1955 Triumph Double Vision dual-engined drag bike

Double Vision' is one of those bikes, a twin-engined 1955 Triumph which Malinky piloted to a land speed record at Bonneville. He built the 200 kph machine in his home garage using a Lincoln Electric Precision TIG 185 welder, belt sander and a clapped-out 1950s Atlas Craftsman lathe.

"I've always admired the dual-engined Triumph drag bikes of the past," Malinky said. "So late last fall I decided to build one." Deep thinking ensued. Malinky completed the custom frame quickly, but then spent six months visualizing the drive train and the general build. After the vision snapped into focus, he set to work.

For ten weeks, the Triumph consumed his life. "It pushed my fabrication and machining abilities to the limit," he says. "I learned so much during this build.

"Many dual-engined bikes were built with very limited resources and equipment back in the day, so why couldn't I do the same?"

The raw materials were simple: a few lengths of tubing, some steel and aluminium sheet, and some scavenged swap meet crankcases.

At Bonneville Speed Week, Malinky raced Double Vision in the 1350 c.c. A-VF (special construction, pre-1955 fuel) class, lifting the record to fractionally over 128mph (just shy of 205kph). Despite being plagued by teething issues and clutch slip throughout the week, the bike Malinky built with his own bare hands carried him into the record books. Now that's what you call 'garage built'.

Lowbrow Customs specialise in the sale and manufacture of parts to suit H-D Sportster and big twins, Triumph and Yamaha XS650 customs. http://www.lowbrowcustoms.com/

Images © Jon Glover. Source: bike exif