Full Circle

Balancing Act – ONE WOMAN, ONE MOTORCYCLE, ONE YEAR

Lea Rieck, circumnavigating the world with Cleo, her Triumph Tiger 800 XCA.

Angled

Cornering – Through the esses from one lean to another. The Tiger sits sturdily on its boots and the wide bars give ample leverage for easy flickability.

Piscine Molitor

Hump-Day: sometimes to leap into the leeward side of the week you need to get some air. Richard Parker the Jumping Tiger .

“Actually, it was not so much the speed that was impressive as the pure animal confidence, the total absorption in the moment. Such a mix of ease and concentration, such a being-in-the-present, would be the envy of the highest yogis” Life of Pi -Yann Martel

Smokin’

Sideways – there are plenty of images online of the Tiger is full action. We’ll use them as suitable blog material until we get Le Corbeau out onto the highways and trails.

Big Boots

Silly Old Bear -“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” Winnie the Pooh

Bear Grylls enjoying the open countryside on his Tiger.

Un deux trois

One Two Three- stable is full now with a single, twin and triple. Enough fun to be had all ’round!

Song of Experience

The Tyger by William Blake (1757-1827)

Tyger Tyger, burning bright,

In the forests of the night;

What immortal hand or eye,

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat,

What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? what dread grasp,

Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

When the stars threw down their spears

And water’d heaven with their tears:

Did he smile his work to see?

Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright,

In the forests of the night:

What immortal hand or eye,

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Magnifying Moto’s

Close-Up – finishing off the week with some choice details of several motorbikes from last weekend. From Arial, Honda, Kawasaki, BMW, to Norton and Triumph. Some original, some personalized; from badges to pinstripes; tank, fairing, frame and fender.

Springfield MA

Indian 1912 – a fine centenarian. With pedal start, oil lamp, white tires, and exposed engine gubbins. A true antique traveler. Tweeds and goggles with stiff leather gauntlets.

Das Motorrad

Don’t mention the War – winding up a suitcase gramophone this period dressed BMW R75 owner carefully took out old crimson labeled 78’s from their protective manilla sleeves and played the likes of Marlene Dietrich across the parking lot. The combination had a small trailer that would have been used to tow matériel into hard-to-reach front line positions.

The car holds a non-functioning MG42 machine gun whose air cooled muzzle looks fearsome. The driver had a very Teutonic air about himself which completed the outfit.

Kawasaki Kool

Big Zed – a couple of smashers at the weekend bike show. A 1975 KZ900, which was the Charles Atlas of its day, imbuing pure adrenaline inducing brute power. This one in immaculate condition with a glossy metallic ‘rootbeer’ and orange paint scheme. Also parked up was a new Z900 which takes its styling cues from the old venerable drag strip king. Retro! Retrah!

Thunderbird

Barn Find – one of the eye-catching ‘cycles at the MCC show yesterday was this 1951 Triumph 6T; with a sky blue finish and very low miles on the Smiths Chronometric. The owner bought it from the estate of the daughter of the original owner: a farmer in Pennsylvania. Used as a herding bike for a hundred miles, ridden into a piece of farm machinery then rolled into a barn for decades. A minor restoration at some time changed the original metallic finish polychromatic blue to one more like a faded Bugatti blue. Mostly original, apart from the seat and muffler, there is a charm to its aged patina.

Old and New

First Outing – a short fifty mile trip to see the vintage motorcycle show at MCC in Villa Park. The Tiger performed admirably and was a joy to be on. So easy to move along the road on, allowing me to concentrate on the weekend traffic. Deans Triumph Bonnie was running well too. I’ll continue this week with the offerings on show at the event. Our BSA & Norton tee’s emphasize our solidarity with the other Brit Iron.

Circus corax

Le Corbeau – the Tiger came home today. After years (yes it can be counted as such) of deliberation and wishful considerations what I believe to be the perfect motorcycle for me was finally welcomed into the stable. With its beaky nose my wife gave it this posts eponymous nickname. The Raven. I think, and know, the blog is going to get a whole lot more interesting…

Sun Chaise

Hakuna Matata – ending the long work week with a nicely sorted Tiger Cub under bright skies with a sun kissed rock backdrop. Color scheme is the same as mine: dark emerald green tank and grey-silver fenders. The tigress might need something a little more sturdy than a tank top, daisy dukes and white tennies for any serious trail riding. But the aviators are cool.