August 8, 2011

Custom Bobber Bonnie Indiana style

On  weekend trip to Fort Wayne Indiana we stoped in at Pierceton, a small town on Route 30.  A couple rode in on a pair of bikes; one with a distinctive twin sound, parallel rather than 45 degree V. Here’s the well built chopper with Bonnie engine; hard tail, forward controls and nice hefty (but not too big) forks and well valanced fenders. The split harley tank with green flame set it off.

Seperate octagon oil tank, long brake rod and low-slung battery box, typical details for this chopperization of a Brit Iron.

August 5, 2011

Gary Nixon 1941-2011

Gary was one of the greats who made Triumph a big name in performance motorcycles in the’States. Taking flat-track and road race set up motos to numerous victories such as the Springfiled Mile, Daytona and other great venues. (he was also a Burns Birthday lad; same as me January 25th)

In later years remembering good times on his steed of choice…

Triumph Triple at Daytona.
August 5, 2011

Speed Triple

Through it’s many modern iterations the Hinckley Speed Triple has always turned heads with its sublime appearance. My favourite is the nineties version with solid look, black lump of an engine, bright orange tank, clip-ons. A classic looking bike…

August 4, 2011

A Hurricane and a Shoe

An airman in WWII sitting proudly with his Royal Enfiled, oh and his Hawker Hurricane in the background. The Battle of Britain pilots relaxed aboard speedy motorcycles.

A shoestore mobile advertising for sure; the Norton attached chair also serves as pooch carrier…

August 3, 2011

The Cold Crisp Taste of Coke…

After the refreshing ride on Saturday morning I stopped in at Bobs Deli, a local 7-11 in Highland Park. What was needed was a good cold, classic bottle of “ice cold”. The moto cools in the background, I cool in the shadows.

“I’d like to buy the world a Coke”
Coke slogan 1971
August 2, 2011

Yippie Ki Yay Mo…..

Fab seventies movie poster graphics: like the movie trailer in image form, all the high impact scenes in one swoosh of flame. The female protagonist astride it all! The front wheelie spun bike is an English Twin: woo-hoo!

July 31, 2011

Robert M. Pursig? There’s no Zen involved, just sweat, cursing, oil and more sweat!

I spent the better part of this morning into the afternoon installing an in-line screw on oil filter. It entailed draining the frame ‘tank’ then checking the mesh filter and assembling the C-Clamp attached bracket into a very small space under the rear swing-arm. Reconnecting oil lines became problematic with different sized hoses: 5/16″ ID into 1/4″ ID adapters anyone?

All this was carried out in the storage garage under the office, warm, steamy, filthy floor. I was a true wet, oily, mucky mess! Nothing a good shower, swim then shower at the Y couldn’t amend! Well it’s on now so I can keep the oil clean for the engine!

This chap has certainly got a Tiger by the tail; it’s a late 70’s LH shift single carb 750cc Triumph Tiger. That crazed look is familiar!

July 30, 2011

Sunnie Bonnie ride

Beautiful weather on this Saturday morning saw the bike taken up along the shady swoops of Sheridan Road; delicious. New rear shocs are a smooth treat over rough spots.

July 30, 2011

25 Years on…

When the Ninja 900 (ZX900A, GPZ900R) came out in ’84 it caused a stir in the motorcycle world; lightweight, narrow, strong as a horse (or 105 of them!) and sporty lookin’ too! Here’s the ’85 I owned for a few years, great bike with heaps of old world power. Although just running in the ‘States for a few years it lasted in Europe and Japan for over a decade surpassing two other successive models.

Well, Kawasaki has a new Ninja in their stable, less race honed but more everyday riding intended. Offering fast fun, far fun, fabulous fun! It’s 1000cc engine a perfect blend of useability, yet turn it on and it growls. And, at $11,000 darn good value for money in relation to other offerings. The new is the new, new!

July 30, 2011

A Wee Ride up a Hill

Here’s Joe Brown, hard mountain man of the 50’s and 60’s, riding what looks like a Speed Twin up Snowdon in North Wales. Well it’s one way to get to the craggy Cloggy over on the north side!

July 27, 2011

Nuff Said!

Our Hero Baz haring around the Goodwood tracks on a vintage Norton; adorned with his No. 7! Pure Majesty!

July 27, 2011

Flow my Charge the Electron said…

Working on electrical niggles on the Bonnie; there doesn’t seem to enough juice in the battery…

…the red wire, no the blue wire, no the blue wire with white stripe, no the….
July 26, 2011

Triumph Hurricane X75 ReDux

The Iconic X75, restyled Trident by Craig Vetter in the early 70’s was meant to be the shot of styling adrenaline the company needed to unseat it from the shoals of economic strife. However it was not to be relating to various mismanagement politics; however it’s still a powerful look for the very capable triple. Here one Jean François Vicente has taken a late 90’s Hinckley Adventurer and graced it with the vetteresque bodywork, the striking orange and yellow colours, hefty upside-down forks, modern roadgoing tyres and three upswept pipes.  Spiffy!

Here’s the original red-headed beauty for comparison…

July 24, 2011

Speedway Fairground Ride

Growing up in North Northumberland one of the highlights of late summer was the annual arrival for two weeks of the ‘shows’. A small travelling fairground called Slaters. Among the shuggy boats, ‘big’ wheel, and octopus rides as well as the gaping mouth clowns and pingpong goldfish bowl arcade was the “Speedway” ride. a rolling carousel of bikes and chairs. It was, for a 7 year old, the first effects of speed and centrigugal forces sitting atop a ‘motorbike’ although it was fixed!

Ahh, the heady smell of candy-floss, diesel and trampled summer-dry grass; backed by flashing lights, 70’s disco music and whirring machinery. 
July 23, 2011

Percy Tait

An evocative painting of Percy Tait aboard a racing Triumph in the late 60’s. One time Triumph road tester he also raced the bikes; including Slippery Sam, which gained its name when the oil pump spewed Percy’s boot with the black stuff at a Bol d’Or 24 hour race. Percy was at the very sharp end of Triumph testing in the sixties especially the powerful triples racking up an estimated million miles around the roads and racetracks of the UK for Triumph.

Painting by Derek Sparkes.