I learned to ride on a Chinese motorcycle like this HaoJiang 125cc. A simple motor to zip about South London on for a week during a rainy November in 1996. Here’s how a Chinese family use one of these rides: crammed aboard, wrapped for the weather and raring to go.
What better way to recognize the true end of the old year and beginning of the new one than a jaunt to the grandest of Ancient Monuments: Stonehenge. Sitting proudly on the Wiltshire plain as it has done for over five millennia it truly is a connection to our prehistory and its mystic ways.
Lately (well the last hundred years or so) it becomes a gathering spot for neo-druidism. Here’s a photo from the seventies with the winter sun peeking through a pair of standing stones. I found this photo of some travelers stopping off at the site in the mid sixties. A Triumph steed sits with baggage for a decent looking roadtrip.This was when everyone could stroll across the lawns to it. A Morris Mini sits parked nearby.
I like to see a city promoting two-wheeled traffic; especially when it comes to parking your vehicle safely ( and in numbers) . San Francisco had dedicated spots for the active day-to-day riders that get about town in the most effective way. Even the famous steep streets don’t pose a problem, just align as necessary, roll your back tire to the curb and drop the side stand.
Watch out for the polished cable car and tram tracks though!
Walking around Little Tokyo in LA I spied this well sorted Kawasaki W650. An oft overlooked twin it is a perfect alternative to the modern Bonneville with plenty of references to an old British Twin. As I was ogling its details the aptly bearded owner strolls up with his gal. Donning sparky retro helmets they hop aboard and zoom off; to probably Santa Monica Boulevard.
At Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale CA there is a museum atop its central hill. Surrounded by mortuary and gardens of remembrance it seems a peculiar location for a motorcycle show. But a great small display of about a dozen vintage motorcycles and artwork was a perfect destination on one of our days around Los Angeles. The flame orange Flying Merkel was one such noted bike.
This gentlemanly Grey ‘teen Harley Davidson in immaculate condition was illuminated like a fine sculpture. Elsewhere another beautiful HD sat bejeweled under some fine moto-art.
The sun shone through a magnificent display of stained glass upon a broadly fair’d Gilera. Red and blue for speed.
Tank art also highlighted the historical names of Indian.
As well as the custom line work in glistening paint of the sixties bike scene: tangerine dream indeed.
One of my favorites was an unassuming Guzzi with very special markings. von Dutch pinstriping with aged patina and an etched dragon curling around the ‘bacon-slicer’ flywheel.
Better’n any gallery!
The picturesque road that heads north through Marin County leads you to a quiet and rugged headland. 20 miles of a narrow twisting road, across cattle grazing farmland gives Oceanside views along vast beaches and distant coastline.
We had perfect weather as the Bonnie swooped us along to the edge of the earth. Hawks spied grassland for prey from telegraph poles, deer hopped across maritime heath, and the below of unseen seals echoed up the seaworn cliffs.
It was just like Scotland… But without the rain… Or the midges…
The moto that took us along the coast road was the modern Hinckley Triumph iteration of the Bonneville. It amply took us two-up along the way with easy balance, control of power and stopping. A mid-height screen broke the wind blast somewhat but with the higher bars and my tall pose gave me a direct buffeting in the face. The rental company had crash bars up front and a tail rack in rear ad well as a pair of handy panniers for our overnight stowage.
This was a carbureted engine having a smooth running engine which was a stark contrast to my 4 decade older Bonnie… A sweet ride indeed!
Flying back from a tremendous vacation to the West Coast. Down the Pacific from San Francisco to Los Angeles. A couple of days up north enjoying the winding roads of Route 1 as well as the delights of a modern Triumph.
Bags packed, plane tickets ready… We’re off to California for a week. A road trip from San Francisco along route 1 to Los Angeles. …
(Image from Vintagent of typical Pacific views – that ’73 Triumph TR5T a perfect moto for such a locale. We’ll have a new Bonnie for a couple of days )
Walking the dog near work today; happened upon this moto made for the dedicated two-wheeled traveler. Its the Big Tiger – a Bengal amongst bikes, plenty of roar, and claws too match. My size too. XXL Perfick! All 1200 cc’s of her.
Engine:
1,215 cc (74.1 cu in) liquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC, straight three 85.0 mm × 71.4 mm (3.35 in × 2.81 in) 6-speed gearbox, shaft drive
Brakes:
Front: Dual 305 mm discs and Nissin 4-piston callipers
Rear: Single 282 mm disc and 2-piston caliper
Switchable ABS
Wheels:
Front: 110/80R19
Rear: 150/70R17
Fuel capacity 20 L (4.4 imp gal; 5.3 US gal)
Oil capacity 4 L (4.2 US qt)
Foot specifications in any book.
Here’s my current dashboard: the VW GTI (Gertie) along with plastic ‘gator Louie. The highway is the lush interstate through Wisconsin. Music on this particular trip was Elliott Smith;
Throwback Thursday: back in ’97 hitting the road for my return journey from Northumberland to London. My nifty Kawasaki GPZ500R. Loved that bike! Ideal for City zipping as well as weekend spins further afield.
The salt air, bobbing cobles, oily quaysides and the promise of a fresh fish and chip dinner… On top of that all undertaken aboard a Triumph motorcycle. Halcyon Days!
Taking a nifty small bike to the gravelly mountain trails looks like huge fun. This Sammy Miller Cub special owned by ‘Julie from Leicestershire’ is seen doing just that in the Pyrenees.
Backroads through woods and up alpine valleys is an ideal venue for the 200cc single. The peaks reflecting off the aluminum gas tank adds a touch if visual drama too.
I ordered my trial ‘knobblies’ today. I feel that if I have the wheels built up it’ll give a good impetus for the rest of the project…
…probably not get to the Pyrenees but hopefully some local hill sometime!
” A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.”
John Steinbeck (born 112 years ago today)
Steinbeck wrote of the ‘open road’ and the journey of life people made along its way. His muse was America and a colorful time in her history during the Depression; the roads were dusty, the workers dustier but the pulse keen. In his latter years he took to the highways and byways to see the state of the Union; with a trusty poodle companion named Charley by his side, and a pickup camper as his wheels and abide both.
Rocinante he named his conveyance, after the man from la Mancha’s steed, and a Quixotic journey was made in 1960 to see with his own eyes how the country was faring.
A cozy spot to journey from, free of fuss and possession. A mobile hermits cabin to journey unencumbered. It has the air of a motorcycle traveler who needs to be lightfooted ready to follow the unknown road ahead. I could see a younger Steinbeck taking a motorcycle combination on such a journey with pup passenger in the chair rambling along the old Routes from dusty town to dusty town on an Indian or Harley.
The venture could easily be adapted into a modern exploration of the country, keeping to smaller local routes, allowing time to absorb the immediate realm.
A bit too sedate… Though nice for an outing to the vintage rally… Parasol, flat-cap and plus-fours speed!
Here we go! Rocinante II
“Pack our bags Honey! We’re off exploring!”
geordiebiker.com 