March 9, 2014
Taking a nifty small bike to the gravelly mountain trails looks like huge fun. This Sammy Miller Cub special owned by ‘Julie from Leicestershire’ is seen doing just that in the Pyrenees.
Backroads through woods and up alpine valleys is an ideal venue for the 200cc single. The peaks reflecting off the aluminum gas tank adds a touch if visual drama too.
I ordered my trial ‘knobblies’ today. I feel that if I have the wheels built up it’ll give a good impetus for the rest of the project…
…probably not get to the Pyrenees but hopefully some local hill sometime!
Posted in Gals, Travel, Triumph Cub |
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March 8, 2014
After the delights of the Debenham sisters here’s what the seventies offered gals on their motos! Strap’d high heels and a long summer dress? That won’t get you far on that two-stroke Suzuki crosser.
Its a good job the role models for women riders include the likes of the talented Elena Myers a 21 year old AMA racer going head-to-head with the lads. Recently moved from powerful Suzuki superbikes to the sublime Triumph Daytona.
Ain’t no bugs on this gals smile! As they say “Girl Power!”
Posted in Book, Gals, Racing, Superhero, Triumph Motorcycle |
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March 7, 2014
Friday night is bike night! Home from work, leathers on, hair greased, motorbike warmed up and off down the caff for a burn up. The Road Rocket is running good the’night and she’s a crowd pleaser. Ton-up lads ‘n’ lasses ton up!
Posted in BSA, cafe racer, Gals |
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March 6, 2014
Nancy Debenham, with pet hound Poncho sitting on the tank, wheels along happily in this late twenties photograph. Along with her sister Betty she paved the way for young ladies newly empowered with the equal voting age act with their 1928 book ‘Motorcycling for Women’. Reflecting a golden period when motorcycles outnumbered cars and anyone barely school leaving age could ride a motorcycle, these attractive, adventurous, mechanically minded young ladies who thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of two-wheeled transport the sisters became poster girls for motorcycling on road as well as racetrack. Nancy won a Gold Medal at Brooklands Racetrack in 1926. They were often accompanied on their journeys by their mischievous dog Poncho who would stowaway in the sidecars.
In an article penned for Cars & Motorcycles Magazine in 1927 the opening paragraph states: “Motor-cycling is becoming more and more popular amongst women, but there are still many timid souls who hesitate to take the first step to this freedom which so many of us enjoy. This seems all the more sad when we consider that no girl that we have ever met who has once sampled the joys of motor-cycling willingly has given it up”. Way ahead of their time!
Posted in Gals, History, Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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March 5, 2014
Period photo of young rocker chick on her ‘Baby Bonnie’ the Triumph Tiger Cub. Its nimble character was ideal for the fairer sex and kept up the good looks of rider and ‘cycle both.
Posted in Gals, Triumph Cub |
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March 4, 2014
A quick strip of an Amal Monobloc carburetor obtained from eBay reveals a very serviceable item.
A thorough cleaning of parts, new seal kit, needle, springs & jet, and the all important petrol/air mixer will be ready to eventually mount at a later date.
A nice exploded workshop manual illustration will ensure all parts go back where they belong…
Note to self: Amal 376/314, 15/16in choke, 140 main jet, 15 pilot jet, 0.106 needle jet, needle pos’n 3, needle type C, slide 3.5
Amal 375/44 100 main jet, 25 pilot jet, 3.5 cutaway, needle jet 0.11 position 3
Posted in Engineering, Restoration |
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March 3, 2014
New identifier for the blog header. Takes its appearance from the triangular patent plate found on the timing side if a Triumph engine.
Posted in Graphics, Triumph Motorcycle |
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March 2, 2014
Well, it’s coming up nearly a year on first acquiring the Cub project. Most parts for the engine rebuild are together, chassis ready for painting, wheels for shodding, and a few more odds and ends for controls and ignition.
Reassembly should commence soon… … A summer kick-over? Hmm could be a goal!
Posted in Restoration, Triumph Cub |
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March 1, 2014
After yesterdays leap let’s see if we can speed into spring! Here we are at March 1st with snow still on the ground and more falling out of the sky. Clocks change next weekend and warmer days shouldn’t be too far away… We could only hope!
