Offical 2012 Triumph Steve McQueen SE T100 thread

[bobbo]

Now that sounds like a top idea.

[Dryvr]

Originally Posted by McQRacing

Let me run this by Chad McQueen and Matt Capri (at South Bay Triumph).

One place that immediately comes to mind is the annual Friends of Steve McQueen car and motorcycle show, held at Steve's alma mater (Boys Republic) in Chino, CA in June. It's an all-day show, with a dinner the night before, and it raises money for the Boys Republic. The McQueen family usually attends, as does motorcycle luminaries such as Dave Ekins, Troy Lee, and others.

By example, the Bullitt Owners Club usually gets 25-40 Bullitt Mustangs to attend the event. It would be awesome to get a group to attend in 2013. We could also have the 0000 bike there.

"Lets get er done". California is about as far as it can be from Northern Ontario Canada, but why own the thing if not to ride?

[wyomingpat]

Steve McQeen would be spinning in his grave if he heard these are made in Thailand!

[Papa Weeley]

.....

[McQRacing]

Originally Posted by wyomingpat

Steve McQeen would be spinning in his grave if he heard these are made in Thailand!

Pat, the only thing Steve would be spinning is the wheels on whatever he happened to be riding.

Steve certainly liked what he liked, but he was pretty open to any well-designed and built car or motorbike. In the mid 60's, for example, he rode around Taiwan on an early racing Suzuki while filming the Sand Pebbles, notwithstanding that Japanese bikes had yet to eclipse their British counterparts and weren't as well regarded until after 1970.



Similarly, he had Husqvarna send out a crate of dirt bikes while filming Le Mans, even as he kept his handbuilt Rickman Metisse for riding at home. At that time, Husky hadn't established itself quite as seriously as it did after On Any Sunday. He also was one of the first to embrace the Honda Elsinore, before it gained the credibility in the desert.

Crack open Matt Stone's McQueen's Machines, which does a good job tracing some of the 140+ bikes and 65+ cars that he owned at his death. His favorites were certainly iconic, but he was not a snob.Truth is, if it had an engine, and it was cool (better if also fast), Steve enjoyed it.

Here's an article Steve contributed back in the day, after riding the current crop of bikes (BSA, Greeves, Montessa, Honda etc). He had his favorites, but it's clear from the article that he just loved bikes, period.

[McQRacing]

Originally Posted by Dryvr

"Lets get er done". California is about as far as it can be from Northern Ontario Canada, but why own the thing if not to ride?

Chad's totally game, as the theme for this coming show is (drumroll please....): THE GREAT ESCAPE!!

If you guys can see fit to organize yourselves on down, I can work with the Boys Republic to see that we reserve space for all who want to ride in and show their McQueen Bonnies. And I am sure Matt at South Bay Triumph and possibly Triumph would love to chime in. Maybe even get Troy Lee Designs to have some fun with a McQueen Racing t-shirt.

Heck, I might even be persuaded to ride 0002 from the Pacific NW on down. Now that would be fun!

[ArmyVet]

Originally Posted by McQRacing

Chad's totally game, as the theme for this coming show is (drumroll please....): THE GREAT ESCAPE!!

If you guys can see fit to organize yourselves on down, I can work with the Boys Republic to see that we reserve space for all who want to ride in and show their McQueen Bonnies. And I am sure Matt at South Bay Triumph and possibly Triumph would love to chime in. Maybe even get Troy Lee Designs to have some fun with a McQueen Racing t-shirt.

Heck, I might even be persuaded to ride 0002 from the Pacific NW on down. Now that would be fun!

Sounds like a plan is beginning to come together!

Please pass along event/ticket info when it becomes available.

[goat-ee]

I don't see the price diff but I love the look!

[bobbo]

Originally Posted by wyomingpat

Steve McQeen would be spinning in his grave if he heard these are made in Thailand!

What utter cobblers. I doubt he'd give a crap - he was, after all, riding foreign bikes. My advice - Lose the chip on your shoulder or get another bike that's made somewhere more acceptable to your prejudices.

[ArmyVet]

I have not met, on this board, or otherwise, an SMQ Bonnie owner that is not smitten with the bike! I think Chad, McQueen Racing, and Triumph did a great job with the constraints they had delivering a product to a worldwide market, and corresponding regulatory standards.

I am very interested in the McQueen Racing modification, and plan on making The Great Escape by attending the Triumph SMQ Round-Up at the Friends of Steve McQueen event in Chino, CA in June. It will be great to meet fellow owners and the McQueen Racing team.

For those that believe this bike is a sell-out, marketing gimmick, or travesty to the Triumph heritage, rest easy. There are plenty of other bikes out there for you to choose from. I, for one, will not judge you for what you prefer to ride.