Quality Custom Cycles

Norton/Knuck hybrid- Then and Now

2011-10-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure of the history behind this thing, but I saw modern pics of it a few years ago, and this vintage image of it at a swap meet just surfaced on the JJ. It's a 1940's Norton International with a Knucklehead motor- killer combo. I really hope this bike stays together and doesn't donate it's powerplant to a Knucklehead restoration.

ARE Alloy Triumph top clamp

2011-07-30T15:45:00.000-07:00

I saw this ARE (Alloy Racing Equipment) cast aluminum racing top clamp and thought the dimesions looked very similar to a Triumph so I scooped it up and sure enough- it fits 60-68 Triumph forks. I've heard of ARE (I had one of their finned points covers on my black '68 TR6) but I had never seen or heard of any aftermarket Triumph yokes before. I'm not sure if there was a matching lower, but it's ALOT lighter than the factory iron counterpart. Plus, I'm sure it won't look bad with a set of alloy Tomasselli clip-ons underneath it.

60's Show/Drag bike with chromed Indian girder

2011-05-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

This is an early 30's Indian girder that's all setup for a Triumph. The guy said it was on his dad's wild chromed out show/drag bike in the 60's. Well, the guy wasn't BSing- he just found the pic of his pop's old Triumph with the girder on it. The pic isn't very clear but you can see the girder with a Borrani rim and spool hub (long gone he says) as well as a green and gold Wassell banana tank. The picture couldn't have been taken any earlier than 1964 based on the Myers Manx in the background. I wonder what happened to the rest of the bike?

Lamoreaux swingarm conversion kit for rigid Triumph

2011-05-08T13:58:00.000-07:00

I recently found this 3" over swingarm conversion setup that appears to be the kit offered by Wilbur 'Lammy' Lamoreaux in the early 50's. Paul at Show and Go posted an old article on the Martin swingarm conversion, and it shows the 'Lamoreaux & Ryan' kit- note the pinched swingarm, fender brackets and vertical brace under the seat springs. Also, I took a few pics of a bike at the 2010 Catalina GP running the same setup, but was unable to locate the owner. Here's a few pics.

Amal Grand Prix Racing Carbs-

2011-03-17T18:39:00.000-07:00

Just found these Amal T10GP2 1 5/32" Racing Carburetors. Got a killer deal on them from a dude in Texas who received them as payment for helping a "big Triumph dealer" from the 50's move his shop- Big D maybe? He said he didn't know much about them, other than they they were very expensive in the 50's. One pair came with some very interesting spigot/clamp adapters that are cast with Amal part number 376/156. I'm on the hunt for a 510 "matchbox" float bowl, or any other remote floatbowl that will work with these carbs. Also, I would be happy to trade a pair of these GP2 carbs for a nice pair of Amal TT carbs (10TT9 would be ideal) if anyone has any.

NOS 'Q' Desert Sled Air Filter

2011-02-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

I recently stumbled across this NOS 'Q' Filter and could not pass it up. I've only seen a few of these filters in person, and don't ever think I've seen one for sale, so I promptly scooped it up. This thing was sitting on the fellow's shelf in the garage for decades. It has all of the original bracketry (2 top-mounts to fit a unit or pre-unit frame) hardware, filter element, clamp, and rubber boot that slips over the carburetor. If anyone has any info or ads on it, I would be very interested.

2010 Catalina Grand Prix

2010-12-05T09:27:00.000-08:00

I just got back from the Catalina Grand Prix, and it was nothing short of amazing. Motorcycles had not raced through Avalon in decades, and everyone that raced said the track was awesome. It was a sensory overload with all of the noise and smoke, and some legendary riders that brought back the same bikes they raced on the island during the 1950's Catalina GP races! I really hope to see this happen again next year.

More pics here.

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Webco Monobloc Accessories

2010-09-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

Other than the float bowl extension, you don't see too many Webco performance parts for the Amal Monoblocs. These carbs deserve more credit than they're given. That being said, I had an opportunity to buy up a bunch of Webco carb stuff, and here's the result. It's a new 389 with a hi-flow needle and seat, float bowl drain, and an adjustable main jet- all early Webco competition components. Not sure what era the drain and adjustable jet are, but the jet came with water slide decal, not stickers, and the script on the package is the style that Webco used in the 50's. Also the Webco phone number on the package is only 5 digits. Late 50's-early 60's? If anyone has info or ads on these, please let me know.

