Necessity, as they say, in the mother of invention! Need to cruise around Minnesota in the snow? No problem; pop off the back wheel, bolt on the tracks, ski assembly strapped onto the front wheel and Peary look out!
May 11, 2011
Gulf color on a Honda 550 cafe "Le Mans Special"
Here’s a beautifully detailed cafe racer prepared in glorious blue and orange. Thiunassuming rebuilt 1975 model has been methodically reconstructed with special care to details such as the sumptuous tank, tail section and he controls.
The orange painted frame is a great detail (ooh if I’d only had that thought with mine!)
A super little feller, probably fun to ride too.Build by Chris Trotter from Bozeman, Montana.
May 10, 2011
A Model Motorcycle
There are quite a few plastic model kits featuring the Triumph motorcycle, whether for historical significance, such as the red-caps machine, or TV promotion. Different scales and models… starting with this brit duo: BSA and Tri, from the Grease 2 movie (apparently!)
A nicely detailed semi-built kit, just bolt ‘er together and there you are, one Bonneville. Nice detailing too.
Here’s the MP bikes, utilitarian singles fromwartime service; (more on this later…)
Heeey! Fonz has his bobbed triumph alse modelized. See previous entries for the bike itself.
A nice little Revell kit.
May 8, 2011
Triton: Son of Poseidon
One other bike at the show yesterday was a suitably set-up Triton, Norton Featherbed frmae with Pre-Unit Triumph engine. A white tank with black pinstriping set off the cafe/manx look. Long bodies and sleek looking…
May 7, 2011
Chicago ACE Garage bike show
This afternoon the ACE garage held a small bike show for the older motos; british, japanese, german and italian were all well represented. I went to ogle the Triumph thought. A good selection to look at too! Here’s a cafe’d ’72 Bonnie, nicely done.
A line of decades… from the 60’s to the 2000’s all there! lovely to the eyes.
One of my favourites: the modern Thruxton 900.
A Hurricane: the Vetter added parts to make the triple sportier to compete with Japanese 4’s of the time, the tripe pipes are superb. This one was for sale ($?).
Hard tail bobber of an OIF, tough riding stance with ape hangers too! Though a clean neat bike.
Other marques also attending included this nice red BSA 650; cousin to my ’72 Bonnie, also oil in frame. I liked the chrome front mudguard which would fit my bike no problem.
A pair of Ducatis in Paul Smart livery, gladly seein’ double!
But one of the nicest things was this diminutive 250 Aprilla, fresh blue racebike with greyhound icon.
May 7, 2011
A hare or hound?
Great shot of young lady enjoying the speedy thrills of an old farm bike; in this case a Triumph.
May 6, 2011
An Airfix this is not!
Well, a Revell model kit of a Triumph in chopper fashion; with, it seems options for customization…
May 5, 2011
Engine Cutaway Graphic
ANother beautifully rendered engine diagram showing the workings of the 650 twin, it doesn’t help you build the engine but it helps you see how all the parts interact. It reminds me of Mr Eplsy and Mr Thwaites engineering drawing class where you were given a sheet of drawn components, a written description of the machines function; then had to assemble them graphically: plan, elevations and an isometric. Finally you had to create a revised part and show a sectional sketch of the adaptation.
May 4, 2011
Triumphs around the world
From America to Africa; these were the bikes to see the world on, across the ‘States to the steamy airs of Rhodesia and the Victoria Falls.
May 3, 2011
Triumph Bonneville T120R 1972
A bright Sunday morning had take the bike out up Sheridan Road; more of a shake-down and getting used to the controls, especially the gear change (it does need a good hoof to up and down change, otherwise false neutrals make themselves evident). Need to slowly get the distances built up with it. However my elbow and wrist still give me trouble after about an hour of clutch work.
I also installed a ‘BarSnake’ into the hollow center of the handlebar, it’s a rubber strip that fits snugly into the bars and helps minimise vibrations by assisting the damping. It worked well in the 45-55 mph speed and 3-4000rpm. I’m pleased with it.
Some items to still work on: front brakes, front brake switch, tank paint (again!).
May 1, 2011
Wall of Death
More twosome adventurous spirit in bygone days. A sidecar outfit haring around the vertical world of the travelling performers. Rolled up sleeves, turned beret and glasses; good confidence too…
May 1, 2011
Old London Motorcycle Supply advertisment
Everything from gauntlet gloves to gear boxes; pistons to pillion seats. An engine for £12, or a sproket for 2s 6d. Enough to keep that trusty Triumph or BSA on the roads of the big smoke.
April 30, 2011
Tyger, Tyger burning brite!
Further to the previous post, here’s the original Tiger, the early fifties T110; 650cc, single carb pre-unit engine. Plenty of power: hence the name. The nacelle headlight is a clean feature of this model as is the banded tank badge.
Beautiful bike…
April 29, 2011
Tiger run on Diesel
Here’s something a little different: a converted Hinckley model Tiger with a triple cylinder diesel engine. Apparently it has a fair bit of oomph as well as good mileage. It uses a 3 cylinder Lombardini engine coupled to an Ultima gearbox.
This is a link to Heiko Flecks diesel blog featuring a speed triple converted to the heavy fuel… sublime stuff.
April 28, 2011
Triton
Ed Zender of Morries Place (where my Triumph engine was rebuilt) today advertised a Triton on Craigslist. Motorcycle has a 1975 Triumph 5-speed 750 motor, converted to right hand shift, in a 1960’s Norton Slimline Featherbed frame. Ceramic coated pistons, intake ported to 34mm, 510-15 Megacycle cams, Mark II Amal carbs, 7-plate Norvil clutch, Triumph disc forks with billet alloy trees, Grameca calipers.
Orange colour…. a racing style….cor blimey! … now if I can just find 8 grand!
