Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter Ride

Flathead Rob and I got the bikes out for a brief ride today. It was the first time I've had the '51 out in quite a while. Ran pretty good.


I always think it's interesting to compare my Tiger to an American bike of similar vintage (granted Rob's U is a good bit older but they hadn't changed all that much by say '48). We swapped bikes part way through so I got to compare the ride as well. Verdict? They are both worth having.

Happy Easter

I've always kind of wondered where Easter eggs came from.


Friday, March 29, 2013

1957 TriCor Catalog

I found this at British Ironworks. The only reason I'm also posting it is I know I'll want to be able to find it again some day down the road.


If this makes you decide you HAVE to have a Delta head there is one on eBay right now.  Oddly it appears it is going to sell for more than $103.


Thursday, March 28, 2013

Vanson Johnson Motors Jacket

You know I want one. The odds of capturing a unicorn in the wild probably much better.



Lift Space

I'd happily make space on my lift for either of these.


Legos

Whoa, I can build either an MX'er or a Speedway bike? There are damn few times I've complained "They didn't have toys this cool when I was a kid." Proof once again my wife has made some really cool "suggestions" to Santa/Easter Bunny/etc over the years.


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

2000th Post

Wow. 2000 posts. Perhaps I need to get out more...


1934 Henderson KJ Streamline

I had no idea a late 1940's Indian could be made to look spindly.


1952 Thunderbird Custom

Thanks to Vorhese for pointing this bike out. This is about as cool as survivor bikes get. Apparently it had been reduced to boxes of parts for 33 years until just recently. 



Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Ran When Parked

1948 Triumph T100 Tiger - Bikes like this confuse me. How can you spend $24,000 (maybe twice what they often sell for) to restore a bike and only put 22 miles on it? Sure, some guys restore bikes that are too perfect to ride but they are usually perfect down to the 1948 Whitworth air in the tires. Pretty cool all the same. I'd love to have that original saddle. Tempts me to go move my '51 into the living room. Mine has a lot less dust on it but it does look a little more ridden too. Saved all the photos for possible future reference.












Sunday, March 24, 2013

Cuban Soul

This looks cool. Why am I not at all surprised Hemingway was a Hemi man?


John Penton Story

Most the vintage motorcycle guys I know don't give the slightest crap about motocross (except for you Lurker Tom). Motocross is my roots and I'll always have a soft spot for it. I was however a little too young to follow some of what was happening from a business perspective in the late 70's. 

I just saw this Kickstarter teaser for the John Penton Story.  The teaser is old enough the movie has now been funded and is supposed to be released in early 2014. For those that don't know Penton was the European motocross brand we know today as KTM.

I'm also a Lyle Lovett fan. I had no idea he was a motorcycle guy much less a former MX'er and Penton rider.



Todd Huffman is the guy spearheading the film project. Todd is the guy responsible for the "Motocross Files" series that aired on Speed. Check it out if you haven't already.

Primp N Polish

Found through the fine folks at British Ironworks. Very nice.




Breathe


Rub-A-Dub


Friday, March 22, 2013

Thruxton Cup

Maybe it's the prevalence of ultra exotic sport bikes but this series is pretty appealing to me.

Are those Goats?!

I'm not shy about it, I've always found goats to be pretty creepy. Those funky rectangular pupils are just not right.

One of the families in my neighborhood have pygmy goats. My neighborhood is definitely not the sort of place you'd expect to find goats. The novelty of them being there has become remarkably captivating. One of them "escapes" once or twice a week and runs around which never fails to be entertaining. It quickly became a routine for me (and many who visit me) to try to spot the goats as we drive by. My seven year old decided they really needed names. He settled on Harley & Davidson (note to self, Vaughn needs to spend less time with Flathead Rob if Rob is going to be this sort of influence). Needless to say the names stuck.


 Flathead Rob noticed recently a 3rd goat appeared. I'm assuming the new goat is the product of a little goat romance between the original pair.


Since the "new" goat is smaller and infinitely more attractive it was only natural that Flathead Rob named him "Triumph." The photos do not accurately reflect tiny the little dude is. Think size of a house cat. He has at least doubled the amount of effort I make to spot them every time I drive. He is one cute little bastard.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

‘47 BSA B33 - “Howlin’ Wolf”

This bike has been everywhere this week. Pretty cool. I'm not normally a big fan of painted engines on vintage Brit bikes but this one is nice. The pin-striping makes it.


Commuting

I've been driving through real Seattle commuter traffic this week for something work related. It didn't take me long to realize... it really sucks. My freeway travel average works out to about 12 MPH. It doesn't take long to convince yourself the HOV lane would justify a motorcycle (what doesn't justify buying a motorcycle). I do know I wouldn't want to commute routinely on an old bike.


If I was gonna buy a modern bike, any guesses what it would be? Anyone surprised? Common now, it's clearly just the 2008 equivalent to my '51 Tiger.


I might not be the absolute best bike for rain. I wonder if sitting in standstill traffic on a 125 HP 160 MPH motorcycle would get old. I just suck practical motorcycling. Planning to maintain a practical commute should probably stay an objective for me.

It sure would look nice sitting next to Olivia though.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

1951 NM Plate

I don't need it any more... Not cheap but it's probably what they go for. I'm really thankful I don't have more of a license plate vice.


I think Indian Mike told me he knew the seller when this plate was listed once before, hardly a surprise really. Hi Mike, thanks for your help on the seat 'T'.

30's - 50's motorcycle magazines. Now that's a hoarding vice I could easily acquire. 

Pile When Parked

I've stumbled across this ad a couple of times now. There are some bikes with tons of potential and some really rad parts (I count 3 ARD mags...). I love the white flat tracker with the solo seat. I don't have the money to play with but maybe someone reading this does.


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Born Free 5 Builder

I remember Wink making an appearance on a couple of the more watch-able episodes of one of the Discovery Channel Jesse James shows years ago. It always seemed to me like the guy just completely transcends bullshit. This doesn't change my perception. Cool guy.


I only know one invited builder personally. He has all the same qualities in spades. I know hardly ANY guys outside the motorcycle world I can say this about.

1938 Triumph Speed Twin

I know a couple of people who are struggling through the most difficult part of vintage bike builds right now. I hope this serves as a little inspiration.

1938 Triumph Speed Twin  - beginning September 2011


Present state - March 2013

 
Damn that bike is beautiful.

I've been following Wayne Hamilton's blog for a couple of years now. It sounds like Wayne lives in the Seattle area for at least part of the year. I hope I have the opportunity to meet him some day now that I do too.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Motorcycleless Motorcycle Adventures

Flathead Rob and I spent most of Saturday running around doing all things motorcycle.

Our day started at Classic Thunder Motorcycles where "Fuzzy" Jamison helped us build and balance the crank for Flathead Rob's '48 Chief. Unfortunately we ended up hitting one of those billions of stupid snags you hit building a bike. Wait a week for some $20 part that would fit in a standard mailing envelope, another several days with a good machinist where you can tack on another $100. Two weeks later you are right back where you started. This Shovel was calling my name though.


We next Vintage Classic Motorcycles. The novelty of that place never wears off.

After that we stopped by Easystreet Custom Cycles to take a look at the Red Baron's Triumph chopper sitting out front. There was some interesting stuff there and the guys running the shop were cool.




Next we headed for the Washington History Museum's "Let's Ride! Motorcycling The Northwest."






This Yale was pretty cool. I t apparently belongs to UPS and has never been displayed publicly before




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