Friday, March 27, 2015

1955 Speed Twin - For Sale

A friend of a friend of mine is looking to sell a 1955 Speed Twin. Let me know if you want contact info.

For Sale: 1955 500cc Triumph 5T Speed Twin. When I contacted the VMCC about this bike I was told it had originally been sold to the crown for the embassy in Singapore. Clean Texas title. Had the Amal mono-block carb sleeved and a rebuilt magneto installed. Bates solo seat, no nacelle. Nice period bike. Runs sweet. $7,500. 


Thursday, March 26, 2015

Intensity

I was searching for some parts and doing a little wrenching on a PW50 this week and ran into this. This is easily the coolest motorcycle related photo I've seen all week.

Missing

Please keep a look out for this bike, from the Seattle Rockers FB Goup.

Just wanted to post it here too...please be on the lookout for a 2007 Triumph Daytona 675 stolen from Northgate last night. I've had it two weeks and sacrificed so much to get it. I would do anything to get it back. Still has Oregon plates.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Walking Dead - Daryl's New Bike

As a Walking Dead fan up till now I've gotten some enjoyment out of the motorcycle component of Daryl's story line. While I consider myself a fairly die hard Triumph guy I'm not sure a Triumph chopper would be my first choice for quick zombie escapes. I'm thinking post zombie apocalypse it's not the most reliable bike (if your life depended on it) and parts are sort hard to come by. Also, in this instance I'm not convinced "loud pipes save lives."


Daryl's Triumph has been AWOL for at least a season and I don't recall it's loss being part of the story line. In any case the current season apparently has Daryl building a replacement as part of the storyline. It should be fairly novel. The bike is not really my taste and not what I would build for the ultimate zombie dispatch vehicle but building the bike that was "cast" for this part/purpose would be so much fun. It's also interesting that to facilitate over lapping scene shoots the builder had to build two identical bikes. Apparently Norman Reedus (the actor that plays Daryl) own a bike personally that was also built buy Classified Moto.

Daryl's New Bike: The Walking Dead

 Granted it's not nearly as fashionable but my zombie dispatch motorcycle would likely look a little closer to this to start.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Law Family Photos

I posting these photos Courtesy of the Law Family. There are some really great shots here.

1) Maude & James
2) Maude, James & Friends
3) Sidecar
4) Motorcycle Friends
5) Excelsior Sidecar
6) Solo Rider
7) Motorcycle Gathering
 Both a local motorcycle historian friend from the Pacific Northwest Museum of Motorcycling and myself wondered if some of these photos might be from a Gypsy Tour.  The size of the gathering is similar to other Gypsy Tour photos I've seen from the area. All the bikes appear to have Washington state plates but I can only make out a year in one (1921). I find photo #5 particularly intriguing. Some of the riders are wearing racing sweaters and there appears to be a grandstand in the background.


The Law family (and myself) would really like to know more about the photos. Anyone know anything more about any of the people or settings?  Can any of you positively confirm make, model and year of any of the bikes?

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Ran When Parked

1939 Indian Scout Flat Tracker - No shortage of things to like about this bike.

This is a cherry 1939 Indian Scout Flat Tracker dirt oval bike. 45 C.i. motor has been rebuilt to amazing detail and runs like a dream. Harmon Girder front end and mini spool 21" front wheel. This has the original magneto on it. The bike comes with literature and history of the build and motorcycle itself. Asking 22000 OBO. Contact by phone. Serious Buyers Only!!!!!! 
 

Friday, March 13, 2015

Cliff Stering

I was saddened to learn living legend Cliff Stering passed away early this morning. In addition to being Seattle Cossacks member #38, Cliff was an extremely successful local and regional racer. Cliff was a racing peer of such notables as "Ironman" Ed Kretz, Red Farwell, Trev Deely and Gwen Meyers.

 I was truly honored to meet Mr Stering at the Cossacks annual banquet last year. Ever since that time I had really hoped to arrange a chance to sit down and chat with him at more length about his racing years but it simply never materialized. Thankfully Tom & Jack with the Pacific Northwest Museum of Motorcycling were able to catch up with Cliff on a couple of occasions to capture some of the vast motorcycle history Cliff was a pivotal part of. 

Rob and I did attend Cliff's 90th birthday party several weeks ago. We both had a really fantastic time and in retrospect I am so thankful we could attend.

Backfire Moto 2015

Ah, the first sign of Spring... Wednesday, March 18th.


Tuesday, March 10, 2015

VME News

 For those who may not have heard the Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts have a new club president, Jeff Earle. I don't know Jeff well but my impression has always been he is a real standup guy.

