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Norton Motorcycles has just opened its first retail store, the Norton Atelier, at The Bike Shed in London. This is a major milestone for the British brand, which has been steadily rebuilding after a period of tumultuous change. 

  • The new flagship store to showcase the brand’s V4SV superbike and the iconic Commanod 961.
  • Norton also plans to establish showrooms at five other locations throughout the UK. 

Norton’s new CEO and a £100 million investment have helped to revitalize the company, and the launch of the 2023 Commando 961 has shown that Norton is ready to compete once again.

The Norton Atelier showcases the V4SV superbike and the Commando 961, both of which are available for purchase or test rides. Additionally, the showroom features Norton apparel designed by Savile Row fashion designer Nick Tentis. Tentis has also played a significant role in designing the retail space, which he describes as reflecting the history and values of the Norton brand.

The launch of the Norton Atelier is just the beginning for the brand. The company plans to establish showrooms at five other locations throughout the UK, including Krazy Horse London, Crawley’s P&H Motorcycles, Sheffield’s Via Moto, Bodmin’s Thor Motorcycles, and Cheshire’s Oakmere Motor Group. All of these locations will offer test rides, maintenance, and parts and accessories.

Norton Chief Commercial Officer Christian Gladwell expressed his enthusiasm for the brand’s expansion into the marketplace. “More dealers mean more riders enjoying the results of the hard work and dedication that the entire team at Norton has contributed towards,” he said.

Kejuaraan elektrik skuter pertama dunia telah pun disahkan akan berlangsung di Timur London pada bulan Mei ini.

London Docklands bakal menjadi medan pertembungan sulung antara pelumba e-skuter dunia yang akan berlumba dengan kelajuan lebih 100km/j dengan jentera masing-masing.

Sementara itu, pihak penganjur yang turut dibarisi juara Formula E dan Le Mans, Lucas Di Grassi serta Alex Wurz menjanjikan perlumbaan penuh sengit .

“Kami bermula seperti kertas kanvas yang kosong. Kami sedang mewujudkan sukan baharu dan seakan mengolah semula sukan perlumbaan.

“Perlumbaan ini akan berjalan penuh sengit dan menyaksikan pelumba wanita dan lelaku bersaing antara satu sama lain,” jelas pengasas bersama, Hrag Sarkissian.

Difahamkan, pelumba terlebih dahulu perlu melayakkan diri menerusi pusingan saringan dengan setiap pusingan babitkan enam pelumba.

Pemenang akan kemudiannya berganjak ke 12 pusingan lagi sebelum menentukan siapakah yang akan layak ke peringkat akhir.

Antara nama besar yang akan sertai perlumbaan sulung itu adalah atlet olimpik (speed skater) Elise Christie, juara dunia BMX Tre White dan pemenang pingat Gansa acara ‘snowboard’ Billy Morgan.

Kesemua peserta akan beraksi menggunakan skuter elektrik S1x yang dibangunkan dengan kerjasama Williams Advanced Engineering.

Skuter elektrik tersebut dikuasakan dua motor 6kW dengan bantuan bateri 1.33kWH. – MotorsportMagazine

Susulan peningkatan harga minyak, kerajaan UK dikatakan sedang pertimbang beberapa pilihan bagi mengawal kenaikan tersebut.

Antara aspek yang sedang dinilai ketika ini adalah menguatkuasakan larangan memandu di bandar besar pada setiap hari Ahad.

Negara itu juga sedang menilai impak keberkesanan dengan menurunkan had kelajuan jalan raya dari 110km/j kepada 100km/j.

Setakat ini terdapat 10 cadangan telah dikemukakan oleh Agensi Tenaga Antarabangsa (IEA).

Antara cadangan lain yang turut dikemukakan adalah kerja dari rumah (WFH) selama tiga hari setiap minggu, berkongsi kereta ke pejabat, guna kereta api berbanding kapal terbang, elak perjalanan udara jika ada pilihan lain dan promosikan penggunaan kenderaan elektrik.

Bagaimanapun, buat masa ini tiada pengesahan sama ada larangan pemanduan pada Ahad itu juga melibatkan penunggang motosikal. – Visordown

It has been a remarkable year for the city of London, as motorcycle death drops by 60 per cent in provisional figures as announced during the Transport for London motorcycle and road safety meeting.

