A box o’ parts: it would be mechanical fun to find a Triumph’s engine parts filling a large cardboard box and having a smashing time with assembly. You could have Hughie Hancox’ assembly video playing in the background!
February 12, 2013
Clip-ons
Just add long and winding road ahead rushing towards you at a rapid pace: this is a sight for sore eyes in the depths of the winter Moto-hibernation. Pair of Smiths clocks with needles ready to spin clockwise; low bars ready to lean into (don’t worry the velocity created wind blast will support you!) and a throttle ready to be wrung-out.
Go on lad give ‘er some wellie!
February 11, 2013
Sunshine Coast Gals
Port Elizabeth, South Africa. More family two-wheeled shenanigans, this time my Great Aunt Lil. A happy biker chick on her BMW R60, at what looks like the early seventies. My grandfather George Lawrie’s sister-in-law.
Now then! Here is a great photo of Aunt Lil’s sister, Aunt Jean, taken a few years ago, she flew over to visit for her sister’s 90th. She had to have a go on her nephew, Gordon’s latter day Beemer, the sublime GS1200.
Slowly but surely the Moto-family-tree is being formed!
February 10, 2013
Moto-Lady 1918: Jessie Curry
Another one from the family vault. A very period image from circa 1918 of my great-great aunt Jessie. It looks like a visit to a summer chalet. She’s dressed appropriately for the English roads of the day. After a little research I find the make and model of this bike: a Royal Enfield 225L. This one with the transverse barrel tank was the ladies model with lower cross bar for their long dresses. Apparently a popular model too; it was later used by the Women’s Army.
225cc and about 9hp… Just enough power for those quiet roads of a century ago.
February 9, 2013
Never Say Never Again
Great Scot! Sir Sean played James Bond in one last outing in the early eighties… Not a Cubby Broccoli Eon Productions Bond; but an adaptation of the Fleming Thunderball novel and subsequent movie of the same name in ’65. Connery is seen zooming around on a square faired Yamaha 650, including jet launch ‘gadget’. A far cry from Fiona Volpe’s machine gunning BSA from the original! As a couple of side notes the screenplay (uncredited) for NSNA was written by Ian laFrenais and Dick Clement the writers for two great Geordie TV sitcoms: “What ever happened to the Likely Lads” & “Auf wiedersehen Pet”. Also a serious gearhead (and outstanding comedian) Rowan Atkinson, also starred in the film (his Geordie barman from Not the Nine O’Clock News is a classic! “Everest. That’s brewed by the Jormans in the Himalayas.”
February 8, 2013
Birmingham Big Arms
After the strong arm tats from a few days ago, here are some for the other Brit Iron marque: B.S.A. One a depiction of the stacked rifles logo, the other of a track racer.
A well illustrated photorealistic tattoo of a flat track beeza haring along at a good clip.
However I think graphically the Gold Star badge would make a tremendous piece of skin art. You’d better be careful, here in the ‘States, BSA also stands for the Boy Scouts of America; so you might end up with some quizzical faces looking at you…
February 7, 2013
There is a Light that Never Goes Out
Clean comic illustration of a draughting board where some inspired moto-engineer is dreaming up a bob-framed bike to house his Triumph twin engine. A navajo Zapotec rug underfoot give a nice backdrop to the overhead point-of-view; that particular angle chosen so the table lamp illumination lights the object of interest, that being the drawing itself. A technique that reminds me of Joseph Wright of Derby and his outstanding piece “A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery”;
The illustration of particular review, however, is crisply illustrated by Adam Nickel. Go look at his other motorcycle related images… nice stuff!
Here’s the Wright piece, painted in 1766 it describes, for visual explaination, the use of a lamp in place of the sun. This was novel for its time as paintings representing awe were religious in nature; here technology and science is what gives wonder to the lit faces.
February 6, 2013
Dr’s Jones take a trip
It’s my Pa’s birthday today, so to celebrate it GeordieBiker style I dug out this Papa-Son movie still. Indiana and Henry portrayed of course by Harrison Ford & Sean Connery respectively. “Do you call *this* Archaeology?”
February 5, 2013
Snowy
A clean white blanket of snow covers all; not to much to require much digging out mind, but enough to stymie all but the most ardent of riders. Warm clothing, studded tires, and a decent old hack. Not so here in Chicago… The two-wheeled crowd are all inside with their moto’s warmly ensconced ready for that first spring day. Or, having cycle-surgery being undertaken such as my ride. Here are a couple of neglected bikes seen on my local dogwalk. A long legged Suzuki 850 ready for the long haul, and a Honda VT Shadow 750. Both quite sculptural in their wintry cloak.
February 4, 2013
The Club
Here’s the local biker club for the North East, based in Newcastle it’s members are all Geordie Bikers. No doubt sports bike, touring, standards, classics: all two wheeled Moto’s and the roads of Northumbria to enjoy. I can but dream…
February 3, 2013
The Original Geordie Biker
Some recent unearthed family photos included a couple of gems with my grandparents. George and Muriel, posed with George’s work bike. He was an AA man who plied the roads of North Northumberland. He ran about on a BSA combination, very similar to the Norton he rode in North Africa during WWII. George’s Uncle Cuthbert looks on.
They lived at an old stone terraced cottage called Whitsun View in the middle of the small rural market village Wooler; that’s where I grew up; nestled in the foothills of the Cheviot. I’d love to take to the lanes on an old single between the Coquet and the Royal Tweed.
Here are a couple of images of the yellow AA motorcycle outfit as well as a shot of two ‘officers’ in full regalia on their steeds.
“To our Members we’re the Fourth emergency service”
February 2, 2013
Brothers in Arms
Proud? Certainly! Especially when your forearm is the banner for your ride of choice. Make sure the artist has a good hand and eye: a logo that is ‘off’ can look a copy. Like my new Rolax watch? Or my Somy Walkman?
February 1, 2013
Ton-Up
End of the work week: get the bike oot! Don the well worn, supple leathers, rip the iron along the North Circular, pick the other lads up and head doon the chippy after a few ton laps.
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