STORM'S TRIUMPH CHOPPER
1970 TRIUMPH TR6
Storm’s Triumph TR6 is particularly cool due to the fact that it is one of the truly vintage builds to come out of the shop. There is something charming about working with older bikes, as they are truly on a journey where you must mechanically wrestle with them. You will likely either correct the mistakes of previous owners, wake them up from old untouched slumbers, or both. Before Storm bought it from him, this TR6 was previously owned by LaMar, proprietor of Darkwolf Cycles, for about 5 years, during which time it was his daily rider, as well as his companion on many interstate travels.
Photo by Joey Appie Photography.
And even while serving as his daily rider, the first 2 years of ownership were very mechanically intensive for this Triumph. During this time, LaMar went through and redid almost everything he could on the bike, leaving very few cases unpulled. The only exceptions to this were the gearbox internals and the bottom end of the bike. However, from just a cursory recall from his memory, he said he completely rebuilt the top-end, primary, repaired stator and rotor, clutch mechanism, kickstart engagement gear, and installed an electronic ignition. Externally and aesthetically, it’s pretty clear that this was a pretty intensive chopper build.
Photo by Joey Appie Photography.
Starting with the very front of the bike, Storm chose a classic chopper-style 21” spool front wheel with an Avon Speedmaster tire. He also chose to go with a 2-over on the front forks, which was quite the necessary change; originally, the bike was so low to the ground that it was scraping through turns, and just really needed a bit more clearance at the bottom. The forks were a really lucky find too, because 2-over fork legs for the bike are really hard to come by. This also gave the bike a bit more of an aggressive stance, working in tandem with the digger frame that was on the bike when he got it. In sticking with the aggressive nature of the bike, LaMar also installed some striking Zed handlebars, by Pangea Speed, and Storm flipped some 4” Gooseneck risers, giving the front-end a unique and uncompromising aesthetic, especially when paired with the relatively small front headlight.
Photo by Joey Appie Photography.
Moving a bit towards the rear, you can also see the custom high-tunnel Sporster tank that was put on this chopper, which compliments the downward-sloping lines of the bike, from the handlebars the the angle of the digger frame’s backbone very cleanly. And onlookers who choose to look even closer under the tank and towards the engine will also notice the oil-cooler LaMar installed, which is a testament to this bike’s role as being a well-trod daily rider. And, in keeping with changes that neither had to do with engine-work nor pure aesthetics, LaMar also installed a weld-on chain tensioner by MonsterCraftsman to the bike as well.
Further back, you can also see the classically-styled solo springer seat, paired with a pee-pad attached to the ducktail fender near the rear of the bike, for some truly minimalistic, chopper-style passenger accommodations. Just below, the bike is also rocking the original Triumph hub rear wheel, laced to a 16” rim, with an Avon Safety Mileage tire. And finally, near the very rear of the bike, you can also get a good look at the pointed sissy bar, fabricated in-house out of stainless steel round stock, that is accompanied at the bottom with an axle-mounted tail light and license plate bracket setup.
And finally, we can’t help but mention the little touches, like the classic bike-pedal custom kickstart arm, or the leather bags which sit up front above the oil cooler and at the rear near the end of the backbone of the frame.
Photo by Joey Appie Photography.
And, as referenced earlier, this Triumph is another testament to these builds retaining their status as true motorcycles that can be ridden hard wherever their rider dares to take them. This bike in particular was taken on a number of different smaller trips from Atlanta to Alabama, but also on a much longer and harder trip from Atlanta to New York and back, another trip where LaMar has many tales as the proof of his travels. One tale is actually about what happened before the trip to New York, as two weeks prior, he began having an issue with the bike where it wouldn’t go into gear, with many of his friends being doubtful that it would make it to New York, and LaMar himself being nervous that this was a sign that there could be a lot more wrong with the bike. However, after doing some work to fix the problem and get the bike to where it would go back into gear again, he fortunately found that the previous years of troubleshooting and problem solving remedied enough issues that he was able to get to New York and back without a hitch.
Photo by Joey Appie Photography.
Photo by Joey Appie Photography.
Article by Hannah.