Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Shoppin'

Hmm... Hate it when I find stuff like this. I must have 50 more important things in the queue to spend money that I don't have on before this.



WR

As long as I'm on the WR theme...


WR TT

Hmm. I don't remember Flathead Rob's 45 sounding quite like this one...


Pinch of Salt

Ever feel like you have to make it to an event before someone or something manages to ruin it?

HBTV: Depth of Speed - A Pinch of Salt from HBTV on Vimeo.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Tom's Shop

I was poking around online looking some parts and stumbled across these photos from someone's visit to Tom's garage. Pretty nice pictures including a couple of someone I recognize.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

OCD 101

Recipe for custom Triumph T100 Banjo Bolts:

One 1940's Atlas 12" x 48" lathe
One half dozen 7/16 x 1.75" stainless steel bolts
One 3/8 x 16 TPI die
One Machinist handbook, circa 1947
One brother with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Cutting/tapping fluid as needed

Mix all ingredients together in an overcrowded garage and lock doors until done. Filter swarf before use.

One down, three to go...



C@D Report

I convinced English Stephen to tag along with Justin & I to C@D this morning. Olivia decided early on to prove she really is a vintage Brit bike by spitting an exhaust baffle out at him along the road. Justin is way too well seasoned by the occasional part flying off for her to gain much attention that way from him. But show off for Stephen. She seemed happy enough to spend part of the day with unbridled exhaust. Maybe it's like her wearing the occasional stiletto heels out to the club or something... As long as she's screaming for attention.

Kinda slow day at C@D today. Saw a nice Indian Chief and a Trident, both of which have been seen here before.

Allen made a rare appearance on his 1970 Bonneville. I've posted pictures of it before here. Great bike. He bought it new in 1970 in London. He just rides it. I always encourage him to not to get a wild hair and repaint it or something (I think you'll see why). He was saying it's on it's 3rd speedo so who knows the true mileage. I also recommended he keep any worn out/broken parts he takes off. Justin snapped some really great pictures of it.






I read somewhere recently Vincent motorcycles was not overly stoked about Triumph's "World Speed Record Holder" marketing propaganda. Supposedly at least one Vincent catalog stated “The world's fastest standard motorcycle!” and “This is a Fact — not a Slogan.”

Blackout

Why would you not blackout your Knuck?


Saturday, August 27, 2011

'52 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Competition Coupe

I saw this on a Bonhams auction rerun. Wow! Completely stunning.



Check out that air brake. IIRC a similar air brake setup was used on the infamous 1955 Le Mans disaster car. Burning magnesium is tough to imagine unless you've actually seen it first hand before.

The Bonhams episode was followed by a motorcycles only edition of Mecham's. If the televised Mecham's auctions were always motorcycles exclusive I'd watch way too much TV.


Friday, August 26, 2011

Atom Bomb Strike Again

Clay Rathburn's new baby. A '57 T-Bird. What's not to like? Slightly lower bars would better suit my taste but no disputing it's rad.





I had to include this photo specifically for Flathead Rob, a new found authority on pre-unit rocker box lubrication systems. I owe you...



A Little Lube Never Hurt Anyone



Thursday, August 25, 2011

Banjo Bolt Prototype

Played around tonight with making a pre-production prototype banjo bolt. Here are a couple of pix:



Everything went smoothly (turning, drilling) except that I am having a helluva time getting the 3/8 x 16 die started. Nothing I tired worked. I need to learn more about thread cutting, and then I could just cut the threads on the lathe... You can see that I tried cutting light threads with the lathe to get the die started...

I would face the end after threading... If you have any brilliant suggestions, I am all ears!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Peter's Bobber

Admittedly I've been known to say some unflattering things about Ironheads from time to time. Just not my cup of tea. That said, hands down the coolest Ironhead in existence.




While I'm actively contradicting myself might as well say I likes me some flattrackers too...



Sunday, August 21, 2011

Number Plate Decals

I've been on the hunt for Tiger T100 number plate decals for quite some time. Here they are. They have the Johnny Allen Bonneville streamliner decals too.




