Published June 23, 2005 in issue 0425 of the Hook

"It was my dad's," says 36-year-old Matthew Farrell, a bow-tie-wearing writer and boulevardier who spends his days as a desktop publisher at Lexis-Nexis. Another appeal of the bike: "Steve McQueen, Marlon Brando, Lee Marvin, and Ann-Margret all rode Triumphs," says Farrell. "Jay Leno rides a Harley. Who do you want to be like?"

Though Farrell points out that the British motorcycles are "quirky and hardly ever run," they have a wide, almost cultish, following. Even so, it may not be a big help in the dating department.

"It's less a babe magnet than a kindly middle-aged man magnet," Farrell says. "Every time I go out, some guy walks up and says, 'I had one of those in the '60s or '70s.'"

What drives you? Call 295-8700 ext. 239, then pull up in front of Hook headquarters at 100 Second St. NW and tell us why you love your ride.

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