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.
April 25, 2017
Two-Wheeled Philosophy
February 2, 2017
Watch that first step. It’s a doozie.
Punxsutawney Phil – being the 2nd of February today isn’t just when the Wood Chuck eats us know if winter will stretch out for another six weeks but is now also known as a repetitive day. After Mr Bill Murray’s comedy movie from 1993, where a selfish TV reporter finds himself in a time loop on 2nd Feb and only through self learning of selflessness he escapes the cycle.
The photo is Bill on a Honda XL175 dirt bike as a camp counselor in the film Meatballs.
November 10, 2016
Suzanne – RIP Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)
Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night forever
And you know that she’s half-crazy but that’s why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her that you have no love to give her
Then he gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer that you’ve always been her lover
And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For you’ve touched her perfect body with your mind
And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him
He said all men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them
But he himself was broken, long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human, he sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him, and you want to travel blind
And you think you maybe you’ll trust him
For he’s touched your perfect body with her mind
Now, Suzanne takes your hand and she leads you to the river
She’s wearing rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey on our lady of the harbor
And she shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love and they wil lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds her mirror
And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind
And you know that you can trust her
For she’s touched your perfect body with her mind
September 5, 2016
Crazy little thing called Love
Freddie Mercury- today he would have been seventy, impossible to fathom; forever seen as that exuberant performer who stole the worlds attention at Wembley in ’85 for LiveAid. I remember when this video would come on Top of the Pops and the big motorcycle playing a pivotal role in his leathered persona was impressive to an eight year old.
I gotta be cool, relax, get hip
And get on my track’s
Take a back seat, hitch-hike
And take a long ride on my motorbike
Until I’m ready (Ready Freddie)
Crazy little thing called love
May 26, 2016
Remember
One of the reminder decals from an early Honda Goldwing sparkling in the Midwestern sun last weekend. Top of the list? “Preserve Nature” in three languages… Think Global.
March 4, 2016
My other car is a Tractor
The Great Jim Clark would have been 80 today. Borders farmer from Chirnside he went on to become one of the most likable and naturally talented driver behind the wheel of any car. Sadly we lost him in ’68 at the Hockenheimring track in Germany.
Just look at those dapper driving brogues.
February 5, 2016
Chanteuse
The epitome of frenchness in looks and sound is the sixties singer Françoise Hardy. She can wear a badged leather jacket like its a runway item or Brighton pier garb.
Perfect riding shot of M. Hardy and fellow musician George Moustaki zoom through the forests of Fontainebleau.
This classic shot of her looking back from the superbike saddle of the Honda CB750 has been copied numerous times- but hers is the best.
January 25, 2016
Sergeant Pepper
For the benefit of Mr Bike
A show held in a fortnight in Scotland’s Lanark.
The Triumph crowd will all be there , Norton owners, BSA’s what a lark.
A few Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha will compete with Hondas for the fair oh what a jumble.
In this way Mr B will challenge the world.
Call Agnes’s on the telephone
To assure you sellers have a home to sell your bike.
And of course this is year twenty four
for jumbles of the two wheeled sort for parts you’ll like.
Opposite the racecourse on the seventy three Mr B flies through heated hall and restaurant.
And at Lawries and Symington mart this gathering is held.
The gathering is on the floor
Through the agricultural center doors way out back
Bob McIntrye race will demonstrate,
That old bikes can circulate around a track.
Organized by the SCRMC limited
A splendid time is guaranteed in June
But Sunday the Seventh haggis and chips are topping the bill.
(Acknowledgements to Lennon/McCartney)
August 17, 2015
Vintage ain’t just for European bikes
Kawasaki’s King KZ900: this example was polished to the highest mirror-like sheen by its owner as I was taking this photo. Power master of the seventies.
This Yamaha RD350 was a different approach to speed. Two stroke with Yamahas Power Valve System, basically racing developed fuel injection for the narrow power banded strokers allowing road racers to scream the streets like GP champs on the track.
Suzuki, on the other hand delved into alternative engine technology in their RE5. A Wankel rotary powerplant, though offering smooth power delivery requires careful cooling and hence complicated plumbing. Nortons rotaries were much more sucessful with Suzukis machine only being produced for a couple of years.
Talking of smooth; here’s Honda’s Mr Smooth. Offered in the six cylinder behemoth CBX. The superbike that connected the seventies development of the air cooled muscles like the CB750 through the Kawasakis and other 750 and 900’s to the eighties water cooled Ninjas and GSX-R’s. A hefty brute but solid power house nonetheless. A nice example.
December 8, 2014
Imagine…
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.”
October 2, 2014
The Exotic Gentleman’s Ride
European vintage esoterica, and a Honda Dream. As well a a healthy dose of Triumphs (oddly no Norton’s) these interesting models were risen (not hidden) at the weekends event. The Paul Smart Ducati, though a modern classic, is sugar to the eyes; a sunshine toned Gilera like a wind-up toy; the Teutonic cream framed Beemer; and the nicest peoples favorite in tomato red round off these world beating motos.
December 8, 2013
Mr Mojo Risin’
” There are things known
and there are things unknown
and in between are the doors.”
Jim Morrison 1943-1971
The Lizard King would have been 70 today; His poetical lyrics from the late sixties gave voice to a generation of disillusioned youth.
However a downward spiral of booze and drugs ended in a small apartment down by the Seine.
He did own a motorcycle though: a CL77 305cc Honda Scrambler.
It was appropriately painted amphibian green with Californian pin striping like some Con Dutch special.
The Scrambler model really is a nice looking moto still today. The high pipes give it an urban adventurer appearance.
August 28, 2013
I have a Dream
Today marks half a century since Dr Martin Luther King Jr. gave his inspiring speech on the pursuit of happiness to a quarter of a million strong crowd gathered in DC from all corners of the ‘States.
Well… At that time there was another Dream hitting the roads of the Nation: Hondas 305cc twin that gave a new level of reliable easy and fun transport. Not quite red, white and blue… But near enough!
As a side note a Dream was the moto Robert M. Pirsig rode, subsequently enabling his classic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance to be written. I think we’ll cover those philosophical meandering about the pursuit of quality another time.
July 26, 2013
Half Liter Solo
Here’s what Triumph should be working on next: an entry level moto for the masses. A modular engine that can be used in a commuter, roadster, cafe, trailie, racer and light tourer. It’s a type that has been around forever and in recent guise was developed by the ‘too smart for his own good’ Erik Buell with the beginner Blast.
Honda has a tasty thumper in the GB ‘Tourist Trophy’
Kawasaki’s KX is sublime in green…
And of course there is the highly desirable BSA Goldie… Just look at it! Perfection on two wheels…
So Triumph! We dare you! There’s even an old single from the ex wartime parts bin….
Thump away!
June 19, 2013
San Honda
Threesome japanesewise today:let’s start with the Black Bomber, a four fifty twin from the sixties that gave the British Iron a run for their money… Before the CB750 came along then it was ” Game Over”. Good styling marked by the monochromatic ebony, silver, gray scheme.
Add a fairing and classic Honda racing colors, silver, red and yellow, then we have a speed contender. Road going speed jinx here we come!
This really is choice…
…….. Finally a diminutive piece of fun: the Monkey Bike. Shrek on the wee chair give giggles. The minimoto itself has several aftermarket upgrades to improve performance and raise fun levels.
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