I love the look of the Triumph twins, and think they look even better with a bit of customising. But, I just don't get the tractor tyre thing that is popular with some builders, like on this bike. In general it's a really sweet looking bike but the tyres look totally odd to me. They look even dafter in the rubber than in images. A triumph van van? I'm an advocate of each to their own, and all things are subjective but this trend I don't get. A cracking custom tarnished by the oversize rubber. Am I alone in this?
I think they looked great on a Sunbeam S7, but not right on a Bonneville. But that's only my opinion.
Patchinko Don't ever remember saying hello to yourself so here it is now. VanVan I love them to. But your are spot on with Triumph pretty stupid looking but as you said each to their own. I don't really mind a bigger rear within limits. Ride Free Joe.
Looks good but will result in poor handling on the road in my opinion. Just depends on if one wants to look cool or ride well! That reminds me of an old Happy Days TV episode. Fonzie asked Richie if it looks 'cooler' with his bike mirrors pointed up or down. Richie responded with a question. Which way allows you to see better? Fonzie responded with his signature Heyyyyyy... which implied whatever is 'cooler looking' is better. To each his own !!
Any snippet of American Chopper shows you bike builders riding huge engines at modest speeds on paved surfaces with the fat (usually unsuspended) tyre at the back. The fat tyre at the front seems to derive from WWII Army Harleys etc., built for off road excursions. The steering compromises made sense. Now? Form over function but each to their own. Triumph worked with Avon to produce a fatter front tyre for the Bobber that works........rather says it all.
I like a fat front tyre. Must be a hangover from my Land Rover days? Big fat tyres are cool. Thought the later America's (like mine) looks better with the bigger front tyre. I had a TW125, a Yamaha version of the Van Van, it too had the big tyres, loved the look of it, was going to build my daughter a custom, but just got bored before I did it and flogged it on. And these are the standard tyres on it!!
I quite like the van van too, with its beach bike style, but for me the oversize tyres somehow don't cross over to a street bike. As mentioned it's going to handle a bit strange to. That said it is good to see the Bonneville customised in lots of differently personalised styles, it's obviously an inspirational bike.
I don't mind the poseur chunky tyres, but not my preference over ones that work on the road. BAAK are French by the way and do some pretty stylish aka expensive accessories and builds. We sell and fit some of their stuff at Woburn.
I like it because it’s not the ‘norm’. It probably doesn’t handle that well but I bet it creates a stir wherever it’s parked.
