Here's another interesting Triumph Greeves, this time from an article by Mark Williams in the very first issue of 'Bike' magazine, way back in the summer of 1971.
The article is about trail riding and gives a wide ranging overview of the 'state of play' at that time and the important role played by the TRF (Trail Riders Fellowship; http://www.trf.org.uk/) in mapping, maintaining and retaining access to green lanes in the UK. Formed in 1970, back then the organisation was still very much in it's infancy and the article was about encouraging and raising awareness of the pastime, the organisation itself and the issues involved, something that MW has continued to do to this day, until fairly recently in the pages of 'TBM' (Trail Bike magazine; http://www.trailbikemag.com/) with his 'Right To Ride' peices.
The article goes on to discuss the various types of machine suitable for trailriding and greenlaning in the UK, and amongst them is this really nice Triumph Greeves. It was built by Dick Sutton, at the time the TRF 'Runs Captain', specially for his wife Jean. Apparently he built a number of excellent Triumph engined 'specials', with either 500 or 650cc units.
His favoured approach was to take a stock Trophy or Tiger 100 engine, then install low-lift cams, softer valve springs, low compression pistons and other parts, all with a mind to improve low-end tractability. The completed engine was then fitted to a frame with suitable geometery 'tweaks' to provide excellent trail handling coupled with a comfortable road riding stance. Forks were usually Norton (his own bike apparently used Commando components) and a lightened AMC front hub, which in his view gave the correct 'feel' for nadgery off road use as well as adequate braking power for the tarmac. MW went on to praise the all-round professional finish of Dick Sutton's 'specials', with their neatly housed electrics and details, including a combined alloy numberplate heat sink, putting them on a par with Eric Cheney's ISDT Triumph works based machines-high praise indeed!
As always, if anyone can provide any more information on this brilliant machine or it's builder (especially if it's still around...!), please do so as it'd be great to hear more. Note the provision for carrying spare plugs and tools in the nearside beam of the frame, the AMC front hub and the overall neatness of the construction.
Brian.
(With thanks to Mark Williams for the article, and for starting 'Bike' magazine, amongst so many others, in the first place! His early writings convinced a young 'apprentice' that off road riding was something that needed to be done!)
The article is about trail riding and gives a wide ranging overview of the 'state of play' at that time and the important role played by the TRF (Trail Riders Fellowship; http://www.trf.org.uk/) in mapping, maintaining and retaining access to green lanes in the UK. Formed in 1970, back then the organisation was still very much in it's infancy and the article was about encouraging and raising awareness of the pastime, the organisation itself and the issues involved, something that MW has continued to do to this day, until fairly recently in the pages of 'TBM' (Trail Bike magazine; http://www.trailbikemag.com/) with his 'Right To Ride' peices.
The article goes on to discuss the various types of machine suitable for trailriding and greenlaning in the UK, and amongst them is this really nice Triumph Greeves. It was built by Dick Sutton, at the time the TRF 'Runs Captain', specially for his wife Jean. Apparently he built a number of excellent Triumph engined 'specials', with either 500 or 650cc units.
His favoured approach was to take a stock Trophy or Tiger 100 engine, then install low-lift cams, softer valve springs, low compression pistons and other parts, all with a mind to improve low-end tractability. The completed engine was then fitted to a frame with suitable geometery 'tweaks' to provide excellent trail handling coupled with a comfortable road riding stance. Forks were usually Norton (his own bike apparently used Commando components) and a lightened AMC front hub, which in his view gave the correct 'feel' for nadgery off road use as well as adequate braking power for the tarmac. MW went on to praise the all-round professional finish of Dick Sutton's 'specials', with their neatly housed electrics and details, including a combined alloy numberplate heat sink, putting them on a par with Eric Cheney's ISDT Triumph works based machines-high praise indeed!
As always, if anyone can provide any more information on this brilliant machine or it's builder (especially if it's still around...!), please do so as it'd be great to hear more. Note the provision for carrying spare plugs and tools in the nearside beam of the frame, the AMC front hub and the overall neatness of the construction.
Brian.
(With thanks to Mark Williams for the article, and for starting 'Bike' magazine, amongst so many others, in the first place! His early writings convinced a young 'apprentice' that off road riding was something that needed to be done!)
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