Rich Risner sent in this bitchin’ lil ditty - his 1968 Triumph Bonne. Nice lines, simple, clean… classic. Engine by our pal Wes at Four Aces Cycle, paint by Aryan Aaron at Totally Custom and the rest was done by Rich.

Killer little scoot that anyone would be happy to pound pavement with.

From the March 2005 Issue of Classic Bike Magazine
Story: Mike Duckworth • Photography: John Noble • Studio Photography: Lyndsey Church

BSA’s long line of rugged and simple ohv unit singles offer everything from the humble 250cc C15 to the fiery 500cc B50. Commuting, fun riding, police duty, military service, trail riding, motorcross, trials, grass track, dirt track, road racing, hill-climbing, speedway. BSA’s unit singles have done it all and often very well.

Despite this record, the versatile thumpers are often reviled for clatter, leaks, vibration and terminal blow-ups. Some of the notoriety is justified, since Small Heath’s build quality was uneven in the factory’s later years and so the smaller units were often victims of abuse and neglect.

That doesn’t mean a unit Beeza can’t make an enjoyable, dependable classic today. It’s a matter of choosing the best one for your needs and treating it to the care that many of the singles were deprived of when new. You only have to look at historic trials, motocross and dirt track to see that these machine can be very well sorted.

Our dossier covers models from 250 to 500cc sold from 1958 to 1973. It includes the post-1967 Triumph badged singles. Spaces precludes detailing every one of BSA’s myriad export and fleet.

To read the rest of this review, history lesson and general overview of BSA unit singles, click here to download the PDF file: Classic Bike BSA Unit Singles Dossier

Lock Baker killed it with this one. And although it was a very close decision, it was absolutely the best of show. Stunning. More pics are coming, promise.

I have no idea who boog is, but he has a nice ride and this is a cool riding vid.

The best of the British?
By Mick Duckworth Pics John Noble

Fast, powerful and desirable, Triumph’s pre-unit 650s made the British twin into an icon. Forty years on, their appeal is as strong as ever.

Who needs a Bonneville? That’s what I’m thinking as I have a whale of a time riding a 1961 pre-unit 650cc triumph Trophy. It may only have a single carburetor, but what the TR6 lacks in top-end speed, it makes up for in mid-range poke and overall flexibility. The fact that the Trophy runs out of steam just beyond 100mph is not going to be a problem for most classic road riders.

One a mix of A and B roads, the TR6 can be docile or sharp, depending on your mood. The tractable engine has no problem burbling along at 30pmh, or even walking pace, but open it up and it takes off in a really exhilarating way, emitting the classic Triumph snarl as we accelerate through the gears.

Once in top (fourth) the wide power band allows me to stay there, even through the twisties, and there is always grunt available for overtaking. The Triumph’s pre-unit 650s have a loose, free-spinning feel, not shared by all Brit parallel twins

To read the rest of this review, history lesson and general overview of Triumph Pre-unit 650’s, click here to download the PDF file: Triumph Pre-Unit 650 Dossier

This one is for Matt. Could have been yours for $30,000 Buy It Now.

Righteous. Modern Evo Sportster done up right. This fuckers kicks it hard, so get rid of that idea that nothing cool can be done with a modern sporty.

Digging this ‘72 Norton Cafe - wish I had saved the info along with the pics.
Lifted from ebay awhile back.

Mop up the puddle of drool beneath your chin.

Via The Flying Dutchman

The Japanese just continue to kill it when it comes to custom bikes. Check out these pics from the Joints Custom Show in Japan, and then click on over to Sparetime to see more.

Pics via Sparetime