Naive Art – this piece is called Rosie’s Chopper by artist Stuart Swartz. Image statement:
“Here’s another whimsical painting of “Rosie”, this time proudly posing with her Triumph chopper.
This image was painted in a neo ’70s style reminiscent of velvet art and model box illustration from that era.”
I want to ride my bicycle- So goes the Queen song from their ’78 LP Jazz. Well, about that time riding your bike was the best thing to do! I had a couple of Raleigh’s, a chopper, a racer and friends who had BMX’s and other kinds of two-wheeled fun. Top Left is the king of kid cool: The Chopper, long seat, ape bars, three speed gear changing with central stick. Wobbly to ride by who cares! Top Center: The Grifter, heavy off road looking monster, precursor to the Bicycle Moto X of a later date. It’s rear hub made a distinctive clickety sound. Top Right: The Bomber, another weighty dreadnaught of a bike. It’s lines were driven from the US stumpjumpers being ridden in the Rockies and copied by youth sticking cow horn handlebars on their roadsters. Lower Left: The Arena, a road bike for speed, with true derailleur gearing, narrow seat and drop bars. Lower Center: BMX Burner, a true BMX offering for dirt tracks where knee and elbow padded racers could swoop berms, hit whoop-de-woos, and soar across tabletops. Lower Right The Maverick: an early iteration of the Mountain Bike craze that we’re still in to this day. It’s knobbly tires were good for muddy roads, cantilever brakes to stop on a dime, 15 gears for any adventure laden trail.
Two Wheels Good!
Fall Color – a nice autumnal half century jaunt up north on the owld gal. Both Bonnie’s were riding pretty good albeit the cooler start. Trees are magnificent right now: ruby, gold, amber, scarlet, and all other fiery displays. I must say the Tiger has spoiled me for ease and comfort. Older bikes need more input to keep a smooth progress along the road. But they’re fun in their own right.
Also, the bike will be going up onto the workstand for a winter sort through. For one the rear sets are coming off… getting too cramped for comfort!
General Motors – Pontiac designer Bill Mitchell created a devilish muscle car for the ’74 Car Show circuit. The Firebird Banshee was the concept and the creative team behind the aerodynamic body accompanied it with an inspired custom 500cc Honda.
Gilmore Car Museum – Hickory Corner, Michigan. One barn at the excellent automobile museum here in south west Michigan held a good selection of two-wheeled delights. From barn- fresh Harley Flathead to a polished to the nines Vincent Black Shadow. It was a good collection covering a century of motorcycling. One of The Fonz’s Triumph TR5 was there too; as well as an immaculate ’59 T120 Bonneville and a gutsy looking Indian hill climber.
Details – motorcycle events are truly marvelous places to gaze at the intricacies of mechanical engineering found on two wheels. Polished parts; crafted components; detailed design; and triumphant technology.
Crazing – I just loved the ceramic-like surface patina to this Triumph tank. The ivory swoosh emphasizes the peardrop shape; and the badge, filler cap and bolt cover add ornamentation.
Eight Years Ago – I took the rebuilt Bonnie out for a spin along Lake Shore Drive. A happy broad grinned memory. Parked-up at the Adler Planetarium I snapped a photo with the Chicago skyline beyond. It sported Gulf colors, original wheels and brakes and upright bars and footpegs. Well, I had evolved from there. A larger British tank in Mango Tango orange; rear-sets and ace bars; alloy wheels with modern rubber tires; and a disc brake front end. Where will it go from here? Time will tell!
A Pair of Beauties – these were a couple of my favorite sightings yesterday: A ’59 Velocette MSS; and a 72-ish Ducati GT 750 Roundcase Bevel. Art for Arts sake in these engines.
Vintage Stuff – perfect weather and a super turnout for the second annual Evanston Motorcycle Classic. Over one hundred bikes on display, including my shabby owld gal, under a Blue September sky. Another couple of hundred newer machines parked-up too so plenty to like ok at. Everyone was in fine spirits for the outing and polished offerings looked superb.
Rita Nebraska – Lauren Hutton takes on a perfect pose with this track’d Bonneville. She starred with Robert Redford and Michael J Pollard in the 1970 comedic drama Little Fauss & Big Halsy flick about motorcycle racing. With her distinctive gap-tooth grin she still models into her seventies.
The Bandit – 70’s actor Burt Reynolds passed away today at the age of 82. His breakout role in ’72 was in the acclaimed John Boorman film Deliverance, pictured above. His other notable character was Bo “Bandit” Darville in Smokey & the Bandit, a goofy car chase film set across middle America involving truckers, police, bikers and a high power Pontiac Grand Am.
One Two Three- stable is full now with a single, twin and triple. Enough fun to be had all ’round!
Close-Up – finishing off the week with some choice details of several motorbikes from last weekend. From Arial, Honda, Kawasaki, BMW, to Norton and Triumph. Some original, some personalized; from badges to pinstripes; tank, fairing, frame and fender.
Big Zed – a couple of smashers at the weekend bike show. A 1975 KZ900, which was the Charles Atlas of its day, imbuing pure adrenaline inducing brute power. This one in immaculate condition with a glossy metallic ‘rootbeer’ and orange paint scheme. Also parked up was a new Z900 which takes its styling cues from the old venerable drag strip king. Retro! Retrah!
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