Connery as Bond, Aston Martin DB5, alpine road… Stylish, superlative and sinuous… In that order!
November 24, 2013
The Origin of Species
On this day in 1859 the first major publication defining evolutionary biology was introduced to the public. It was met with some derision with many theologically based opponents not likingj the idea we had evolved from some tree swinging simian. Charles Darwin was the author using scientifically acquired data from his HMS Beagle trip around the globe.
Well, we aren’t evolved from chimps… The apes, monkeys and homo sapiens are all evolved from a common mammal; way, way back in the past. The timescale is inconceivable by reply most: millions of years – that’s thousands of TIMES longer than the few thousand years of recorded history. Motorcycles? Well all current motos can hark back to the simple Daimler engine on a velocipede. Some heading along an lkkroute of cruiser fee twins, others sharply defined sports bikes. Yet more well set up for the long road or simple for city commuting. But a modern high performance Triumph Daytona isn’t ‘evolved’ from a twentieth century 2013 Harley Davidson Road King..
Oddly enough one of the newer motors in a Harley is called an Evolution… Still half a century behind modern bikes Evolution. That’s practically thousands of millennia in evolutionary terms!
Happy Evolution Day.
November 23, 2013
Double Oh Seven
Licensed to Kill: Pierce Brosnan was a great James Bond; a suave agent with a calculated gentleman’s approach to his job. Not the tough guy Daniel Craig who has taken the mantle to great effect, but a clean-cut Fleming protagonist. He was see in his second outing Tomorrow Never Dies riding a BMW R1200C with Michelle Yeoh hurling through the Ho Chu Minh City.
I prefer the Aston Martin that happens to be Bonds favorite vehicle. Here he stands with a Vanquish.
Of course with the very British marque of Triumph going from strength to strength JB should be seen on a Bonneville gadget equipped by Q’s quartermaster department.
Here’s Irishman Pierce taking a stance aboard an emerald green Thruxton. This week he was filming a new movie in Cambridge and his professorial don character totes around the college town on a Triumph: looks like its catching on…
Looking stylish Mr Bond!
November 22, 2013
JFK
Half a Century ago today two shots rang out from a building across an open space in Dallas towards the presidential motorcade. They hit their target and history’s path was realigned drastically. Jack, the King and his Queen Jackie were taking America into a new and inspired future. Adventures of a growing democratic superpower. The sky had no limit.
…but Oswald put paid to that destiny. Even though the open top Lincoln was surrounded by Secret Service and a Harley riding escort the commanding view gained from the sixth floor aerie in the Texas Book Depository opened a huge chink in that armor and the crosshairs won.
The motorcycles were typically American: Harley Davidson.
The motos were 1963 FL Duo Glide police models. (Duo Glide means it had BOTH front AND rear suspension). As we know conspiracy theories abound; but I think Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone and wanted to be a piece of history. An interesting alternate history novel could be written where Kennedy wasn’t shot, and a decades long strong America under Jack, Bobby, and later son John ran the show…
The Peter Gabriel song Family Snapshot tells of would be assassin Arthur Bremer and his attempted shooting of presidential candidate George Wallace in 1972; though its lyrics reflect events in Dallas a decade earlier.
…They’re coming ’round the corner with the bikers at the front
I’m wiping the sweat from my eyes
-It’s a matter of time
-It’s a matter of will
And the governor’s car is not far behind
He’s not the one I’ve got in mind
‘Cos there he is-the man of the hour, standing in the limousine
“I don’t really hate you
-I don’t care what you do
We were made for each other
-Me and you
I want to be somebody
-You were like that too
If you don’t get given you learn to take
And I will take you.”
Holding my breath
Release the catch
And I let the bullet fly…
November 20, 2013
Hangover Heaven
Actor Bradley Cooper likes his motos, especially British-made. Here spied astride a cherry red Thruxton.
Black fenders, and ‘oil’ tank side panels are a nice complement to the fuel tank.
