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 21, 2017
Red ‘n’ Green
On Show – there was some superb vintage cycles on show yesterday; here’s a small selection: a forest green Triumph TRW. The military 500cc side-valve developed for multi-use tasks: courier, sidecar, MP. A smart item that’ll keep service like a Sam Browne belt holding a holstered Webley revolver.
Orion’s Belt – This ’37 Ariel Red Hunter was parked up with a polished engine, gauge cluster, and high pipes. Tomato red tank accent and gold pin-stripe adds a splash of color. These were the sports bikes in the pre-war period.
The Green Enduro – New knobbly off road tires behoove this ’68 Sachs powered Penton 125 Six-Days KTM built ‘crosser. Would be a good woods bike to hare through the forests of Michigan; which it looks like this one already does!
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 19, 2017
Sit on it!
Heeey! When you want to play it cool nobody does it better than The Fonz (Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli) played by Henry Winkler. His bobbed Triumph TR5 became as iconic as his hair-do and thumbs.
August 18, 2017
The Sun is shining in the Sky
Grape – all smiles for this ’58 Twenty One owner/rider. The blue sky mirrors the sky blue bodywork. Bathtub rear skirt, valanced front fender, and nacelle headlight. In this condition they are as rare as hens teeth. Little 350cc engine still had heart.
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 15, 2017
HB Pencil
Grid – a quick doodle of the Triumph twin engine. I was waiting for the fish to cook, so took the 10 minutes to do this scrappy sketch on graph paper.
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 13, 2017
John Pemberton’s Beverage
It’s the Real Thing! Not quite a Hilltop of anticipated world peace, or a Pacific sunrise revelation by Don Draper, but smashing weather conditions for a cracking ride deserved an ice cold Coke. Proper stuff with real sugar, glass bottle, straw… Perfect!
August 12, 2017
You’re nicked!
The White Saint – in the fifties and sixties the British police utilized a TR6 Triumph for speedy road duty. Standard road bike with wider ratio gearbox, single seat, radio, leg protectors and the ubiquitous blues and twos.
August 11, 2017
Woosh
Summer souls – the forecast is anticipated to be perfect this weekend. I’m sure a venture out on the Bonnie will be in the works. This lass needs her legs and arms covered up; as well as a lid on her head.
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.
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