I like to see a city promoting two-wheeled traffic; especially when it comes to parking your vehicle safely ( and in numbers) . San Francisco had dedicated spots for the active day-to-day riders that get about town in the most effective way. Even the famous steep streets don’t pose a problem, just align as necessary, roll your back tire to the curb and drop the side stand.
Watch out for the polished cable car and tram tracks though!
“Reminds me of that fella back home who fell off a ten-story building. As he was falling, people on each floor kept hearing him say, “So far, so good.” Tsk, so far, so good.” Vin (The Magnificent Seven)
Kirk Douglas is 98 today. One of the greats of movies. He had heart in his roles; whether a slave gladiator Spartacus, a proud Viking or, as seen here, a war weary Colonel Dax with a terrible commanding order to execute in Kubrick’s Paths of Glory.
A brief opening scene has his appearance in a sidecar riding to the rear to be given orders to go over the top in an apparently no-win attack. It is one (of many) of Kubrick’s masterpiece’s.
December 8th is Jim Morrison’s birthday, but more poignantly was the date John Lennon was shot in New York City 34 years ago.
He was of course a great bicycle rider. From Liverpool to NYC…
“As a kid, I had a dream – I wanted to own my own bicycle. When I got the bicycle, I must have been the happiest boy in Liverpool, maybe in the world. I lived for that bike. Most kids left their bikes in the backyard at night. Not me. I insisted on taking mine indoors and the first night I even kept it in my bed.”
One of the motorcycles at the Vroom show was a Steve McQueen owned Indian from 1939.
Beautiful classic American iron in a sky blue with black trim. Story goes Steve had it painted to match his favorite cigarettes:
Viceroy. He promoted them.in his early TV career when playing Josh Randall on Wanted: Dead or Alive.
Walking around Little Tokyo in LA I spied this well sorted Kawasaki W650. An oft overlooked twin it is a perfect alternative to the modern Bonneville with plenty of references to an old British Twin. As I was ogling its details the aptly bearded owner strolls up with his gal. Donning sparky retro helmets they hop aboard and zoom off; to probably Santa Monica Boulevard.
At Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale CA there is a museum atop its central hill. Surrounded by mortuary and gardens of remembrance it seems a peculiar location for a motorcycle show. But a great small display of about a dozen vintage motorcycles and artwork was a perfect destination on one of our days around Los Angeles. The flame orange Flying Merkel was one such noted bike.
This gentlemanly Grey ‘teen Harley Davidson in immaculate condition was illuminated like a fine sculpture. Elsewhere another beautiful HD sat bejeweled under some fine moto-art.
The sun shone through a magnificent display of stained glass upon a broadly fair’d Gilera. Red and blue for speed.
Tank art also highlighted the historical names of Indian.
As well as the custom line work in glistening paint of the sixties bike scene: tangerine dream indeed.
One of my favorites was an unassuming Guzzi with very special markings. von Dutch pinstriping with aged patina and an etched dragon curling around the ‘bacon-slicer’ flywheel.
Better’n any gallery!
The operation I rented the motorcycle from was the respected Dubbelju. http://www.dubbelju.com
Great selection of Triumphs, Ducati’s, BMW’s amongst others. Reasonable rates and very helpful staff.
The picturesque road that heads north through Marin County leads you to a quiet and rugged headland. 20 miles of a narrow twisting road, across cattle grazing farmland gives Oceanside views along vast beaches and distant coastline.
We had perfect weather as the Bonnie swooped us along to the edge of the earth. Hawks spied grassland for prey from telegraph poles, deer hopped across maritime heath, and the below of unseen seals echoed up the seaworn cliffs.
It was just like Scotland… But without the rain… Or the midges…
When in San Francisco I HAD to go to a few select locations of one of my favorite Steve McQueen movies: Bullitt.
The iconic car chase shows off the stunt drivers craft as well as this city of inclines all too well. I enjoyed going through the streets on foot, by tram, motorcycle and car. Though none as rapidly of Frank Bullitt.
I wished I could have rented a ’68 fastback ‘stang!
“Look, you work your side of the street, and I’ll work mine.”
The moto that took us along the coast road was the modern Hinckley Triumph iteration of the Bonneville. It amply took us two-up along the way with easy balance, control of power and stopping. A mid-height screen broke the wind blast somewhat but with the higher bars and my tall pose gave me a direct buffeting in the face. The rental company had crash bars up front and a tail rack in rear ad well as a pair of handy panniers for our overnight stowage.
This was a carbureted engine having a smooth running engine which was a stark contrast to my 4 decade older Bonnie… A sweet ride indeed!
Flying back from a tremendous vacation to the West Coast. Down the Pacific from San Francisco to Los Angeles. A couple of days up north enjoying the winding roads of Route 1 as well as the delights of a modern Triumph.
Bags packed, plane tickets ready… We’re off to California for a week. A road trip from San Francisco along route 1 to Los Angeles. …
(Image from Vintagent of typical Pacific views – that ’73 Triumph TR5T a perfect moto for such a locale. We’ll have a new Bonnie for a couple of days )
Good simple action shots of a Triumph Cub and its rider tackling a dirt incline.
Baz is taking things easy in his caravan during some race event in the seventies. Flowery curtains. Smoking was cool then…
Even on his No. 7 Suzuki. He drags on his fag.
geordiebiker.com 