Help With Motorcycle ID

[Skirted]

This customized bike was in the AMCA magazine a while back but I gave the issue away. I saw it at a Hemmings Motor News event in Lake George NY last month. Would like to know the make and model please. Extra credit - Owners name would be helpful too! Thanks
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[Steve Swan]

appears to be a pre-unit Triumph engine in a Norton frame; a "Triton."

[AFJ]

This customized bike was in the AMCA magazine a while back but I gave the issue away. I saw it at a Hemmings Motor News event in Lake George NY last month. Would like to know the make and model please. Extra credit - Owners name would be helpful too! Thanks
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20939[/ATTACH]

I saw this chrome barge at the Empire Chapter Brookfield meet. Triumph engine, Norton "featherbed" frame. To each his own, I suppose. But why ruin 2 otherwise pretty good motorcycles just to boost someone's ego?

AFJ

[TechNoir]

But why ruin 2 otherwise pretty good motorcycles just to boost someone's ego?

AFJ

Tritons are quite common in the UK and there is a good reason for them and its not an ego thing. Back in the day The Triumph engine had more potential and tuning possibilities but was let down by the chassis. But the Norton featherbed chassis was the best so people put the 2 together to get a fast and good handling bike.

Initially it was a racing thing but was soon copied by cafe racers on the road so there are lots and lots of them about.

So, in the UK at least, Tritons are quite an accepted "customisation".

Mostly I am not too keen on them myself because there are lots of not very well done ones about but I have seen one or two very nice ones.

If you are interested I have an article somewhere about the first 2 bikes that were built for the racetrack.

John

[jellywrestler]

[QUOTE=AFJwhy ruin 2 otherwise pretty good motorcycles just to boost someone's ego?

AFJ[/QUOTE] if they were that good why aren't they still being made today?

[TechNoir]

if they were that good why aren't they still being made today?

First off, they were popular in the 50's, 60's and early 70's when there was a lack of decent factory "road racers" so people made their own and they became known as what we Brits call "Cafe Racers". Norvin's are also popular which is a Norton chassis and a Vincent engine. There are not so many made now because ther are loads of good "cafe racers available off the shelf such as Honda Fireblade, Yamaha R1 etc.

Second, there are some being made now by people who want a "vintage" cafe racer in a style of their own choosing. Much like there are lots of people make custom bikes of all types because thats what they want.

John