Here’s another of him on another one. He must have one for each movie set! This has a Mad Max appearance, which, when combined with that helmet and boots adds to a determined biker stance.
Sorted!
November 19, 2013
The Esses
What bikes were made for: The double corner! Tip ‘er in, through the ogee, wind it on for the next apex, heave over on to the other heel, fling through the second curve and power out like a stone out of a slingshot. It’s the loop-the-loop of the motorcyclist. A brace of Triumph Thruxtons take on a winding road over a grassy moor. I love the superlative and dynamic composition of this image.
November 18, 2013
Looks like rain
Some storms passed our way over the weekend. Indeed unseasonable tornadoes touched down across parts the Midwest causing catastrophic damage for some. Here’s a vintage image of a pair of Ariel riders refueling in some English village. Better bring yer wellies!
Keep Calm and Paddle On!
November 17, 2013
Sunday evening…
Need to give ‘er a push into next week. Just put yer back into it!
November 16, 2013
It’s a Dogs Life
A few canine stories of the week: it has been discovered that the domestication of or “best friend” most likely occurred in Europe during the last Ice Age. 10-14,000 years ago or so. Not in the Middle East as previously thought. The winters and glaciers drew wolves together with man. I believe the link of man and dog has lead to the initial development of civilization. A pack animal to protect a settling community. Here’s a herding Border Collie atop his/her owners Bonnie.
The other story was a dog trekking to Everest Base camp (17,500 feet). A happy pup, named Rupee, taken as a stray off the streets and now happy as Larry to follow their owner up into the Nepal Himalaya.
November 15, 2013
Dies Veneris
Goggl’d, leather’d and astride a BSA. Here’s a lass with every intention of getting down the road with confidence. It’s great that there are a lot more riders of the fairer sex than pillions. Motorcycles are for everyone! Vendredi is Venus’s Day.
November 14, 2013
…don’t take away my Kodachrome
Nikon have launched this new digital SLR… And what a corker it looks too! Just like my old brass edged F3. But at $2800 for the body only way out of my reach…
November 13, 2013
Ewan
Vintage moto taken for a spin by our Scottish actor pal Ewan McGregor. Norton is the bike. A Jedi the rider is…
November 12, 2013
Les liens du sang
The Englishman’s Englishman Clive Owen fly’s under the radar is most mainstream films. His low key characters are played seemingly effortlessly without too much fuss. Always a worthwhile watch. His latest offering is a 70’s crime thriller set in New York NY about two brothers separated by the law: Blood Ties.
Billy Crudup is his sibling and here they ride a period Triumph Bonneville, much like mine the Oil in Frame model of that time. Owen on pillion. The jackets are class! I had a tan blazer like that for wearing down the pub… Clive’s character gets to marry Mila Kunis’….. Not bad for an acting role! Look at that three piece suit! I didn’t have one of those for popping to the local!
November 11, 2013
Eleven Eleven the eternal memory
A pair of motorcycle army couriers seek relief from the front during the horrendous hostilities of World War 1. Photo courtesy of The Imperial War Museum.
The Triumph model H single cylinder 550cc motorcycle was a true precursor to the Twentieth Century’s history of British ‘cycles. It was the first Triumph to have a single cam wheel with 2 cams instead of separate cam wheels for the inlet and exhaust valve. The entirely new cylinder casting had a larger valve head diameter and the valves were spaced further apart. Another great improvement over the 1914 style 3-speed hub is the Sturmey Archer countershaft gearbox: allowing for heavier and stronger gearing. Furthermore the primary chain drive was enclosed by an aluminium protective cover.
The Model H became a dependable and successful moto with some 30,000 supplied to the British and allied forces during the Great War.
Here’s a beautiful portrait of the engine by the esteemed motorcycle photographer Daniel Pierce.
In 1916 the war was well and truly in its bloodiest hour with the Battle of the Somme at its core. 57,000 casualties on the FIRST DAY. One can’t imagine… But one can’t forget either.
geordiebiker.com 