Triumphrat

SbGunslinger · 05-06-2006, 10:51 PM

Can some one define or explain the term Ton up boys, which was affiliated with the infamous ACE CAFE, also on Bikes there was the Street Fighter, Rat Bikes What separates this from the Cafe Racer.

sweatmachine · 05-06-2006, 11:19 PM

I'm sure this will get a ton, hehe, of responses.

a ton = 100mph.

TonUpMike · 05-07-2006, 12:07 AM

hey, yeah, a ton meant 100 mph, not really a hard thing to do today, but it was a bit harder to achieve on some older bikes, some say "ton up boys" or "cafe racers" would put a song on the jukebox at one cafe and have to race to certain point and back before the song was over, there are a bunch of stories, check out www.tonup.com and www.the59club.org.uk to shed some light

Street fighters, right from www.wikipedia.com, says: Street fighter is the term lent to a style of custom motorcycle which originally had fairings that have since been removed. Styling hallmarks frequently include: Double round headlights, extreme seating positions highly tilted rear ends (tails) and highly-tilted exhaust systems...

alot of them start off from sportbikes that were damaged

and Rat Bike could be made of anything

Rock500 · 05-07-2006, 05:38 AM

Cafe racers back then were like the street fighters of today. A cafe racer was a stripped down bike with either a stock or souped up engine, rear sets, open exhausts and clip-on handlebars.
The name evolved from the impromptu cafe to cafe races they had on public roads and streets. It was all about bravado, speed and bragging rights.
As has been explained, doing 100 mph in the 50's was more difficult and the "ton-up boys" regularily roared up and down the North Circular Road near the Ace Cafe to see who could do 100 mph.
In the 60's it became easier with the hotter bikes on the market and "doing the ton" more or less faded away.
Another crazy stunt was record racing. Drop a coin in the jukebox at the Ace, jump on your bike and race to a certain point on public roads and streets and return before the record ended. If you beat the record (and lived to tell about it) you were recognized as a "three minute hero."
Many lives were lost and many recieved serious injuries as a result of this stunt. You had to average at least 70 mph over a steel bridge, through a traffic light, negotiate curves and loop a roundabout to succeed.
I was in London recently and time didn't permit me to visit the new Ace Cafe London. Oh well, something saved for next time.

Rocky

schwartzkm · 05-07-2006, 09:19 AM

Riding a retro bike takes us back to the past in looks but in reality the experience those early 60/70s bonnie rider was different. Why? they were riding one of the fastest motorcycles at that time and our scoots probably do not qualify.

I have always wanted a speed triple which I think would match the hooligan looks plus the lightnign city/speed handling that inspired the original bonnie riders. I would NEVER sale my bike because it is perfect but it would be a hoot to ride something like the speed triple or Buell on occasions.

SbGunslinger · 05-10-2006, 12:55 AM

Please forgive me, It was not my intention to offend any body with this post. I just don't know why this post was kicked to the "OUT OF BOUNCE" section. Was there a problem? :???: :???:

Diego · 05-10-2006, 01:45 AM

I don't see any problem with your post, Gunslinger. In fact, it's a very interesting subject.

Not sure what error message you are referring to, but your question appears here just like any other topic. Could it be that you just experienced a glitch in the software that runs this site, and got a momentary "parameter out of bounds" message when you tried to access the page?

EnglishWombat · 05-10-2006, 08:31 AM

I see no problems with this question...It's a perfectly normal one.

For those on this side of the Pond... they are having Triumph Day at the Ace on June 11. I've never been to the Ace, but I'm looking forwards to it.

Gina

Brit26 · 05-10-2006, 11:22 AM

The ton = 2000 lbs. of pressure per square inch on frontal area of a mass traveling at 100mph.

357Bob · 05-10-2006, 12:56 PM

Sort of off the subject but look at www.ratbike.org
Some ugly looking bikes. but way cool. I am going to rat bike my old CB450 if I can get a title.