Triumph Motorcycles and Gibson Brands are teaming up again to support The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, an annual charity event to support Movember—an organization that describes itself as “the leading charity changing the face of men’s health.” Gibson is donating three Epiphone guitars with Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” cases painted by Triumph-riding guitar artist James Willis.James WillisThe Highest Team Triumph Global Fundraiser—an individual who is part of an office Triumph or Triumph dealership’s fundraising team—gets an Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ SG standard guitar. Everyone who has raised $250 or more will be eligible for the Gentlefolk Prize, an Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ J-200 acoustic guitar. Finally, those who have raised $59 or more for The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride have a chance to win the Spirit of ’59 Prize—an Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ 1959 Les Paul Standard.
In addition to each guitar being paired with Willis-painted cases, all three are signed by notable artists. The J-200 will bear Big Kenny’s signature, Clay Bellamy of The Road Hammers will sign the SG Standard, and The Cult’s Billy Duffy will put his name on the 1959 Les Paul Standard.Earlier this year, Triumph and Gibson collaborated on the factory-custom Triumph Bonneville T120 – 1959 Legends Custom Edition. That model featured Iced Tea Burst paint, a Jet Black guitar neck and headstock on the top of the tank, a leather seat with pick holders, a Triumph Gibson 1959 Legends badge on the alternator cover, and metallic gold “Triumph Gibson 1959 Legends” badges on the tank, side panels, and front fender.To match, Gibson created the Gibson Les Paul Standard Reissue — 1959 Legends guitar. It featured a laser-etched Triumph logo on the lower pickup cover, a metallic gold Triumph badge on the headstock, paint evoking the T120’s cooling fins on the Jet Black scratchplate, and Jet Back hand-painted pickup cover surrounds.
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This week, in the first segment Editor Don Williams talks to us about the new Kawasaki Versys 650 LT. It’s the middleweight ADV style machine that uses the same 650 parallel twin motor as the Ninja 650, so it’s an excellent performer in a user-friendly, good looking package.
In the second segment, I chat with one of my dearest industry friends—now retired Honda PR executive, Jon Seidel. Jon’s fascinating career spans some 30 years with Big Red, and gave him some great experiences with some incredible machines. I was fortunate enough to be invited on many of the press launches that he organized. His new project is documenting and saving many of the old archives from years gone by—and incidentally, if you have anything that may be of value to the project, please contact us by email at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com and we’ll pass it all on to Jon.
So on that note, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!