Ace Cafe and some explanation of Triumph Bonneville.

Well Friday Already,

I am stuck for a bit of time but thought I would add a post of my mate Mark Wilsmore on here at the ACE Cafe, talking about the Rockers and of course the Bonneville.

Have a safe weekend out there.

General Blog today just a few things I got up to.

How is everyone now that is is Hump Day?  I try and do different things every day to make the week go by a little easier, every now and again I will attach the Phone to my bike and have a chinwag as I ride locally, just to keep some of you in the loop, but thats mostly on Face Book and Instagram etc, but thought I would add the odd rant or rave or just a little chin wag as and when things crop up and I feel the need to talk about it.

It may not be interesting for you but some people like to know what I get up to during the week, or what is on my mind, and this is a good way of showing what makes me tick.

I took the Thruxton out for a test ride as I fitted New Rear Brake pads, the old ones were getting low and I have a squeal that I hate when I brake on the bike, I personally believe its the Rotor but changed brakes and still the same.

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The bike will go for another configuration this year as I like to change a few things up, still in the sketching on paper in the garage process right now but I do see a few things I would like to change, for a start, those crappy Wave Rotors, did not like at all.

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I love the Thruxton but the Brakes do indeed let it down big time, The front ones I removed and fitted a Beringer caliper and it is way better at stopping when I really need it.

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I love the pipes the way they sit and get rid of spent gases, the bike looks pretty cool and always get a thumb up at a few places, these machines are so easy to ride and as long as you keep up regular maintenance, then you are fine as they are so much improved that the original versions that I still love but do not miss the break downs.

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I offer quite a few parts for this machine and it’s Sister the T100, as well as the Scrambler too, all fun Machines that I love to work on or take out for a ride in these great California Canyons.

Yesterday I took the Thruxton for a trip out to Chino Air Museum, just for a little ride and thoroughly enjoyed myself, took it easy this time and took in some of the area as the countryside out there is great to look at when at a more sedate pace.

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Sunday was a great day to get out, took less than an hour to get to Chino Air Museum, I didnt go inside as I want to do that with the 59 Club as it is a good couple of hours to enjoy all these marvelous aircraft of the past.

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If you can get out here to the Museum, it is a super place to hang out, once a year they have the Planes of fame air show which is unbelievable and thoroughly worth the ride out.

I can never get enough of this as ww2 was my thing at school, as well as we grew up next to a few American Air Bases, and where I lived was the

94th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was in ww2.

Bseairfield-6jun1955

I learned to ride a Motorcycle on this very runway and it is still there today. I even drove my Hot Rod on there too and of course, where I got my American interest from a very early age.

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So, coming to Chino is great as there are artifacts from the very airfield that I rode on as a kid and now I am here in California with some of the planes that were located there back in 1942-45.

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Am epic flying machine the Flying Fortress and rightly names as it was super hard to shoot down and would take tremendous amount of damage in flight.

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So I am always happy to ride out to this place and a little eerie feeling that the plane and I really do have a connection as we were both in the same place at different times but if it wasnt for that plane in the background, I may not be here today.

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So i hung out for a little while, but it was a warm day, so paid my respects and then made my way home via the canyons again. But it will not be too long until we are all back here for a visit and eventually one day my God Son Bradley selves may take the trip from the UK to come out here as he is as mad as planes as I am.

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A little run around the block, just in case I missed some stuff and then back onto the Tarmac to head to my home and take my time to enjoy the Sunday at my own pace.

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Weather was bang on and I enjoyed my ride through the canyon and stopped off to take a few shots for my Blog on here to try and show you where I go and what I get up to these days.

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Passing the State Of California  Corrections Firing rate at a sedate speed too. Ha Ha. And so, on to the twisties and thats what I get another kick out of when there is no traffic about.

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Switch backs and chicane corners are fun, as long as you commit to them, this bend was awesome as its a 15 mph limit and off cambered too as well as up or downhill, so much to take in.

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Keep your eyes peeled for traffic and of course the sides of the road as there is all sorts of debri from Branches to cans to stones, as well as hidden drive ways and footpaths, be aware.

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Looks easy but this is a double bend too and even sharper at the bottom as its almost a switch back and off cambered the other way, but I enjoy that and had a grin all the way there.