Early BSA Chopper Survivor!

2010-07-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

I was sifting through a killer photo set of 60's and 70's choppers that Paul posted on his blog, and immediatedly recognized this BSA as an old chop that Ton Up Tim (Trophy Motorcycles) had rescued a while back from the original builders basement in Ocean Beach. He built it in San Diego in 1965 and supposedly, that picture was taken at the "San Diego Motorcycle Show". Check out the rotary payphone in the background! A few things were changed while the previous owner's brother owned it, but the paint and general build style remain intact and this bike will soon be back on the streets of San Diego. Amazing bike!

King of Clubs- Car/Bike Show and Drag Racing!

2010-07-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

I know it's kinda late to post this, but it's that time of year- 6th Annual King of Clubs Car/Bike show! Drag racing, music, girls, and booze- good times! My ol lady made the flyer and forgot to put bikes on there (I know...) Hopefully the cool weather will last til this weekend. As always, pre-evo bikes are welcome and can drag race on the 1/8 mile strip. You gotta have a helmet and a leather jacket to run. There's gonna be a bunch of bikes this year- Trophy Motorcycles has put together a Triumph 750 dragster that they're going to run. There's also a trophy for best bike. Trust me- you'll want this trophy!

1955 Triumph Tiger 110 Bobber

2010-06-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

If this isn't a Triumph bobber, I don't know what is. A friend turned me onto it, and I drove 9 hours to Nor Cal to pick it up. It's a running 1955 Tiger 110 with matching numbers and the original iron head that was bobbed for racing in the 50's. It's got a Joe Hunt mag, Webco dual carb adapters, scalloped 8" brake, 19" wheels front and back, and an cheesy old flamed Trophy tank. The black plate has a 1969 reg sticker on it, so I suppose that's the last time it was used. The guy said it used to be a race bike with green paint and shamrocks, and I believe him since it's got green paint under the black, and a factory block off plate where the generator should go- no wiring to the lights. Supposedly, it sat in a barn until recently, and the guy needed money so had to let it go. I prefer to bring bikes back from the dead, so I normally don't buy runners, but for the price, I couldn't pass this one up. It should clean up nicely.

You need pre-unit Triumph parts?

2010-06-08T19:38:00.000-07:00

Let me know if you're looking for pre-unit Triumph parts- I may be able to help. I recently sold quite a bit of stuff (frames, motors, and anything Wassell), but still have lots of stuff. I'm not getting rid of everything, but I have too much stuff for a 2-car garage. I'm all about trades too, so if you have pre-unit stuff to trade, let me know.

Catalina Grand Prix Footage from the 50's!

2010-04-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

I just found out about this from Geoff Patrick that does the American Triumph tech videos. I'm pretty excited about it and I just bought the first available copy and can't wait for it to show up. This is the real deal- an hour of pre-unit racers hauling ass across Catalina island as well as Torrey Pines here in San Diego and other races. Here's the link- http://www.americantriumph.tv/store/

It's been a good week...

2010-03-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

As my ol lady always says, "Yes...they're real." I've been looking for a nice Bates seat for a while, but I refuse to pay thousands of dollars for an old seat, or $500 for a repop. Even if it is the last piece of the puzzle for a bike that's absolutely screaming for an old leather seat. It looks like my patience paid off. I worked out a sweet trade for the pleated one, and a really good cash deal on the smooth one. I wasn't looking for 2, but that's how things go. Kinda funny- the same thing just happened with a pair of 1959 Bonneville gas tanks. I've been looking for one for a few years, then found two nice ones the same week. When it rains it pours I guess.

Anyone know the origins of this oil tank?

2010-02-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

I've been looking for one of these center-mount oil tanks for a while, and finally found one. It's at least 20 years older than any of the chopper tanks. It's undoubtedly the same kind of tank as Rich Richards was running on his record breaking Thunderbird in 1954. It fits the profile of a rigid Triumph perfectly, and the plumbing, cap, and mounts are right where they should be. The real question is, was this a one-off tank that came off Rich Richards bike, or were these manufactured and sold by an early shop- JOMO? Any info is highly appreciated.

