Hello from Washington DC

Hello all, terrific site, happy to be here. Just picked up an all stock 2008 Scrambler this past weekend. It's a low mileage bike in great shape overall. Needs a bit of clean up, but otherwise seems like a sweet ride.

As a little background on myself, I've been riding since I was ten years old. But before that time came, my dad owned a 500 Trophy high pipe Scrambler back in the early 70's and one day he sat my 6 year old butt up on the gas tank and took me for a spin around the neighborhood. My dad couldn’t have known at the time, but that simple moment of sheer glory changed my life in a profound way forever. The rumbling, distinctively throaty roar of that Triumph engine, the incredible rush of speed and acceleration, the wind in my hair. All that swirled in with watery eyes, blurry chrome and the intoxicating smell of gasoline and oil. That was it. I was imprinted at that moment indelibly forever. I suspect quite a few others here know exactly what I’m talking about.

Fast forward 45 years, dad is gone now. And I have owned many motorcycles over my lifetime - but never a Triumph. I’ve always wanted a classic original, even though by today’s standards they are utterly obsolete. But I have had my eye on the classic repro scramblers that have been available for ten years now. Plus they’re widely available and apparently very reliable. I decided this weekend it was time to take the plunge and relive a little of that past glory…at least in some small way. I think this motorcycle is going to fit the bill nicely.

My goal is to eventually build a Jack Pine desert sled type scrambler. A stripped down model similar to the Hammarhead machine. For now though, I want to gather info on various build concepts and just learn before I make a move on modifying the bike. So that’s why I’m here. Looking forward to meeting you all either virtually or in person and sharing ideas about these beautiful motorcycles.

One more thing, this site seems to have almost entirely British membership. Hopefully you all don't mind a lowly colonial hanging out here. I figure what better place to chat about these bikes then where they came from? Or used to come from, I should say. But such is the lot of the developed world nowadays. I'll also say I've only been to London once, but it was a killer experience. In my short time there, despite everything I have ever heard about the weather, I actually got a light sunburn laying out by the Parliament building gazing up at the beautiful Union Jack rustling in the wind up on high. I also thought it was interesting they had a big bronze statue of Oliver Cromwell prominently displayed outside of Parliament. I had heard of his name before, but couldn't remember what he was famous for. After researching it, I realized he was a King killer. A King killer placed outside of Parliament as if to send a very bold message to very specific persons. It's actually quite shocking what he did and the fact he was somehow allowed to get away with it. And this all happened long before the American revolution. So maybe there isn't such a big divide between the colonials and the Tories after all?

Sorry, I digress. Long live the king and happy to be here!

 

Thanks everybody for the warm welcome. I really am happy to be here and specifically on a British site talking about British motorcycles, which I now very happily own (FINALLY). And yes, all that talk of Oliver Cromwell and my fantastic experience in London, I confess to being a bit of an anglophile. Although I don’t pretend to understand English irony or their sense of humor, or the full meaning of the phrase “taking the piss.” And I know many Brits think most Americans are “cunts” (as told to me by a few "blokes" at a few pubs). But I love learning about English history and how it all funnels into how and why America is what it is today.

In fact, getting back to Cromwell - for just a minute, I promise! - despite his mixed background as a near genocidal tyrant, his avocado sized BALLS of STEEL cannot be denied. Plus, in my opinion, his actions against the King, of reeling him in and his almost unlimited, godlike power as the irreproachable sovereign, was a step towards human rights every bit as important as the Magna Carta before it, or the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution after it (also derived from English common law). Taking a King’s head and getting away with it sends a message to all Kings afterwards, and not just in England either. Power will be shared! You will yield. You are not an unquestionable god. There are limits to what you can say and do to the people.



Parliament putting his imposing statue, complete with sword out there so prominently, where the royals can’t miss it every single day. It says in very clear language: “Don’t. *%ck. With. Me!” Whatever Cromwell was, you can’t take that away from the man. Despite his murderous tyranny in other realms, you can’t deny that his actions were one of the important stepping stones in the human history of gradually weakening absolute Monarchical rule and thereby helping to pave the way towards democracy, civil rights and representation for ordinary people. We’re still not there of course, the powerful still own us. But their grip is more tenuous now than it has been in centuries past. That’s progress, of a sort.

Anyway, seeing that bad man standing up there as I randomly ambled by as a tourist without really knowing him before; I was moved by it, as you can see! They don't teach about men like this in American school rooms. And I hope no Irish or Scotsmen who may be reading this come down on me. My mom’s maiden name is Ryan and she named me Sean, so as a disclaimer: please don’t get on me for admiring this man. Not here to make trouble, just taking the opportunity to discuss something interesting about British history. END OF TANGENT.

Back on topic, you asked for pics. Here’s a few of my more recent acquisitions:



On the way home and on the work stand getting a cleaning and inspection.


Something similar to what I hope to accomplish with my bike. Although I will not be using unshielded, open headers like that, pretty as they are. Cool is cool, but I value my skin and my hearing.

Some of my current bikes and historical photos. Unfortunately don't have any of my dad's Trophy scrambler.


Yamaha RD400F Daytona and Buell S1


2006 Buell Ulysses I sold last year.


1984 RM500 a long time ago. And no, I wasn't a bodybuilder, thanks for asking. But I could handle an RM500. ;-)


'71 SL70 around 1979 (my neighbor's bike, not mine)


My first bike, a '72 Yamaha JT60 circa 1978. And yes, I'm wearing the full complement of safety gear we all wore back then. We also lived with parents who smoked in the house, we sipped from their beers from time to time, we were out until dark (or supper, really) every day after school unsupervised and our parents didn't know where we were or what we were doing. Somehow, we're all still here and we lived to tell the tale. Well, maybe not all of us, but most of us. Not sure what survival skills young ones have today or are able to learn, but it appears as if it's not much from what I can tell.

 

Dozers Dad/Steve – Agree with you “guys” on Fawkes! Don’t get me started on him too! Incredible historical figure. They say those anarchist dickwads’ (sorry, don’t care for anarchists) masks are modeled after Fawkes’ appearance. Not sure if his appearance is really known, but interesting to think about.

Fawkes is another one that escaped our American educational system. I first became aware of him from Ian McCulloch’s 1992 song Honey Drip:



It's Guy Fawkes Night
Pistols at dawn
Let's walk upon
The misty moors
If luck runs out
I'll go and buy some more
Chance for the chancers
Fate for the poor

I told you guys I was an anglophile!

Sceptic Al – Thanks for the kind words. And I definitely had a dodgy youth, more than I care to admit publicly. Hopefully I’m amongst the same here!

Modalconfusion – No you had it right the first time (and I know you know you did); it’s Triumpirate. I considered Triumphirate, and would have used it if I had a Trident. But, with only a twin, it didn’t make sense. So I just settled on Triumph Pirate sans h. Yes, a sad excuse for wit (I need an IPA or two for that). But all the good names were taken, so after 3 tries, I just said fark it. Arggh matey. ;-)

 

Bloke from Stoke that sounds good to me, I'll take your word for it. I just remember my dad teaching me yankee doodle went to town when I was a kid. Don't know much more about it than that. I have wondered how you guys got the nick-name Limey though. I'm guessing something to do with Limestone in the cliffs of Dover or something? Or maybe something Brits brought along on ships to avoid scurvy? I should google it and find out.