Anthony is not a newcomer to building Triumph motorcycles, this was his third and he has owned many more, so he knows what he is doing. So this one was going to be special, visually special. This is a bike with a heritage from Budd Elmors win at the 1966 Daytona 200 held at the speedway in Daytona Beach. Reaching speeds of 100mph and averaging 96.6 mph! The Triumph Tiger was the foundation was developed by Doug Hele at Triumph, and it soon became a production model. The early models had a few technical problems, like a valve gear that used to much oil. But Anthony has the advantage of many years of improved engineering and has no such problems on the bikes have made and made.
The focus was on the visual, and of course, that big tank is what hits you first. It is a NOS 69 period correct and he got paint help from Mat Egan with the gold leafing and wood Grafix, and that perfectly placed 69 and a visually stunning tank.
The handlebars are from a 40’s Knuckle. I wanted that board Racer look, so I shortened them and inverted them so they would be turned down and he used internal throttle and cork grips to set the pace defiantly differently.
I found the Harley 45 Springer at the Long Beach swap meet from this old cat that was ever so firm on the price. But part from a little milling, it fit perfectly and again, it adds so much to the visual. Oh Ja, it works good at speed also.
The Eng is quite original 500 motor and gives me about 41 hp, but to help this a little I ended up using a dual set of 626 Amal Carbs with short velocity stacks. Heads are polished for looks with NJK spark plug caps. But what really helps this engine are the 2 custom-made exhaust pipes “ I WANTED TO WORK WITH STAINLESS ON THIS BUILD AND THE PIPES WOULD BE NO EXCEPTION. IT WASN’T LIKE I COULD RUN DOWN TO THE LOCAL PARTS HOUSE AND PICK UP SOME PIPES HAVING A REVERSED THE HEAD ON THIS ONE. ALL I COULD GET MY HANDS ON AT THE TIME WAS TWO U-SHAPED STAINLESS PIPES. I FIRST TAPED EACH PIECE I WOULD CUT TO MAKE SURE I HAD ENOUGH FOR BOTH SIDES. THE EXHAUST GODS WERE ON MY SIDE THAT DAY…I CUT THEM, TIGED THEM UP, HAD A BUDDY POLISH THEM, THREW SOME LOWBROW TIPS AND WALA!! I REALLY DIG THE WAY THEY CAME OUT SWOOPING DOWNWARD RACE STYLE.. “
The oil tank came from Lowbrow Customs, and I hide all the electronics in an old 42 Navy Binocular case, binocular works great also at 75 years old.
I am a big fan of Firestone tires and I wanted that race feel noble as they are. But the last and perhaps the most unusual and visual on this bike, it is what resides over them Bridgestone’s “THE WHOLE INSPIRATION ON THIS BUILD WAS THIS FENDER ….MADE OF WOOD… ZEBRA WOOD TO BE PRECISE. YOU SEE I OWN A DOOR COMPANY IN WHICH I WORK WITH WOOD AND STEEL. SO I DECIDED TO MAKE A FENDER OUT OF WOOD WITH STAINLESS STRAPS TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. THE FENDER TOOK THE LONGEST TO CREATE. OVER A MONTH, AND THREE TRIES. THE FIRST TWO DIDN’T WORK OUT SO WELL.. ALMOST GAVE UP. I FINALLY GOT ADVICE FROM AN OLD KAT THAT BUILDS WOOD CANES. THREE A CHARM RIGHT… SENT THAT FENDER OFF TO MAT EGAN FOR SOME CANDY”
In front of that,he used a Measanger tractor seat with one of spring, and right up front so he can see his way you find a 5 ¾ Retro Bates style headlight. There is no doubt that Anthony has created a head-turner and when I asked him how it rides, he told me” This bike rides low and fast”!
