Thursday, December 27, 2018

Well used Speed Twin

Here's an early post-war (c1950) rigid Triumph Speed Twin. The optional sprung hub is not fitted on this one but as far as I know the chromed tank was an extra.

This particular Triumph seems to have been quite well-used and the home made pillion looks well padded! I've no idea where the bike is registered, that's certainly not a British number plate on the front mudguard.

Triumph Speed Twin from around 1950. A generously
proportioned pillion seat and a few dings here and there
to show that the bike was well used. I wonder which
country that reg number is from though?

3 comments:

  1. That pillion pad looks like it was simply the cushion from a household chair! The motorcycle seems to have two horns on the side, one fitted somewhat awkwardly facing to the rear. Looks as though there is a tire pump attached to the chain guard. Vegetation in the background is so uniform it must be a plantation of some sort. Rubber trees? So perhaps Indonesia or Malaysia.

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    Replies
    1. Hello David. I did wonder if it was Malaysia somewhere. I've got to admit that I didn't really know what a rubber tree looks like so had to search. I think you are quite possibly right, a rubber plantation seems like a good guess.
      Perhaps the roads were rather bumpy to justify the cushion/pillion pad!
      The chain guard was a common position for a pump on rigid framed bikes. Potentially rather messy if it fell off whilst you were riding though.
      All the best for 2019!
      Richard

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  2. Hi Richard, it is a model from 1948 or 1947 (maybe ‘46 but i am not sure triumph had a model range for ‘46), as the tanktop panel and headlamp arrangements were changed for the 1949 model range… the arrangement on the picture is older than the ‘49 model range.. the nacelle appeared in ‘49 as was the optional sprunghub available on order..’49 was the last year triumph used chrome tanks, from the ‘50 range on it was painted tanks, no option for chrome either.. cheers Harold

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