While the meeting was attended by a number of prominent motorcycle organisations including BMF (British Motorcyclists Federation), MAG (Motorcycle Action Group), Keith Prince (GLA, MAG member & Assembly Member), Dave Bottomley (MET Sergeant & BikeSafe) and TfL officials, but as it turns out, nobody is sure what is the primary factor behind the significant drop in accidents.

“I’m impressed with the dramatic fall in motorcycle deaths in London last year.

“The officers committed to working with the London riding community to further understand the reasons for this welcome improvement, plus engaging with the delivery rider sector on safety issues, and treating all two-wheeler users fairly and without discrimination.

“Overall, this meeting was results-orientated in a very tangible way,” said Keith Prince, Deputy Chair of the GLA Transport Committee.

While the primary factor behind the low numbers is still widely discussed, perhaps among other reasons is the 30km/h speed limit in the city centre that helps lower motorcycle fatalities.

The second possibilities are the lower traffic counts in the past two years as more Londoners have been working from home due to the ongoing pandemic.

Meanwhile, the number of motorcycle fatalities is expected to decrease in 2022 as a new speed limit of 15mph (25km/h) is implemented across London, as announced last year.

(Source: VisorDown)

  • A Malaysian rider lost his bike in London.

  • The city was his last stop after reaching a other destinations.

  • We wish him the best and hope he has a way out soon.

A Malaysian rider who aimed to ride around the world lost his bike in London recently.

Paul Wong began his solo ride on 28th September to various destinations and London was his last stop. He parked his BMW S 1000 XR sport-tourer in front of a restaurant before it went missing, believed to have been stolen.

The red coloured bike bears Malaysian number plates, with a doll dog attached to the rearview mirror.

We hope Paul can be reunited with his bike soon or there’s a way for him out of this hardship.

The theft is in contrast with a number of foreign bikes that were tampered with or had their front brake calipers stolen in Malaysia. Brake caliper thefts may be rampant in Malaysia but not entire bikes, especially large capacity bikes.

It’s the reverse in London where motorcycle theft is an epidemic. The local police has got their hands full in trying to stamp out the crime, while vigilante groups have cropped up to “assist.” The police and insurance companies have advised motorcycle owners to install GPS trackers on their motorcycles lately.

Perhaps we should install such system in Malaysia soon, too.

Source: Careta.my

  • We visited the Triumph Factory Visitor Experience during our trip to London.

  • The visit included a factory tour in addition to the “gallery.”

  • The center featured significant models in Triumph’s history, highlights in R&D, new models, custom bikes, and much more.

Besides witnessing the launch of the 2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200, the other main highlight was visiting the Triumph Factory Visitor Experience, during the Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia London Adventure.

To recap, this writer had won the lucky draw’s Grand Prize during the launch of the 2018 Triumphs that included the two Tiger 800 variants, Bonneville Bobber Black and Bonneville Speedmaster.

The trip coincided with Triumph Motorcycles’ Global Dealer Conference (GDC) and launch of the 2019 Bonneville Scrambler 1200. Thus, the entourage included Dato’ Razak Al-Malique Hussein, the Chief Executive Officer of Fast Bikes Sdn. Bhd. (the official distributor of Triumph motorcycles in Malaysia); his son Rafique; the Tan family of Triumph Motorcycles Bukit Mertajam and Guan How Superbike; and Asep Ahmad Iskandar, the founder of the Art of Speed Malaysia.

The gang at The Bike Shed – credit Rafique Muzaffar

We assembled at the ExCel London at 5.30am before boarding the coaches to Hinckley in Leicestershire, the home of Triumph Motorcycles. It was good to get into the heated buses – the thermometer onboard showed 9oC outside.

The manufacturer’s HQ, factory and visitor centre complex is located 188 km from the exhibition centre but was a direct route via the oft-heard “M1” (Motorway 1). Traffic was heavy even during these early hours.

We were soon treated to the sights of the beautiful English countryside. Rolling hills and expansive pastureland were dotted with farmhouses in the yonder. Factories small and large sprung up intermittently.

We soon rolled up to the complex and an excited murmur went up in the bus. They were Triumph dealers from the world over. I heard Japanese, Korean, Spanish, American accented English.

We were shepherded to the 1902 Café and a staff member welcomed us. They also served light refreshments but more importantly, hot coffee. The café was named so for the year when the first Triumph appeared. Yes, Triumph was established earlier than Harley-Davidson.

At the back was the “wall of engines” which displayed Triumph’s engines through the ages.

