Of plates and pegs

The Triumph’s moT inspection revealed that the handpainted numberplate letters were a quarterinch too small. So I called Number Plates 4 U, where Malcolm explained the legal requirements for my 1963 motorcycle and duly supplied a set of three pressed aluminium plates, the front mudguard needing two because they are pressed from the rear and mounted longitudinally.

It was a crisp winter’s day when I fitted them, replacing at the same time the rear footrest rubbers that my fellow Octane classic biker, Sarah Bradley, had said were incorrect and simple to change. She recommended Ace Classics in South London for all my 1960s Triumph parts and, indeed, Kevin promptly posted a set to me.

While fitting the numberplates, I was careful to keep the rear square. Replacing two into one set of brackets on the front mudguard was a bit tricky, so I resorted to ‘No More Nails’ adhesive to bond the two plates together along the top edge.

Basking in a successful job done, I removed the footrests and cut the old grips off with a Stanley knife. Offering up the genuine replacements made me realise that the restorer of my bike had made his own large-section pegs. I decided to take a hacksaw to the well-made steel box section but, by the time I had made them small enough for the replacements to fit, I had weakened the pegs and a test fit revealed that they bent like a banana when I mounted the pillion.

So I set off again on my Vespa around the South Circular Road to Ace Classics for a set of correct pegs, which (thank goodness!) they had in stock. The TR6 looks great, sporting classic black aluminium plates and Triumph-embossed moulded footrests. Job done.