Welcome Rockers & Hooligans!
SUPPORTERS OF THE CLASSIC BRIT IRON IN:
BIR Bike of the Month: Sergio's 2007 Triumph Thruxton
It was love at first sight. The 1998 Triumph Daytona T-595 made such an
impression; it was like waking up with a red-hot rebar poking you right
in the eye! Just as powerful on me was the effect of seeing the
Thruxton in person for the first time. I had to have one. Justifying
the purchase was a bit tough. A third bike?! How many is too many? Then
there was Norton revival by Kenny Dreer. I sent him a deposit for the
961/SS only to have it returned to me because there wouldn’t be any
more produced. That hurt, real bad. My wife, realizing that I was upset
over this for months on end was quite understanding when I came home in
the early spring of 2007 with my new Thruxie.
And so the relationship began. Typical hooligan, I started riding her
like a crazed Rocker in a hurry to get to the Ace, or was it Jacks?.
Plus, I still had fresh images of the 961/SS Norton haunting me. Or
were they taunting me? Some of these thoughts were "how can I transform
my bike to make it look a bit more radical?" and like “why can’t I
properly hear the motor?” As I thrashed her thoroughly in stock form, I
began to understand that there was truly a need for help in various
areas.
Call it luck, call it fate, I stumbled onto the BIR forum. It was there
that I met a bunch of Brit Bike Junkies that would expose me to a
multitude of available avenues for my mods fix(es). I started to
connect with several members, meeting a bunch first at the AMA Vintage
Classic in Lexington, Ohio, then several others in Northern California.
When I saw, in person, what Toro had done to his bike, I knew I was
hanging with the right folks. So I went undercover, thinking of ways to
transform the bike.
I started off with some basic activity, which immediately impacted the
sound - in a very good way. The stock pipes were shed for a set of
British Customs' Predators (http://www.british-customs.com/).. She
immediately responded, breathing easier. Ahhh it was like music to my
ears. But I wondered, "What the devil....is she trying to say something
to me?" Whenever I fire her up, she sings to me sweet music! My gas
mileage would be double if it weren't for the sound. I sit there
revving the bike unnecessarily, just to hear that sound of combusting
fossil fuel as it exits the enlarged reverse cones, much to the chagrin
of everyone around me. Ironically, Harley owners make the most
respectful comments. Imagine that. But there's more....
At highway speeds, well, she initially exhibited headshake as if to
tell me “no,” I was going to fast. Bad attitude, miss. Other owners of
like built machines did not have this problem. But she was telling me
to slow it down some. I thought “do I need a steering damper?” and then
I wondered, “Should I replace the front forks with inverted ones?” What
the devil was I thinking...? So I replaced the wheels and tires.
Completely.
There was no more headshake, at any speeds. Sealed, the new
Excel aluminum wheels came from Buchannans
in SoCal, and are re-spoked with beefier rods further shod them with
sport bike meat – tubless, mind you. But it wasn't enough for her. She
kept asking for more. So I obliged. Ripping out the airbox was an
obvious next move, and then jetting her with recommendations from
British Customs. PJs Parts came through with
tricked out Rizoma Racing components and mirrors while Duncan Moto was
there for me when she asked for Pazzo levers. Front dual rate springs
came from Works and the read rear Ikon came from New
Thruxton. Corbin's Smuggler is a welcome new riding surface,
integrating rider to bike in a better way than stock.
All that was left, for now, was some new makeup.
The hand print concept developed from my '98 Daytona, but this time it
needed to be louder. Reeling, she wanted slapped - hard. The tank paint
came by means of Billy Steele of Steele Kustoms in Oakdale, PA
(http://www.steelekustoms.com/). He was a bit taken when I proposed the
concept, warning me that it would take weeks to get the paint off my
hands. But I was ready, ready to do the deed. He called me up and gave
me the word. I slathered up and it was "hands-on." And now, it's
hands-off unless your prints are matching... The Devil Queen has only
one master. And her filler cap is, well...shaved.
Roll On Cycle's Buck Williams here in Oakdale, PA is the shop that
really put forth the effort to assist me with converting a nice, demure
bike into what is now widely recognized as The Devil Queen. The tank
paint came by means of Billy Steele of Steele Kustoms, also in Oakdale,
PA. I'm fortunate to have both shops less than a mile from the house,
and they are about 50 yards apart from each other, too which makes for
a very cozy relationship when she needs special attention. You want
true customer service? These guys are poster boys for that. Next, plans
are already underway to increase her output. She wants me to go faster.
Dyno’d at 66.6 to the ground is not enough anymore. Is that number
coincidental? What’s coincidence? What's a guy to do? Stay tuned for
further developments in this area. It's gonna be good.
So, I hope she amuses you. She's a bit unorthodox, but that's how I
like her.
Just in case you were wondering, her picture is on the right cover by C
by Coop. No, it ain’t some trucker-like mud flap sticker chick, it’s my
tribute to my relationship with the Lords of Acid. But then, that's
another story...
Sergio Kyriakis
Member #215
Brit Iron Rebel