Tank-a-tanka-tank

Cleaned up the large british Triumph tank; couple of dings filled and smoothed; liner applied (after 2 attempts!), and rubben down.

Placed on bike to see how it looks...

Much more solid looking, nearly Guzzi-like even; the longer 70's frame's line need this tank to give it a visual balance.

The seat sits okay, but a wide nosed one will improve the line too.

Red and Silver

Shiny, shiny cafe'd oil-in-frame Bonnie. Red framed and chrome tanked as well as a comfy Corbin seat. Nicely detailed and crafted to be a real head turner!

The Time by Triumph will be Bike O'Clock precisely.

Catch the Warm Sunny Days while you can!

A smile forsure after a jaunt up the old Sheridan Road to Lake Bluff. The autumn colour was just starting to appear; the next few days of drier 70's weather will surely make it a feast for the eyes.
The Bonnie rode like a champ on the first leg out then was a little hesitant on the return.

VP's Bike ~ The Bonnie

A neat thin strip vertical ad highlighting the sublime Bonneville as the sporty choice of business executives. Looming office buildings flank the parked ride between lesser 'motorcars'. It's rival of the time was of course the E Type Jag; serious competition indeed!

Still a damn fine machine...

Sunday Ride

Perfect Weather for a ride: 70's light breeze, clear blue skies with a few fluffy clouds...

Trying out the new (old) Triumph jacket, which fits like a glove on a chicken's lip: supple, comfortable with zip-open air vents.

Blue skies above...

Dean Rennie accompanying me on his '68 Bonnie.



Rule Britannia!

The local Craigslist offering today is a tasty looking 1971 Bonnie in excellent Union Flag livery! $3,600 and it's all yours!New electcs, stainess spoked wheels, well detailed.

A Sundae Morn' Ride

Cool shadows on a crisp fall-like morning. Quiet roads, apart from the cyclists, allow unimpeded flow. Up Lake Bluff and back stopping at Bobs local seven-eleven for a fresh coffee and fredhly baked chocolate chip cookie.

Twist the throttle and go...

The road slips by below...

...a smile reflects the fun corners and leafy verges...

An exceptional Porsche Panamera 4-door coupe hatchback parked next to the Bonnie; I'd take one if given...  ... however could have a very desirable bike collection for the price of one! ($75-135k)

Triumph T120R Bonneville

Here's a complete, though time worn example of a 71 or 72 Bonnie; resplendent in a somewhat earthy brown colour scheme ~ which includes the side covers.

650

A Brace of Bonnies

After a stormy wet weekend, the sun finally got out late Sunday afternoon so I got out for a saunter up the north suburbs; joined by Dean Rennie on his '68 Bonnie. Cool air with bright light, perfect road. Super!

Girl Power... ... on a Bonnie!

A strong message with this 60's advert: implying a Triumph gives you a sense of power! The gal is aloof aboard the bike with, what look like, her business, architect and sportman contemporary bretheren. Read into it what you will!

Sunnie Bonnie ride

Beautiful weather on this Saturday morning saw the bike taken up along the shady swoops of Sheridan Road; delicious. New rear shocs are a smooth treat over rough spots.

Flow my Charge the Electron said...

Working on electrical niggles on the Bonnie; there doesn't seem to enough juice in the battery...

...the red wire, no the blue wire, no the blue wire with white stripe, no the....

Nice little orange framed number!

A serious consideration with any future build would be the colour of the frame: here someone has taken their late 60's Bonneville and given it the fiery orange treatment with white tank. A nice combination! TT pipes in matt black, shallow lamp, fenderless front with disc brake, more up-to-date carbs and big airfilters, 'stubby' seat and modern tyres. This is certainly a riders 'flat-track' machine.

Well I wouldn't say no if you offered it to me!

A Triumph Printed

At a folk creative workshop in North Carolina I worked in the print class. Using old credit card swipe machines and carefully carved lino sheet a small reproducable print could be made. I worked on an image of my Triumph. Came out pretty good for second go at printmaking...

Sods vs Fockers Part V

Here's an ample selection of details from the bike at the show; all Triumph of course! Starting with the tank badge of my favorite, the green Speed Triple. The mean bug-eyed monster.

Clocks from a newer Bonnie, nice clamp name detail.

Bonneville 'Oil Tank' name and flag. Patriotic or what!

Center tank bolt cover badge. I need one for my tank.

The Lucas Ammeter, the 'Lord of Darkness' reigns supreme! Or so this indicates!

A Tiger and its stripes.

The clean monochrome look on the Trophy touring bike. Sublime.

...and finally the Smiths Chronometric speedo; 120 m.p.h. sir? On a Bonnie in favorable conditions? Nearly! Neverthless a beautiful graphic, used in British 'cycles and sports cars of the period.

Rods vs Mockers Part Four

Here are the older Meriden Triumphs at the street show, each with their owners mark on them, each with mileage and aged patina giving an certain 'life' to them.

Plum late 60's Bonnie: Simply Gorgeous.

Mid 70's oil in frame left shift 750 Bonnie. Carefully prepared and maintained.

A bobbed 650, pinstriped thruugh like Blackpool Rock!

My Bonnies dark brother, A clean 71/72 OIF Bonnie.

Mid 60's Unit lump; A fine engine.

Super clean early 70's OIF, nice white 'horns' on the ebony tank.

Pre-Unit hardtail chopper. Funky ape hangers, high, high pipes and batwing pinstriping.

Mirror finish cafe'd Trumpet. Rocker ready!

I'm gonna put you in the movies....

...I'm gonna make a big star out of you...

.....All you gotta do is, act naturally!

Mid Seventies Bonneville Cafe

A clean example of a cafe'd Oil-in-Frame Bonnie, Right hand shifting, discs, so must be T140V from 75 or 76. Nice black paint scheme and grey frame. This helped my own rebuild inspiration...

 The racing hump seat , a reupholstered cover available from Vietnam of all places, affords a further speedy line to the desired appearance.

Eliminated front fender gives a bobbed look too. Clip-Ons the correct stance.

Close-up view of frame, timing side of engine and rear sets. The standard 'boxy' side covers actually look right with the grey frame finish and dull engine casings.

Anotehr view of the Norman Hyde rearsets, close in appearance to mine, as well as the gear change lever.

A final rearview shot of the rounded 'rump' and the long pipes; altogether a balanced build with clean lines and serious purpose of speed.