Outside was the Avenue of Legends. Significant dates that represented milestones and names of Triumph riders were laid into the path leading up the main doors. I stood out here trying to believe that I was actually standing in front of THE Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. factory in England. The strong wind brought with it chilling temperatures but I didn’t care. I was too absorbed.

We shot a few photos with the Tan family along the Avenue of Legends after waiting for quite a while. He came back and complained that his children had disappeared into the gift shop as soon as they got off the bus. Who can blame them?

It was time to visit the facilities. The doors opened to a Street Triple RS and Bonneville Speedmaster in the foyer.

A new Speed Triple and classic Bonneville hung from the ceiling.

The Factory Tour

The exhibition area was choked up with the dealers, so I “‘scuse me, ‘scuse me” at a whole bunch of human torsos (that was all I saw at my height) and made my way into the factory. NOTE: No photography was allowed so there are a limited number of pictures from this area.

No, this wasn’t where random prank calls are handled. Crankshafts are made here. A case contained the Bonneville T120 crankshafts in different stages of machining.

There were many other areas along the way, of course, including engine assembly, motorcycle assembly and everything else in between. Unfortunately, the factory staff watched me intently as I shouldered a large DSLR. However, the Spanish-speaking dealers ahead were sneaking in shots with their smartphones. Merda!

We came up to a section where an elderly Englishman applied the striping to the wheels. The work was fast but the results were immaculate.

The inspection “booth” is where parts were picked up from the production line and inspected closely. Safe to say that inspection was carried out visually and with tools such as X-ray and ultrasound machines, among others.

At 2294cc, the Rocket III’s engine is the world’s largest production motorcycle engine. Here are three separated pieces of the cylinder head, showing the different stages of production. On the left is the raw casting; partly machined in the centre and; fully machined on the right.

Looks like an IKEA stock area, doesn’t it? It’s the same concept here except that the bikes are fully built, instead of needing self-assembly (although I wouldn’t mind doing that!).

Triumph Factory Visitor Experience

The Triumph Visitor Experience is a gallery adjoining the main building.

It’s divided into different segments, starting with ATTITUDE. It alludes the philosophy that Triumph was built on and what drives the brand. Etched into the wall are these words, “Built by riders, for riders, always chasing perfection, it’s what drives us, it’s what makes us.”

Although Triumph is proudly a British brand, it was started by Siegfried Bettman, who emigrated from Nuremberg, Germany. He sold bicycles originally and named his company Triumph Cycle Company in 1886, before registering it as New Triumph Co., Ltd the next year with funding from the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company. He was joined by another Nuremberg native Moritz Schulte as a partner in the same year.

Schulte encouraged Bettman to turn the company into manufacturing. They moved to a site in Coventry in 1886 and produced the first Triumph bicycles in 1889. Now I know where my Grandad’s Triumph bicycle came from.

Anyhow, they expanded into motorcycle manufacturing and produced the first in 1902, powered by a Belgian Minerva engine. So voila, Triumph No. 1.

This beautiful 1937 Speed Twin had me staring at it for a good 20 minutes. Featuring a 500cc parallel-Twin, it was the first truly successful British twin and set the standards for those that followed.

Next was this X-75 Hurricane. BSA (owner of the Triumph brand back then) wanted a design that could sell in the US and employed Craig Vetter to redesign the BSA Rocket 3. But BSA went bust in 1972 so the bike was sold as a Triumph, thus the Vetter BSA Rocket 3 became the Triumph X-75. Production stopped in 1973 as the bike failed new American noise standards. I love the triple exhaust tips!

Before turning the corner, a Thruxton R sat in front of a large display case. The cubbies were filled with Triumph factory accessories. Yes, the manufacturer has more than 300 accessories to choose from.

Starting the PERFORMANCE area were two race bikes. A 1947 Tiger 100 Grand Prix Mark I Racer sits in front of a 1958 Thruxton 500. The Tiger 100 was also known as the T100, so it’s the Granddaddy of the present Bonneville T100. Ernie Lyons rode the race bike to victory at Manx Grand Prix. Triumph commemorate the win by selling the stripped-down Tiger 100 race replica in 1947, which became known as the “Grand Prix.” The victory at Manx was just one of the many that the Tiger 100 won.

1947 Triumph Tiger 100 Grand Prix poster

The name “Thruxton” actually belongs to a racetrack converted from an airfield near Andover, Hampshire. The track was well-known by 1951 and holds six-event motorcycle races as part of the Festival of Britain. Geoff Duke and John Surtees raced there. Thruxton started hosting endurance races soon after.

