Sunday, February 28, 2010

My build is starting to come together

Just a peek now that I am starting to reassemble my 07 Triumph T100. Fridays project was the front end. I got the slick headlight brackets from Joker Machine, as well as the ignition relocation kit. I used Baxter Grips and Biltwell Tracker handlebars off our shelf, a super easy swap. I made my own mini-dash for my indicator lights, eliminated the signals, tach, mirrors and speedo, and added a set of Pazzo levers. I decided to keep the stock triumph dogbone riser as well as the stock headlight bucket (have to hide all that damn wiring somewhere!) but had the bucket painted gloss black. I think the front end has turned out super clean!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Vintage HD rider pics...Part 3


These guys weren't shy of riding on a bit of snow, either. Here's Mike Sadusky on his 50 Harley. Man, I really envy this guy's legs. I bet he could straddle the 950 Adventure-S with his knees bent. I, on the other hand, can't physically touch both toes to the ground at the same time. Mike used to drape his legs over the handle bars to stretch on those long road trips (no joking!). Who needs hiway pegs?


You’d think these guys would know when to stop. Apparently not…Good thing Mike has those long legs...

These were taken up by my Dad's cabin on Mt Thorodin. Wanna park, but you're too lazy to put the side stand down? Just cram it in a snow bank and leave it like my dad did. Mike and Kenny are in the process of “parking”.



These guys were never short of play time. Once again, Mike's extra long legs save the day. Well, almost.

You’re not a real rider unless you can power slide…

Friday, February 26, 2010


Lots of cast aluminum degreased today and being sent off to be tumbled.. I will post 'after' photos of these, they should look brand new!

Vintage HD rider pics...Part 2


Here’s a portrait of my dad taken in 1951, just before the start of a nice ride. Notice the cool stylish apparel. Helmet? I don't need no stinking helmet! Of course, this was pre-head injury days....

These guys also had a lot of fun just playin’ around. Imagine getting a couple feet (OR MORE!) of air on a 750 HARD-TAIL Harley! This makes you GS-jumpers look like whimps, with your fancy rear suspension and all. Sheesh!




But the most insane (read: talented) member of the group in the area of piloting a Harley 74(7) through the air was a fellow named Kenny Erie. If Kenny was alive today and about 50 years younger, I’m sure he’d be one of the top names in freestyle!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Vintage HD rider pics...Part 1

***I was forwarded this email so I don't know who to credit other than the Weber family, but the pics were so cool I had to repost this (for all I know it may be out there already, but I haven't seen it). I am breaking it up into 3 pieces since there are over 30 photos. Hope you enjoy as well!***

On Thanksgiving Day, as most of America was watching football, the Weber household was sitting around talking about bikes. We started looking though my dad’s old riding photos. These are so great that I had to share some with all of you…

My dad and some friends were Adventure Riders to the hilt back in the 1950’s. Sunday rides were the thing for these guys, with the occasional jaunt to Mexico City or somewhere thrown in for fun. First let’s introduce the characters. Here's the clan filling up for gas somewhere near Fort Collins, CO. We've got them from left to right:
Jerry Francis, 1950 Harley 74
Mike Sadusky, 1950 Harley 74
Warren Weber (my dad), 1950 Harley 74
Wendell Rea, 1942 Harley 45 CI. Notice the front knobby!

I guess the 1950 Harley 74 was 'all that', Just like the GS is (supposedly) these days. Seems pretty popular anyhow...

Here's the 'usual suspects' again taking a morning break on a nice Sunday ride.
One Sunday ride took 'em to the top of Mount Evans , elevation 14,264. This was back in the day before it was paved all the way to the top. It was, however, paved here if it hadn't been for the snow. I was recently in a similar situation on my Rally Twin coming over Pearl Pass. I thought it was touchy enough, and I didn't have a FOOT CLUTCH!!! Yikes!
Yet another 1952 Sunday ride ventured up Arapahoe Pass - it's near Eldora , Colorado and is now all wildernesses. Stupid lousy rotten environmental freaks, but I digress… (sigh)

The clan started out from my Dad's house in Wheat Ridge , which is a stone's throw from Golden, CO. They usually left about 8:00 a.m. If you didn't arrive on time, they'd leave you. Hard knocks. They headed up to Boulder , CO and followed the nice, twisty, scenic Boulder Canyon to Nederland . From there they headed through the town of Eldora and up Arapahoe pass.