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I pulled over a couple of times just to take some of the scenery in, not great for photos as the Sun was facing me but took some to show what I was up to and you may like to have a look.

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So if you can, ride as much as possible, I feel sorry for the colder climate states as they have such a smaller riding time than we do in California, as well as Canada, but I chose to move to California for that very reason, you always feel better with the Sun on your face.

So hope you enjoyed my little Blog today and hope it gets you off to a better start of the day and makes you smile.

Downed power pole Carbon Canyon 15Sep13

But be aware of your surroundings as you really never know what may be around the next corner, look ahead all the time. Thanks again for watching and, keep an eye out for Crazy Car drivers too.

CC Rd accident 28Sep15

Happy Monday, Here’s some cool Video’s

Wow- Monday already and I guess it was a hard start for you lot today as it was for me too, and I think today I shall continue with a few more videos to try and help your workday fly by, or at least give you something different to look at on your lunch break etc.

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Below is a video from back in the day about road safety, always fun to watch as our machines have changed a lot , as well as the traffic speeds too.

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It is from Los Angeles in the 1960’s and boy, to see no traffic in the towns is weird these days, it also makes me laugh when the public service film and the AMA both tell you to. “Dress Neatly” as they want you to give a good impression to your neighbors. ha ha ha

 

And how about this, some rare footage called “Rode Safely” This was filmed back in 1955 in Liverpool, and its some cool footage to watch on a Monday and shows how things were so much different back then, compared to today’s traffic and Laws etc.

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I had to laugh at the “staged crashes” and the Old style of hand signals that have changed in the highway Code back home. This is as funny as hell to watch and I am certain that these 13 minutes will have you cracking up.

Onto part 2 now of “Rode Safely”

16 minutes of awesome footage, and for me this was thoroughly entertaining, showing me what Back home like in 1955, when there was only half a million Motorcycles being ridden on the British roads.

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Enjoy

Be safe out there but you don’t have to dress neatly OK? LOL.

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Insane Meat Slicer Turbo Visor from back in the day!

As a kid, I used to think that this was nuts even then and now, well how frigging crazy is this invention to see, I cannot imaging the distraction from the noise of this circular Buzz saw that screams around at the speed of sound to “Fling” off any H2O that maybe sitting on the visor.

So Today I thought that I would show some of these Crazy inventions and make you smile today, but- in all the many decades of riding I have done back home and all over Europe, I have never encountered one of these.

Were there ever any injury’s from this contraption at all I wonder?

Even the infamous Formula 1 race car driver Graham Hill tried this insane idea out.

 

So I wonder what happened to these things, as these were very antiquated inventions.

So I did a little research and bloody hell, they still frigging make them.

Some use them for Go karting and racing, how mad is that?

So . Pardon the Pun-it has actually come full circle?

 

So keep your eyes out for one of these, but I bet you hear it coming before you see it, it is sure to sound like an old Bi-Plane losing power.

So, what is there now that maybe knocks this into a cocked hat?

How about this then?

Now there cannot be anything more embarrassing than this contraption.

 

So, stick this on your Christmas list.

Triumph Motorcycles, it’s all in the branding!

Hey there gear heads

 

Well today I shall write a short blog on branding, as many people like to watch my blogs, even my competitor reads my website everyday to see if he can cash in on any idea’s. LOL!

 

But today I wanted to add some videos, seeing it is Friday and thought that this would be a good day to have a few snippets of movies, documentarys or commercials that show the Triumph brand.

 

First up is this unusual snipet, a little boring but it says Branding of the Trumpy all the way.

 

 

 

Well not all that interesting as it was to and fro on a few occasions but next up for your entertainment is this video.
Just a Thruxton going around downtown LA and through the old Bladerunner tunnel.

 

 

Now, this Girl rider Lauren Richards from cold and wet Wales, takes the New Ace Thruxton for a little blap around her area and gives a nice run down on how she likes this Motorcycle. More power to you as we need more girl riders.

 

 

Now, this long winded Brit chin wags about his Machine, albeit a wee bit too dangerous if you are riding on busy roads as you tend to lose concentration whilst riding a motorcycle, but, again if you have a few minutes its great for me to check some of the countryside out of back home, but click past if you feel the geezer rattles on too long.

 

OK, lets whiz off to Austria and check this fella’s Trumpy out.

