Triumph chopper by Robbie Palmer for Born Free Peoples Champ

Enter Sandman: Robbie Palmer’s 1954 Triumph chopper

When we hear the term ‘sand cast,’ we think of very early Honda CB750s and their famous sandpaper-rough engine cases. But it’s not a technique restricted to big factories or large-scale production. This elegant, stripped down Triumph 6T Thunderbird is a showcase for small-scale casting, and earned its builder an invitation to the Biltwell People’s…

Triumph 6T Thunderbird

Triumph 6T Thunderbird salt racer

11 YEARS AGO / NO COMMENTS / RACING MOTORCYCLES

There’s something strangely compelling about motorcycles built solely to race down the Bonneville salt flats. Stripped of all fripperies, they’re designed to operate in a hostile environment that tests both man and machine. This Triumph 6T was built by Dick Smith of The Baron’s Speed Shop in the UK, and it has that odd beauty…