Monkey Magic – sadly earlier today saw the passing of another Monkee; prime goofball Peter Tork died at the age of 77. Here he is in ’67 at the height of their fame grinning big on a Honda Monkey bike.
January 14, 2019
Learn to Fly
Fifty Foo Fighter – Drummer and front man Dave Grohl celebrates his fiftieth birthday today. As well as heavy garage rock he’s also an ardent biker. His compositions are perfect music for a road trip. Highway soundtrack.
Tom Rowland Photography
October 9, 2018
Instant Karma!
Imagine – John Lennon would have been 78 today. “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.“
October 7, 2018
Wailing
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.
September 28, 2018
Eyes Up!
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.
August 24, 2018
Magnifying Moto’s
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.
January 22, 2018
Gina Vanucci & the Fifth Earl of Lichfield
Lords & Ladies – I was kindly informed that yesterday’s post were society photographer Patrick Anson, also known as Lord Lichfield, and Swedish actress, and ex-wife of Peter Sellers, Britt Ekland. Being in the thick of the swinging sixties he was always surrounded by beautiful women. A better view of that Honda.
January 21, 2018
Mr & Mrs
Stylin’! – Motorcycle clothing can ensure unqualified coolness; but make sure you have the hair-do, heels and neckscarf to compliment the look otherwise forget it! Cafe’d moto is a late Sixties Honda CB450 Black Bomber. Sunglasses are aviator. Silk cravat? Pure Carnaby Street…
August 24, 2017
Named
Badge – makers mark or manufactures marque.
Recognition and Trademark are what give these motorcycle companies a dedicated following. Signage of the machine.
August 22, 2017
Mr Universe
Pumping Iron – each of these were forces to be reckoned with in their day. From the ’71 BSA Rocket Three which briefly had its moment in the spotlight before Honda’s CB750 turned up on the scene. Honda’s 450 Black Bomber heralded reliability in mechanics and electrics. The scaremongering H2 Mach IV 750 from Kawasaki to quote a contemporary Moto journalist “scarily fast, good-looking, no holds barred motorcycle”.
Finally the grandsire of all modern superbikes Kawasaki’s Kz900. The example here was sublime in finish, a looked like its engine was straining at the seams for a good thrash along the highway. It was also for sale…
June 27, 2017
Petrol Part
Personalization- gas tank art. From the hand painting of a smiling cat to the sign lettering on a polished cell. The beautifully air brushed custom tank to a decal applied on a dirt bike. The tank is typically the canvas for the owners mark. #Motoblot
May 30, 2017
Here’s one I made earlier
Get Down Shep! – Part of my youth was a biweekly watching of the children’s BBC show Blue Peter. Where the presenters got up to all sorts of studio or outdoors hi-jinx. One of the most popular was John Noakes who was on the show for a record 12 years. He Was never without his sidekick , border collie, Shep. Sadly John passed away yesterday at the age of 83. Here’s screenshots of his 1980’s show Go with Noakes where he tried his hand at trials riding across the grassy moors of the Isle of Man.
May 22, 2017
GP Champ
The Kentucky Kid – Sad news in the motorcycling world today: racing champ Nicky Hayden died of his juried sustained from a cycling accident in Italy. He had currently been part of the World Superbike Championship. As an up and coming young racer he won the Moto GP in 2006 using his eminent talent as a teammate to Valentino Rossi with Repsol Honda. RIP
April 30, 2017
Half a Century ago
Fifty Years – like some scene from MadMen here’s the brochure from a New England showroom a guy and his gal out for some fresh air. Precision, Power, Performance… the cards were on the table though. Honda’s sublime 750 was on the drawing board in Japan ready for release and two-wheeled domination in ’69.
April 25, 2017
Two-Wheeled Philosophy
Zen & Now – one of most seminal books to some out of the seventies Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974) by Robert M. Pirsig became the “On The Road”of its Day. Written as an odyssey of the mind and the search for inner balance it uses a real journey with his son on a Honda CB77 Superhawk 305 from Minnesota to San Francisco. Pirsig, who died yesterday aged 88, sought the metaphysics of Quality, and questioned “what is good?” The motorcycle is the ideal forum for this exploration; be it a vintage cycle or newer moto.