Mike Hailwood on a Triumph at the 1958 Thruxton 500 – Photo credit Pinterest.com

In 1958, the endurance race became a 500-mile (800-km) affair. Mike “The Bike” Hailwood a 650cc Triumph. This was the start of Triumph’s reputation as a fearsome competitor. Hailwood’s win was the first of eight Thruxton 500 victories for Triumph.

There weren’t exactly factory-built racing prototypes those early days. Instead, competitors buy their bikes from showrooms and modify them for racing. So, Triumph did the smart thing of producing racing parts (like modern-day race kits) and sold them to mechanics and dealers.

1964 Triumph Thruxton prototype – Photo credit sinistros-forever.blogspot.com

The first factory-built Thruxton racer was in 1964. 52 of these were made to homologate them for racing. The 1958 “Thruxton” may be the start but the supreme Thruxton was introduced in 1969. Based on the T120, it finished 1-2-3 at Thruxton, second in the Barcelona GP, and won the Isle of Man Production TT by a record average of 100 mph (160 km/h). That’s super fast for a 1969 bike!

1969 Triumph T120 Thruxton racer – Photo credit columnm.com

This is why the current Thruxton model is the racer variant and alpha-bike of the Bonneville line-up. As with its descendant, it’s built on the Bonneville T120 and shares the same engine, albeit with the High Power tune.

Triumph Bonneville Thruxton R TFC (Triumph Factory Custom)

(OMG! We still have 4 more sections to go!)

Gene Romero rode this racing  750ccTrident Triple to second place at the 1971 Daytona 200 race. It was part of Triumph Meridien’s 5-rider team assault on the pre-eminent American race. Romera finished just 2 seconds behind the winner in the 320-kilometer race (200 miles). Just below the fuel tank is the trademark “letterbox” airbox. Intake air was routed through the front of the fairing into the airbox and past the oil-cooler, like the modern ram air system. Gene Romero was a multiple AMA Grand National Champion. His teammates were Gary Nixon, Don Castro, Paul Smart and Tim Rockwood.

This Daytona TT600 won the Isle of Man TT in 2003. The bike was built by the famed Valmoto team. This was the early Daytona 600 which uses an inline-Four engine, instead of the triple in the later Daytona 675. But it cemented the Triumph Daytona’s name in the supersport category.

Ah hah. The Triumph Streamliner. Johnny Allen rode (drove?) this machine to the fastest land speed record of 214.40 mph (345.0 km/h) on 1stSeptember 1956 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA. 345 km/h seems mild now, but this was 63 years ago.

Triumph Streamliner at the Bonneville Salt Flats – Picture credit ultimatemotorcycling.com

But what made the feat even more remarkable was the engine which powered the streamliner. It wasn’t supercharged, turbocharged; not a factory-built one-off special. Only one engine normally-aspirated engine was used, instead of the twin-engine powered sleds used for breaking records. Not only that, the donor engine was a 650cc parallel-Twin which powered the Triumph Thunderbird. It was fettled a little by having larger valves, larger Amal carbs and ran on an 80% methanol/20% nitromethane fuel. But the cylinders were stock!

Oh yes! We’ve come to the bike I really wanted to see! It’s the original TR6 Trophy which was dressed up to like a Nazi’s R75 in Steve McQueen’s movie, “The Great Escape.” This was the legendary bike on which McQueen’s character jumped the concentration camp’s wire fences on this bike, although the stunts were performed by his stunt double and racing buddy, Bud Ekins.

The pair didn’t only use the TR6 Trophy model for the movie. They actually raced the bike in rallies, including the punishing Baja Rally.

The TR6 Trophy is the predecessor of the current 900cc Bonneville Street Scrambler and the new Bonneville Scrambler 1200.

Next to the Great Escape bike is another segment which showcases how Triumph carries out R&D and building their bikes.

The first display showed a raw aluminium ingot before it is turned into an engine casing.

Next was the frame and chassis of a new Tiger 1200. This area showcases the R&D carried out particularly for traction control, ABS and electronic suspension.

Moving on is the section showing how Triumph designs their bikes, in particular the Bonneville Bobber. The exhibit described the stages of development from pre-concept to the clay mock up displayed here. The Bobber is Triumph’s best-selling model of all time.

Roadgoing prototypes were built for real-world testing. These are the stages we see usually see in spyshots. Although it already resembles the production bike, look closer and you’ll see a different instrument display, extra wire looms, a not-so-subtle exhaust O2 sensor, and the unmissable bracket for the GIVI box. Notice the fat wire looms that lead into it. The box carries data acquisition devices (recorders) for various performance parameters.

