The Way of the Desert Sled

Peter Egan provides historical perspective on the Jack Pine custom Triumph built on the Bonneville platform.
You can also read about the making of the feature from Mark Hoyer on CW.com: www.cycleworld...
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[@GPgundude]

Peter Egans' is the first column I read when my issue of Cycle World arrives in the mailbox. The finest motorcycle journalist EVER !!!

[@onepunchgeorge9251]

Been a big Egan since he had to MAIL HIS BIKE HOME.I'M 60 YEARS OLD,AND GUESS WHAT! I'VE HAD MOTORCYCLES ALL MY LIFE!! WAY TO MANY TO COUNT. RIGHT NOW I'VE A BSA A65L. $3000 WORTH 1971BSA. IT'S WINTER IN OKLA. THE WIRING NEEDS A COMB RUN THROUGH IT .MAYBE GO TO A BOYER UNIT, RIGHT NOW IT'S FLAT BAR'S DUNLOP GOLD SEAL TYRES. AND A BLUES BAND. PETER THANKS. 🎤🎼😎

[@crash1974lol]

Watched this vid about a dozen times, can't get enough, beautiful piece of machinery!

[@NaziHampster]

So two iconic beautiful Triumphs and a Triumph.

[@JustinTexan]

Inspiring! Leave it to Cycle World to introduce this wonderful machine, and shoot a video that makes you want to bust-ass to save and buy one, or build your own. After over thirty-years of subscribing to CW and reading religeously, this bike has inspired me more than any other. Classic lines, off-road capability and a coolness that McQueen himself would surely approve of...

[@redtobertshateshandles]

When I was a kid I'd send in the coupon and get a couple of free issues before they realised I wasn't going to pay. I still remember the full page colour ads for Norton JPS and Triumph Bonneville. Awesome magazine. Subbed for more free excellence. Thanks and sorry.

[@gehutch]

Looks like the Alabama Hills. The hills are on the east side of the Sierra Nevada just west of the little town of Lone Pine (US 395). This is the area where the old black and white western movies were made; Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Lone Ranger etc. The old hotel in town has lots of momentos. Cool place to ride.

[@2fas4me2]

I was born in Lone Pine, 1963. Grew up in Ridgecrest. Dad was a "Sandblaster" (motorcycle club.) He and others rode all over the Mojave desert. Hare and Hound, Barstow to Vegas. By the time we moved in 1970 to Utah he was riding a Triumph Bonneville 650. He started on a Honda SL 100. His name is Mitch Miller. Been on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine twice. And, though I don't remember it, he owned a 57 Bel Air Business Special with the fuel injected 283. My dad, his friend that drove, and the car held the track record at Inyokern Speedway for four years. ET was 14:00 in the quarter mile.

[@eleazhar]

one of the best videos on youtube!!! and the bike............there's few things left in this world that are real cool , but this bike is definitely one of them....

[@leadslinky]

And before I watched this I thought it would just be a show piece. Hats off to you sir!

[@Kyrodan022]

Love this bike and thank you for this interview. My dad was a desert racer back in the 60s to 80s.

[@PeterDad60]

Lucky me! I still have my 1976 Triumph Bonneville T140V purchased new January 10th, 1977. I took the stock mufflers off dropping the weight from 395 lbs to @ 365 lbs, I did put on a wide handlebar, took out the foam seat and raced her on a motocross track against my own (other rider) 1977 Suzuki RM125C. I lead for 3 laps until while flat tracing with the back end hung all the way out in a left curve my left boot got caught up in some really deep loamy powdery grey sand and pulled me down. You need to know my bike was so much faster everywhere. You also need to know that I had crushed my pelvis and dislocated both of my hips back in 1972 so I was just not as strong, nor did I have the stamina to race a street desert sled on an motocross track for more than 3 laps. I'm positive had I been uninjured I could have kept up the lead all day long. P.S. I did win every street cafe race on Long Island NY with curvy back roads (think Isle of Man TT roads) for 10 years from 1977 to 1987 only stopping when I got married and put her in the garage. No one I have ever met can claim winning every street cafe race for 10 consecutive years. That's how good an owner maintained Bonneville really is. I took her out again in 1992 and cafe raced against a brand new Kawasaki Ninja 1100 and Honda V4 1000cc Interceptor and won! Handling is the key that and the ability to stop from 60 mph in 111 ft. as my Bonneville can She is still totally stock. Never spent a penny for aftermarket parts except the wide handle bars and that was because my brothers father in-law wanted to "only" kick start my bike, he froze up and his eyes glazed over and he put her in gear and drove right into a tree in the backyard, bending my stock handlebars. I raced on Stock Dunlap K70-H street tires as well, they look as if they are almost semi knobby they provided the exact amount of grip to let me know when I was sliding and that only happened at 10/10th's riding- which is racing. You know what she is parked around 20 feet from me as I type this. I love My Triumph Bonneville with all my hart. It changed my life. I went on and became a mechanical designer and I am now disabled and retires but still riding at age 65. So yes I would recommend a new Bonneville as it still has a Parallel twin with a 360 deg crank or the version in this video which has the 270 deg crank!

