Frank Charriaut of the French blog theMotArt sent in this lovely story he received from a friend. I think it’s something many of us can relate to.
My name is Bill and I’m a café racer at heart. I live at the base of the Cascade Mountains, twenty miles north of the Oregon/California border.
I bought the Triton about a year ago as an unfinished project and as is often the case, it was a lot more unfinished than I first thought. Many times I stood alone in my garage scratching my head and saying out loud, “Why the Hell did they do that!” In the end though, I’m quite happy with the result. I wanted a period-correct British café racer, and I think there is nothing more iconic to the genre than a pre-unit Triton.
The bike is a ’64 Norton slimline featherbed, with a 650 built from ’58 Speed Twin cases, and the original AMC gearbox mounted with converter engine plates. I especially enjoy some of the small details that you don’t notice at first glance, like the NOS Wassel grips and the John Tickle headlight brackets.
I think people, including myself, get somewhat jaded by the internet. It’s easy to write off a bike like this as “just another café racer”, but to see and hear one, on the road, in person, then you’ll understand. I love this bike, and I think it would take a very large pile of cash for me to part with her.
[Merci, Frank! All photos © Back Alley Studio.]
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18 Comments
Hi Chris,
thank you for sharing this story, Bill is going to be crasy to see his bike there.
He made a precious work on his bike and the result is really stunning
The guys from the backalleystudio did a great job too.
All my best, cheers
Frank
Very nice to see a clean, true to heart cafe. Many a builder trying to reinvent the classic and rare bikes with misplaced and forced modern flare.
I’m more impressed with what the builder had to say. I agree, this is not ‘another cafe racer’
So very nice. Awesome job Bill.
Great bike, made better by fantastic shots and hearing from the builder. Anybody who has worked on bikes/cars/etc knows a lot of time goes into getting the details right. Big credit to Bill in building a high quality bike and also making the effort to get some high quality shots done of his ride.
I get this bike, it makes me remember why I ride. This is a bike to fall in love with.
Finally, someone who gets it…. this is a true “cafe’ racer” in the classic sense.
Proof that just because you put clubman bars on and chop your fenders, doesn’t make it so…..
Great bike and write up!!!
well said bro, bike looks awesome. when can I ride it?
“I think people, including myself, get somewhat jaded by the internet. It’s easy to write off a bike like this as “just another café racer”, but to see and hear one, on the road, in person, then you’ll understand. I love this bike, and I think it would take a very large pile of cash for me to part with her.”
I saw this bike and said to myself “not another %$#@ing Triton with the same damn paint scheme” as they are a dime a dozen. Then I read the story and realised I’d become “somewhat jaded by the internet”.
A good bike is a good bike regardless if there are thousands of them out there. Nice build, nice bike.
The Triton is pure cafè racer ART! Thanks guys for sharing the story and Bill: Keep it up mate!
respect.
“simple and classic” (be it a café racer or another iconic bike) is actually never as easy as you might think.
keep it up!
I love the knight on the sidecover. It’s just a small little extra but gives such a nice little “visual pop” that catches and draws in the eye to a usually bland spot.
Thanks all. Special thanks to Chris and Frank.-Bill
I’m usually busy riding around on 4 wheels. I love art, photography and machines, from printing presses to front engine dragsters. Bill’s craftsmanship is all heart, and this piece reflects who he is. Congrats on the build, you’re a good neighbor!
Thanks Miller
Simply amazing!!.. Great job…
Beautiful bike, beautiful photographs. Amazing!
I’ve always been amazed that people could be unimpressed by a bike like this. “Yawn. Another cafe racer.” How about “YESSS! ANOTHER CAFE RACER!”
If my CB350G turns out half as nice as this I will be ecstatic!
Thanks again for all the kind words. Alex, I also have a cb350. Good luck with yours. Cheers-Bill