Liquid Engineering

Oiler – here’s a stunning graphic advertisement from a late sixties magazine with no. 1 Gary Nixon powering his Triumph flat tracker in a somewhat psychedelic manner. Castrol

Cannon Ammo

Tee Shirt Fashion – wear what you believe! One thing about this ubiquitous short sleeved item of clothing is that they can promote ideas, express thoughts, present art, denote vision, advertise companies; the written word; or a graphic style. It’s like a walking billboard, moving, a breathing gallery. Here are some speed loving characters garbed appropriately in the t-shirt garment: Barry Sheene sporting a Gary Nixon top (Venezuelan rider Johnny Cecotto is seated next to him); Steve McQueen and his Triumph brand across his chest, coffee at the ready; Jackie Stewart and his F1 Elf; and Burt Munro – the worlds fastest Indian. 

Azure Lake Horizon

Sunlit Shores – I took a quick spin on this draughty Sunday afternoon to fettle some running tuning. Lake Michigan had a deep turquoise horizon and steel grey water before lapping against the sandy shore. 

Brr a bit parky out there…

After last weeks brush with spring-like 60’s temperatures the true nature of February claws its icy talons back into our locale. We’re experiencing close to single digit wind chills right now. An inventive Triumph chopper owner takes snow removal into his own hands with this street-sign homespun plow. No snow here right now… perhaps if a whiteout beckons I’ll finagle a shovel attachment onto the Cub…

Pup

Pre Cub- a smaller Triumph before the Tiger Cub was the Terrier. At 150cc the diminutive scoot was a pocket watch against the larger carriage clock scaled 500 & 650 motos. But hey when you just need it to be motorcycle o’clock any two-wheeled machine will do! Miss Bobbie certainly appears happy.

Giddy up

Gearing Up – the work involved in stepping up from a 19 to 21 tooth front sprocket required some notching to be done to the case so the larger diameter gear could be slotted into the primary drive axle. 21 equally spaced grooves. Whilst I was in there the clutch was renewed which gives an very noticeable grab when throttle is applied. The gearing give about 12% extra wheel revolutions for the same engine speed. 

Andy’s friend

Pop Art – like some 60’s Roy Lichtenstein this piece has an exciting dynamism to its layout. As well as the rider coming through a hole in the page, necktie aflutter, the sweeping ink brushwork, and a splayed onomatopoeic engine sound: VROOOOM

Hacky Dorty

Swarfega! – working on old motorcycles can be filthy work. I always find myself with oil ingrained hands even after a minor fuss of the bike. When doing the sprocket there was two chains to deal with, a road crud encrusted underside, some aluminum filings, and general grubbiness. 

Impress

Sketchy View – the image filters available as apps can accomplish some marvelous visuals. This linocut one gets a stark graphic of the Bonnie in crisp sunlight. 

Sunny Excursion

Rather terrific weather today. Though a chill in the air under motion, the sun was warm with a crisp light and the roads clear. Taking back road that offered more than a few stretches, to let the newly geared engine stretch its legs, I can confidently announce that there’s a hefty bit more grunt in the parallel twin. She lowped along comfortable at 60 with more to spare. 

May days in February

Climate Change – with an unseasonable warm-up over this February weekend, where the mid sixties are being reached, I’ve had to work this last week in getting the Bonnie ready for at least one days riding. I’ve changed the front sprocket from a 19 tooth to a 21 so I can squeeze a little more speed out of the engine. The work necessitated removing the clutch and making alterations to a sprocket access hole in the back of the primary case. I’ll show that work in a blog post later this week. I put in new clutch friction plates for renewed ‘bite’, and installed a new clutch basket as the current one had notches in the tang grooves. 

Try Triumph

Three Twins and a Triple – let’s close the week off with this clutch of Hinckley goodies. The new cafe 900 Street Cup in bumblebee yellow striping and black engine cases certainly looked the part. A pearly tanked Speed Triple sitting like a repose cat ready to strike its prey. ‘Hard tail’ Bobber sits low and purposeful (I felt a bit cramped on it) ready to customize with a catalogue full of eye candy. Finally the sublime Thruxton in ‘Go-Faster’ red: I could look at this all day…

For some reason I didn’t take any photos of the Tigers… the 800 seems to be the most practical bike out there.

Twin

Big Opposing Twins – whether from Springfield MA, Milwaukee WI, Berlin Germany, or Mandello del Lario in Italy; these beauties all have a pair of cylinders in flat or vee form, longitudinal or transverse. But, the all make good power and each have individualistic looks, sounds, and heritage. Dang! This is all good stuff! Current motorcycle models on offer make the prospective owners spoilt for choice.

Stick & Rudder

A Good Viewpoint – there’s nowt better than being in the pilots seat of a fast motorcycle. Low bar angle, poise for streamlining, and a speedo maxing out at the double ton. The Big Green ZX14 from Kawasaki is one such beast. Surely a rocket of the ballistic type. It feels sturdy. Then there’s the cockpit of the Thruxton. Beautiful detailing and exquisite visual balance. I’ll take one of each please!

❤️

L❤️VE IS – gazing adoringly at the sublime lines of classic British motorcycle engines. They are the pulsing heart of these machines; the very cardiac cycle of an industries history. These examples were beautiful examples of their marque on display at the motorcycle show.