Always had Old Motorcycles and Jalopy’s

Hard to believe that Christmas is already upon us and not long left until some of you will be burping and snoring as you have demolished anything that was left of the Turkey, well, that is if you are from back home in Britain, out here in the states, Turkey is eaten at thanks giving, so usually we have Prime rib or Ham for Christmas dinner here, still takes me a bit of getting used to, even though I have been here almost two decades. hard to believe that I left the UK back in 1997, the pic below is the last ride I had on my Triumph to an event.

Loved that Old Daytona and did many miles on it, going to hemsby was a 260 mile ride and I sure had a blast with that 1969 Daytona, but the bloody carbs always went out of tune and was forever tuning the bike, but, thats the trumpys for ya.

Heading back to North London, darker hair and only 140 pounds, those were the days, I loved Motorcycles and Hot Rods and had many over the time, something I still do to this day.

Before I moved to the other side of the world, I repainted the Triumph Black and gold leafed the tank badges, I really wanted to take the bike with me and wish i could of had the opportunity as I knew every nut and bolt on that machine, this was the last but one  pic taken of that bike in Alexandra Palace where I loved in North London, I rode this machine every day in Rain, wind and many times in the snow, as thats all I had in 1997.

A happy guy as I had just tuned the carbs once more, I took her for a blast up around the M25 and boy did she rip, as I had just repaired the cylinder head as it had a hair line crack in it, fitted a Boyer Ignition and this T100 would really pull hard as you hit 4000 revs, it was like it found another gear and would literally take off. Wish I still had that 1969 Daytona.

Old photo of me with my 1961 Ford Consul Lowline, I bought it from original owner and painted it Red with a white roof, as it was boring grey, I drove that all over the place and was always doing different things to that car.

Above is just as I started work on the Ford, I didnt like the stock grey color and needed it to be a bright Red, this was a fun project and off I started with another Custom machine.

Jeez, that was a crazy fun time in my life, look at that high Flat top hair cut for a start, but I remember it as if it was yesterday and glad I had this image still.

Probably should of deleted this one LOL but those were the 80’s and you would have to pay me a lot of money to wear that shirt again ha ha ha.

So with that I shall bid you lot a fond faewell, just wanted to share these pics with you, I have always tinkered with old stuff and always will do.

 

Another Build in Mock up stage, the CB750 Street Tracker

Well, I have a few old frames and parts laying about and pulled some stuff out of my storage and decided it was time to build another bike, as of course, thats what I like doing.

So, this time I want to build a street tracker style machine, just something tough looking but functional as well, I grew up with Motorcycles as a kid with my brother and we had old Dirt bikes and road bikes we turned into dirt bikes and this takes me back to that very time we rode around and around the back garden, just having time in the saddle when we were teenagers.

This old Honda is a Bone shaking Rusty 1978 K model that had been sat for over 30 years in the desert, so what better way to resurrect something and at the same time make something fun, as well as a part of my life back in Great Britain when my brother Mick and I would go out in any weather and I mean any weather, we even rode in deep cold snow with just jeans and a jumper but loved it.

So, there is this old carcass that I shall be using to try and at least make something that will at least turn the corners of my mouth up and have fun again, no idea what I am doing exactly for now but we shall see how this old inline Four progresses as and when I put time into it, its not a paying job, so will be just spare time here and there and a test of patience and money to see where this goes.

First off, I will get it running first, hasn’t run in decades and has seen a sorry life sat out in Palmdale out in the Desert with Sun, Wind, Rain and Frost invading its chassis , so I feel I must do something with this old Girl and she will run once more, I can promise you that.

This Machine is a Big heavy Lump, the 78K was the last of the SOHC models, along with the Super Sports and boy were they heavy, with a bigger exhaust, bigger Gas tank and seat, these were mammoths of their time, so all the old stuff like tank and seat were rotted away, I managed to mock the bike up to how I hope to have it later on, albeit I am sure things will change but I shall be keeping the Old School Lester Rims.

I got these off an old CR750 Race Bike about 17 years ago and have kept them in storage until now, so I will of course change the tires for Knobby versions to give that European Tracker look and see where we go.

Quite exciting really as it will be a look back at Yesteryear and something I and my Brother Mick will look at and remember the struggles we had as kids with bikes when all your mates had new stuff, we had Motorbikes that either were not wanted or left by the way side, but – Makes you a better person for it I feel.

This bike will rip along quite well and I am sure will be fun to take anywhere to be honest, as they have plenty of grunt and no worries green laneing, if you have good Enduro tires, then I see no real issues on here, so thats the style that I am going with and want it to look a little 1960’s.