Not quite the same patina as the one on Robbie's T-Bird though.



Stupid but I'm kinda jazzed to find 'em.

Bonneville

Sigh... One of these days I have to make it there. Sounds like the Low Brow boys had a record year. Flathead Rob forwarded a link to these killer JJ photos. They so totally make me wish I was there.





Incidentally, you might recall the the absolutely immaculate pre unit LSR bike I posted photos of a couple of times. He made it.



This guy and I started engine builds at about the same time. My motor is still on the bench but at least my bottom-end is back in one piece after a full day in the garage yesterday.

Student Concept

From Return of the Cafe Racer. Pretty bitchin' for in Hinckley.


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Somewhat Boring Details

Flathead Rob & Dad made the trek to Crazy Chris' Triumph Emporium to track down a rocker feed tube for the Tiger. Pretty sure Dad had to keester it to get it past TSA so it goes without saying I'm quite appreciative. I worked on cleaning it up some tonight and it looks like it should work out just dandy. Thanks for making the sideline in what sounds like it was already a really busy day guys!



I also worked on putting together and mounting my regulator too. SHH... It's not really a Lucas. Thanks again Brian for your help.


Monday, August 15, 2011

Dream Garage

BikeEXIF has a feature today on dream garages based on Lee Klancher’s Motorcycle Dream Garages. I'm lucky enough to know folks whose garages damn near rival nearly every one of these (even in similar styles be they cluttered, museum like or immaculately sterile.



Now a few of the NM syndicate.






I need to steal a good current picture of Flathead Rob's Garage. Not too willing to share photos of mine at the moment (its a wreck).

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Stugis

Hmm. Evidently not everything about Sturgis is lame. Who knew?


Roadster



Vaughn was just asking me if roadsters ever had roofs. Probably a more common sight in Flathead Rob's neck of the woods.

F@#k Physics

Damn son! This is the sort of stuff that made me idolize Kenny Roberts as a kid.


Saturday, August 6, 2011

More Dealer Decal BS

More pissing away time looking for dealer decal stuff. First I found this site completely dedicated to vintage dealer decals. Some cool stuff there for sure but of course nothing Albuquerque related.

Then I found this employment classified ad in the "Help Wanted" section of the the "American Motorcyclist" October 1958:

Triumph motorcycle mechanic wanted. Tired of living in cold sloppy weather? Want to come to the great southwest? Albuquerque, N. M., one of the nation's fastest growing cities. Give age, experience and references. SIMONSON CYCLE CO. 401 2nd St SW., Albuquerque, N. M. Chapel 3-7647.

Cool. Near the right time period. I then went after anything Simonson Cycle Co. to see if I could get a better idea of their typical design style.

From Santa Fe New Mexican Pub. Corp., 1933. Unfortunately the ad is from a limited view publication and is partially chopped off.



Next, ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL April 16, 1967.



Some design elements remain consistent throughout.

I still don't really have any idea if Simonson actually handled Triumph in 1951 or not. The Google Books "American Motorcyclist" issues don't go back far enough to dig further. If anyone reading this has better ad resources I'd welcome any input.

It looks like Simonson had three locations over the 30 year span I found stuff for. I decided to use the October 1958 address and phone number given the lack of better information.

Here's my first stab at a decal layout. I'm not too terribly stoked about it. My wife is a pretty amazing professional graphic designer. When I'm more sure what I have is right I might have to beg for her help. She is absolutely incredible when it comes to emulating period graphic styles.





Huge waste of time but it was kinda fun.

So where is 401 2nd St SW Anyway? Corner of 2nd and Lead.


View Larger

UPDATE - I found a little more... a Albuquerque Journal , May 9, 1954 ad shows "1954 TRIUMPH TIGER PERFORMANCE PLUS 1930 953 TRIUMPH TIGER A VARIETY OP USED 1 PRICKS AND SIZES SIMONSON CYCLE CO 401 SECOND ST SW" This confirms Simonson carried Triumph in 1954 and was at the 401 Second SW location.
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