Triumph Dude

[Maha]

Working at Snells Beach today for this old fulla, seems he was bit of a Triumph hoodlem back in that day. Perhaps back in the 50's early 60's? Anyway, he used to strip and rebuild Triumphs, the ones he was talking about I dont know of, apparently, they used to have a main stand that would arc the rear wheel? He was a 'Milk Bar' dude of that era, and talk about him and his mates and the fun to be had in Queens st...His name is Dave Anderson, and smoko today took a little longer than normal, back there tomorrow to install his vinyl. Cool old guy to talk too.

[Motu]

Milk Bar Cowboy's were in the '50's.Rigid frame bikes had a rear stand on the axle,it swung down and lifted the wheel off the ground.Very stable....just like a pit stand on the rear axle.They also had a stand the same on the front axle.Don't know him...although who knows - but I know people who would.

[Ixion]

I had a bike that had a rear wheel stand, a front wheel stand, THREE sidestands (2 left, front and rear, one right) and a centre stand. Quite normal fitment in the day. And QD wheels, no tools needed. Progress? What progress? All we've managed to progress to is boots with fancy membraney things that leak.

He sounds a good bastard. Tell him he was slow.

[Maha]

Milk Bar Cowboy's were in the '50's.Rigid frame bikes had a rear stand on the axle,it swung down and lifted the wheel off the ground.Very stable....just like a pit stand on the rear axle.They also had a stand the same on the front axle.Don't know him...although who knows - but I know people who would.

Milk Bar Cowboy's
Thats the term he used...
He said they would rev the snot out of it, bang it gear, (while the arc stand was down) and just roll forward a bit and let nature take care of the rest....
And more recently, a group of Triumph riders (about 15 or so) just turned up at his place to say gidday.

[Ixion]

Milk Bar Cowboy's
Thats the term he used...
He said they would rev the snot out of it, bang it gear, (while the arc stand was down) and just roll forward a bit and let nature take care of the rest.......

You can do that with a centre stand , too, y'know. If you want to.

[The Baron]

He sounds like a great guy. I think he would have enjoyed talking to you too about bikes, the old days, etc. Its good to still meet some of these old bikers.

[Daffyd]

Sometimes the clip that holds the rear stand would weaken or break and the stand would drop on to the road. Used to leave a trail of sparks...quite spectacular at night.

[Ixion]

Actually, the clip was broken more often than not. Most folk had them hooked up with a bit of wire.

Hinged rear mudguards. that was another good thing. Bike on one of the stands (note "one of the stands"); remove the QD rear wheel (no need for tools, or to get y' hands dirty , or upset the brakes or chain - just undo the built in tommy bar); lift the hinged mudguard, and roll the wheel out. Didn't even need to bend over. Progress? What's that again?

[Maha]

He sounds like a great guy. I think he would have enjoyed talking to you too about bikes, the old days, etc. Its good to still meet some of these old bikers.

Another guy I worked a year or so ago was Bob Anderson, he raced Speedway in the 50's and 60's (Ronnie Moore days) he had a car yard in Otahuhu. He eventually went to England and raced for Oxford. You can keep these guys talking about their day for hours if ya want.

[Maha]

I had a bike that had a rear wheel stand, a front wheel stand, THREE sidestands (2 left, front and rear, one right) and a centre stand. Quite normal fitment in the day. And QD wheels, no tools needed. Progress? What progress? All we've managed to progress to is boots with fancy membraney things that leak.

He sounds a good bastard. Tell him he was slow.

I knew you would have a crack at this thread Les, I did think of you today (in a blokes way!!).... when Dave was talking, I thought ''Ixion could converse with you for hours''...

[Voltaire]

scheesh...next you'll be talking about widgies and bodgies....

[Motu]

You can do that with a centre stand , too, y'know. If you want to.

We had a cop in Panmure who used to launch his Triumph off the gut stand - I've seen him start the bike,turn it on one leg of the stand,then launch in the direction he wanted to go.One of the old school tough but fair types - always willing to help you out,or throw the book at you.

[Sully60]

Progress? What's that again?

Bikes that are too easy to work on and repair don't generate enough corporate income.
Progess to these types is yet another five figure bonus and a few more thousand shares at the end of the financial year.

Who's the cycnical one again?

I really enjoy talking to the older guys about how things were back in the day. Don't get me wrong 100+hp bikes with great brakes and chassis are something to be savoured but I do get the feeling that that was probably a better time to be around.
It would seem it really took something a bit special to be a motorcyle owner/rider back then, us youngins have it all a bit easy really.

[vifferman]

You can do that with a centre stand , too, y'know. If you want to.

... or the sidestand.

[Ixion]

I really enjoy talking to the older guys about how things were back in the day. Don't get me wrong 100+hp bikes with great brakes and chassis are something to be savoured but I do get the feeling that that was probably a better time to be around.

Yeh. we had proper boots. Not membraney fandangled things that leak. I got my new boots yesterday. Compared with the Oxford things, they weigh at least three times as much, and when I walk around in them (well, stomp really, they're not very flexible) they squeak. Loudly. That's what I call proper boots, only way to improve them would be to make them out of cast iron. Need a bit of breaking in, but in a year or two they'll be as comfy as old slippers.

Weird thing is, they feel just like the boots I used to use when I was young. I'd forgotten how good a pair of boots could feel. Solid, like. Even weirder, they felt so like the old days that when I got on the BMW, I swung my leg back and started feeling for the kick start!. And when I got to the end of the road and came to change down into first, I hooked my foot under the brake lever and tried to pull it upward. haven't done that in years.

(For the benefit of callow and uneducated youff- proper bikes not only have the gear change on the right side, they have it the right way up. One up, three down)