Let’s crack on!
Posted in Racing, Triumph Cub |
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February 28, 2014
With the momentum of Monday through Friday the weekend is sometimes achieved airborne. Hope the landing on Saturday morning is a soft one… Well at least head on pillow for a bit longer followed by a relaxing cup of tea…
Posted in Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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February 27, 2014
” A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.”
John Steinbeck (born 112 years ago today)
Steinbeck wrote of the ‘open road’ and the journey of life people made along its way. His muse was America and a colorful time in her history during the Depression; the roads were dusty, the workers dustier but the pulse keen. In his latter years he took to the highways and byways to see the state of the Union; with a trusty poodle companion named Charley by his side, and a pickup camper as his wheels and abide both.
Rocinante he named his conveyance, after the man from la Mancha’s steed, and a Quixotic journey was made in 1960 to see with his own eyes how the country was faring.
A cozy spot to journey from, free of fuss and possession. A mobile hermits cabin to journey unencumbered. It has the air of a motorcycle traveler who needs to be lightfooted ready to follow the unknown road ahead. I could see a younger Steinbeck taking a motorcycle combination on such a journey with pup passenger in the chair rambling along the old Routes from dusty town to dusty town on an Indian or Harley.
The venture could easily be adapted into a modern exploration of the country, keeping to smaller local routes, allowing time to absorb the immediate realm.
A bit too sedate… Though nice for an outing to the vintage rally… Parasol, flat-cap and plus-fours speed!
Here we go! Rocinante II
“Pack our bags Honey! We’re off exploring!”
Posted in Book, History, Indian, Photography, Sidecar, Travel, Triumph Motorcycle, Writing |
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February 26, 2014
“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
I am haunted by waters.”
Norman Maclean
Watching a trials moto negotiate a wet stream reminds me of a fly fisherman reading the waters of a trout plump river. A tremendous book utilizing a thread of the anglers life connecting a man and his brothers story growing up in the cool tree lined canyons of Montana. It is Maclean’s ‘A river runs through it’. A quick read but worth savoring its exquisite language that rolls softly off the page.
…it’s our pal Ewan McGregor! True Scot, and motorcyclist, fly fishing in the Yemen…
..perhaps The Triumph fly lure is needed:
Posted in Film and TV, Photography, Trials, Triumph Cub |
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February 25, 2014
Yet more deft action in the nimble hands of experienced trials riders here the diminutive Triumph Cub can certainly perform. Whether up steep tree rooted slope or down the other side a balanced technician can handle an appropriately set-up Tiger with obvious aplomb.
Posted in Trials, Triumph Cub |
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February 24, 2014
Here are a few photographs showing modern trials riders clambering up the wet and rocky footpaths above Kinlochleven. They are all on Triumph Cubs and look as though they are enjoying the outing. I have trekked many a mile up the Scottish bens on foot but would love to experience these ways aboard an old trials moto.
Cloudy skies typical of Scottish weather don’t dampen spirits here. I can smell the heather clad slopes from here and the salty air drifting up from the loch beyond.
The images are really giving me some inspiration for my own Triumph Cub trials motorcycle currently in the works. Though I would wear more period garb: such as army boots, cotton twill trousers tied up at the ankles, wool shirt, leather riding gloves and a flat cap. Although the cap me have to be swapped out for a tidy white open face brimm’d helmet. Waxed leggings and jacket obviously optional for typical ‘fair droukit’ Scottish weather.
Posted in Travel, Trials, Triumph Cub |
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February 23, 2014
George Greenland in 1958 at an XHG Tigers event, the Priory Trophy trial, riding Des Smallshaw’s very tidy Tiger Cub special. The XHG were dispatch riders from the 7th Hants Home Guard and the tiger Club formed in 1945 and are still going strong. Hampshire being on the south coast would have been very busy during the war years and I’m sure there were plenty of DR riders haring to and fro along the country lanes back then.
Posted in Photography, Trials, Triumph Cub |
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