Cats Whiskers

Tiger Tail

– I need to get a tail for the bike like this. Stripes too!

The Daily Star

Newspaper Strip

Back in the eighties there was a comic strip drawn by the extremely talented Ron Smith of the judicial escapades of Judge Dredd; lawman of Nega City One from 2000AD, now heading into its fifth decade of publication. The strip appeared weekly in the Daily Star newspaper allowing the commoner to delve into the classic character and his world. Ron’s ink work is pure perfection and his representation of Joe renowned. This quick story published in late October 1981 is about the capabilities of a Judge’s motorcycle.

Ayrton

Senna | A quarter of a century ago today we lost one of the greats: Ayrton Senna fatally crashed his Formula One car at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy. Let’s enjoy this simple image of him getting the shopping in at Monaco on his moped. The distinctive helmet is an icon of the racing world, his racing record up to his untimely death unparalleled. A record six victories at the Monte Carlo circuit is still unbeaten. His native Brazil consider him a national hero.

Shop

Eye Candy – the dealer here at Hotel Ignacio is a Triumph Ducati KTM outlet called Moto Europa. Their showroom floor has plenty to look at from the newest Bonnie’s and Monsters, to the Daytona’s and Scramblers.

MI Motos

Gilmore Car Museum – Hickory Corner, Michigan. One barn at the excellent automobile museum here in south west Michigan held a good selection of two-wheeled delights. From barn- fresh Harley Flathead to a polished to the nines Vincent Black Shadow. It was a good collection covering a century of motorcycling. One of The Fonz’s Triumph TR5 was there too; as well as an immaculate ’59 T120 Bonneville and a gutsy looking Indian hill climber.

Bologna or Birmingham?

A Pair of Beauties – these were a couple of my favorite sightings yesterday: A ’59 Velocette MSS; and a 72-ish Ducati GT 750 Roundcase Bevel. Art for Arts sake in these engines.

Swedish Vigilante

Trouble with a capital T that rhymes with Tattoo – Stieg Larsson’s protagonist tough punk gal motorcycle riding, leather clad hacker Lisbeth Salander’s latest outing will be portrayed by Claire Foy. Fresh from her solid role as a youthful Queen Elizabeth she turns 180 to be another Liz; but this time one steeped in badassery. The cafe’d Honda from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is replaced by a more than capable Ducati Monster in The Girl in the Spiders Web. Release date: November 9

South Western

Motoworks – open house down at Johnny Scheff’s excellent dealership. Triumph, Ducati, Royal Enfield and Vespa all represented. Service also caters for BMW. Sunny weather, burgers and good chat. The vintage license plate with 68 GIT was an old Bonnie.

The Lasso of Truth

Wonder Woman – Friday’s Femme Moto is Gal Gadot who is the current Amazonian Princess superhero from DC Comics. She looks the part by her black Ducati.

Italian Geordie

Bellissima! – a fun errand today. Some very good friends celebrated a double 50th birthday and their 20th anniversary together. As part of the event we had to shuttle a few of his ‘cycles to the venue. I plumped for the Ducati Hypermotard . It was like taking a thoroughbred racehorse for a trot… eager to rapidly go fast… and able to stop on a dime. 

Brother in Arms

Sultan of Swing – Dire Straits lead man and impresario guitarist Mark Knopfler knows how to bang out a catchy tune or two. But another aspect to his musician life is collecting classic motorcycles; here proudly leaning on a legendary HRD Vincent. That would be a perfect ride to take along the seafront between Cullercoats and Whitley Bay.

Citrus Cycle

X-75 Redux – Here’s a good looking beast: a nineties 900 triple revisioned in the punchy orange and yellow color scheme used by Craig Vetter on the mud seventies 750 Trident. 

Formula Um

Senna – The Brazilian racing great would have been 57 today had he not been taken from us on that fateful MayDay at San Marino in Italy in 1994. As well as racing at the top of the game for teams such as Lotus and MacLaren he enjoyed the two wheeler. With Honda supplying engines for the mid-eighties Lotus he has a pit bike supply; later on Ducati took him under their promotion wing with their Monster line-up and the super sport 888, 900 and the classic post posthumously introduced Senna 916 in grey rather than the traditional red or yellow.

The Purr-fect Ride

Du-Cat-i    Poise, balance, independence, soft, sharp-claw’d. Felines would ride motorcycles if they could. Whether Italian or British…

Rogues rouge gallery

Black ‘n’ White & Red all over – more goodies spied at the weekend. A one lunged shark motif Suzuki grimacing down the road. The half century patina on an original complete Triumph Cub. The beautiful lines of a BSA A10 with stacked rifle emblem on the three cornered timing cover. And the L-twin Ducati which in this case included a bevel drive sight glass, polished tank completed the cafe style.

All good stuff.