Sp the adventure of building and recreating something begins, I had an old Alloy Gas tank and hope to use this as well as a Alloy Seat , they look kinda cool together and like that Sammy Miller set up, so hope that I can use these as it will be great to use up some old parts that were just sat on a shelf for Donkeys years collecting dust.

Will make the exhaust system up as I go along and it could change a few times, but we shall see, I do like the way it is going now though and I have some frame chopping and changing to do.

I will most probably run a Disc Rotor up the front too, not a fan of bikes with only half a braking system to be honest, it may look cool but not so cool when you got to stop at 70 Miles an hour with no front Anchor eh?

Parked up next to my old 1928 Model A Ford Roadster, 2 Classic bits of iron on the driveway.

So, there it is, in the garage, on my table and when I get spare time and a bit of loot, I shall begin trying a few things out to see what I can do to first of all, get this old girl to run again.

Once that is done, I can then go about and get the proportions right and start to create a fun Street tracker, Better get some liquid refreshment to get me in the mood with this 70’s Classic.

 

 

 

 

Old Commercials I remembered as a kid in the 70’s

Lets go back- Way Back, when Flared jeans, huge cuffed shirts and Wide Collar shirts were all the rave, Not me then as in 1978 I left school and already had my leather jacket.

Some fun things I look back on and laugh now is the old TV Commercials for things like Pepsi Cola, some were filmed in the UK as you can hear the accent and some in the states.

So Corny yet so cool, I loves these Adverts on the box, check em out and see if you remember these.
This one Below was right in 1978 , this is the first episode trial but still great to see.

Below, a little earlier in 1973 Eddie was banging some cool moves. This was filmed back home in the UK. And I loved it.

In 1973 this took me so long to memorize but I did it.

I remember this well too.

Vintage Hill Climbing Photos

Hey Gang

I am a little bit tight on time today for a Blog, but what I thought that I would do is add some cool pics of Vintage Motorcycles having a go at Hill Climbing, this has been popular since the 1920’s and they still run the Widow Maker today.

1

There is something about Motorcycles and Hills I have always been intrigued by, as a Kid I would have crappy cheap bikes but I would try and go up any hill many wouldn’t and sometimes, just sometimes i would succeed and that would make me personally feel like the King of the mountain.

2

I love seeing old Photos of Vintage bikes having a go at the Big Widow Maker, Man and Machine against Gravity, and its such a super spectator sport too and we need more of it.

3
Below silent 16mm footage.

Things have changed as in the newer machines but they still have a go and many do not make it, so, to see Motorcycles from the 20’s 30’s and 40’s having a go is great.

4

I mean today, it must be like riding a Cadillac in comfort compared to back in the day, took more guts than today too and many, this was their only means of transport too.

5

We lived in a flat part of the UK , so finding hills was bloody hard, sometimes you made your own but if I had a hat on right now, I would take it off and tip it in the direction of those crazy Bikers back in the day, full bore and grit ya teeth.

6

I mean No Guts No Glory was the order of the day back then, can you imagine how their bodies felt the next day from trying to Conquer this bloody great steep incline.

7

Amazing stuff, no protection, just a Flat cap and a lot of Bravado, seriously cool people back in the day and No Ego’s. at all.

8

I still love watching it, no idea why they do not televise it much as I am certain people would watch as even today it is just man and machine against the big Hill.

9

Most of the time there is No prize money, just a few bragging rights if you were one of the lucky ones to get over the top, few did I am sure but All were 100% Committed for sure.

10

Hopefully there is an event on in your neck of the woods, make sure you support it as these days it is a very hard event to find and we really should have more of this, but land is hard to find compared to back in the day.

11

This guy doing his best Elvis impersonation is a Classic.

12

This is one of the best shots ever, the guy is way up on the front of his running boards, love the Paratrooper Boots, Big Cuff jeans and Leather Jacket, so Black Rebel Motorcycle.

13

How crazy is that, Sister says to his big brother, “Oh Come on Arny, take me for a ride on your motorcycle, you always promise you will”

14

Man, look at how high this is, and the geezer makes it too, thats a great achievement I bet, well done mate, love the Harley Club Sweater too.

15

Football helmet on as he digs in at the rear look at the spectators resting on the fence, all leaning uphill. LOL!

16

Now you all know this will not end well but 10 out of 10 for having a go, huge rear sprocket too.

16

Talk about Holding on until the very end, this cannot end well at all, would of loved to have seen the next few frames of this crazy Hill Climber, hope he was
after that run.

17

Dedication, Determination and Did he make it, all that with a Football helmet on and no front brake too.