Ebay win! A box arrived at work today with six of these toy motorcycles neatly wrapped up in tissue and bubble-wrap. A great deal at $15 for all of them; four of which are the much sought after Britain’s from my youth. A couple of repeats; one of which I will revise as an AA bike in yellow. A bonus was a Kawasaki KZ1000R (the Ebay listing only had five bikes!); the square fairing’d grey superbike a precursor to the big liter naked streetbikes of the eighties and nineties. Also included was a Triumph racing bike, a Honda, Norton and a BMW. The collection grows. Still trying to nab the Speedway bikes though…
Mechanical Beauty: the motorcycle is an astounding vehicle and when looking at its parts there is a nice balance of purpose and aesthetics. None more-so than the classic Triumph twin. Both music to the ears and eyes!
“Royal is my Race” so proclaims the Clan McGregor’s motto! Here clansman Ewan races his latter-day Triumph Bonneville along damp lanes and across the odd burn. Lookin’ like he’s set up for a trip what with the leather pannier satchels and a big duffel. Roper gloves, denim, and a worn leather jacket round off this road ready look. A Davida open-face with what look like Naninni goggles.
Trying a spot of fly fishing brother? River crossing made to look easy: careful with that throttle! However he’s an old hand at this having made countless arduous such crossings when travelling through Asia in his and Charley Boorman’s epic adventure Long Way Round.
When the Krazy Boyz stunt folk who tear up the highways wheelying their Ninjas, Gixxers or CBR’s were but a twinkle in their grandpappy’s eyes; this bloke, Kenny Brown, was touring the drag strips doing wild shenanigans on Brit Iron. Steel soles essential…
The forecast was to be a record-breaking eighties warmth and sun… instead chilly overcast typically April weather. But still manages to get out. Put the thermals on had a warming coffee half way on the ride.
The Thunderbird’s name comes from the common belief that the beating of its enormous wings causes thunder and stirs the wind. When Triumph was reborn in the 90’s their model range based around the muscular triple engine created this brute of a classic bike. The name seemed appropriate both historically in salute to earlier models as well as the legend above. As a choice I belive it is a close run between this and the modern Thruxton.
Our Scottish pal Ewan McGregor looks on at some vintage racing Triumph at Brooklands. Look at the angle of those bars, a speed set-up this surely is! Meanwhile the Teutuls look on in somewhat due respect; it ain’t a chopper boys, but it’s go like a hare bein’ chased by a hound! More about Ewan in future posts, being a bike nut ‘n’ all.
The Brooklands Museum, was the very first banked track course. Designed purely for the attainment of speed on the burgeoning car and bikes being built and adapted to go fast at the turn of the 20th Century. It’s crumbling slopes now host gatherings of vintage transport as well as a great collection of aircraft; including one of the retired BOAC Concorde ` indeed Brooklands can be considered a major part of the Concorde story.
When you’re on a Triumph Trident T160 that is! A delightful triple cylindered moto which took the British bike industry a step further into the seventies. However Honda and Kawasaki were waiting in the wings with their impeccable ‘superbike’ fours, the CB750 and 900cc Z1. Nevertheless the T160, here a ’75 model, was a suitable ride for distance and twisty road work. Electric starter, disc brakes and plush ride, what more could ya want? This bike begat Slippery Sam as well as The Hurricane: both examples for the waning Meriden years to be proud of (to some degree…)
… A Norton Dominator. So smooth the lunchtime martini won’t spill a drop. In honor of the new series of Mad Men here’s a perfect ad from the late fifties with the slick suit wearing frock flowing denizens of the ‘golden’ post-war years looking on admirably.
Dick Whitman is waiting for the Bonnie about to appear on the scene in ’59…
Fabulous image of Paul Newman lounging lazily atop a Triumph getting a trim from the studio barber. Even reading the New York Times he looks cool.
The date can be confirmed by the cover photo of Lyndon Johnson confirming Thurgood Marshall to Supreme Court. This was July 13th 1966. A few days before “Harper” was released in which he starred.
…the Sum of its Parts. An advert for a late sixties Bonneville; some believe to be the epitome of the T120. Here promoted as the essential components to create this machine. Slice of cherry pie anyone?
That’s how old Steve McQueen would have been yesterday; and he probably would have looked like Henri Charriere who he was cast as in Papillon, when he came out of isolation for the second time. However his youthful craggy face and blue-eyed twinkle as well as laid back demeanor is how he’ll always be remembered. Here’s a hand drawn card for him.
Half Litre Gee Pee Zee: With some miles under my belt with the 125 I traded in for this outstanding Kwak. The twin cylinder sporty bike was a LOT of fun for zooming around the Big Smoke, home counties, as well as trips farther afield. The parallel engine had a great sound and nipping through the traffic was a doddle. Late night flights over the Thames bridges as well as my daily commute over Tower Bridge was truly memorable. Sadly I had to sell it for my move to the ‘States in ’98.
Back in the mid-nineties soon after I got my motorbike license; I picked up this fun ride to gain experience toting around London. The fates must have known I would one day own an old British classic as this Italian Cagiva 125cc had it’s fair share on mechanical and electrical foibles. It was a screaming two-stroke with low plump seat, hefty back wheel and a somewhat smile inducing ride. On the open road it had a speed of its own measured by the calendar. It could manage single digit A roads but no more.I tried the M4 for 50 miles but even with feet back on the passenger pegs, a prone riding position and thrashing it on the downhills the traffic cruising along at eighty sped ahead with ease. A city-bred roadster this was, and ideal for learning the craft of basic road sense too!
Little Drummer Boy: Micky Dolenz of The Monkees enjoying a caper aboard a Triumph. That recognizable squinty face with floppy quiff streaming behind the BritIron speed.
geordiebiker.com 