Now some things never change. There's always that one person in the group that either insists that they absolutely positively know where to go, or that it "not that bad". In this case, the group ended up venturing down this:
Turned out that this the wrong way (DUH!). The Harley guys actually let the English bike riders be guinea pigs on this part of the ride. Must've been one of those hot-headed British riding know-it-alls that suggested it in the first place...

After some back tracking and de-mudding operations, they finally found the right trail and made it to the top at 11905 feet elevation. Nice day!


I also think these guys could've invented the "No Fear" logo. I have fear when it associates a 750 lb hard tail with a stream crossing on a trail. These guys really deserve some respect for being able to pull this off. Or they deserve to be taken away in straight jackets, I'm not really sure.

Not that they didn't dab once or twice. OK, maybe they dabbed about 100 times, but they still made it across. Now it's time to take a break and dry out.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Now I can start putting it together....

Let's just say I am a little excited! I drove to my buddy Tom's shop TNT Custom Paint yesterday and picked up the tins from my 07 Bonneville (yes the one that was Bill's). Tom did an amazing job, they look better than factory and I can't wait to put them on....just a bit of cutting left to do on that frame first.....

Monday, February 22, 2010

Acceleration was on the fierce side.....

Acceleration was on the fierce side....What more needs to be said really?

(pic from 1960 Bonneville article)

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Saturday, February 20, 2010

New DIY tech article up now!

Tyler put together this "How to Mount a Motorcycle Gas Tank with Threaded Steel Bungs" article while working on his pre-unit Triumph build. It's definitely worth checking out, this is a great solid way to mount your tank right!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Triumph Pre Unit Goodness

For some reason my wife doesn't think these are cool, and I don't get it. Triumph pre unit timing gears, drilled for weight with beveled edges to give less drag. Does it make a difference? I don't know, but it sure looks cool as hell.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Harley Davidson Hydra Glide August 1954

Don't you wish you could walk into a showroom in 1954 and see these brand new?

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Four Aces Cycle Bonneville Salt Support Shirt 2010

Lowbrow Customs is proud to present the Four Aces Cycle 2010 Bonneville Commemorative shirt. 100% of the proceeds from the sales of these t-shirts is used to support the Four Aces team to race their vintage Triumphs at Speed Week. The shirts are a natural unbleached cotton and are available in limited quantities. Get a super cool shirt and help support vintage Triumph racing at the same time!


Harley powered Salt Flats Car, Hot Rod Magazine January 1960

I just wanted to share this article from an old Hot Rod magazine I have in my collection, being a hot rod and salt flats racing enthusiast as well as a motorcycle buff, I always thought this was slick as hell. Now I have to see if I can find a Triumph powered one out there.....

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Old School Helmets

Josh from Old School Helmets shot us these pics from a local Denver swapmeet the past weekend where he was selling his super rad custom painted, pinstriped, and leafed helmets. If you haven't seen them yet you should check them out! Old School Helmets I think I need to get hiim to make me a custom lid for this summer!
And thanks for flying those Biltwell and Lowbrow banners man!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Kenney Eggers 1929-2009

Kenney Eggers was one of the top racers on the west coast in the 1950's, and a member of the AMA motorcycle hall of fame. He was born June 13, 1929 and died this past December. He bought his first harley at 14 years old and learned to ride and go sideways in the gravel parking lot of a local school.
He joined the Army in 47 and upon returning started entering local dirt track races, going amateur in 1950, then expert in 1951. The biggest win of his career was July 1 1951 when he won the AMA 20-Mile National, the first race on a mile oval that year.
Kenny retired in 1990 and was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 1998.