Tiger 100 Bronze Head

Saw this 1939 Tiger 100 at a show in the Summer. 

Absolutely brimming with desirable bits, period McCandless swinging arm rear end, 1 gallon oil tank, original 4" removable end cap megaphones......and the rarest of rarities in the Triumph world the fabled bronze head. This was the first time I had seen one on the road and being used,and being used with some vigour I should add.

My plan was to write a post about this piece of cylinder topping exotica, but searching the web reveals information on them is as thin on the ground as the heads themselves.

Produced as an optional extra 1n 1939 and early 1940, up until the factory in Coventry was destroyed by the Luftwaffe.

It is believed that slightly fewer than 300 were produced during this period.

The last time I saw one for sale went for £3,200 on the bay of fools about 5 years ago.

If anybody can fill in any of the gaping holes in this description please get in touch.

Tiger 110.............AKA Newgate's Knocker

Here's another couple of the Ton-Ten on the way back from this year's Trip Out. 1954 motor in a '49 Tiger 100 frame and running a Factory Metalworks springer front end. Front hub is Tiger Cub fitted with a trials alloy brake plate, and that really improved things there's definitely some slowing down action going on when the lever is hauled upon.

There will be more details on the brake plate when I can sort it out.

The A7 under guard.

Nice shot of the Beezer taken back in the Summer, guarded by geese, which is pretty cool as the Romans used geese for burglar alarms, apparently.

Mister Smug

Two trophies in less than a week..............not that I'm a slut or anything,.......................just mentioning it is all.

Survivor or Victim

Came across this A65 over the weekend, in at my mate Den's for a bit of a look at. Not my cup of tea by any stretch, but someone has put time, work and money into it. Difficult to tell when it became an unfinished project though, 30 months or 30 years, closer to the latter you would have thought.

Reckon it's around a '68 Lightning motor, all a bit precarious to squeeze 'round the back to be looking at engine numbers. Really wants saving from having to sit in there, a big Jap 4 would fit in there I'm sure.

Novel take on the rocker design, must look good in the rain. Can't figure out the brake anchor philosophy, have to take a better look and maybe have a word next time.

Bit O' Dirt

Out at the big steam bash up the road over the weekend, spotted this lovely TriBSA. Great lookin' "man's" bike and lookin' more than capable.

British 250 4 stroke twin............

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. 

Turn on, tune in............................

...........................and Trip Out

COOL,

GROOVY,

FAAAAAR OUT!!!

Anna, Estelle, Loggy and the man himself, Andy really pulled it out of the hat.

The sun shines on the righteous they say, well there must of been some virtuous MOFO's about in Bedfordshire this weekend, wall to wall sunshine over a truly great event.

If you were there you know, if you weren't then shame on you and mark up ya 2013 calendar now!

Same great vibe as the Hayride but somehow so much more chilled.

Can't think of much more to write, still buzzin'!!!!

THANX ANDY YER A STAR!

SUMO'S Mule Pussy

SUMO rode his neat little Panther Bobber down to the The Hayride. built as a test bed bike for the motors he is building up for his assault on the salt dual engined Panther! 

It just goes to show that neat stuff can be created "outside of the box" without a huge amount of outlay, but an abundance of imagination.

A'Hayridin' we did go!

Another blinder this year, can't add to what's been said elsewhere already, just a blindin' weekend.

Roll on The Trip Out!

Boppin' at King Billy's

Took the A7 out for a spin to Northampton yesterday to take a look at the King Billy and Sooty's Custom Show. Good little gig at a first class boozer. Bands, burlesque, burgers, beer and bikes all afternoon, ain't nothing wrong with that. There was a strong showing on the Milwaukee front but this unit Trumpet was doing a fine job of keepin' the flag flying.

Reckon this Knuck may well be a survivor, certainly looks the real deal.

Beautifully built Shovel, it'd be a crime if this didn't win anything on the day.

The A7 at rest on the way back, ran strong all day, after changing the clutch cable which lasted all of 500 yards after setting sail in the morning..

If you ever find yourself at a loose end in Northampton, check out the King William IV on Commercial Street, it's everything a good pub should be.

