The Adventures of FriarJohn on Two (and Sometimes Four) Wheels

If nothing else, I just want it for my living room. I would look like a complete fool trying to ride something this small.

1954 Triumph T15 Terrier / 1949 CZ125T

This bike has a clear Montana title. It is titled as a 1954 Triumph Terrier which is 150cc. However, the chassis for the most part is a 1949 CZ which was imported thru Indian Motorcycle. The VIN number was assigned and applied by the state of Montana and matches the title. It has new tires and tubes; new stator and battery eliminator (converted to 12 volt) and a new drive chain. Everything works. There is still a pretty good oil leak in the primary.

via 1954 Triumph T15 Terrier / 1949 CZ125T

Okay so I’ve been posting links and photos of Hinckley Triumph Standard Bonnevilles that have been converted to rigid rear suspension using either the LC Fabrications weld-on hard tail section or the forthcoming British Customs bolt-on hard tail. And we’ve seen full-custom hard tail Americas and Speedmasters with one-off frames. This is the first time I’ve seen a hard tail America or Speedmaster where virtually nothing forward of the seat has been modified. A guy named Jukka from Finland posted a link to just such a beast today over on BonnevilleAmerica.com:

I think it looks badass (at least from the rear), even with the stock paint. It’s a 2004 Speedmaster featuring a 240 rear tire (the largest you can go on a stock bike is 200 which requires a change in the rim size as the stock rim is too narrow). I love it but that stock alloy front wheel needs to go. And why the hell did he pull the slim and trim Speedmaster front fender in favor of a larger America version? ::sigh::

I’ve added several shots to my Cool Bikes Gallery. The original photos are here. Bike is for sale, apparently, for 16,900 Euros or about $21,700 USD. Uh, yeah, I’ll pass. I could have it recreated stateside for less than half of that much.

Suddenly this looks very attractive to me (everything blacked out with stickers on the gas tank, but not the handlebars).

Might have to find me a spare tank. I wouldn’t do this to the tank Gene and I are working on.

This time it’s bolt-on and from British Customs.

Blood Falcons: This just in!

He’s correct,  it doesn’t look as nice as the LC Fabrications weld-on hard tail, but for those of us who don’t weld (yet) it could be a godsend.

The hardcore Harley guy will NEVER go for liquid cooling, though…

(source)

Got back in the shop (well, Gene’s shop) to start customizing my spare gas tank. Mods on tap:

• Shave stock dash and smooth top of tank.
• Move gas filler forward and right, utilizing a Harley filler bung.
• Fuel sight gauge on the left side.

I’ve got a brushed aluminum monza-style flip up gas cap from NYC Choppers for the new tank. The indicator lights from the dash will be moved to a new mini speedometer mounted up on the bars, with a matching mini tach.

Gene’s doing the metal work and welding while I’m doing all the grunt work, cutting, flanging, templating, etc. He’ll be squirting the paint and I’ll be doing the other grunt work, filling and sanding.

According to Dennis, the owner (edited for clarity), “2008 bike (carbs not EFI), the tank was damaged and replaced with a pre-2007 style tank, tires are Dunlop white walls, front fender is stock america with the bracket modified to clear the new larger front tire, the frame was cut where the rear fender struts were, the new rear fender is a heavily modified JJ (Jesse James?) fender, and is now mounted to the swing arm. Speaking of the swing arm it’s stretched 6″, the bike measures 96″ tire to tire, the rear tail light is a common bobber light, the seat pan was made to fit me and then sent to “Bitchin’Stitchin” in Denver to be padded and covered in leather. I relocated the battery under the seat and did away with the side covers, and added K&N air filters. The color idea came from my H3–it’s called “boulder gray.” The D&D pipes were on the bike when I bought it. They sound great but have some slight damage. I would like to replace them but they are expensive so they will have to wait. The America has always been a bike I liked but being 6’1″ with a 35″ inseam they just felt “too small” but now this is what I was wishing for.”

More photos on his Photobucket gallery:
Rear view
Side view (blurry)
Front view (blurry)
Updated with more pictures:
Rear closeup
Rear side view
Side view with Tiger
Seat closeup

This was originally posted on BonnevilleAmerica.com, where I replied, “Out-friggin-standing. I love it. I’ve always loved the rear fender mounted on the swingarm look. Stretching it gives it all some “breathing room.” And it finally makes sense to have a sprung/tractor style seat. Another favorite thing? The painted headlight body, color matched to the tin. Very nice touch.”

LC Fabrications has a stripped down wiring diagram for Hinkley Triumphs (new generation like mine) that they developed for this custom hardtail standard Bonnie they built.

With all the electrical problems I’ve had this year, it’s tempting to start from scratch. Yeah, yeah, I know. That would be just as big a headache as sorting things out on the stock harness.

I’m seriously tempted to put something like this on my bike, but knowing my luck I’d end up moving out of Helena not long after…

via Knucklebuster

Update: Grail just posted a picture of the whole bike. Nice.

Here are a couple bikes that caught my eye whilst perusing the Greasebag 2008 bike show gallery.

First, a rather straightforward bobber/street tracker based on a ’47 Harley. I love the wheel sizes, the handlebars and what appears to be a tubular fuel gauge on the side of the gas tank. Thinking about steeling that last idea for my bike.

Next, I love mutant shit, hence the title of this post. Here we have an aircooled VW Beetle engine and transaxle stuffed in a very rough, rigid bike frame. Probably not the best thought-out design, but as a fan of old bugs, I love the novelty of it.