This old quarry is one of my favorite places to ride. Little fun fact, in the creek on the southwest side of the quarry is a limestone cave that goes pretty deep into the earth. In the first chamber you’ll find the initials E.C. Carved into the stone and the date “1859”
Gawd, that makes me miss my younger days exploring Alaskan trails, rails, forest roads and empty lots on my little Kawi and Husky. I would LOVE to join you!
I love sled therapy grew up in Southern California in the 50s and 60s spent most weekends in the high desert ran into Steve McQueen one weekend out there practicing my dad had a beer with him I love desert sleds
You can't beat those old Triumphs for raising the testosterone factor; a man's bike. You also can't beat those old magnetos that don't miss a beat unlike the later battery and coil that always missed at high revs. Today's dirt bikes are awesome but don't have the looks and sound of your bike. Great video!
Camp Rock Road, Soggy Dry Lake, Bell Mountain, a 1956 preunit construction Triumph with knobbies ... yeah, 1967 having survived the Nam ... life was good. Thanks for the memories.
Thank you for another wonderful episode, Bill. This one is especially appreciated as much needed entertainment as I sit here recovering from my third bout with The Damned Cursed Virus. Dammit man!, you’ve got me wanting to trade my trusty Johnny Cash “One Piece at a Time” KLR650 for an old British scrambler. 😁
I'm an old fart and remember the days of Steve McQueen & Bud Ekins and their sleds. I also have a KLR650 and although its heavy, the suspension saves the day!
Bought two basket cases a few months back. One 1954 (close fin alloy engine) T100 and a 1957 T110. While i was determined, from the beginning, to restore the T100 to its 100% original condition, i wasn‘t so sure about the TonTen. Was hesitating between a bathtub resto (yes, they´re quirky but i love the look) and a Desert Sled. Your video just made my decision. Thanks for that, mate! ( as a reward, i‘ll subscribe…😉)
Awesome spot, I can just imagine setting up a course there, and a load of classic scramblers thrashing round. Looks so much fun (no burnt out cars, trash etc, great spot).
My best riding and racing partner lived in SoCal from the 40s to early 70s. He was friends with the likes of Ken Maley, Dick Mann, Mert Lawwill, Troy Lee Sr, Ken Berry and some many numerous others.. His tales of Desert Racing and Dirt Track on old Triumphs and the bladder bleeds, raw hands, etc are etched in my memory... Enjoy your yourselfout there.
Just been out on the old Triumph , 1- here in England , its cold, Thanks Bill , for another great film , The views look great , it looks like a cool place to ride, enjoy . KIWI
How absolutely COOL!! You'd think the bike has electric start, with as easily as it starts. Thanks for the inspiration, but it's -6 this morning. Maybe tomorrow!!
What a beautiful machine!! My uncle used two Triumph engines to set the first land-speed record in the Gyronaut X1. I love seeing these classic bikes being maintained. Great stuff Wheelhouse!
man. i've never heard of a desert sleds but this thing is SICK i love it. i've been wanting to build a t110 scrambler since i was a teenager to blast through the dirt roads of texas and i get the same vibes.
I STARTED RIDING A CUB IN THE 50S AND AM STILL RIDING IN MY 80S,NOTHING EVEN COMES CLOSE TO THE SLED THERAPY,,LOVE THOSE TRIUMPHS,ALTHOUGH IM PARTIAL TO THE 500S
Two things- there's a company that makes 2" fork extensions adds a little more clearence .And I found a Cheney Victor 500 video 1968 so simple uncluttered design Motocrosser hand built bike designed on wall with chalk .Also trails version. Comparable to Rickman company still in business .
Hi Point boots? I had some in the 70s. When I first started going to races, they were hare scrambles. We’d never heard the word motocross. And these Triumphs RULED! I still love them. ♥️🏍️💨🏁
Awesome - I'm surprised to see how fast it gets the mail! I'm 66 and I remembah...when I was four or five, seeing a newspaper article with a picture of men racing these desert sleds. It "clicked", I'll never forget it. It resonated with my little brain.
I was born in 1957. And did have a 1973 Triumph Tiger 750, 1st year with front disc brake. It was a tank but a load of fun, rode it in dirt and gravel every day I could make it run.
You lucky Devil! so green with envy, i daren't push my bike down the street without the coopers questioning me here in the UK, and i,m 61 at that, no snot nosed kid!
I love old Triumphs but I'm looking at the RE Scram for my next bike. I already have one project bike, I don't need another. It would probably be cost prohibitive at this point to buy a Triumph in good working order. The $5k price point on the Scram is very attractive considering what you get. Would probably eventually do a big bore kit and cam, delete the cats and probably just run open headers with a crossover pipe. That way you preserve the low end torque but make big gains on the top end. It is what I did to my Dyna and it will now do about 140, as well as get up to 60 in right around 4 seconds. Nobody cares about loud bikes in my state. I started riding again recently though I haven't been out for a real ride yet. Mostly just making sure the bike works right, going around the block. It is set up for the road, with a nice, firm suspension, jacked rear end and reduced rake. Currently has mid mounts but thinking of putting the pegs directly underneath me. Would help with weight shifting and also make it more suitable to set up as a scrambler if the mood strikes me. I might do that instead of buying the Scram. As cool as a Triumph is in the dirt, a Dyna would be cooler. It is no small feat to ride like that on a bike that heavy, just as it is no small feat to keep up with naked sportbikes on the twisties. I totaled my last off road bike - an Africa Twin. some idiot thought it would be cool to put a two ton boulder in his front yard and it bent the frame on the bike. Only reason it was totaled. The city made them remove the rock. I went out to watch and have a chuckle. I don't think it was cheap. I had full coverage on the bike so I didn't bother to sue them.
Loved the video. What a RUSH! I grew up in the sixties and you learned to ride what you had!! Every new young adventure rider should watch these videos. Thanks for producing them.
Oh man, looks like so much fun! Putting my Tiger together, live in northern CA like you, do you have a wheel builder you can reccomend? The guy who is local seems to be MIA and its making me nervous lol
Hey there! If you want to box it up and send it down to Buchanan’s Spoke and Rim in Azusa California. They do a wonderful job and usually have quick turnaround times. Just give them a ring before you send it down and let them know what you need.👍
I live in England and anything like this would be fenced off with big keep out signs everywhere, and the risk of police turning up, because having simple fun is an easy crime to solve.
