Bohemian Jewel Crusher?

When you ask an Aussie “what’s your bike like?”, you will likely get the response, “she’s a ball tearer mate.” This being a well-known euphemism in Australia for the bike being of exceptional quality and very fast. When Triumph bought out their tankmounted chrome plated frame on which you could attach your shopping bag, a more literal meaning for this euphemism was adopted. However the Triumph variant of a ball tearer is unable to hold a torch to that of the Bohmerland Tourster you featured in OBA 61 on page 50. Centrally situated directly in front of the family jewels, sits the open rockers and valve springs of this Bohemian, long stroke, 600cc ‘Jewel Crusher.’ To add to the experience, the long highly polished runway like leather seat would ensure correct alignment and the perfect launch pad under the lightest of braking forces. You would think this was enough, but clearly these Bohemians were tough, as aimed directly at your right inner thigh is the unrestricted throat of an AMAC carburettor, capable during backfire of belching 600cc of burning fuel air mixture just below the nether region. As you point out, the rising heat from this engine would certainly be welcomed on this winter excursion, but the rider’s seating position would no doubt be a taring experience leaving him with nothing of importance worth keeping warm. I think I’ve identified a niche market though. If you can easily fit two adults, two children and a cage of chickens on a Honda step through, you could open up a transport company with a couple of Bohmerland Toursters in Thailand. On a serious note though, I’d be proud to own and attend a rally with or without the family on one of these, but I’d be very cautious about travelling too close to anything with ABS brakes on the way home. Peter Strawbridge Barossa Valley Classic Motorcycle Club SA one of the first people in Australia to make titanium connecting rods. A gifted toolmaker by trade, he designed, then made the patterns for the front brake. Castings were from Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Factory at Fishermens Bend. In addition he machined a connecting rod for his 90mm bore 500cc Manx Norton from a titanium billet also obtained from CAC; the only source of titanium at that time. Bob also made for my TD1A Yamaha racer a drive side crank; better material that never overcame the undersized shaft design fault. An old school engineer and racer who makes our sport of motorcycle racing so great. Barry Kennaugh Via email