A Cub adapted for speed work: looks like the Salt Flats with big pipe, low bars, skinny tires and lightweight clothing(!) Though not as streamlined as Rollie Free on his Vincent.
June 21, 2014
A pickup line
Would definitely like an old truck to tote my ‘cycle about in. This Chevy is a perfect one… The fifties half ton truck. Nice blue Bonnie in the bed too.
June 20, 2014
Lewis
A screen print poster sold at Motoblot: the creases of a Lewis Leathers jacket hold the classic bike names from the golden age of motorcycling. Lewis are the riders protection of choice that improve with age and mileage: especially in the temperate damp airs of Britain.
June 19, 2014
Twins All
A new Thruxton in racing red sits aside a blazing blue sixties repli-Thruxton. Eeny meeny miney mo!
The best V-Twin Harley Davidson made: from the thirties… The Knucklehead just looks the business for the original Route 66.
A motorcyclists Norton indeed: big tank, short pipes, rear sets and a belt primary drive. This one hailed from Ontario Canada. I like it!
June 18, 2014
Four Wheels Good
The Motoblot was also Autoblot for a select few rare classics that fit in with the predominantly sixties charm of the days collective. Starting with a juicy emerald green monster.
1954 Ford Lincoln Capri – stands daubed in classic rally ‘finery’; this particular one has torn along the dusty roads of Central America with helmeted pilot and navigator at the helm.
Ford Coupé rat rod: oversized and overpowered V8 lump weighs the open wheeled chassis down for a rusty patina’d low-rider. This tiger will roar with that motor opened up.
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Big engined Ford Galaxie 500 came rumbling in: all parted ways to let this great white through.
Cadillac 1959: fins that stretch for miles, parking requires two zip codes, its rocket age origins expressed in rear tail light nozzles.The trunk is the area of a small sovereign state. This thing just goes on and on and on….
June 17, 2014
The Line
One of my favorite aspects of motorcycling is looking at the pure lines of the chassis, engine, wheels, tank, seat and other components that make it go and stop.
Just look at this Parilla: its tight form creates a swallow-like appearance of swiftness. The arched rear sub frame echoed on the tanks pinstripe. The little motor resting perfectly in its cradle. Even the ebony bum-stop perch reflects the Matt black exhaust pipe. Symmetry in motion.
Honda clocks: coordinated information. Instead of two separate ‘meters a single one with optimistic speedo stretched over a vertical odometer. Beside it the tach repeats a sweep of revs alongside its neighboring needle.
Indian Head: a Chiefs front fender with starkly contrasting whitewall sides and black rim adorned with the backlit stern featured ornament.
The other Colonial iron, here a sweetly pinstriped tank surrounds the clocks firebird-like. Die gripped gear lever hints at this moto’s age. A late 30’s Knucklehead.
Modern tin: the polished alloy big racetank is always a thing to admire. Especially when it sits securely atop a stout twin engine of Triumph fame. The brown leather seat cover adds the custom touch.
June 16, 2014
The Name
Of course Triumph was represented in the majority at the show. I looked at a few examples of how the brand was marked. The traditional name badge as well as the logo is a common touch; sometimes a Union Flag harks the country of origin of these Machines. I particularly like the embroidered name on the seat. The cross stitched padding in nifty too!
June 15, 2014
A Pagan Party
Blot is a Norse word for sacred gathering; add the important coming together of vintage and new motorcycles all of which mean more than just transport to their owners. Cafe racers, classics, sports bikes and bobbed chopped iron. Motoblot.
Red framed Triton: Terrific!
Union Flagged Bonneville: Jack is Nimble then Jack is Quick!
A proper kitted Hog: Swine and Roses.
Brand Spanking New Royal Enfield Continentals: Thumper Thoroughbred in cherry red or lemon yellow.
Scooters from the Med and from the Orient: both sixties items; both looking hip.
June 14, 2014
Motoblot
Mods versus Rockers no longer; it’s called Motoblot. A dedicated closed street location on the west side with plenty of bikes and loud music. Sunny weather with a cooling breeze drifting in off the lake.
I’m as happy as a pig in $h1t… Plenty of blog entries for the coming days!
British, european, Japanese, american Moro’s all.
June 13, 2014
When the Boat comes in
Our annual big show outing this week saw a pair of theatergoers attend the second evening of Stings new musical on its pre-Broadway performance. The Last Ship is about the failing ship industry of the NorthEast in the seventies. A true geordie story reflecting the other manufacturing losses in England at the time; such as the motorcycle companies.
An aged image from early Police days has Gordon with some admirer as he sits on a Yamaha. Apparently this is a teenage Gwen Stefani who’s father was a Yamaha US exec.
Other two wheeled adventures from Mr Sumner is of course his Brighton hotel doorman Ace Face and cool guy in Quadrophenia.
“Whey aye man!”
June 12, 2014
Throwback Thursday
Me, myself & I: my first two-wheeled transport (motorized) in Chicago back in ’99. Its a ZX600 Kawasaki Ninja. Greener than a jealous frog, faster than a cheetah runnin’ downhill, and more fun than a big bag o’ LEGO…
Smaller sibling to the big bad ZX11, but enough motor for most! Loved that bike..
June 11, 2014
A Regent Prince
We’ve had him here before but as today is his 55th birthday we can celebrate with a dour pose cheered up by his beloved Bonneville.
Best know I believe for his role as George in Blackadder 3; amongst many others! He’s not just an ornery Doctor!
June 10, 2014
Jack
Wonderful image from 1950 or so. This is Jack Surtees (father of the great John) in front of his shop with splendid Vincent. Reflected in the window, a road sign with the B218 (direction New Cross) and A205 roads, suggests that this shop was somewhere around Forest Hill, in South London.
His oily overcoat shows much work on engines has been undertaken in the back workshop.
Jack was a renowned grasstrack sidecar racer here astride his Vincent combination with youngster John in the chair. 1951 great stuff!
June 9, 2014
Right proper cafe racer
This is a spare tool: muckle tank, teeny seat with close bum-stop, low bars and rear pegs. Built for low slung road going rapidity it can’t stay stopped for too long; you need to get a pace on to get the balance of streamlined stance versus tired wrists and neck. I like it! Very much!
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