[@chrisbee4702]

im glad my wife left me now i can ride my whole life.

[@hypedupkyle]

A great portion of this was filmed in the Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, Ca.

[@TheStevemcqueen68]

The Triumph 900 . great bike to ride and have some light fun on, I have one. I took all the heavy crap that Triumph put on it, made 10 kilos lighter , got about 15 bhp more out of the engine ,with some tweaking. and I love it,

[@christopherhughes8402]

Had a 1971 TR7 Triumph desert sled in the early '90's. Guy built it to ride in New Mexico. Had a polished Husky tank, huge screened head light off of I have no idea what. Bates seat, high pipes and nobbies. Traded her for a half finished café racer of the same mark a few years later. Been kicking myself in the ass for thirty freakin years! You wouldn't believe what I traded a set of Moto Guzzi Eldorado's for around the same time! Ah hell, live and learn lol.

[@evenstevenmotodrone735]

Great video, scenary and beautiful bikes!

[@Gohot229]

Nice. In the day, desert sleds were pretty competative, but then came the two strokes and creamed them. Maico's, Husky's, CZ's, the four strokes were moving over. But it's all about being in the dirt on two wheels in the end.

[@camgnilpe9300]

FUCK TWO STROKES!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Then came the XT500, XL/XR500, DR/ SP500. Nearly 100 mph is fast enough on a dirt road for me.

[@qwertissimo]

i like the beginning!it's increddible!

[@sheikshah6504]

Triumph one can feel the real motorcycle feeling

[@80sDweeb]

James Loughead (aka Hammarhead Industries) took many people's money, but did not deliver the bikes, and has since disappeared. Hipster con man, "perception" indeed.

[@KyleP133]

Apparently he used that money to get a PhD, works at the University of Pennsylvania these days as a professor.

[@locwan]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[@blackfam972]

Movie Flats Loop (Alabama Hills) tons of old Westerns were filmed there. I think 700 movies.

[@skullsnbones2001]

hi Imolegregg,what i ment was i like the bike,and the way it looks.As it has the old,Brittish scrambler look,☺

[@ElectricCruiser]

VMX Handle Bars - you can get them of the hammarhead industries site or online elsewhere

[@carolindimpker4029]

Great video - dirt track Triumph bikes at its best

[@maverick205205]

Really great video - and now really want a desert sled!

[@TheTeddyFPS]

The coolest bike ever!

[@Roadghost88]

Looks like one of those old Isle of Man TT bikes. I liked the look of the old Matchless TT bikes best.

[@tango165]

Great looking bike, awesome video work..

[@jessheidenreich9416]

I've been wanting a Scrambler for a looong time. Great video! I suspect I'll have one in the garage soon after watching this now. Seems to have the endorsement of the great Peter Egan as well. What else does a bike enthusiast need to know?!

[@dist37rcr]

Don't forget to mention Randsburg Ca.

[@danilocapellan1316]

Great video, thanks 👍🏽

[@OtisENGINEuity]

and its still heavy as hell and has very little power. Its sad that a 200cc larger engine makes the same power as the old 650.. hell the T120C made more power with the good cams high compression and bigger carbs that they came with

[@RokyJJ]

I love these Bikes!!!!!!

[@von551]

Great bike! Inspiring! What pipes are used in the video?

[@m0untainm0ney]

Bishop. Them downslope winds in the evening get cold and mean. Beautiful though.

[@dennisschell5543]

Husqvarna....King of the desert!!!

[@skullsnbones2001]

wow id love to own,n ride 1 of theses bikes,much rather have that than a new bike,its got the look and the sound,great bit of work m8,keep it up.

[@G19xray]

thats awesome, i want to get my hands on one!

[@metalmania1315]

If I owned that I might turn into steve Mcqueen

[@hahashao]

Great bike,great road

[@Phaedrus-th7bi]

I realize that this video is 12 years old (at least), but what is/was the front & rear sprockets # of teeth? (Ratio)

[@JacekGrandV8]

High resolution but low quality Love the vid!

[@headman9999]

Love the water bottle.

[@stephenwillis6669]

what type of rear shocks? and is front end stock?? how much travel does it have front and rear??

[@redtobertshateshandles]

These bikes have a lower centre of gravity than pogo stick modern dirtbikes and are much nicer on the road , without that falling over feeling of a tall bike. I wish they would bring back the trail bike. I'd absolutely love a watercooled flat single 500, or even a sloper.

