October 22, 2015
Whilst walking the dog around the block near the office I spied this little jewel of a bike. The red tank and frame echoing the surrounding fall color as maple, elm and ash turn their foliage to signal oncoming winter.
A twin 350 MV Agusta from the early seventies it was in tip-top condition complete with factory decals
It’s a slender thing; like a spaghetti drizzled in bolognese sauce.
Two tiny carbs feed the cylinders with nice finning and smooth covers.
Long race seat and its rearward bum stop hint that a streamlined crouched stance is needed for speed work.
Elegant triple tree, instrument cluster and clip-ons similarly denote a Moto built for higher velocities. The tank top decal denoted world championship wins. Wins by one man: Giacomo Agostini. Whose signature that is below it. Me, I’d put John Surtees John Hancock on the tank.
Hopefully I can meet the owner and hear it start up!
Posted in 70's, cafe racer, Design |
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October 21, 2015
Motorcycle ambulances, like the one pictured, are saving lives in remote villages that are not accessible by cars or trucks. As well as Riders for Health who do a great job of putting medical staff out to remote areas on lightweight dirt bikes, Unicef have a rugged combination ambulance to haul patients to and fro.
Posted in Sidecar, Superhero |
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October 20, 2015
The great Gary Nixon taking a smoke break between races in June ’68. Big tanked Triumph with a big fat number one on the sharp end. It’s a 500cc being tuned by Clifford Guild. Track is Loudon NH
Wonderfully evocative photos by Kurt Fischer.
Posted in 70's, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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October 19, 2015
The start of the week is usually the low point: it’s an awfully long time ’til the next weekend and at least one of the other days will surely throw a wrench into the works. Ogri the tough rocker from Bike magazine in blighty has a simple philosophy on life: “as long as there’s beer in the tap and no one has bicker the bike”
The creation of Paul Sample this leather clad bike has been around since ’72 drawn in a Robert Crumb-like inkmanship. Always little details to discover on a second or third reading.
Posted in 70's, cafe racer, Clothing, Graphics, Motorcycle Art, Photography |
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October 18, 2015
Typography Art: a clean print of a Royal Enfield with the early marketing ploy and play on word from an earlier weapons manufacture. By Susanne Hoppe
Posted in Enfield, Graphics, Motorcycle Art |
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October 17, 2015
Another wartime doll offering Lady Luck to this Indian motorcycle rider. Olive drab with perfect decades old patina for a nostalgic ride.
Posted in 40's, Gals, Indian, Military |
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October 16, 2015
As did heavy bombers wore nose art during WWII so too does this Bonnevilles owner has done with a polka-dotted bikini-clad brunette.
Cherry-pie…. Now I’m hungry!
Posted in Gals, Graphics, Triumph Bonneville |
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October 15, 2015
Early sixties New Jersey scene with a pair of greasers and their aped, bobbed, whitewall tired bikes. The BSA on the left looks like an A10 Rocket Goldstar. Both it and the Norton Atlas appear brand new too. Halcyon days just before the British Invasion lead by John, Paul, George & Ringo.
Posted in 60's, BSA, Norton, Photography |
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October 14, 2015
Idly flipping through an architectural journal today my eye made a double-take on a French furniture ad (RocheBobois). A wall sized photo canvas with the delightful lines of an AJS engine provided a perfect backdrop to their modern dining furniture. What beauty to behold.
When viewed in its entirety the 7R is a gallery unto itself.
Posted in 50's, Design, Motorcycle Art |
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October 13, 2015
Feline Beast: Triumphs big cat sure looks the part in striped gold. Whiskered growl in its triple powerplant and decent claws to bite a roadway. Big set of panniers, heated grips, tall saddle: ready for a jaunt through the sub-continent or a saunter amongst suburban traffic. ($2,800 currently on Craigslist)
“The Tiger goes from strength to strength!”
Posted in Triumph Motorcycle |
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October 12, 2015
Monkeynaut: a Etsy sourced linocut printer has an efficient graphic in B&W illustrating a bony feller racing through a poplar backed countryside.
Posted in Graphics, Indian, Motorcycle Art |
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October 11, 2015
Contemplating a small fairing for the front of the Bonnie… Starting to look at options.. This Emgo/Acme type is a basic headlight mounted item.
The geometry may be a little high. But I can lower the light mounting ears a bit. This 750 is acting as a handy mock-up for me.
This, below, however would be the right direction! Fixed to the main frame and classic shape.
Posted in cafe racer, Design, Engineering, Restoration, Triumph Bonneville |
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October 9, 2015
Salt Speedster Superstar: here’s the perfectly posed racing lass Gina Morill Olson with her Fez Monkey Racing’s Bonneville under a crystal blue sky atop The Flats in Utah. The teams money raising efforts included this Rosie The Rivetter inspired patch and sticker. Cool Stuff!
Posted in Gals, Graphics, Triumph Bonneville |
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October 8, 2015
1988 saw Norman Hyde bring forth his reframed twin and triple Triumphs to speed stably along the motorways of Thatchers Britain. Good tyres, good brakes, better engine balance and a whiff of fine engineering and the Harrier was born.
Good on the track too; its prowess derived from a knowledge of running the triple racers in the early sixties.
The newer Hinckley version is a fettled brute. Keep your Thruxton I’ll take one of these sir!
Posted in 80's, Engineering, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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