For any Mad March Hares lolloping around here’s a race poster for a Big Bear event where our top marque topped the leader board. I’d love the idea of 150 miles on the varied terrain aboard a sled would be a heap o’ fun but exhausting.
April 1, 2014
Shocking Newsflash
Hinckley, UK
April 1, 2014
A statement earlier today from Triumph Motorcycles rung dismay in the strengthening British industry for two-wheeled vehicles. With their state of the art factory in the heartland of Leicestershire and worldwide facilities in the Far East, and soon Asian and South American markets, their future indeed looked bright. However owner John Bloor, 70, made a press release stating that he was “selling up!” And “Moving to The Caribbean”, to “Play more golf”, and “do more fishing” as well as “drink more cocktails on sunny beaches”.
A new owner has already been found which will entail a re-badging of all current and future products. A certain Teutonic company who have a strong stance in both the car and motorcycle industry have stepped forward as the new management of this organization.
A spokesman from BMW, Herr Gruberwurst, 54, said: “we are thrilled at this opportunity for an expansion of our current line-up; however some changes will of course have to be made; the renowned Bonneville with half a century of history behind it will be renamed “Der Gutstadt” and the all-terrain Tiger “Die Panzerrad” Also with some duplication with our current models some of the englisch mottorrad may be canceled…”
As Mr Bloor will be taking the name “Triumph” with him to into obscure retirement, renaming a Bahaman atholl he has procured Isle Triumph, all existing owners will be sent blue and white checked rondel badges with the famous Bayerische Motoren Werke logo to apply to their tanks as well as a pair of decals for bodywork. Of course those with the original Meriden Triumph motorcycles can keep original logo badge due to their ‘historical significance’ towards British history.
In other motorcycling news Honda are eyeing up a certain Milwaukee motorbike maker for a takeover…
March 31, 2014
Mad March Hare
Burt Monro left (for it is he), Bud Hare, center, and rider Jeff Gough at The Salt with one of Bud’s center hub steering Triumphs, obviously looking for a good run top speed. This is a triple and would see close to 170 mph.
Mad? You betcha. Mad and fast as a Hare!
March 30, 2014
Green Grow the Rashes O
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
There’s nought but care on ev’ry han’,
In every hour that passes, O
What signifies the life o’ man,
An’ ’twere na for the lasses, O.
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
The warl’y race may riches chase,
An’ riches still may fly them, O
An’ tho’ at last they catch them fast,
Their hearts can ne’er enjoy them, O.
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
But gie me a cannie hour at e’en,
My arms about my dearie, O,
An’ warl’y cares an’ war’ly men
May a’ gae tapsalteerie, O!
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
For you sae douce, ye sneer at this
Ye’re nought but senseless asses, O
The wisest man the warl’ e’er saw,
He dearly lov’d the lasses, O.
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears
Her noblest work she classes, O
Her prentice han’ she try’d on man,
An’ then she made the lasses, O.
Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend,
Are spent among the lasses, O
Robert Burns 1759-1796
March 29, 2014
Six of the Best
An early sixties Triumph model brochure shows off their available models. This technical airbrushed illustrations was typical of the time. It shows off the details of the bikes well.
March 27, 2014
It’s an uphill battle
Here’s an old photograph of a hillclimb race in the fifties. It is up one of the grassy valleys amongst the foothills of the Cheviots in North Northumberland. I grew up here and spent summer days riding my bicycle up and down these tracks. Great to know there was motorcycling history here.
March 26, 2014
Framed
Okay! Bolting parts of the frame together. A little bit of a dry-run a some new nuts and washers are required. But taking shape nonetheless. A lot more straight forward than the Bonnie. Also a better workshop and tool setup helps too!
The rear sub frame bolts on at the swingarm spindle bolts and the upper frame seat/tank junction. Lower footpeg and side stand brackets attach here too. The swingarm is temporarily suspended. Measuring for a new set of stainless nuts bolts and washers. All Whitworth thread too.
March 25, 2014
Scrub-a-dub-dub
Make sure you scrub behind the ears! The oily finish old British moto engines can get sometimes need a wash down to let it sparkle. A period can of degreaser shows off a bath bound Triumph getting brushed down. Nice two color print graphic.
March 23, 2014
Any color as long as it’s Black
Frame and fork components were returned today in splendid gloss black powder coated finish. All slick and span and ready for chassis assembly. The work was carried out very capably by JTS Coatings & Cycles in Lakemoor IL.
Charley the Quality Control Cat looks on approvingly. He doesn’t miss a trick!
March 22, 2014
You say tires I say tyres…
The original tire was a heated steel hoop quench-shrunk onto the wooden wheel. The anglicized tyre was a 20thC spelling only used in Britain. Tire is the standard spelling. Scotsman John Dunlop invented the rubber pneumatic tire, further developed with galvanizing by Charles Goodyear. Now my Cub wheels are shod with lightly knobbled trials boots. Something complete for the project!
March 21, 2014
If you shout loud enough… You’ll get a little hearse!
What better way for the conveyance of a casket for a motorcyclist that a hearse combination. Motorcycle Funerals have just that outfit with glass surrounded car being driven along by a appropriate 900cc Triumph Adventurer.
A handsome thing giving dignity to the departed.
..and a wreath for memorial? We have just the ticket for you sir… Poppy red Bonneville.
And a reading….
The Soldier by Rupert Brooke written in 1914
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England.
There shall be in that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
This was of course written at the onset of that hideous war and before the loss of innocence of a country, continent and world. But it’s a fine poem nonetheless.
An aside note: Chicago, IL once operated 3 different funeral trolley cars over the elevated tracks in downtown Chicago to outlying cemeteries in the western suburbs. A special funeral bureau handled the funeral trains which sometimes operated 3-4 funeral trains a week over the ‘L’. Me? I’ll pick the motorcycle any day!
March 20, 2014
Equinox
Spring arrived today with a dusting of airborne snow, but a promise of warmth emerged with a bright afternoon sun. Can nicer weather be on the horizon? Hope so. In the meanwhile here’s the magical Speed Triple in lush greenery.
Splendid!
March 19, 2014
Bud
I picked up my cylinder head and barrel today from The Machine Shop, a little hidden gem in Rogers Park where Bud Clements works his time honored magic on engine parts old, new, common and esoteric. He rebored the cylinder to receive the new 60 over piston and cleaned, set new guides, and lapped seats for a pair of valves too. He knows his stuff down to the micron.
The great convergence is upon us!
geordiebiker.com 