Triumph Motorcycles Baby 1913
Introduced in 1913 the Triumph Model LW (Lightweight), or ‘baby’ as it was to become affectionately known, was a 225-250 capacity lightweight two-stroke machine made to Triumph’s exacting standards.
Some say that the nickname ‘baby’ was due to it being physically by far the smallest model machine in the Triumph range. Others say it got the nickname as it never went anywhere without a rattle.
This diminutive bike was reputedly designed by a factory manager in Coventry (UK) for his daughter, who was too small to ride the larger bikes ridden by her older sister. It quickly became known as a ladies bike due to its handling size, ease of starting and riding.
NZ Classic Motorcycles is only the fourth owner of this historic treasure. Nelsonian Graeme Johnson bought this bike in 1959 when he was 18, for the princely sum of £5 (two weeks of his wages as a cabinet maker) from an apiarist in Manapouri. Legend has it that on one occasion during a ride between Riverton and Invercargill the apiarist he ran out of fuel and topped up the tank with whiskey!