One criticism both myself and others have had about the VME is they can be a little clique-ish and overall as a newcomer I sometimes haven't always felt all that welcome. This is definitely not something I've ever felt about Jeff. Based on the communication Jeff has sent out so far he seems very committed to focusing on new members and particularly younger enthusiasts just getting started in the hobby. Both seem like very worthy causes to me and I applaud his efforts. The club will also be hosting meetings at a new location meeting after next. The folks at Industrial Lounge have been very accommodating but the venue is very loud and reflective acoustically.  I've always found it a challenge to hear there. The following is an email Jeff sent out to members recently. I'm pleased to hear Jeff's enthusiasm. If you haven't been involved with VME before or even just for a while give them a chance.


After a very long and thorough search, the Seattle VME meeting location is about to change. We've spent over nine months researching, and we've reached a choice of the most positive possible venue for the main Seattle chapter to be relocated to from this point forward. Details are below on what’s to happen over the next couple of months.
1. The next meeting (Apr.1) will be held at the Industry Lounge as usual. We’ll say farewell to the establishment with a gracious thanks, and mention the upcoming venue change during that meeting.
2. The announcement of venue change will be included in the May/June newsletter issue.
3. The May meeting (May 6) will be held at “Slim’s Last Chance” (5606 1st Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98108), which is still in Georgetown. A sign and one person will be at the old location that evening in order to steer people correctly to the new venue.
4. Great years will ensue for a very long time.



We're really looking forward to this, and the venue change will allow us to make the VME meetings a truly spectacular event once again. The front street area will be coned off for bike parking, and the large sidewalk is for bike parking as well; all cars in the rear. Bring a friend and spread the word! This is bound to be the biggest change the club has made in over a decade, and the result is going to be truly awesome.
The food is excellent, and the place is welcoming, large and clean. Being right next door to the Pig Iron BBQ, they do include part of that menu as well. Parking is easy and well lit, with a new flood light being installed in the rear portion for cars prior to our first meeting there. We'll also have a projection camera showing the typical Isle of Man videos as usual. Even Jody's favorite Kokanee is being brought in special for the occasion. They've asked if we want any particular food/drink specials unique to these VME nights, so list them here as a reply if you like and we'll certainly include something there.

I'm going to personally back this positive change for the future, and for any newcomer who greets me and signs up for a new registration that first evening, I'll personally pay half of their dues for the remainder of this current year (which is regularly $30/yr).

Here we go folks! At long last, the Seattle VME main chapter is turning a new leaf and stepping up in a big way. Look forward to seeing everyone there in force on May 6, 7:00pm, at Slim's Last Chance.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Supercross & the Manual

One of my favorite aspects of Supercross is how readily it continues to evolve. Take for example the scrub. Arguably James (Bubba) Stewart invented the "Bubba Scrub" about a decade ago. Today scrubbing is a part of every Supercross racer's repetiteur.


Saturday I notice something I'd never seen before. A manual in a Supercross race. If you've watched an expert/professional BMX race anytime in the last couple of decades you've have seen a manual whether you are familiar with the term or not. BMX racers do it stay as close as possible to the ground and to "slingshot" the bike forward via momentum created the rider's weight transfer. It's very similar in concept to the way might pump your legs and lean back and forth on a playground swing to get moving.


The first time I recall seeing an manual in a Supercross setting was Josh Hill manualing an entire whoop section during the opening ceremony at the Seattle Supercross last year. I remember being pretty blown a way.

I was even more blown away when I saw Eli Tomac manualing whole whoop sections mid race at Daytona. Tomac has been an absolute beast this year.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Test

Test

Tanks & Helmets 3

I spotted this through Billy at Helmutts. Looks like a cool event at a cool venue. Additional info from Neumos website follows.


Tanks and Helmets 3

Let’s not try and sugar coat this and give you some long winded, art critique diatribe about how these working class artists have been shaping your opinion of what “cool” is and how “one paint job at a time they’ve changed our entire culture”. Or perhaps why missing this opportunity to see their work will go down on your list of “$@!# i wish i had done before i died young”.

Although that is all true.

This is just a really radical art show featuring a wealth of talent from Seattle to England.


Year three has brought in some new artists as well as a new venue. There will be more bikes, more art, more booze, and hopefully more babes.

Regardless of all that it will, as usual, be one hell of a good time.


Artist Roster Includes:
Jermey Deming GERM, Jen Vertz, Josh Ramp, TJ Schneider, Travis Hess TUKI, Schoph Schopfield, David Blake, Hellmutt Billy, Quincy Quigg, Jesse Brown, Kyler Martz, Scott Fuller, Wakuda, Todd Lown, Ten Hundred, Charlie GRRL, Hubba Hubba, Hash, Goldy, Street Trash Brewing, Joe Vollan, 13 Fingers, Maynerd, Brian Papa, CASH, Dominc de Ventura, Duffy , Andrew Reimer, Brennan Coyle, Burrito Breath, Kevin Drake, Joe Nix, Solace Wonder and Charles Russ

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