Badge – makers mark or manufactures marque.
Recognition and Trademark are what give these motorcycle companies a dedicated following. Signage of the machine.
August 23, 2017
The details are not the details. They make the Design
B&W – beautiful ’38 Velocette KSS. This single cylinder 350cc is vintage platinum best. Kam (Camshaft) Super Sport these saw racing success in the Twenties. It’s the same model Charles & Ray Eames sat on in this wonderful portrait.
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…
August 20, 2017
On Reflection…
Window Shopping – I went to the Norton Owners of Chicago’s Vintage Motorcycle Show earlier today. It was held in the parking lot at MCC in Villa Park – Triumph, Ducati & KTM dealer. The blog posts next week will cover the exhibited offerings; but in the meanwhile I had a gander at the newer motorcycles neatly lined up in the showroom. This is a T120R Bonneville.. quite splendid.
August 17, 2017
Red is the Tank
Cherry Pie – a year ago today we were enjoying Michigans best cherry pies in Beulah up near the Lelanau Peninsula. Well, this fine example of a pre-unit Triumph sure is a tasty treat wrapped in pastry, a la mode.
August 16, 2017
Son of the Desert
TE Lawrence – born on this day in 1888.
“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.”
August 14, 2017
A Right Pair
’69 & ’72 – the two Bonnie’s looked good at The Lake Cafe in Antioch yesterday. For a nearly combined age of a hundred years they’re holding their own on the highways.
August 10, 2017
Lights, Camera, Action
GoPro ’63
In the olden days if you wanted to film from the riders eyepoint a cameraman holding firmly to a Boulex 16mm whilst standing on the pillion pegs.
August 8, 2017
Rad V-Eight
Surfs Up! A golden varnish accenting on a cool 1940 Ford Woodie Station Wagon. Blue sky reflecting on polished hub caps and a long board strapped to the roof. Vintage destination decals adorn the rear windows and a Native American blanket covers the rear seats. So Cal here we come! Parked at a gas station forecourt in Wilmette IL.
August 3, 2017
‘shop scene
Morrie’s Place – the busy workshop at Ed Zenders place is a hive of activity. With all four workstands taken up with motorcycles under repair, a workbench full of engines, parts, tools; and more bikes awaiting attention, there’s a healthy dose of work in this great vintage ‘shop. Overhead the old signs herald days past when more local garages kept owners rides roadworthy.
August 2, 2017
Moo
Cowmark Cafe – another stop-off on the weekend jaunt was this roadside diner. Good cooked breakfast and coffee. Adorned in the black and white Fresian cattle it was a worthy theme for dairyland Wisconsin.
July 29, 2017
Boxing Clever
Beemer Smile – perfect riding weather today. A smashing round trip of 125 miles into Wisconsin, where the smooth roads roll across hay fields and shady woodland. We stopped at the ever hospitable Ed Zenders where row upon row of classic bike lie. We spied an older BMW parked on the grass, Ed’s current daily ride; he got it from the original owner who purchased it in 1953 new at Abt, a Chicago dealer. Period photo from ’57 shows proud said owner. He said ‘take her for a spin.’ It’s a 1953 BMW R68. A 600cc solidly built teutonic speedster which when given enough throttle smoothly wound up effortlessly to a die straight 70. A truly nice gesture on Eds part that put a grin on my face.
July 25, 2017
1/125th f1.8
Nikon – today marks a century of fine optics and photographic equipment from the iconic Japanese camera manufacturer. I’ve had several makes of SLR camera: Pentax, Minolta, Canon; but the one I’ve stuck with for twenty odd years is Nikon. From all manual FM, to the bombproof F3 (still my favorite!) I now have a digital SLR which allows me to snap away and capture multiple ‘rolls-worth’ of exposures on a trip. Our recent road trip east saw 1,500 operations of the shutter button. I’m standing outside the Frick museum in Pittsburgh at the Irving Penn exhibit (who incidentally was born in 1917 too).
July 21, 2017
Biker Lass
Leopard Print Saddle – the winklepicker shod bloke thumbing his drainpipe jeans and holding his tab like the cool surly chap he is is no match for the lass. An enigmatic smile ready for a spin along the North Circular.
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