Vintage Tour, Anyone?

[NM Bonny]

I would really like to do some back roads touring with some vintage Triumph owners sometime--either in the Spring or Fall of whatever year(s) it turns out to be. My own participation on my '71 OIF Bonneville T120R would have to be either before or after a bottom-end refresh and 750cc upgrade, depending on how the bike's oil pressure and a leak-down test pan out (once the current refurbishment is complete and I'm able to re-bed the rings and do some shake-down testing).

One idea would be to configure the route based on participants, rather than the other way around. In other words, once a core group was assembled, we'd figure out a mostly back road route that linked the riders together--maybe informed by the guy from each area with first-hand knowledge of its roads...?

Personally, I'd suggest a leisurely pace between predetermined group stops to facilitate morning maintenance and nightly theft safety measures--but 'break out' groups could spider out for optional rides that each local guy might identify. If more than one person had a Go-Pro along, there would be an opportunity for some neat footage that someone who enjoys doing that stuff could splice and edit.

Anyway, just a thought. My friend, neighbor, and preferred machinist died this weekend at age 68, and I'm realizing how much I'd like to start doing this stuff rather than just musing about it. I mean, I can always go it alone but think it'd be more fun in a pack of vintage Triumphs. No politics, no drama, just bikes and wrenches, wind and scenery.

Anyone who is of a mind to would be welcome to whet our appetite with some clips of his area's neatest back roads. Once I get my bike copasetic, I'll start adding videos of stuff around here to this thread--the Sandias, the Jemez, the Sangre de Cristos, the Rio Grande, El Cabezon, maybe The Very Large Array...?

 

[atomsplitter]

Sounds like a nifty idea, and the area around the Sandias is awesome. Sadly I only have modern Triumphs, but it would be cool to go through Tijeras, exit at HWY 14 and then take 536 up to the crest. Last time I did that it was 1971 in a Triumph GT 6+, never did it on a bike, but would love to do it.

 

[NM Bonny]

Sounds like a nifty idea, and the area around the Sandias is awesome. Sadly I only have modern Triumphs, but it would be cool to go through Tijeras, exit at HWY 14 and then take 536 up to the crest. Last time I did that it was 1971 in a Triumph GT 6+, never did it on a bike, but would love to do it.

View attachment 56922

Yeah, for sure. Or continue up HWY 14 to The Mineshaft Tavern for a cheeseburger... or make the turnaround point Santa Fe to take in the whole twisty route. I think the last little bit on the interstate into Santa Fe is very short...?

As for the choice of mounts, I didn't mean to be snobbish; it's just that riding on the freeway with F150s routinely going 90 per isn't much fun on a vintage Triumph with a 1:1 rear end--and I thought there might be some old bike owners like me who'd like some company.

Regardless, I can't speak for others but so far as I'm concerned, you could ride that cool-looking blue-gray job that's in your avatar.

Neat GT6. I recently sold the 'test mule' used for R&D in my side business, a 1967 MG Midget. Below is a shot of the car before I sold it to a young kid in CA, running the world's first blow-through, intercooled supercharged, longitudinally-oriented A-Series (so far as I know, anyway). DIY four wheel discs, modified suspension, 5-speed w/overdrive, and a little too fast for it's 13" tires...

 

[atomsplitter]

You mean this one? It's a 2016 Thruxton R painted in Silver Ice. For doing the twisties it's a great bike (not in the same class as my Speed Triple RS 1200, but still a lot of fun).

 

[rodsridin]

I would make the effort to go along. Haven't been out that way for awhile on a road trip.

 

[NM Bonny]

I would make the effort to go along. Haven't been out that way for awhile on a road trip.

Which Triumph model do you ride, and whereabouts in Lousiana do you live?

I dunno, but an Albuquerque to New Orleans tour might traverse some very interesting backroads--which at least in my original vision of a vintage bike tour should comprise the bulk of the route...

 

[rodsridin]

Which Triumph model do you ride, and whereabouts in Lousiana do you live?

I dunno, but an Albuquerque to New Orleans tour might traverse some very interesting backroads--which at least in my original vision of a vintage bike tour should comprise the bulk of the route...

I would ride my '07 scrambler. My '73 Bonny is about 2 years worth of work away. Also, I was thinking along the lines of riding to NM as the delta region around New Orleans is pretty boring at best. The Texas hill country is a 600 mile stretch from here (Kerrville/Fredericksburg area).

 

[NM Bonny]

I would ride my '07 scrambler. My '73 Bonny is about 2 years worth of work away. Also, I was thinking along the lines of riding to NM as the delta region around New Orleans is pretty boring at best. The Texas hill country is a 600 mile stretch from here (Kerrville/Fredericksburg area).

Okay. Well, at the rate I'm going, my '71 Bonny won't be ready in the immediate future--and I won't know for a little while whether the bottom end is good for a few longer road trips or if I'll need to do a full rebuild (and 750cc upgrade). I just didn't want my sixties to flash by without taking some vintage bike tours...

Good to know about the delta region--precisely why I wanted a route that connected people who could propose to adjust it based on their knowledge of their respective areas.

 

[Sparkdiver]

My '70 Bonnie is raring to go. SE Utah, St George with MILES of beautiful scenic open country and Natl' Parks. Vector in attrst to that.

 

[NM Bonny]

My '70 Bonnie is raring to go. SE Utah, St George with MILES of beautiful scenic open country and Natl' Parks. Vector in attrst to that.

Sounds good - and the color you've applied to the tank by coincidence gestures at the shade I chose for my present build, underway (Mist Blue Metallic, borrowed from a '66 Pontiac GTO, Chevelle SS, et al). Cool drag bike, BTW!

If we made you the westernmost participant (so far) and adjusted the route accordingly per my rider-centered method in the first post, the logical westbound leg from where I am would be HWY 550, a 70 mph posted, beautiful road that ascends from just north of Albuquerque into the Jemez Mountains after passing El Cabezon Peak (see link in first post).

The question then would be whether to continue north for a bit along 550, or to turn west on 64, and then...?