[@endonutz]

i'll take a stab at this....Alabama hills (Lone Pine), The Pinnacles (Trona, filmed movies there) and an ol gold mine near Jo'berg...been there rode that

[@katana258]

peter egan sounds like a robot with a low battery

[@induristan]

The music is brilliant - could ya tell me the name of the band?

[@nunzioturdophotography8230]

that model of bike is that of the movie? che modello di moto è quella del filmato?

[@solitarium01728]

Triumph must made a same scrambler like JACK PINE seriously

[@level242]

The blonde librarian at the Philadelphia library told me about this cycle

[@donguitar1868]

Just the kind of bike I'd like to build. Sadly I live in Germany and customizing with the TÜV in your neck isn't really fun :(

[@matthiasschulze393]

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, Calif

[@MrKinghuman]

god i hate living in nyc. dirt roads are rare and a well kept secret in the neighboring counties and even then u could only ride a couple of months a year. this video makes me feel empty, i need more. (sobbing)

[@RE_Bullet03]

That bike reminds me of the Rickman Metisse Steve McQueen bike

[@BlountPope]

What exhaust are ran on this bike?

[@fearview]

you guys need wider lenses :| the landscape is so beautiful ..

[@Eastmediaonline]

GREAT CHANNEL! :-)

[@TheDriftingsmoke]

THIS WAS FUCKING COOL

[@syc671]

Who is the rider? Old man on the left?

[@raymondclark1458]

SY C Mark Cernicky is the rider. Peter Egan is the interviewer.

[@peterwyattmiddleton]

the sound

[@handwoundman]

Does anyone know if Hammarhead is still in business? I put a deposit on a Jack Pine in June of '12 with a delivery date of September '12. In November '12 when it was evident that James was unable to deliver the bike I asked for a refund. After requests for the refund were ignored, I had to turn to an attorney in Philadelphia. By June of '13 I was able to recoup SOME of the money via payments however he has gone missing and still owes me $2,000. Anyone that has a lead on where he is hiding?

[@izhaiinc9155]

Any takes on handle bar ?

[@newzealandisno1]

vmx handle bars

[@markcernicky5335]

They didn't bend !

[@boscoamico7]

evocativo...

[@raymondo162]

........"Perception is more important than reality"......... Blah, blah, blah

[@hankhicks1108]

Esse est Percipi

[@turok6969]

I Picked up the full throttle for shits and giggles, Love it... However can anyone convince me to buy the desert sled? For that price tag just hit the Honda Africa Twin... Or if you're an offroad junkie hit a KTM 690 or Husky 701 even cheaper. Anyone Justify buying this bike for offroad? Looks kinda like the old Honda XR600 baja bikes.

[@davidcisco4036]

The Alabama Hills are more beautiful than the bikes.

[@EasilyEntertained]

I want one I'm from Polk county fl we have a lot of woods and tracks from orange tree. We ride a lot of off-road bikes allday everyday. Come over here if you wanna race at high speeds enduro baja style. Or drag race. Lake Wales Polk county fl 33853

[@joeycebecepe3984]

mantap.....

[@JB-uo9qo]

DR 650, pumper carb, 5.3 Gal opaque tank, GSXR X40F0X titanium muffler, Dunlop 606 rear oh, and a 790cc kit Mmmmm about 97.7% sure I'd dust his ass. Function trumps style every time!

[@harperreese7466]

why dousnt he just get an enduro

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

More of an interview than a short film.

[@InverseHierarchy]

Can you be any more sincere? Great bike though.

[@harperreese7466]

2:33 fart

[@SuperSelby1]

Soooo.. Buy a used dirt bike? Have a lot more fun? Do people really buy into this bullshit?

[@47485ksc]

Here's how clown-like Cycle Wipe Magazine still is: Listen to the sound of the Jack Pine: It's using a single cylinder four stroke sound effect. Probably one of those glass hand grenade modern 450s. Pathetic. Can't even dub in a Triumph sound.

[@markcernicky5335]

Wrong, the sounds came out of this bike ! I know first hand.

[@flufebunekilr]

@wbstr8934 pennsylvania west side of it and New york, any state where the allegheny mountain range runs through (that is the east coast)

[@EdwinHenryBlachford]

the history of Triumph is built on the vast numbers of guys who saw the wet spot on the pillion seat where the girl sat. It's rather like Harley in that way - the Bonneville was the UK's Harley with it's unique exhaust note and vibration. With the new 900cc Scrambler Triumph revive old memories, for the 270 degree crank on a parallel twin seems to invoke the same sound and vibration that the common crank pin V twin of the Harley does. If Harley and Triumph sell enough of these machines the sex toy business will go bankrupt

[@Motorcyclewindtherapy]

his comments on a carb vs efi....so true. I grew up feathering the throttle to find power when needed...and it's the reason I still own a carb bike today for MY pleasure. When my wife rides with me...we take the giant Ultra Limted with all the goodies (2016)...but when it's just me...I like the old bike. Raw and unrefined and has my heart.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

I thought that he was talking about pumper carbs vs non pumper carbs.