Great Bike On Offer Over At Pete's Place

Pete over at Eat The Rich has just posted this. Not the prettiest for sure but pretty much everything you need to build a cracking bike. Here's what Pete has to say about it;

'54 uncut rigid frame with original transferable reg, sprung hub, big bearing T'bird 650 with 9 stud Bonneville splayed head, Borrani 19" up front, strangely laced offset rear, engine turns nice with plenty of compo, no spark as yet but will clean points tomorrow. I don't want to sell it, i don't want to sell anything, but its better than a job so a gnats* cock over £3k and you got yourself a project.

*Gnats are quite big boys up here.

Triton...............With A Twist

Not the usual Triton treatment, got Geoff to uncover this the other day.

Running a Commando crank, 10 stud 750 top end and a five speed cluster in a rigid shell,

it's got all the right bits to make it go, but keeps it hidden under touring clothes.

1951 Custom Thunderbird?

Geoff's 6T Thunderbird build has taken a bit of a turn, almost leaning towards a Happy Days stylee (Heyyyyy!!) He was short of one side of the nacelle for the original restoration path he was going down. Although they look the same when fitted to the 50's thru early 60's Triumphs there are, or so I'm told, loads of changes and subtle differences between 'em. The cost of a new complete set to guarantee a match is ridiculous, even the stuff coming out of India, which may or may not fit, ain't cheap. So he scored a set of early Trophy top covers off of Ace Classics  and fitted a separate 6" headlight and hi-rise bars, which I reckon are what we used to call Western Roll Bars.  The cocktail shakers look sweet on there as well although the line of the pipes could do with looking at again, reckon the Ton Ten may well end up similarly "silenced".  

He's already offered a small 3T tank up on it, but that makes the seat look even bigger than it is, so a different seat and about 10 inches off of that rear muddie and it might be getting somewhere.

Look what some Bastard sent us...........

Blind Melon from The Lucky Bastards MC sent this over. Snapped at the 2011 Chooper Fest in Ventura, sunny So-Cal earlier (least ways I hope it was earlier, and not in the depth of what passes as a winter over there) this year. A real nice take on the Unit Triumph theme.

There may be the hint of a nod to the old Exile style, but the stance, the proportions and the finish are bang on. The 16 rear and 21 front combo are timeless, and that looks mighty similar to a Cub front hub leading the way.

Thanks Melon, you may not be a Triumph kinda guy, but you'd have to be lacking a pulse not to like this.

Springing Into The New Year

Popped over to see Chip the other day and found these lurking in one of his sheds. been toying with the idea of getting hold of a springer for the Triumph build for a while now, and these may well fit the bill.

It's been a toss up between a set of original H-D style repops or the Factory Metalworks narrow front end. Problem with the H-D option, is that they are a tad wide for the look that is required, although the sculpted back legs and cast spring bridge always looks the nuttz. Then again the FMW alternative looks too modern with all the CNC action going on, but no excess width to contend with.

Chip is still umming and aahing about the very fair offer that was made, so it is not a given that these are available, and  if they are, they will need extensive reworking to get them back to anything like their best. But then he is a very reasonable bloke and sure to see that parting with 'em is a good and honourable thing.

Chip................you know it makes sense!!!!!

Insta-Bobber

Saw this the other day 'round a mate's place. It's up for grabs if anybody fancies something a little left field and straightforward enough to slip into Bobber clothing. Not quite ride away but all up and running and 95% roadworthy, your's for around 6,000 of our English Pounds!

Flog what ya brung

Took a run up to Towcester with Johnny yesterday, bit of a HD cum custom jumble up there. Not much that stirred the loins in the buying stakes but this was up there,

Very nice, did hear later that it's up for grabs at a price that made me choke a little but can't divulge it cos it ain't been confirmed.

Brit - US Autojumble

Just spotted this from Leedog and Stevie over at lowlevelhell, October 23rd, there's an all Brit and US autojumble/swap meet at Jack's Hill Cafe just north of Towcester on the A5. 

NN12 6ET, Post Code only relevant if you've got sat nav on the bike of course, cos you wouldn't be going up in a motor now would you????

Nothin' of Note

Got out to a couple of local gigs over the weekend, arrived too late for the first one and the rain frightened most off at the other. Not much about worthy of mention but here's a few.

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Dougal's Thruxton Replica.

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1931 Raleigh Side Valve

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Rare Norton Model 55 out of Smithy's stable.

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The Devil's in the detail.....................

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A rarely seen colonial V Twin.

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