Open-face lids, goggles, silk scarves, leathers and big boots. All mean grimaced and ready to roll. Bikes are Norton, BSA and Triumph are the ride to rumble on of course. I’m sure when this quintet crack open their throttle mechanical music ensues.
Those clip-ons are a low-low-low custom geometry for speed runs up and down the Great North Road. “where we going for the Sunday morning ride lads? Brighton?”
This image was meant to go online yesterday but it leapt right over the 18th. So we see it here today. A modern-day Tri-scramb goes airborne. Hope the rider gets down in one piece!
Hot weather here in Chi-Town (98 degrees plus) calls for a plentiful supply of t-shirts; my newer BSA is a current fave.
“The most Popular Motorcycle in the World”
The latest Motorcycle Consumer News arrived in the mail today; and even though it had a appetite sating article on the globetravelling busting Triumph Explorer I stll dozed off mid-article. Retracing Jupiters Travels on this one would be an Adventure, that’s for sure. Ted Simon, where are you?
Wicked Moto in Wicker Park: sno-white tank like some speech bubble that should say: “VAROOM!”. Black as coal engine and cast 70’s period wheels give snappy look for this hipsters ride. As some might say : “Dude!”.
I popped into Ace Motorcycle & Scooter earlier today to get a couple of service items to fettle some old points I’ve gained from EBay. They have the parts but the owner/Brit bike specialist wasn’t there so I’ll have them mail the items to me. This place is backed-up with motos awaiting work to the gunwales. The popularity of old bikes in Chicago means they need another Good mechanic. Not easy to find! However this place gets good feedback.
Triumphs of the past were all shod in Dunlop’s, K70’s being the tire of choice for a little mixed surface conditions probably found on British roads in the 60’s. That distinctive tread pattern has a good graphic quality to it, like some cable knit Aran sweater.
Great tyres, but that helmet! A Charlie Brown pumpkin would work better…
A Trident reborn. Back in the nineties when John Bloor was reinventing the Triumph name, his engineers plumped for a triple cylinder format. The grunt of a twin with the ‘smoothness’ of a four. Today’s local Craigslist has a clean ’96 example with 6000 miles (that’s 500 per year!) for three grand. The blackened engine and tank adorned with a retro red swish…
Someone has kindly informed me that the motorcycle my grandfather, George, is seen on is actually a Norton 16H. The ubiquitous mode a rapid transit during the Second World War. Over 100,000 were manufactured between 1932 when the War Department approved the design of this 490cc Single until 1945 by which time models in olive, khaki and RAF blue were scattered around the globe. Some solo, some with a combination chair and some with sidecar ‘box’.
I’m currently poring over the great Haynes Workshop tome for the Bonnie, spending most of the time in the electrical section. It’s near illuminated script like writing gives step by step guiding in all things mechanical and an attempt of thing electrical. Along with the Meriden published Owners Workshop and Parts Manual is absolutely essential for any Trumpet tinkerer or hair puller…
Guard rails are great when they are thought out and help prevent head-on vehicular collisions thus saving lives: however, when a steel cable system is utilized they just give me the willy’s. Here’s an example of cables used along a Minnesotan roadside; and seen in other Midwest states too. This is a contentious issue on European roads where the motorcycle is a more common mode of day-to-day transportation and riders safety is given more consideration. Some research from places such as Australia and Germany are not fully conclusive however some testing shows both the posts and cable rails create issues. Racetracks use W profile barriers (and hay bales!) More thought is needed in this area.
Just a quick photo to show off the new Sparx handlebar switch. Whoop-de-doo! Well it’s better than no news of lack of spark from the ignition.
Got the Bonnie rewired with a new handlebar switch, a nicely made item from Sparx in the UK. Well, all the light, horn and indicators worked out good. Coloured wire to coloured wire. So… I took ‘er out for a run around the blocks for a cobweb blow; all fine and dandy. A couple of start and stops to see it kick over. No problems. Bring it back to the garage and kaput! Dam, dam and blast it! Nearly there… But not quite (quietly fume).
When the desire arises to transport your bike(s) or just to get your unresponsive Moto home you need a truck. The International Flatbed example shown here can tote like the best of ’em and look good doing it. A Norton racer sits proudly on its bed waiting for a destination
be it track, windy road or just the garage. Cafe 59
Remember the Honda 175 from a few days ago? Well a few years previous to it you would see yourself on one of these 500cc Triumphs: it saw action as a desert sled in the ‘States but would provide plenty of fun on the road too! I love the fire road ready knobbled tires on this green example. Between the Honda and this.. Easy! The Trumpet trumps!
P.S.
Today’s BikeExif entry is a modern turn of this half litre Moto. It’s a reworked Bonneville given nice big boots on alloy rims; wide bars and a bottle green finished tank.
geordiebiker.com 