In the farthest corner was a wall which displayed the components of a Speed Triple like a Lego set. Visitors i.e. me, were free to inspect the intricacy and quality of each piece.

In the centre of both areas was a neon-lit island which highlighted customized Triumphs. A custom Street Twin was joined by a Bobber and were surrounded by beautifully custom-painted fuel tanks.

Opposite the island was the “Wall of Dealers.” Hundreds of displays presented Triumph’s worldwide dealer network. Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. has definitely grown by leaps and bounds since John Bloor acquired the brand in 1983.

Also, near this centre area was an engine placed in a transparent case. The inscription on a plaque said, “ENGINE 000001. THE FIRST EVER HINCKLEY PRODUCTION LINE ENGINE. 1200cc Four-Cylinder Trophy Engine. Built 1990.”

On the way out, I stopped by at a Thruxton R which wore a white and blue bodywork akin to Gene Romero’s Trident Triple racer. It was on closer inspection that I found out it was supercharged!

Just as fascinating was its background. The bike was built by British rider and four-time World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty to race at the 2016 Glemseck 101 event. Supercharging pumped maximum power up to 148 PS and torque to a huge 157 Nm. Glemseck is the annual café racer event held in Leonburg, Germany, consisting of a bike show and 1/8-mile drag race. Fogarty owned everyone on this bike by winning all 12 drag races he entered and walked away with the overall win in the Essenza class.

On the left side of the isle is the riding gear section. Triumph is not only hard at work in developing new bikes but also technology and design of riding gear.

Further up the line were rows of the latest models, including the Tiger 1200, Tiger 800 XRT, Street Triple RS, Speed Triple, Bonneville Thruxton R, Bonneville Street Twin.

It was time to visit the gift shop upstairs.

It was packed to the gills! People were grabbing stuff off the racks, tables, benches… the cashier had beads of sweat on his forehead, while two lady staff members ran around looking for clothing items the dealers asked for. I only managed to grab a cash box which looks like an oil can, an aluminium lunchbox, a couple of teddy bear keychains and a leather card holder. The queue extended from the cashier to outside the door.

The American couple of me had loads of t-shirts and leather jackets under their arms, that the half-dumped on the cashier’s desk in a heap. It took a long time for the hapless clerk to scan through all the items and the Japanese man behind me started to sigh (you know it’s taking too long when a Japanese sighs). “That’ll be £560 pounds please.” The cheerful demeanor of the couple turned to almost-horror. Compared to theirs, my stash cost “only” £50.

Back downstairs, Asep was waiting for me outside while puffing away on a cigarette. Later, we re-boarded the bus to take us back to London.

CONCLUSION

It’s only apt that Triumph calls the centre an “experience.” While there weren’t as many bikes in the gallery as we expected, those there were of great significance motorcycling history and culture, besides to the brand. I for one still could not believe that I actually saw The Great Escape’s TR6 Trophy in front of my very eyes.

The factory visit was just as awesome. It’s almost a spiritual experience to actually step foot inside the very facility which produced my favourite bikes. At the same time, the sense of amazement never ceased as I traced the progression of a piece of aluminium ingot into a complete engine assembly, which in turn became part of a Triumph motorcycle.

Again, we would like to thank Fast Bikes Sdn. Bhd. and Dato’ Razak Al-Malique Hussein for the opportunity of a lifetime.

  • We continue with the Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia London Adventure – Day 2 with more historic and important landmarks.

  • Westminster Abbey should be high on everyone’s list should you fancy history.

  • Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament are the landmarks no one should miss.

It was another short jaunt from St. James’s Park to Westminster Abbey. All these sites were set up close to Buckingham Palace.

Seeing it all in pictures was nothing compared to the first-hand experience of being there yourself. The sights, the sounds, the cool air, the sunshine, the people and everything else contribute an immersive experience none could forget.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Yes, Westminster Abbey is a gothic church, but I don’t have a fixation for anything goth. Nevertheless, it is where monarchs, royalties, Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens and Stephen Hawking (among other luminaries) are interned (buried). It was also the site in a number of famous movies.

But first, who was Sir Isaac Newton?

You’ve probably learned in school about the guy who discovered gravity when an apple fell on his head. That guy was Sir Isaac Newton. However, the part about an apple knocking Sir Newton’s noggin was a myth. Truth was, he sat under a tree and wondered why apples always drop perpendicularly to the ground, instead of sideways or upwards.

