The story of Larry’s bike.

Larry Code on his Bonneville TT Special September 2004 in front of the clubhouse door.
Larry was a crusty old bastard. He was an old school working class, San Francisco biker. He first bought the TT used in 1977 and it was his only bike. It’s a ‘64 competition frame with a ‘67 Bonneville TT Special motor. This was a common combination for flat track racers from ‘66 on as Triumph modified their frames in ‘66 - relaxing the geometry to appeal to road riders. The racers preferred the tighter geometry of the earlier frames. TT Specials were made for racing only and had hotter motors. But starting in ‘66 they showed up with the same relaxed frame angles. Hence the swap would occur. I don’t think Larry ever raced. But obviously a previous owner had.
Anyways, the way Larry had it set up, the bike fit his persona perfectly and I always admired it. It was like a low rent, bad boy custom with a hot motor circa 1967.
Larry never said much and when he did it was more of a growl. He drank Christian Brothers brandy by the shot. At the time, it only cost a buck at the Club and whenever I was working the stick I always bought it for him.

About the photo:
The walls of our clubhouse are covered with B&W photos going back to the very early 1900s. I sometimes bring my Leica and do B&W portraits of members in front of the Clubhouse door. I’m proud to say this one hangs on our memorial wall.

Larry passed in 2013. Another club member ended up buying the TT from Larry’s family and kept it in storage. He brought it out for a bike show and when I saw it, I told him that if he ever sold it, please sell it to me. I wanted to make sure it stayed in the club. In January 2015 I finally acquired it. This pic was taken the day I picked it up . (BTW, I’m wearing a purple, buffalo check, UHF.). The single shoe front brake, worn out shocks, hard ass cobra seat, hi-rise handlebars and goofy chromed carbs made it neigh on unridable. But it was finally mine.

Sept 2016 - after some fairly major revisions to increase the TT’s dependability & ride-ability (without changing it’s general appearance, mind you) I entered and completed the NorCal TT - a 500 mile, 2 day, all vintage rally thru the Sierras - riding the TT. The new seat, Amal premier carbs, ‘69 dual caliper front brake, flat track bars and competition shocks made all the difference. She ran great.

June 2022 - this photo was taken at the beginning of the western leg of CA 36 - a legendary stretch of road between Red Bluff in the valley and Ferndale on the pacific coast. Two lanes over two mountain ranges. Thousands of curves with no stop signs, no stop lights, no gas stations, almost no cars and no cops. It was the second day of the Moto Melee - a 3 day, 900 mile vintage bike rally.
Note the patch on the tank. An old dent ( visible in the first pic from 2004 ) had finally given up the ghost the day before and cracked on the road in 100 f heat. I had to drain the gas below the crack line to keep from sloshing gas all over my lap and be careful not to fill past the crack at gas stops. Luckily, the emergency JB Weld repair in the motel parking lot that night held and I was able to finish the ride.

Also check out the bandage on my left hand. I’d broken it the night before the ride started in SF. But my brother had flown out from the East coast to join the Melee riding my ‘69 TR6. I knew if I cancelled, he wouldn’t go either. So I taped it up, loaded up on ibuprofen and rode anyway. What an idiot.

That was the last time I rode the Bonne - until yesterday.

Two days after finishing the Melee I was in the hospital getting hand surgery. A year after that I had rotator cuff surgery - which failed and then came the complete, reverse shoulder replacement. It was a tough three years.

The Bonne is the last of my bikes to get back on the road post-surgery. I got the tank repaired and had it painted in Club colors by Pete the Painter in SF. I’m pretty sure Larry wouldn’t mind. But then again, he was kinda fond of that rattle can blue.
Special thanks to Don Clancy for making her purr like a kitten, growl like an alley cat and run like a cheetah.

Keep the rubber side down Brothers.

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