A hobby or a sickness?

2010-01-31T13:39:00.001-08:00

Here's the tip of the iceberg- some of the parts that aren't on bikes yet. No, they aren't for sale, but we may be able to work out a trade if you have any of the parts listed below-

•20" Borrani shouldered rim
•4.00x18" 5.00x16" or 21" Firestone Grasshopper tires
•1957-1959 3 gallon Triumph tank side trim (I have 4 gallon tank trim to trade)
•1940's 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 gallon Triumph tank w/hinged cap (T90, 3T?)
•Lucas Racing magneto or BTH TT magneto for Triumph
•Pre-unit 500 Delta head with dual screw-in intakes
•RC109, RC1307, or ATRC Smiths tachometers
•GP/Race Kit tach. drive (mounts in place of generator)
•Stock Triumph rigid rear frame with rearset footpeg mounts
•Folding pre-unit footpegs
•BTH KC2-S4 Magneto brush holder/pickups and rubber boots
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Parts you'll probably never see again-

2010-01-31T12:09:00.000-08:00

I'm taking it easy in the garage for a while due to a nasty bike accident (punctured/collapsed lung, lacerated liver, 4 broken ribs, etc.) so instead of bike pics, I'll post some parts.

Here's an Avon High Speed tire, made in the 50's for land speed racing at Bonneville, etc. They could be run on a front or rear wheel. It's a 3.50x20, so the outer diameter is the same as a 3.00x21. It was refered to as the "200 MPH tire" but with the cracks in the sidewall, I don't have the desire to take it over 50 mph. There were some very important world records set on these tires, so it would be really interesting to find out more about it. Thanks to Paul at Show and Go for the info here.

This is a dual carb manifold for a 650 Triumph. It's similar to the one sold by Unity Equipe but without the fins, and it's a little smaller. Much better looking than the Webco 2 piece adapter, and it has a crossover/balance tube. I've never seen another, so any info is appreciated.

Webco spool hub and AJ Lewis intake...FINALLY!

2010-01-15T14:23:00.000-08:00

Here's a few parts that Ive been hunting for for a long time. Finally found them for cheap on the Jockey Journal. First, is a Webco racing spool hub from the mid 50's. The ad is from 1956- waaaay before the Choppers were around, so this thing was made for one thing- flat out racing. I've talked to a few other Triumph guys that specialize in rare aftermarket stuff, and nobody has seen one of these before. Still has the old-style sealed USA made bearings. Both ads are courtesy of Paul at Show and Go.

Here's the A.J. Lewis dual carb adapter manifold for 650 Triumphs. AJ Lewis was a legendary tuner. Check out this link to learn more about him. I had never even seen one of these adapters in person- only heard of them, and seen them in the old ads, but this one kind of found me. Anyone know anything else about this part?

My old BSA gets a new look-

2009-12-16T18:21:00.000-08:00

I just got an email from a guy asking if his bike looked familiar to me. I was shocked to see my old 1970 BSA Lightning that I brought back from the dead a few years ago, then sold to a friend, that sold it to someone else. Apparently, the new owner like it enough to keep lots of the stuff the same, but added a few of his own touches that appear to be nicely done. He removed the side covers, stretched the swingarm a few inches, and replaced the stock seat with a much nicer and smaller one. He also added the exhaust wrap and shorty mufflers, which I normally wouldn't be a big fan of, but the bike looks good with them. The bottom pic is when I brought the bike home, the middle one is when I sold it, and obviously, the top pic is the current state of the bike. Nice work Rudy! Let me know if you ever decide to part with it...

Two Wheels Terrors 2...trailer

2009-12-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to the trailer. You can see my '68 at 0:46 and at the closing scene. Or just buy the damn movie and see a whole lot more bikes. CLICK HERE...

Didn't see this coming...

2009-11-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

Don't know how this happened, but I just bought a new Husqvarna TE610- 600cc street legal thumper. I knew it would be a hell of a machine because of the cult-like following of these bikes and all the killer reviews but man- this thing will do roll-on wheelies without even trying! Weighs in just over 300 lbs, but it doesn't feel like it and handles beautifully. I think it's won best dual-sport for the last 3 years or something. There's too many hills and fireroads around me to risk wrecking my old pre-unit bikes on, so this should keep them out of harms way.

