TBT

  
Throwback Thursday: this Susuki GS125 is the same model is used for my first day of riding around Crystal Palace back in 1996. It was a handy tool to get my CBT Compulsory Basic Training.  

Hump Day

  
North African Caravan. Classic Alex Oxley artwork for the Meriden motorcycle company.

Knobblies

  
Dog walking near the office. This Triumph Bonneville looks like s bit of a mongrel. The short tail pipes must surely bark, thick growling tires paw at asphalt. A wolf for the road.

Roll up, roll up, roll up

  
The bloke’s blokey bloke has just ridden a motorcycle around a 120′ diameter wall of death at var nigh eighty miles an hour establishing a new speed record. Training under the master of vertical riding Ken Fox for a year or so he managed this feat Live on Channel 4.

The g-forces he attained was just over 5G. Similar to an F1 car or WW2 fighter in dive.

Is that a real bicycle or a Sears bicycle?

  
The Rebel Yell! We had a day trip to Milwaukee today, where the Museum of Art has been reorganized with a new layout for their modern collection. I spied this cracking bicycle devised by Wisconsin industrial designer Brook Stevens. A basic trailing arm front suspension, double rear wheel caliper brakes, stick gear shifter, comfy banana seat, and a noodle of a shape to the handlebars. 

Great Snakes!

  
Let’s try and wrap the week up with something positive. After the tragic events in Belgium we should celebrate a Brussels icon. Hergé’s boy wonder Tintin. He knows how to chase culprits with speed and determination. Which is how the European authorities are conducting their efforts to find out who was behind the attacks. His ride is a Terrot motorcycle built in Dijon France.

Le Moto Vendredi

  
En 1964, il participe au sein du « team USA » d’enduro au championnat du monde d’enduro (épreuve durant 6 jours) sur une moto Triumph de 650 cm³ à Erfurt en Allemagne de l’Est.

Un homme de moto…

King of Cool

   
 “I learned that life is a long and difficult road, but you have to keep going, or you’ll fall by the wayside.”  Steve McQueen March 24 1930 – Nov 7 1980

 

Pannier

  

If you have a hankering to tote items around on your bike then a nice pair a bags slung over the rear wheel is the way to go. These new sacks from Triumph certainly look the part. A nice dark brown color with a gentle sweep-back.   

Looks good on a coffee & cream color scheme Bonneville.

Seeing Red

  
Belgium took the brunt of World affairs today with the heinous and cowardly attacks by terrorists in Brussels. Many dead, a shocked population and a further need to eliminate crazed fundamental belief systems that wish ordinary folk just trying to get on with their lives to be murdered for their empty cause. Just plain Wrong! Civilization needs to advance folks! Not degenerate into a Dark Ages.

Here’s a beautiful 1933 Belgian 500cc Gillet Herstal Supersport to remember that there are great things in the world to enjoy. 

Oh. And Belgian Chocolate…

Black Cat

  
Feline mascot looking windward on the fo’castle of this lively green Sunbeam. Pilot heaves this classic inline twin along the road proudly.

A Short Life of Trouble

  

“First of all, Michael is very quiet, but he’s a visual man. And he and I would look at the same thing. We wouldn’t even have to talk to each other, just look. Incredible pleasure would build up. Secondly, we camped and so we were outdoors all the time. Riding across the country on a motorcycle in ’61-’62 is a great adventure. Cops would pull up to us, and they’d say, “Hey, where are you going? What can we do for you?” People gave us food. People told us stories.” Marcia Tucker

Here’s a timeless image of a young adventure prone gal in the early sixties raveling the country as an impoverished art student. The bike is a BSA A10. She went on to become a renowned art critic & historian, curator, and of course motorcyclist.

Her Biography.

Hold On!

  
Delightful pen-and-ink drawings by Cat Bowman Smith used to illustrate the ‘un-education’ books by Amy Macdonald. The combination is piloted by Aunt Mattie and ably passengered by Uncle Philbert. The line work reminds me of the penmanship of Edward Ardizzone who added imagery to much loved children’s books such as The Otterbury Incident by C Day Lewis and Stig of the Dump by Clive King, among others.

Marmalade

  
Golly! The Robertson Preserve Company make the second best orange shredded jam. My father makes the best! Their mascot was used for enamel colored metal badges that were collected. This is a cute combination.

Team Green

   
To celebrate St Patrick’s day here is a couple of old snaps from the memory banks. Me and my Kawasaki Ninja which was my main mode of transportation for a few years when we first settled here in Chicago. She had plenty of oomph, easily cracking the ton and a half, and that lime green sure was a purdy color.

 
I really enjoyed zipping along Lake Shore Drive ; water on one side, buildings the other.