If Elvis Is Still Alive, He Wants His Triumph Motorcycles Back

• Elvis Presley and motorcycles are somewhat synonymous, but the mental picture for many Americans would be the King and his accompanying Harleys.

• But the rock star/movie star had affinities for a motorcycle of the British variety as well, purchasing a fleet of Triumph bikes for himself and his entourage in 1965.

• Since then, these bikes have gone missing and Triumph is asking for help in finding the bikes for historical preservation and iconographic reasons.

This is the kind of story that Lester Bangs would probably laugh right off the back pages of Creem Magazine. Sure, he was only 17 years old in 1965, but there is little doubt in my mind that the cynic wouldn't find Elvis Presley, the so-called King of Rock 'n Roll, buying a fleet of Triumph motorcycles very cool.

Nearly 60 years later, however, the story of Elvis purchasing nine Triumphs is more of an unsolved mystery than an example of rockstar opulence. Of course, the Tupelo, Mississippi-born artist was a motorcycle enthusiast and famously loved his Harley-Davidsons, but it was through friendship that he was introduced to the Hinckley-built Triumphs.

Jerry Schilling, member of the newspaper-dubbed Presley entourage known as the Memphis Mafia and former Beach Boys manager, purchased a Triumph T120 650 Bonneville in 1965, bringing it by Elvis' house in Bel Air, Los Angeles, shortly after delivery. When the King asked to go for a ride, Schilling naturally obliged and Elvis was hooked.

So taken by the rumbly, torque-filled British twin that he called up the dealership in Santa Monica, then called Bill Robertson and Sons and ordered nine Triumphs for delivery that night. That's a steep ask on a few hours' notice, but the dealer managed to deliver seven units that night, made up of a mixture of 650 TR6s and twin-carbureted 650 T120s.

Two more bikes arrived in the following days, and the Memphis Mafia formed a private riding club of sorts, rolling up the Pacific Coast Highway on Sundays. For context, the members of this entourage were Marty Lacker, Red West, Billy Smith, Richard Davis, Joe Esposito, Jerry Shilling, and Mike Keeton. There's a whole story to who these people are, too.

The Triumph Bonneville is well known at this point as the bike of choice for stereotypical, cafe-racing-isn't-dead-or-dumb, metropolitan riders. But the Bonneville has earned its enduring legacy as a fantastic compromise of characterful chassis tuning, emotional power delivery, and comfort.