"Two Wheel Terrors 2" premiere

2009-11-09T17:27:00.000-08:00

This is the movie that my '68 Trophy is going to be in. Marky and his crew are good people, and Dice throws a hell of a party, so don't miss this one.

Another pre-unit build...

2009-10-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've had this bike in my head for a while, and I've finally started transforming all those parts on the shelf into a bike. Eventually, it's getting a dual carb alloy T100 motor (currenly en route from Florida), a Triumph factory spool front hub, alloy rear fender, fork covers, and obviously a freshly rebuilt gearbox. These Akronts with the drag slick and ribbed Dunlop are eventually going on a swingarm pre-unit dragster, but for now they look good on this bike. The one gallon tank may be temporary too, because I'm running dual carbs and there's limited clearance. The gas tank is off a 1957-1959 T100/RR dirt track racer and is ultra rare (less than 200 made) The angled petcocks and blue/ivory paint make it different from the other Tri-Cor accessory tanks.

Born Free- Top European

2009-09-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

The Born Free show was amazing- I don't think I've ever been to a better show. I was honored to take home the "Top European" award for my 1953 BSA Alloy BB34 with a '33 Norton Girder. There was so many nice bikes out there, I was shocked that my bike was even noticed.

1970 TR6- $ Available $

2009-09-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a 1970 TR6 with a short hardtail, 19"/21" rims, and a pre-unit front end and a rebuilt motor. I'm just getting started on this one. This bike is not spoken for yet, so if you're looking for a rigid Triumph, this one could be yours.

1968 Trophy

2009-09-07T18:09:00.001-07:00

Well, this is THE bike I wanted to keep forever, but life gets in the way. It was built to last- lots of stainless and everything powdercoated or sprayed with coats and coats of gloss black. I had ALOT of money into it, and almost a year to finish it. It's going to be featured in the new Two Wheel Terrors movie, as well as a few bike mags. It sold for about as much as a restored '59 Bonneville, so I guess I shouldn't complain. Time to start the next one...

1946 FL (Der KnucklePan)

2009-09-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

This was a 1946 Knucklehead with a Panhead conversion. Before you say "It wont work!" Yes- it did work. And has racked up many miles since the early 70's when it was built. I got it from an old Axemen M/C member. Unfortunately, I never got to finish this one. It went to Canada.

1959 Thunderbird

2009-09-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

This was one of three pre-unit Triumphs that were found in a backyard here in San Diego. They were literally buried in a pile of Ford Model A fenders and leaves for decades. It had all of the original sheetmetal (which I removed and promptly ebayed!) and was very correct, but weathered. This bike went to Bill in New York. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on this one.

1946 Tiger

2009-09-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

This bike was one of the yard-find bikes. It had been neglected for years, but this one still started right up. I wanted to just get it road worthy and enjoy it, but the forks were frozen, so I'm rebuilding them. That's about as far as I've got on it.

1960 Bonneville

2009-09-05T17:28:00.000-07:00

I found this bike right down the street from my house. It was built by a soldier that never came back from Nam. I've mocked it up at least 10 different ways, but I think it's gonna end up as a street/dirt tracker with a Morgo 750.

1953 BSA BB34 "Goldstar Special"

2009-09-05T17:12:00.001-07:00

This old BSA BB34 features an all-alloy motor and was special ordered by Hap Alzina in LA and used for dirt track racing in the 50's. I didn't do much to it other than add the Norton girder fork, Triumph competition tank, and a Bates seat (not shown). It runs, but it's an evil bike to start.

1970 Bonneville

2009-09-05T15:47:00.001-07:00

This was a fun bike. It was found in a chicken coop and it was almost completely white with chicken crap when I got it. The only things I used were the motor and front frame section. It sold for $13K on ebay last year.

70 BSA Lightning

2009-09-05T14:49:00.001-07:00

I bought this bike the same day as the "chicken coop" bike. Mild custom- just added fork covers and high pipes and a few other details. It was a quick cheap build and it went to San Diego Joe.

68 T100C

2009-09-05T14:09:00.000-07:00

Here's the one that started it all. I had owned bikes before this one, but this was the first bike I built. It eventually went to Joe from the Zombie Lounge.