There are stronger connotations to why I venerate Sir Isaac Newton. I love the subjects of physics and motion, besides history and astronomy. The first two are innately connected with how engines and motorcycles work. In fact, an engine’s torque is measured (among other units) in “Nm,” as in Newton-metre. Additionally, there are Newton’s three laws of motion.

 

It was Newton who gave us the laws of universal gravity, laws of motion, calculus, among many more which he published in the groundbreaking book Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica– better known as just “Principia.” It was one of the most important works in the history of science, marking the epoch of a great revolution in physics.

Financed by Astronomer Royal Edmond Halley (remember this name), Principia was published in 1687. We came to understand the motions of the planets, comets and other celestial bodies.

Without Newton’s work, we wouldn’t have satellite communications and GPS because we wouldn’t be able to keep satellites orbit. Worse, we won’t be watching MotoGP “live” on weekends (plus all the football matches). In fact, scientists and engineers today still use Newton’s formulas to send spacecrafts into space and the orbits of other planets.

It was he who created the first practical reflecting telescope, so much so the type is often referred to as the “Newtonian.” He also discovered that a prism separates white light into the colours of the spectrum and continued to research the subject. His findings were published in another book called “Opticks” in 1704.

This was why he’s oft regarded as the “father” of modern physics.

Newton passed away in his sleep in London on 20 March 1727 (NS 31 March 1737) aged 84 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Back to Westminster Abbey, the site was established in 960 (1,058 years ago) when King Edgar installed a community of Benedictine monks. It was then expanded and extended by various monarchs through the centuries.

Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, all coronations of English and later British monarchs had been performed at Westminster Abbey. There were also 16 royal weddings since 1100. Princess Diana’s funeral service was held here in 1997.

I got goosebumps as I walked in the yard, while looking at all those huge centuries-old stones that were used to build it. Immense buttresses supported the walls. Visitors entered through the magnificent North Entrance façade which is decorated with tracery, arcading and figurative carvings.

The ticket counter’s in the narthex. Entrance fee for a single adult is £22, inclusive of an audiobook and guided tour. Unfortunately, photography wasn’t allowed, and I had a schedule to adhere to. I decided that Sir Isaac Newton’s tomb is one compelling reason to revisit London.

BIG BEN

It’s amazing when you do some of research. I never knew that “Big Ben” is in fact the name of the largest of five bells in the clock tower. The tower’s name was simply the “Clock Tower” before being renamed as Elizabeth Tower in 2012. Did you know that? I didn’t.

Did you know that the main bell, officially known as the “Great Bell” and “Big Ben” to us, was installed in the tower’s belfry in 1858 (160 years ago)? At 2.9m high, 2.74m in diameter and weighing 13.76 tonne (13,760kg), it was the largest and heaviest bell in the British Isles until the 17-tonne (17,000kg) “Great Paul” bell was cast for the St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1881.

Apart from that, do you know the musical chime of alarm clocks? (Please click on the link below to listen.) It had originated from the four Quarter Bells in the tower.

I used to listen to the BBC radio broadcasts with my late-Dad. The channel always used the tolling of Big Ben to mark 12 midnight, Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT). The practice began in 1923!

(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

The movement of the four-faced clock was designed by horologist Edmund Beckett Denison and George Airy, a Astronomer Royal (remember these names. They will show up again). What makes the clocks tick? A pendulum! Yes, like those in grandfather clocks. And like all old clocks it needs to be wound three times a week. The process takes 1½   hours.

The clock was the largest and most accurate when it was completed in 1859. It was so accurate that removing or adding a penny adjusted the clock by 0.4 seconds.

The clock’s mechanism – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Big Ben was hit by a bomb one occasion and an anti-aircraft shell during WWII, but it kept working and ringing. It was taken as one of the symbols of British defiance and stoicism during the war.

Big Ben is probably the most famous landmark of London. There’s no doubt every one of us has seen it in a movie or on TV.

However, it’s covered in scaffolding since 2017 for a four-year refurbishing project and the bell silenced. The works will also add a lift inside the tower. The renovation costs add up to£61 million as of September 2017.

Was I disappointed for not being able to view Big Ben? I was at first, but I knew the restoration will sustain the building for ages to come.

THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER A.K.A. HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

“Big Ben” is located at the northern end of The Palace of Westminster, better known as Houses of Parliament. The two structures are so famous that almost everyone on earth would recognize them as part of the City of London.

