Old Chrome: Triumph Pre Unit Chopper
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Interview for Dice Magazine issue 107. You can order it here: www.DicEmagazine.com Photography by Jon Humphries. You can view more of his photos here: www.jonhumphries.com Word by Seth Neefus |
November 22nd, 2024
Every project begins with a vision and a good story.
It all started when I got this old crusty chrome frame a few years ago. One cold and rainy winter day in Oregon I was searching around on ebay before heading to the shop like any normal morning and there it was, only posted minutes ago; a chrome Triumph Rigid Pre Unit frame with a title for a really reasonable price. Well, I immediately hit “buy it now” and then noticed the seller was located within a 3 hour drive. We arranged to meet the following day somewhere in the middle of Oregon at a truck stop parking lot. It was a cold drive and I didn’t have heat in my van, so I was bundled up in layers, even a blanket and thick winter gloves to help stay warm. I arrived to find the seller waiting for me in his car, his windows were fogged over, he must have been there awhile before me so I expected him to be bummed, he gets out wearing winter clothes as well and starts sharing some stories with me about how he really loved the bike this frame came from and how he put tons of miles on it. He said he was glad it was going to someone who was excited to build it, but he’d happily buy it back if I changed my mind. He included some extra parts to help me with the build along with the title for the frame. I drove away happy as could be and also enjoyed meeting a genuinely nice guy who must have had a pretty cool bike built with this frame at some point.
After I got to the shop and warmed up and started going through the parts and inspecting the frame. I open the envelope with the title and I read the name Mark Drews as the owner. My mind was blown, and then realized how special this frame was.
From that moment on I knew I had to build something that would honored its past and bring it back to life with meaning.
After a few years went by more and more old chrome parts started coming into my life and also into my brother Casey’s hands through various project bikes we both bought and the piles of parts that would come along with them.
After awhile we started seeking out crusty old chrome parts and putting them aside for the day that we were ready to build this bike using only original period parts and a few special things added to the mix.
Today, we can sit back and stop our hunt for these old chrome parts, the bike is finally complete. Each piece has a unique story, some trades, a few things chased down and purchased and even a few gifted parts. It all adds up to complete the vision.
The journey of this build has already brought friendships and connections into my life that I cherish, and I look forward to creating more memories as the years go by riding through open roads and city streets on this crusty old chrome Triumph pre unit chopper.
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