Blast from the past

Dads '67 Trophy, pic taken sometime in the mid to late '70s. He parted with the bike sometime around my birth as far as I know, but he cant remember exactly. Mods of the day included apes and cocktail shakers, and removal of the front guard and fork gaiters. Though running sans front guard wasnt (and still isnt) as popular here as it in the US... I have been asked on many occasions if I need a front guard for my commando, and get odd looks when I say I have one, its just at home on a shelf!

This pre unit chop came much later, I dont know when the build started but I remember it as a kid in the early to mid eighties, around when this pic was taken. In the US I believe this would be referred to as a chopper done in the late sixties/seventies style, but I dont if this type of build was popular here until after 1970. Maybe some of you graybeards could shed some light on this. Chopper and custom bike history is hard to come by in this country unless you hear it straight from the guys who were there, and even then I think the old buggers cant remember that much!

"Hot Rod Day In The Dirt" Harrisville Speedway, Sanson, 2010

le trumpet

Project Triumph has finally started to look less like a pile of parts and more like a 'cycle. Its taken a back seat to project BSA for so long I doubt it will be on the road by xmas as Id once hoped for. So far anyways, the motor is complete and ready for plumbing and wiring, I think I'll be kicking it over before the end of the year at least. The hard work is done on the glass tank, it just needs a final coat of black, apply decals and clear coats to finish. Considering the state of the fibreglass when I first got it, I didnt know if it would ever be straight enough to look good in black.
The front end is all there, its just in pieces and waiting on the oil seal cup holders to come back from the platers, then its time to experiment with cutting the springs to get the height correct.
Still cant get that rubbish quality rear guard to sit right, I might have to just spend the money and get a good one.. Watch this space...

Back in the good old days...

"An ordinary pullover worn in the opposite way, with one's legs thrust though the arm holes of the garment, keeps the lower abdomen and thighs warm. It is most effective, even in the extreme instance when one's coat-tails are flying in the air."

- The Motor Cycle issue 1936