Forks

I got one side of my forks back together today and they look pretty cool. Waiting for paint to setup before I assemble the other side. Tomorrow? I'm anxious to get it back on it's wheels.

Pan

You could pretty well guess this bike was Japanese built. Pretty cool.

How to Build a Sport Bike Model

This must be one of the earliest articles on building a bobber. Now I finally know what to do with that unsightly 1915 Indian Scout I have in the garage.

Forks

How far can one get on a fork rebuild during a 3 year old's nap? About this far...

eBay

I noticed this bike on eBay. It's kinda unusual to see one with a stock frontend, a stock headlight and a 19" front wheel. I think the forks have been cut but IMO still look a little imbalanced with a 16" rear wheel. These are pretty much the bars I was just talking about. $11,000 buy it now, good luck...

Parts!

I ordered $150 worth of parts today. I hope to start making some more progress again soon!

Bars

I'm thinking about trying to make some bars. I want something similar to the profile of the stock bars but with a lower rise. Somewhere between the factory bars and drag bars. I'd think they should be pretty easy to just buy, but I haven't had much luck finding 'em so far. Here are some examples. If you see anything similar in 7/8" let me know. Ideally I'd like to have some that are chrome so it's not too obvious they aren't stock. The stock bars are 4" rise. I think I want some that are 2-2.5".

Stock

Not

Oil System Paranoia

Here's one way to insure your oil tank is plumbed right.

Now THAT"S "Old School"!!!

Hank Young, eat your heart out.  This machine made Time Magazine's all-time 50 worst cars list.  Here's what they said about this 1913 Scripps-Booth "Bi-Autogo" (the "training wheels are retractable once you're underway):  "A 3,200 lb. motorcycle with training wheels, a V8 engine and enough copper tubing to provide every hillbilly in the Ozarks with a still, the Scripps-Booth Autogo was the daft experiment of James Scripps-Booth, an heir of the Scripps publishing fortune and a self-taught - or untaught - auto engineer.  The Bi-Autogo was essentially a two-wheeled vehicle, carrying it's considerable heft on 37-in. wooden wheels.  At slow speeds, the driver could lower small wheels on outriggers to stabilize the vehicle so it wouldn't plop over.  This is not a case of the advantage of hindsight; this was obviously a crazy idea, even in 1913.  The Bi-Autogo does enjoy the historical distinction of being the first V8-powered vehicle ever built in Detroit, so you could argue it is the beginning of an even greater folly."

Happy 50th Bonnie

The Vintagent has a nice write-up on the 50th anniversary of the Triumph Bonneville (1959-2009). My Favorite part:

Conceived to tame the hunger from the American market for bigger and faster motorcycles, the addition of a twin-carburettor cylinder head to the Tiger 110 model proved to be a resounding success. The timing was perfect; Texan Johnny Allen had just taken (in 1956) his streamlined T110-powered cigar to the Salt Flats of Bonneville, and claimed the World Motorcycle Speed Record at 214 mph. The machine was unsupercharged, and used a surprising number of 'standard' components - including the engine, gearbox, and wheels, although it drank a bit of nitromethane to compensate for the thin air of Utah's high desert.

Edward Turner, Managing Director of Triumph, certainly knew how to capitalize on a bit of free press, and after a publicity tour in England for Allen's streamliner (see it on BBC TV!) christened his new design after the location of this latest triumph. True, he did a bit of legal tippy-toes to keep lawyers from General Motors from scotching the whole project, but the name stuck fast, entirely eclipsing the now-humbled Tiger from which it sprang.

Indian Wrecking Crew

This movie looks awesome!!

Jump 2.0

New Years in Courtacousin Arkansas.

Lurkingclass Triumph

Here's another work-in-progress from Lurkingclass. His stuff is always cool.

Random Pics

Here's a pic of my new wheel cover mounted. Thanks to Rob for braving Crazy Chris's Triumph Emporium. Also a snap of the battery box painted. The pictures suck, they were taken in the garage at night.

Blown Flathead

Cool!

Jump

This is sorta like Robbie Knievel's New Years jump only actually worthy of waiting through countless commercials and endless babble.



This is a World Record height. Interestingly the previous unofficial height was 310 ft set by Ryan Capes in Kent, Wash

Ok, time for some more infusion of tractor technology!!  Check out this cool 45".  Can't tell what carbs he's running, but I bet the transmission is a Brit 4-speed (BSA?) box.  Note the final drive on the wrong side for a 45".  Running a magneto, and he's added an oil tank aft where a big twin would have it.  Definitely a 45" though.  No clue what the little bottle on top of the rear exhaust is.  Maybe a way to warm water for his tea?

Pin-up

The jacket must cover her full-sleeve tattoos.

Status Update

The following pics almost trivialize how much work Rob & I put into the Triumph over the last 10 days. Ridiculous amounts of thought/fabrication went into the oil tank alone to ensure stock flow specs and venting.

Thanks for everything Rob & Lynn! It's gonna seem awfully quiet around for a while...