Getting ready to install the newly finished tank. One decision still needs to be made: the tank badges. They currently have a light gold inner finish, this looks too similar to the orange tank itself, so I’m considering painting the inner black (or a navy blue). See comparative images.
Another superb photo of my grandad during his service for the Military Police in WWII. With the “La Figaro” bar or cafe in the background there is a good chance this is Alexandria in Egypt where he was stationed.
Wall Art: painted logos on a peeling wall in some garage. Red, Blue and White
This is a frightened city. Over these houses, over these streets hangs a pall of fear. Fear of a new kind of violence which is terrorizing the city. Yes, gangs of old ladies attacking defenceless fit young men.
What are they in it for, these old hoodlums, these layabouts in lace?
Classic sketch from the Monty Python gang. The roaring about on Beezers in one scene is great stuff!
One of the nicest looking bikes available just now is the Triumph Thruxton – here is one on offer for $6,000 on Chicago Craigslist. Big, bad, black and I’m sure a beast on the twisties. It just LOOKS right!
Sometimes it just takes a different viewpoint to see something with fresh eyes; here an overhead perspective lets the elegant hourglass lines of a Bonnie be shown off to great effect. When new bikes are shown off it’s always the side views, but the rider spends most of the time astride the machine looking down from the saddle across the tank to the bars. That’s one of the prime aspects of a moto to enjoy.
Ann Margaret rides again; the original movie two-wheeled action girl. Here starring in an Italian comedy film: a guru’s groupie plans to seduce him so she can number him among her many conquests. Not sure where the goat fits. This moto looks decidedly like an appropriately selected Guzzi.
More A-M moto images; here seen riding a Triumph and Norton. The red hair flowing like Red Molly of Richard Thompsons iconic song about a Vincent Black Lightning 1952.
After yesterdays sixties bike chic; here’s the previous decades look: James Dean, the Original Rebel, on his Triumph. Collar up, cigarette askew, amgst-laden frown.
A young Jane Asher layed over the bars of a cafe’d bike (Triumph or BSA). She was Paul McCartney’s muse during the mid-sixites, before Linda Eastman came along (Macca being sidetracked by Frannie Schwartz before Linda). A nice image evocative of the times.
Growing up this would have fit the bill in so many ways: LEGO was my favourite toy, The Great Escape my favourite film and motorcycles my favourite in all. I’m not so sure of the KTM derived orange dirt bike though; a nice blue drab german Beemer would be a better look.
Steve ‘Hizzy’ Hislop 1962-2003
To celebrate this Scottish evening of haggis, tatties and neeps, washed down of course by whisky, we’ll take time to celebrate the racing career of a truly fine Scottish rider. It is of course the 25th of January Robbie Burns Night (my birthday too!).
Hailing from Hawick (pr. Hoyk) in the Borders of Scotland, he went on to win several and notable races on the Isle of Man as well as in the British Superbike Series. His most famous victory came in 1992 in the Senior TT Mountain course where, upon a rotary Norton, he pipped the great Carl Fogarty at the post, Carl going hell for leather even set a lap record that sat for years. This race is considered one of the greatest of the TT’s history.
…A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an’ a’ that;
But an honest man’s abon his might,
Gude faith, he maunna fa’ that!
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
Their dignities an’ a’ that;
The pith o’ sense, an’ pride o’ worth,
Are higher rank than a’ that…
The sun not only didn’t set on the Empire; it also shone on the chrome details of British Iron. The motos of Triumph, BSA, Norton, to name a few, were shipped around the world. One of the great exports! Indeed in the early fifties the BSA Group was the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. Here is an appropriately named Coventry City being loaded with crated bikes stamped ‘Handle With Care’.
Corner carver: the newest Bonneville model the SE, with cast wheels (not the earlier spoked model) straight pipes and a navy/white colour scheme sure does look the part winding down some coastal lane with the sun-kissed salty air beckoning.
A wonderful interpretation of a wartime motorcycle transport based on a modern Triumph Bonneville T100. Olive drab colour, leather strap trim and lamp blacked detailing. Even a nifty gear change lever in included. Though I’m not sure how it’s operated when pulling in the clutch. Knobbly tyres, comfy ‘tractor’ seat and Jerry-can fuel cells on the rear speak of an adventure machine ready for the Sahara, Scandinavia or Saskatchewan roadways.
geordiebiker.com 