 

It is called Houses of Parliament because the House of Commons and House of Lords convened there.

The first royal palace was built on the site in 1016 and served as the primary residence for the Kings of England until a fire destroyed much of it in 1512. The Parliament of England had been meeting there since the 13thcentury but used the palace full-time afterwards.

Another fire broke out in 1834, destroying both Houses of Parliament and most buildings in the palace complex. The job to rebuild the site was awarded after reviewing 97 proposals. Work began in 1840 and was only completed in 1876. This was when the building acquired its current Gothic architecture.

The Blitz (German air bombing) in WWII hit the Palace of Westminster on fourteen separate occasions.

The building is old and in need of urgent restoration. There were reports of the ceiling dropping onto MP’s desks. Consequently, MP’s voted in 2016 to vacate the building in 2022.

Walking up close past the building was quite another experience compared to looking at it in pictures. Pictures all but show the outlines and little else. I was totally in awe while standing right in front of a structure that I’ve seen thousands of times in books and visual media. There are so many intricate details that need to be experienced. It was an imposing structure, as well. Of course, it had been a residence for the King, after all.

The Houses of Parliament has seen some serious cases of security breaches. As such, like Big Ben, tours are only allowed for British nationals who had obtained an authorization letter from their MP’s.

 

INTERMISSION

We’ll take another break here because the last part of Day 2 is another long article as it covers The Imperial War Museum London, a River Thames ferry ride and the Tower Bridge.

Please click here for the Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia London Adventure Day 1 and here for Day 2 (Part 1).

  • Day 2 of the Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia London Adventure trip opened up a free day for this writer.

  • He decided to visit the famous tourist sites since it was his first ever visit to the city.

  • The places included Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben among others.

Dato’ Malique and the Tan family had to attend the Triumph Global Dealer Conference on Day 2 (23rdOctober 2018) of the TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES MALAYSIA LONDON ADVENTURE trip. That meant a full day of excursions for me.

I sat up in my bed 4am and couldn’t go back to sleep. My temples pounded in excitement, adventure. I turned on the telly (TV). “It is going to be a blustery day but there’s plenty of sunshine. We should see 15oCelcius in the afternoon and dropping to 5oCelcius at night,” said the weatherperson.

15Celcius is like the weather up in Cameron Highland at night. I was thinking of just wearing a knit sweater and hoodie, but Dato’ Malique advised that I should put more layers on. He’s very well-versed with the city.

Asep had invited me earlier to visit the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham. It’s a 5-hour return trip by car, however. It pained me to refuse but I had to, since it was my first trip to London.

PLANS FOR THE DAY:
  1. Stroll under the canopy of yellowing leaves in Hyde Park;
  2. Witness Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace;
  3. Head to Westminster Abbey to see where Sir Isaac Newton among others is interred;
  4. Visit Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament;
  5. Turn back towards St. Paul’s Cathedral;
  6. Head back to Tower Bridge to photograph it in evening sun and with the lights on at night.

Greedy? Not according to Google Map, anyway.

Okay, let’s be on our way. Chop chop!

GETTING THERE

Travelling in London is easy as the Underground train services (colloquially called “The Tube”) wind through the entire city like a spider’s web. Or how an earthworm digs through the soil.

Photo credit: Rafique Muzaffar Razak

There’re also above-ground tains, busses, taxis, Uber, Santander bicycles besides The Tube. There’s even a River Thames ferry service. The best way of seeing the city is by these methods since you’re above ground, but the Tube is the fastest as you don’t have contend with traffic.

Google Map suggests which form of transport to take and it’s up to you to decide how quickly you want to get there, or if you’re willing to change trains or transports multiple times.

However, comfortable sneakers are a must since you’ll be doing lots of walking.

HYDE PARK

I left the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel at 7.30am and walked to the Tower Hill Underground Station for the train to Hyde Park Corner station.

30 minutes later, I entered the park from the south-eastern end and found what I had always wanted to see. Paths leading into the distance under canopies of trees with black trunks and yellow(ish) leaves.

Hyde Park in late autum – Courtesy of montcalm.co.uk

The leaves were still greenish-yellow as the autumn weather hasn’t turned really cold. We would later learn that it’s the first time in 50 years.

To cut the story short, Hyde Park was massive! How huge? Try 350 acres. For a more relatable representation, the distance between Speaker’s Corner at the northeast end to Hyde Park Corner is 1.9km! Henry VIII established the park in 1536 as a hunting ground before it was opened to the public in 1637.