[@Motorcyclewindtherapy]

@@redtobertshateshandles could be... I'm building an old EVO chopper nowadays, lol. Still like the old school bikes.

[@drott150]

​​@@redtobertshateshandlesHe was. But really, he's full of it. A real salesman. That engine is so underpowered for its displacement, a pumper carb would be a welcome addition. Anything that gets more spunk out of it is the way to go. The real reason he didn't install a pumper is because it would be more expensive and cut into his margins.

[@NYCLusso]

This guy is so pretentious. Great bike though!

[@Cantabinexile]

It's a great looking bike but if your serious about riding a bike off road then you really should be looking to have the rear brake calliper on the top and not the bottom of the disc as it would only take one rock to knock the brake off.

[@shoptchr]

Superb Bike!!! Same as what I do on my 1979 or 1981 Yamaha XT500 enduros every week,,,ride the country roads in Nebraska, and it's the best kept secret among those who do it. Everybody thinks showing off their ego, chrome and loud pipes on pavement is where it's at,,,well go right ahead. I've been a life long rider and said goodbye to pavement, stop lights, road ragers, & cell phone texting drivers. And ego is left in the dust when I can go 5mph or 50 mph on country roads,,,alone in peace!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Yep. Owned XT500, SP500, XL600 all great fun. The last two slightly faster than the XT, but the XT is built reliable.

[@WindOnMyWings]

As I keep watching this video afrer years, it keeps being one of the best about motorbikes charm

[@slit4659]

What's with the HAIR DOO CON BOY ????

[@ShawnKitchen]

I like James Loughead's perspective on letting the motorcycle "be what it is". There's a sort of cultural expectation (in the modern age, at least) of making the motorcycle do what the rider wants - a desire to make the motorcycle do the conforming. I tend to be more of the mindset that every bike has their own personality, and that there's an enjoyment that can come from learning to accept each bike for what it is and not trying to make it become something that it's not.

[@jameshisself9324]

Peter Egan, great writer and all around guy. But what a piece of dirt James Loughead turned out to be.

[@modernrider1398]

I love the old school concept and who doesn't. I've got a 2015 KTM xcw and it a rocket but i'm going to go and pick up my aunts 1969 Suzuki 250 and fix it up and its probably going to be more fun. There is something vulnerable about the older heavier bikes.

[@cycleworld]

@stoweVT7170 Out near Lone Pine, CA, but we don't want to give away our secret spots....

[@goodsparkgarage]

Love seeing bikes like this ridden like that.

[@Retrochop5]

I always pick up this issue and read it over and over again by far one of my favourite bikes. Great job!

[@JohnInSale]

Nice relax film and review !!!

[@IchibanMoto]

bad ass! I think my next bike build for youtube will be a scrambler !

[@Znitso]

WOW! That was so cool. There are no words to describe how much i'd like to go riding there... Thank you so much for making this video! / Thumbs up from me

[@1979john1979]

Awesome he rides those roads like he is 100% sure that no one else is on them. SO COOL!

[@wheelhousegarage]

Great info! Huge fan of desert sleds! Just released a video of my first day out on my '57 Pre Unit TR6. Thanks for producing this great video.

[@cibiribiable]

Excuse me, what model is this "Hammarhead Jack Pine Triumph"?

[@induristan]

Awesome - that film made my day!

[@anomac]

Nice bike. I want one fo theose t throw around. Just not sure where. The rider is the builder, James Loughhead from Hammarhead Industries. The so called old man, is Peter Egan from Cycle World

[@ThomasKinzer]

The rider is not the builder. The rider is Mark Cernicky, a Cycle World editor.

[@raymondclark1458]

@ Ano Mac The rider was actually Mark Cernicky from Cycle World Magazine. The gentleman with the white ball cap is Peter Egan.

[@markcernicky5335]

Thanks for that Raymond !

[@PRTEVYBMW]

RIDE ON BROTHERS:) Cheers;)

[@jokermtb]

Desert Sled + Jack Pine? Huh?.......Isn't that one of the oldest enduro races around, in Michigan (Jack Pine National Enduro).......Am I missing something here?

[@spakkakona]

Hi, awesome bike!!!! Fantastic!!! Good Ride!!

[@GratefulDickhead]

@stoweVT7170 Tallest mountain in the lower 48 can be seen at .10, looks like an area named after a us state with a complete lack of mountains....