I've owned, ridden, and worked on about 19 bikes in the last 4 years. My current bikes that are mine are a 2005 Triumph T100 and a 1967/73 Triton which I built out of my first and my father's first English Twins. I actually inherited the T100 from him too.
Another bike in our garage, which is much the reason I'm here, is a 1978 Ducati 900GTS that dad bought new and rode until about '87. It's never been down, but has been sitting since '87. While it technically is my brother's, he's not a mechanical animal, and I would very much like to put her back on the road, even if he is the one riding it mostly. I'll also be restoring the Norton Atlas which he bought new in '67.
I smoke pipes, I carry pocket watches, and I listen to vinyl records. Not out of some misguided attempt to be cool, but for much the reasons I don't care about most bikes made after 1980. I just prefer them. I like any music that can be heard through the needle when the sound is off, I like pipes for the variety of tobacco as well as the bond that grows with a good pipe, and I like pocket watches because I find the movement to be peaceful to watch in motion.
I also had a full metal shop growing up and while I currently have no access to one, I look forward to getting another metal lathe with a 10" swing this time.
Yep, that's about all I've got.
Oh and I have the Triumph logo tattooed to my chest, and the Norton logo tattooed to my back. That pretty much says the rest I think.
Here's the Duke as she sits now:
Any advice here or via PM would be GREATLY appreciated. My go to guy for old bikes was always Dad, but he died in July '07, so I lost that knowledge.
I can say it has a Lucas Rita ignition. I can say he made the valve guides himself some time ago in a metal shop, and I know one of the cylinder heads burns oil, but I don't remember which one.
Wahoo, and happy to be here!