Hyde Park was recently named as the world’s fourth most valuable park at £19 million.

Deciding that Speaker’s was too far, I veered onto a side path ended up at the lake called “The Serpentine.” I’ve covered walked 1.93km (1.2 miles) in Hyde Park, so far.


There was a light wisp of fog hanging over the lake when I got there. Geese, ducks, gulls, pigeons, besides many species of birds hung around.

I found a café called Surpentine Bar & Kitchen at the southern bank. Feeling pretty cold despite being wrapped in a t-shirt, knit sweater, hoodie and down jacket, I stopped for a hot latte. I went outside and took a bench to enjoy the view and cool air.

I suddenly realized I was this one crazy Asian sitting outside relishing the cold while all the Mat Sallehs were inside the heated café…

I continued my stroll through the park towards the Palace afterwards. Guided by Google Map, I was soon back at the arch where I first entered the park. Right at the moment, a mounted policewoman came through. She nodded at me and said, “Please stay where you are.” I nodded back.

Then, the first horse-mounted soldier rode up in ceremonial regalia.

Having researched about the royal troops prior to the trip, I identified him as part of the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery. They’re a ceremonial unit of the British Army, created in 1946 as an homage to horse-mounted troops by King George VI. When his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II succeeded to the throne, she decided to retain the unit and its name in his honour.

More troopers followed behind, including six-horse units towing World War I 13-pound field guns (cannons).

The unit parades in such fashion only when there are state functions such as the monarch’s birthday, royal weddings or state visits. They’d ride to an area in Green Park and fire their cannons as a ceremony. I couldn’t believe my luck that I saw them!

WELLINGTON ARCH – CONSTITUTION HILL

Crossing the road brought me to the awe-inspiring Wellington Arch. It was built in 1826, but the current dark quadriga(four-horsed chariot) was installed in 1912. King George VI planned it (and the Marble Arch) to commemorate Britain’s victories in the Napoleonic Wars.

The arch used to be the outer gateway to the road leading from Buckingham Palace called Constitution Hill. It’s therefore the grand entrance into central London.

Next was the Commonwealth Memorial Gates. They’re monuments to pay tribute to armed forces of Commonwealth countries who served Great Britain during WWI and WWII, including those in the Battle of Malaya.

The main thruway along Constitution Hill was closed. More and more security personnel started to appear. I soon spotted a large signboard which announced the time of the ceremonial firings to be performed by the King’s Troops who I ran into earlier. It turned out that the King and Queen of The Netherlands were visiting England at that very moment. I almost slapped myself a few times to believe that I was really here!

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

It got more and more crowded the nearer I got to Buckingham Palace. Thousands were waiting to witness the Changing of Guard. There was no good vantage point, so I proceeded further up The Mall and staked out a position.

Just in time too! I heard a marching band from the Palace and there they were, the Queen’s Guards marching proudly by in their iconic red tunics and black bearskin hats.

Tourists may think of them as novelties, but they’re actually operational soldiers. Besides that, it’s a myth that the guards would not respond to provocations (as some uncouth Chinese tourists found out the hard way).

It’s too bad I didn’t have more time. I had to leave as soon as the Queen’s Guards passed and had to miss the Queen’s Life Guard cavalry.

ST. JAMES’S PARK

Google Map showed the fastest route as walking down Birdcage Walk, but St. James’s Park proved too beautiful to resist on this beautiful morning. I caught a glimpse of it from the embankment outside the Palace earlier.

I’m glad I gave in to my heart. Pathways wind romantically through the park, flanking a lake. This 57-acre site was established in 1603 (415 years ago!), although not its present form.

There were birds everywhere, but the pelicans were the most notable. These’re the descendants of those presented to King Charles II by a Russian Ambassador in 1664.

I’m starting to love London. It’s as if I was breathing in history everywhere I went.

Crossing the Blue Bridge which straddles both sides of the lake afforded a great view of the Horse Guards, HMS Finance Ministry, the London Eye, The Shard to the east and Buckingham Palace to the west. A large island called “Duck Island” on the eastern bank obscured the view to Downing Street where the Prime Minister’s official residence is located.

INTERLUDE

We’ll stop here for Part 1 as the article is getting too long. Next up are Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament.

Please do check out our coverage of the Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia Visit to London (Day 1) report.

Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia Visits London – Day 1 “Game of Crowns”

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