Classic Motorcycle Jump of all Time

Classic Motorcycle rider, star Steve McQueen

Classic Motorcycle rider, star Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen was a motorcycle enthusiast, and stipulating that his character Virgil Hilts makes his escape in the movie "The Great Escape" on a motorcycle, sealed his "legend" status for all time. The movie was released in 1963 and enthusiastic audiences came to see what was acclaimed to be one of the best War movies ever made.

In 1960 the TR6 Trophy was introduced, it was really a Bonney redesigned, but with only a single carb and cylinder head modifications. None the less it dominated in major classic American events such as the legendary Catalina Grand Prix, Jack Pike Enduro and the Big Bear Run four years consecutively. The electrics of this period of Triumphs were subject to failure and Lucas that supplied the components were dubbed the "Prince of Darkness". The motorcycle used in the movie was in fact a 1961 Triumph TR6 Trophy Bird, made up to look like a wartime BMW, in this all time classic film.

Classic Motorcycles Bits and Pieces

classic motorcycles at 9:16 PM 0 comments

Classic Motorcycles Bits and Pieces



Posted by classic motorcycles at 7:15 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Legends on Classic Motorcycles


There was a time when the classic motorcycle, Triumph Bonneville had “stars” astride.

Marlin Brando, Richard Gere, and Clint Easwood all rode ‘Bonney’s’ in their respective classic movies (no prizes for getting them right). James Dean as legend goes, gave away a Harley to Elvis, and was rumoured to have sat on a classic motorcycle called a Bonneville. Jame's personal bike had "Deans Dillema" painted on the tank. (No, not a movie)

Brando’s bike in fact was a Tiger T110 on which the classic Bonneville motorcycle was based. Also appeared in The Wild One.

I'll digress a little here on bike makes as Harley Davidson also had a hand with legends on board. Easy Rider was a 1969 'trip" movie starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson. It was released in the year of Woodstock and the assinations of Martin Luther King, and Robert Kennedy. Also the election of a president called Nixon. Fonda, Hopper and Nicholson rode decorated chopped Harley Davidsons (Nicholson spent most of his time as a pillion)

Arguably the most valued collectors item would be the "Bonneville Royal Wedding T140D" to celebrate Charles and Dianna's wedding in 1981. This model came with certification of authenticity and hearalded as a true Classic Motorcycle.

classic motorcycles

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

When one Classic Motorcycle Engine is not enough.

In any classic motorcycle one motor is enough, but back in 1966 Bob Leppan set a record at Bonneville at 395kph.

Two, 650cc Triumph engines powered this classic. and was fairly streamlined to say the least.

The road going version however only had one engine, and with its iconic classic chrome headlight sticking in the wind, its pea shooter exhausts with that familiar sound rather than being streamlined, it was none the less a beautiful bike to behold.

The classic motorcycle model T120, 650cc landed in 1959 . Even with its high performance engine and twin carbie set up, it didn’t quite manage 120mph as the model suggests, but 110mph wasn’t too slow either.

Classic Motorcycles and any models worthy of interest.

I felt inspired the other day when I saw a young lady parking her Classic Motorcycle . Bonneville's only come in green, what the heck , why not, it's earned the right to be green. British Racing Green as the colour was affectionately known. Apparently they did come in other colours as the photo shows.

It is interesting to note that the Company was of all things British. but Triumph, a true Classic Motorcycle manufacturer, had a background of German origin. Back in 1886,a German called Bettman sought a more accepted name for his Company, and it was then called the Triumph Cycle Company. Twelve months later it registered as the New Triumph Co.Ltd. It received substantial monetary backing from the Dunlop Tyre Co. That same year Bettman was joined by another German, named Schulte.

It did not take long for the new company to produce it's first Motorcycle and it was fitted with a Belgian unit. One year later, 1903 it's sales topped 500, pretty good for those days.

Can you imagine today, where the "British" icon Triumph Motorcycles, arguably built the Classic Motorcycle of all time, also produced a Motorcycle called Gloria.

Triumph Dudded by F.I.M.

Back in 1955 a guy set a speed record on a Triumph motorcycle that was fueled with Methanol, He was Johnny Allen (311kph) and it was not recognized by the F.I.M. But none the less Triumph claimed it as theirs and then named the bike Bonneville, after the great salt flats. The legend was born that day,and to this day earned the right to be called a Classic Motorcycle.