Bond, James Bond. Sir Roger Moore (1927-2017) . Known around the globe as Ian Fleming’s spy he played that role for 7 films. As well as the cars and ladies he was also seen occasionally on two wheels. Other dashing roles he portrayed nincluded Ivanhoe, Beau Maverick, Simon Templar, and one of the Persuaders (the other being Tony Curtis).
May 23, 2017
Let’s raise an eyebrow
May 15, 2017
Roadside Maintenance
There’s a’wys summat! When your machine is reaching half a century in age even a 100 mile jaunt can uncover a mechanical snafu. Here Dean finds that the small timing pin plug behind the cylinders decided to jump ship somewhere between Glencoe and Antioch. Upsetting pressure and spewing a fine mist of oil onto the frame he had to get a 1/2″ bolt from a Napa auto parts store to make a temporary fix.
Knowing your bike inside and out means these impromptu repairs just delay an otherwise smashing weekend ride…
May 14, 2017
Weekend Goal
Sunday Best – a glorious day to be out on two wheels. 70’s with clear blue skies and not to busy roads. A couple of lesser travelled routes for variation and a coffee stop in Antioch (we didn’t see Brother Maynard and his Holy Hand-grenade…) . I’m sportin’ my new tee from Bryan Thompson. Bike running pretty good though the return leg had a ten mile section of 15mph Sunday drivers… it’ll drive yer bonkers!
May 10, 2017
Weekend Goals
Midweek Blues – wish I was out on the road taking the Bonnie for a spin. Busy work means I need to wait until the weekend to get some wind to blow the old cobwebs out.
May 7, 2017
One for the Vine
Sunny Sunday Outing – though the air was chill, beautiful clear blue skies, blooming crabapples & redbud lining the roads, and a diner stop in Zion halfway on the ride made up for the fresh lakefed breeze.
April 15, 2017
Spring Spin
Behind the Bars – perfect April weather today. A warm breeze wafted across northern Illinois With the engine purring like a cat. Forsythia blooming sunshine yellow and redbud dappled in complementary purple. Brushed against the Wisconsin State Line along Russell Road and swung back down along the Lake.
March 29, 2017
Music Fights Entertainment
Let’s Go! A destination to get beer, burger and ink. Halfway between Dubuque and the Quad Cities it sits on the east bank of Old Man River Mississippi… 3 hours by hog from Chicago: pure Americana by the looks of it.
February 26, 2017
Azure Lake Horizon
Sunlit Shores – I took a quick spin on this draughty Sunday afternoon to fettle some running tuning. Lake Michigan had a deep turquoise horizon and steel grey water before lapping against the sandy shore.
February 25, 2017
Brr a bit parky out there…
After last weeks brush with spring-like 60’s temperatures the true nature of February claws its icy talons back into our locale. We’re experiencing close to single digit wind chills right now. An inventive Triumph chopper owner takes snow removal into his own hands with this street-sign homespun plow. No snow here right now… perhaps if a whiteout beckons I’ll finagle a shovel attachment onto the Cub…
February 18, 2017
May days in February
Climate Change – with an unseasonable warm-up over this February weekend, where the mid sixties are being reached, I’ve had to work this last week in getting the Bonnie ready for at least one days riding. I’ve changed the front sprocket from a 19 tooth to a 21 so I can squeeze a little more speed out of the engine. The work necessitated removing the clutch and making alterations to a sprocket access hole in the back of the primary case. I’ll show that work in a blog post later this week. I put in new clutch friction plates for renewed ‘bite’, and installed a new clutch basket as the current one had notches in the tang grooves.
February 17, 2017
Try Triumph
Three Twins and a Triple – let’s close the week off with this clutch of Hinckley goodies. The new cafe 900 Street Cup in bumblebee yellow striping and black engine cases certainly looked the part. A pearly tanked Speed Triple sitting like a repose cat ready to strike its prey. ‘Hard tail’ Bobber sits low and purposeful (I felt a bit cramped on it) ready to customize with a catalogue full of eye candy. Finally the sublime Thruxton in ‘Go-Faster’ red: I could look at this all day…
For some reason I didn’t take any photos of the Tigers… the 800 seems to be the most practical bike out there.
February 16, 2017
Twin
Big Opposing Twins – whether from Springfield MA, Milwaukee WI, Berlin Germany, or Mandello del Lario in Italy; these beauties all have a pair of cylinders in flat or vee form, longitudinal or transverse. But, the all make good power and each have individualistic looks, sounds, and heritage. Dang! This is all good stuff! Current motorcycle models on offer make the prospective owners spoilt for choice.
February 15, 2017
Stick & Rudder
A Good Viewpoint – there’s nowt better than being in the pilots seat of a fast motorcycle. Low bar angle, poise for streamlining, and a speedo maxing out at the double ton. The Big Green ZX14 from Kawasaki is one such beast. Surely a rocket of the ballistic type. It feels sturdy. Then there’s the cockpit of the Thruxton. Beautiful detailing and exquisite visual balance. I’ll take one of each please!
February 14, 2017
❤️
L❤️VE IS – gazing adoringly at the sublime lines of classic British motorcycle engines. They are the pulsing heart of these machines; the very cardiac cycle of an industries history. These examples were beautiful examples of their marque on display at the motorcycle show.
February 13, 2017
Bullet
Built like a Gun – or so their advertising header says. Now from the sub-continent, these classic singles look like they hark from the fifties; but with modern day build. Some polished models with pinstripe details, others in olive drab military garb. The single-minded cafe racer Continental GT certainly looked that part too. All still have their kick-starts as standard too!
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