FLAT TRACK A7

Dick "Bugsy" Mann started his career hurtling 'round the oval on an early A7.

Makes me want to get the spanners out on mine!

Trophy Bird

When Triumph introduced the 650 Trophy in 1956 it was called the Trophy- Bird, whether this was to cash in on the bikes that desert Racers had been putting together themselves while waiting for a 650 competition bike is unknown.

This is one of those bikes, an original conversion, shown here as bought by Bill in Oregon back in 1981. A 1950 6T Thunderbird motor fitted into a TR5 Trophy rigid frame. 

The early TR5 frame is noticeably smaller and lighter than the normal 500/650 rigid frame, constructed of smaller diameter tubing without some of the cast lugs at the frame joints. Notice the front engine plate arrangement with the dynamo sitting through where the normal front down tube extends to meet the front horns of the rear section.

Sadly Bill sold the bike on to make way for other exotica and it was disassembled, with the new owner restoring back to a normal TR5 Trophy, which is also a highly desirable and rare Triumph in it's own right but it would have been nice for this snippet of history to have survived.

Special Hot Rod Bonnie From Japan

With good unmolested rigid frames becoming harder and harder to find, it looks like there may be an alternative, and it's been hiding in plain sight.

This is a 1942 Triumph 3HW that belonged to Jun over in Japan, a quick look at the frame reveals a few similarities to the later twin chassis that we know and love.

Pretty similar as you can see, although some of the tubing maybe of a slightly smaller diameter and gauge to later types. Interesting to see that it has the larger top steering bearing and possibly extra gusseting on the lower bearing, this is a feature seen on the rare post '54 rigid twin frames.

B type 6T cases set up in the 3HW frame, using only new engine plates, no cutting or modifying of the frame involved here. The gearbox is the same set-up as the later rigids so no drama there either.

It all makes for a sweet looking roller, and in this shot the tubes definitely look slimmer. 

The girders look right, which of course they are, and to my eye the stance is perfect.

Sweet as a nut! A big thank you to Jun for sending the pix and making my day!

Indonesian Curves and Sensuality, Darizt Design

It's not often this blog wanders far from the British side of bikes but there's gotta be an exception every now and again, especially when it's as exceptional as this. There is, currently, some great work coming out of Indonesia where guys are turning their traditional skills to bike building, and coming up with results like the bike shown here.

Check out the blog HERE

1959 Tiger 100, The Last Of The Line

Pete in sunny Cali seems to have an uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time. While he was actively searching for a late TR5 Trophy he came across this running '59 Tiger 100 at a price that couldn't be refused.

It is quoted that less than 900 T100s were built in 1959 as the curtains were coming down on the all alloy 500 range of pre-unit Triumphs, as the unit construction "C" class range was introduced.

Pete has done a quick makeover on the Tiger, giving it a far more purposeful look by fitting a '57 Trophy front end and new 13" Hagon shocks.

The front end is finished off by a pair of pre-unit T120C bars and an 8" front brake.

The high exhausts are a pair of sleeved down 650 pipes mated to period Superior silencers, the alloy guard is hand made along with the mounting hardware. All topped off with a 3 gallon sports tank and a Bates solo pad, make it a bike to put a smile on the most hardened of faces.

The Epsom Salt

Pete, along with the Baron and his band o' trusty buddies are off to do battle at Bonneville at the BUB Speed Week.  They intend to have a crack at the A-PF and/or the A/PG 650 records ,A stands for special construction class i.e. purpose built frame, and P stands for pushrod, F for fuel and G for gas (petrol).  For gas class you have to use the fuels supplied on the salt by ERC, it comes in several octanes, outside that you are automatically in the fuel class whatever you use. 

Current records stand at 123.814mph and 126.976mph set by Keith Martin's  Big D Cycle.

Peter's Nostalgia Drag Trumpet Blows A Tune

Peter has finally added the last ingredient to the mix, and as anticipated, it sounds as good if not better (if that's possible) than it looks!

Hope you're taking it to the HayRide Peter.

JoMo Rep Tiger 100 For Sale !!!!!

Call me old Old Fashioned, but I can't really see what more a bloke wants out of a bike than this here. So much fun ya gotta grin to get it in, you've seen it and heard it running a couple of posts down, and as luck may have it, it's up FOR SALE

If you're in the market for a pre-unit Triumph and have got the readies NOW, then in my humble opinion it's worth pursuing to the end.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Enough of the hard sell already, rather than me retype what's Chris has already written here's the description from The Bay of Doom.

Triumph T100R Special.

Pre-unit tiger 100 engine fitted into a ex WD 1944 3HW Triumph frame. A good flattrack frame giving good ground clearance and a short wheel base. Also a good steering head angle that makes the steering very sharp.

Also notice I angled the engine forwards slightly in new alloy engine plates.

Complete engine rebuild just completed under 100 miles ago, so still running in. Fitted with new standard size liners and 7.5:1 pistons.

Brand new cams and followers fitted. New shells fitted to a standard large journal crankshaft. New rods were also fitted. New ball main bearings fitted. New Morgo oil pump and a new lip type oil seal timing cover conversion.

Also fitted a reconditioned manual BTH magneto.

Twin carb conversion.

The lights are running total loss as there is no dynamo fitted, just using the brake light the battery will last forever on a charge. If you start using the headlight you will only get about 20 mins before blackout.

19" Dunlop rims fitted and shod with new old stock Dunlop and John Bull tyres. 8" piecrust front hub and scalloped front brake.

