sled.
He could make you laugh so hard you’d cry; he could make you cry hard too. From off-planet Mork, to on-air hell-raisin Vietnam DJ Cronauer , influential teacher Keating at a stiff prep school in Dead Poets Society, a dogged doctor in Awakenings; his ragged professor of Good Will Hunting a true zenith of roles. And more. Stand-up to the heights of a frenetic manic colossus. He rode and collected bicycles too.
“O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead…”
Walt Whitman
Another painting of a Thunderbird. Enticingly sitting there ready to put hand to throttle and sneck it into gear.
Another painting of a Thunderbird. Enticingly sitting there ready to put hand to throttle and sneck it into gear.
The much idolized Thunderbird- last of The pre-units in the Triumph line-up with the nicely enclosed headlight. And broad balanced mudguards. Well illustrated in this lively painting. A glint of blue skies on the chrome.
Here’s what it looked like in real life.
geordiebiker.com 