It’s Hallowee’n and this classic eighties movie is on the telly. Kiefer Sutherland plays one of the vampire youth who party-on in some Pacific coast town. They hare about on dirt bikes and I spied one older Triumph on a boardwalk scene. But here’s ‘Jack Bauer’ on a nice Brit Iron.
Movie frame…
British bike on right.
A frame from the recent David Beckham short film with some surly lass astride what we now know is one of the new classics.
I tend not be a detail oriented person but when I see the product of creative minds who put components together in what looks like a seamless yet integrative manner then I’m impressed. The new Thruxton R is one such item. I see countless hours over ‘drawing boards’ (aka digital tablets) and prototype review as an assembly of individual parts are fettled to create a symphony of engineering. Yet there in a district underlying DNA of machinery from over half a century ago.
It’s all very well putting it together and hoping, but keeping an overall visual balance is essential. Seeing it move at speed? Can’t wait!
Well, brunettes are fine, man
Blondes are fun
But, when it comes to getting the dirty job done,
I’ll take a red-headed woman, a red-headed woman.
It takes a red-headed woman to get a dirty job done.
Bruce Springsteen
The new Triumph range were exposed today: and what a bevy of beauties they are too! The T120 being a new 1200cc based water cooled twin with wheels, tires, brakes and looks to match.
The old Meriden covers are shown off in homage to a deep history. Even a little ‘points’ cover.
Plump tank for the Thruxton, clip ons, rear sets and monobloc carburetor bodies over the fuel injection for period appearances.
Faired Thruxton too! Upside down race forks and rear shocks for track handling.
Keep ogling she’s a stunner!
The red one is my favorite: 84 foot pounds of torque and 112Nm @5,000rpm. Ripper! 
The road beckons…
Aft quarters. 
Beautiful details.
A nose for style.
10/10
Maureen O’Hara who passed away yesterday was a feisty and beautiful Irish actress who met the leading men of the day as their equal. Here she played Mary Kate Danaher who was John Wayne’s love interest in what was my granda’s favorite film. One of the best scenes is when the Duke’s character ex boxer Sean Thornton has an epic fistfight with Mary Kate’s crabby brother.
A symphony of autumn colors today. Clear skies overhead with the luminous foliage of ash, maple, oak and elm accompanying the ride towards the Wisconsin State Line.
The single seat for the Cub needed some new padding. The foam under a clean original cover was starting to fossilize. I took said cover and seat pan to the local fabric and upholstery shop Vogue Fabrics and has some fresh plump foam trimmed to size. 
I like the special saw knife used to cut the blocks of foam. Once home I reclipped the piping edged cover back over its new filling and a perch to rest my tush is done.
You’re blocking the view!
At last it’s Friday again, a weekend ahead for some brief R&R and, with a bright forecast, a possibility of a ride on Sunday. Fall color is spectacular this year so hope to enjoy the blur and red, golds, oranges and all autumnal hues under a blue sky.
Whilst walking the dog around the block near the office I spied this little jewel of a bike. The red tank and frame echoing the surrounding fall color as maple, elm and ash turn their foliage to signal oncoming winter.
A twin 350 MV Agusta from the early seventies it was in tip-top condition complete with factory decals
It’s a slender thing; like a spaghetti drizzled in bolognese sauce.
Two tiny carbs feed the cylinders with nice finning and smooth covers.
Long race seat and its rearward bum stop hint that a streamlined crouched stance is needed for speed work.
Elegant triple tree, instrument cluster and clip-ons similarly denote a Moto built for higher velocities. The tank top decal denoted world championship wins. Wins by one man: Giacomo Agostini. Whose signature that is below it. Me, I’d put John Surtees John Hancock on the tank.
Hopefully I can meet the owner and hear it start up!
Motorcycle ambulances, like the one pictured, are saving lives in remote villages that are not accessible by cars or trucks. As well as Riders for Health who do a great job of putting medical staff out to remote areas on lightweight dirt bikes, Unicef have a rugged combination ambulance to haul patients to and fro.
The great Gary Nixon taking a smoke break between races in June ’68. Big tanked Triumph with a big fat number one on the sharp end. It’s a 500cc being tuned by Clifford Guild. Track is Loudon NH
Wonderfully evocative photos by Kurt Fischer.
The start of the week is usually the low point: it’s an awfully long time ’til the next weekend and at least one of the other days will surely throw a wrench into the works. Ogri the tough rocker from Bike magazine in blighty has a simple philosophy on life: “as long as there’s beer in the tap and no one has bicker the bike”
The creation of Paul Sample this leather clad bike has been around since ’72 drawn in a Robert Crumb-like inkmanship. Always little details to discover on a second or third reading.
Typography Art: a clean print of a Royal Enfield with the early marketing ploy and play on word from an earlier weapons manufacture. By Susanne Hoppe
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