I built this bike over 2 years using top quality new old stock and hard to find period parts. No repro bits were used it's all genuine tackle. For example genuine Amal racing levers not those cheap and nasty monkey metal imitations hawked around by every autojumble Johnny. Also the extra long genuine Amal advance retard lever. The more you look the more you will see on this bike.

Also the entire primary drive is new. Including a full alloy competition clutch. Chains are all brand new Renolds.

New sealed front wheel bearings fitted.

Built in homage to the 1954 T100RR.

Take a look at this bike on You Tube. The film footage was taken on the first day of completion.

1954 T100R JoMo Replica

If inspiration is needed listen to this.

The guy is on YouTube as Velowfellow13, don't know how to contact him though, that's the problem.

1952 Triumph Tiger 100C

Picture courtesy of BigD Cycle

Keith from Big D Cycle in Dallas has just finished this oh so sweet Tiger 100C. 

Picture courtesy of BigD Cycle

A sensitive and subtle reworking of standard parts rather than a full custom/Bobber approach makes for a lovely looking ride.

Picture courtesy of BigD Cycle

Check out the factory rearsets , later rev counter drive timing case and of course the all alloy motor sporting twin concentrics.

Picture courtesy of BigD Cycle

I'm hoping the '53 will capture some of this style when it's done.

Bible Bashin'

Birthday coming up? No? Then you should really treat yourself to this book if nobody else will. Harry Woolridge worked at Meriden fom 1953 until they turned the lights out for the last time. Big Ted Turner is well known for not allowing factory support of a British or European racing effort, not so in the States where the Trophy received continual development and improvement throughout the fifties and early sixties . Linked to names like Bud Ekins and the King of Cool Steve McQueen, the TR6 absolutely dominated the US desert racing scene for close on a decade.

The information and changes given about Trophies and pre-unit twins in general is immense and as it's first hand information, from memory and unrivalled access to factory records can be taken as gospel.

Available on the Bay between 22 and 35 pounds new it's a must have.

Digging The Past

Got hold of a copy of the 1957 TriCor catalogue recently, and it contains some very rare birds indeed. At the bottom you can see a Delta Head for USD 103! This is the first documented evidence I have seen for this head as a stand alone accessory and it is shown with two left hand monoblocs fitted, probably wouldn't have thought that without seeing it.

If 103 bucks was too rich rich for your blood, how about CP162? A complete tacho kit, including the timing cover and the tacho itself for a smidge under 55 dollars!

Is it better to know this information, or is ignorance bliss?

Primary Delight - Todd's Got It Covered

Spent a lot of time lately trawling the world trying to score a good pair of long primary cases, drop me a line if you have a pair excess to requirements.

Looking through the Jockey Journal for leads I came across this jaw dropping set up. Made by Todd at Small City Cycles and promised to be in production and on sale soon, needless to say.....can't wait.

Triumph in Japan

We all know that there's some great work coming out of Japan, without a doubt some of the best Hot Rod Triumphs in the world are originating there. Ironic ? Maybe so, but undeniable all the same.  Came across Sunao's blog whilst trawling for Tiger 100 RR stuff , (again) and was more than impressed with the work he's doing.............................and he's got an RR frame.

Check it out for yourself HERE The Google auto translate struggles a bit but it doesn't detract.

The real deal on a reel.

First saw this on Paul's Show and Go site.

Gotta be some of the best original footage I've ever seen, some of the bikes at the drags somewhere around the middle certainly hit the spot. Well worth grabbin' a beer and watchin' the full half hour.

Set The Phasers To Smile!

Blind Melon of The Lucky Bastards MC sent pics of  this pretty tidy T140 that he saw in San Francisco on Sunday. 

Looks like all the fun you want at one time.

Weighs in at 309 lbs, and by all accounts the guy rides it...............

..............like he stole it!

Thanks to the fellahs at LBMC.

BRITISH LEGEND IN HOLLYWOOD MAKEOVER SHOCKER!!!!!!!

May well come over as a tad partisan here, but if this don't move ya in some way then get yerself to the Hospital and get 'em to search for a pulse.

Came across this beauty whilst dating engine numbers. The work of Franz & Grubb out of 

North Hollywood, this '59 Bonnie has got it all going on inside as well.

Sorry, ain't interested in any whining about a drop in the cooling efficiency of the head and cases, this is something to aspire to.

Thanks to Dan at F&G for use of the pics

Of course an all alloy Tiger 100 motor could be even shinier still.........................

M21 Sooooo Nice

Although there was a good showing by Milwaukee's finest, a few Brits snook in under the radar. Russ strongly advised a look at this and he weren't far wrong!

The pix don't do the build quality justice, there's some inspired work gone into this build.

  Familiar view from behind the bars.

Sure there should be more shots of that front end but they ain't there now. Can't explain how they work 'cause I'm not sure! Springers at the bottom for sure, but the  springs are in tension and not compression. 

Twenty Seven..............Not Out!

Bike mags seem to come and go over the years, but GKM just carries on getting, well, not only better but validating it's position as the publication by which all others are judged. Guy has pulled out another cracker, featuring CRO Custom's Pan on the cover, this is a dream boat of a bike showing just how well standard parts can be massaged and utilised to form a whole that is grater than the parts. 

Grab yerself a copy HERE

WARNING THIS PUBLICATION CAN BECOME ADDICTIVE

Sweet Thunderbird from Denmark

James of Customs From Jamesville posted this beautiful 6T a couple of days ago.

Nice and simple and simply nice, great work, the tank is from an SCO moped, don't know what one of them is, but I do know I want one!