 

Break into a little bit of Music for this one to get your weekend off to a great start with these Scramblers.

 

Have a great Friday everyone.

Socal Norton Club‎ 36th Annual Hansen Dam Ride and Show SUNDAY!

 Ok, this Sunday is coming around super fast and I shall be heading down to Hansen Dam for the Norton Owners Club 36th Meeting that is annually and boy what a treat this is.
Last year was my First attendance at the Hansen Dam ride and boy did I have fun there, a few hundred bikes turned up and the ride through the canyons was brilliant fun, no need to race but you could give it an ear full if you so required, but I sure did have fun on My Thruxton.
I will be going again with my crew from the Orange County 59 Club and take in the atmosphere of this well represented Norton club.
What time:
at 7:00am – 3:00pm
3 days from now · 85°F / 60°F Clear

Where:

Hansen Dam Recreation Park

11770 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar, California 91342
Schedule of events:
8-9:45 Coffee, Donuts and Show Bike Info
9:45 Riders Meeting and Announcements
10:00 Ride leaves via Osbourne/Foothill/Little Tujunga
1:30-2 Return to Dam for ride pins and Best Bikes Show and lunch
2:30-3 Show Bike Awards in six catagories
Catagories are:
Best Norton
Best Triumph
Best BSA
Best British Custom
Best British Other
Best of Show
Bikes in show must participate in ride.
This is the best motorcycle show by a dam site.
Directions: 210 to Osborne St. exit #8 Foothill Blvd. west, left on Osborne St., left on Dronfield Ave., right then left to lower parking lot.
This is a great event and for all classic Motorcycles, if you want a fun day out on your two wheeled machine on Sunday, then this is the place to be at.
You will see a few faces you may know there, I saw Barry Weis there and he is such a fun guy to chat too.
Also you will see Many unique machines from Norton, to Greeves, it will all be there and a great hang out before the ride into the twisties.
 If you see us, please come and say hello as this is one of the friendliest meets I have never been too, other than the VJMC as their events are super cool too.
So get ya arse down here if you can as it is a memorable ride and so many cool classic machines to look at.
I hope to see you, give us a wave if you are on the run as this sure is a fun day to ride your motorcycle.
carpy-tonup
If you would like to ride with us , then get up early as we shall be at Alea’s Cafe on the corner of Miraloma Ave and Miller at 7am remember you have to change your clocks on Sunday morning at 2am.

Alea Cafe

3371 E Miraloma Ave, Anaheim, CA

Triumph Bonneville Limited Edition Silver Jubilee

1977 Triumph 744cc T140 ‘Silver Jubilee’ Bonneville

The final phase of the Triumph twin’s development began in 1972 with the first appearance of the new 750cc version of the Bonneville, the increase in bore size necessitating a new crankcase to accommodate the larger barrels. Other improvements included a new ten-stud cylinder head, triplex primary chain, stronger transmission and a disc front brake. A five-speed gearbox, introduced on the preceding 650 Bonneville, was standard equipment on the 750. Despite the age of the basic design and strong competition from Japanese and European manufacturers, the Bonnie remained for many years the UK’s top-selling 750. In 1977 Triumph introduced a special, limited edition Bonneville to celebrate HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee. This was basically the standard Bonnie enhanced by a red, white and blue on silver finish, coach-lined cycle parts, and a chromed timing cover and primary chain case. One thousand were made for the UK and another thousand for the USA, while a further 400 were dispatched to other markets.

 

I left school in the UK back in 1978- and vividly remember these sat on the show room at our local bike shop, they didn’t really sell well back then at first, but triumph only made a thousand of these, and many went overs sea’s- So they made another 1200, some with a peanut tank to attract the US market.

 

 

Even though these looked cool, they had all sorts of issues and I bet any you see will have super low miles on them.

The points always played up, and also Triumph Chromed the engine covers and they started to peel.

This was to commemorate our Queens Silver jubilee, but thats all there was to celebrate about as the bike turned out to be a total Lemon, but- A great Collectors bike.

 

To make you feel better, they gave you a certificate to show that you had a brand new Limited Edition Triumph.

 

 

 

I loved the US Export Peanut tank though.

 

Our tank was just like the Boxy trident.

 

So-if you see one for sale, buy it- but only for a collectors value – don’t try and ride it as it WILL break down.