Commercial from the 1960’s on Motorcycle Fashion

I look back and laugh but to be honest, this was the new thing as you were not required by law to wear a Crash Helmet at all in the UK, but in the 60’s fashion was about everything and road safety was being pushed quite hard in Britain, due to so many road accidents with “Teenagers” on Motorcycles.

When did it become law to wear a crash helmet in the UK?
A guide to UK motorcycle helmet law and safety standards …
1 June 1973
The UK crash helmet law was introduced on 7 February 1973 and debated at the House of Commons on 5 April 1973. The law was finally put into operation on 1 June 1973. The law was opposed by a number of people, including founder of the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), Dennis Howard.

 

 

Although as a Kid I wanted one of these but I think only available here in the states back then. LOL.

I went out for a Pint of milk, Came back with 10 CB750 Engines

It’s a funny old world, I mean, I initially went out to get a pint of milk and on the way there I came across a stash of SOHC Motors that a buddy of mine needed to off load as he was clearing his place out for renovations etc, what better way of getting rid of them then to let me have them.  And, as I have a Long bed Pick up truck, I thought to myself I should be able to get all 10 engines in the back of the F250.

Lucky for me, it’s only 4 miles from my place, and as my old beast only does 6 Miles to the Gallon, it was well worth taking the turck to go and get these SOHC in line Four Motors, they had been sat outside in the Californian sun for many many years but I can use some of the parts even if some of the motors are locked up etc.

It was no easy task carrying 10 CB750 Motors from a back yard and loading them onto my truck, at 230 pounds each, every one became heavier and heavier, by the time I had dragged the 10th Engine out and up and onto my bed of the F250, i was feeling as weak as watered down beer. But I got them all on and then thought about it, man- That’s just over One Ton of Engines, and the F250 is a 3/4 Ton.

I know I will have use for these, even for parts alone, I have a small collection now that for now I shall place in my barn and wait until later on when I have some free time to see what is what.

These towed home no problem in my pick up and that hardest part was unloading a Ton of engines, as it was only 3 miles from my place and I was already tired from throwing tem up onto the pick up bed, but, not as far to move to the barn.  I sure felt it afterwards as thats 2 ton moved in less than 2 hours.

I have stored them away now in the Barn, but I am still working on New doors for the outside, so will just have to tip toe around for a bit until I am ready to hang the doors up.

Glad to have got them and I know I will be turning to a few when I create some more machines for the tarmac, nice to have spares at your finger tips though.

I have another Motor in a frame you can see and one more on a dolly in the shop that I need to move over, always something to do at my New location, it will take a little time to get it how I want but then it will be icing on the cake as working from Home is always the easiest and more enjoyable way of working i think.

I have a lot of work to try and catch up on since our European visit but refreshed and ready to take on another chapter in the life of Custom Motorcycle creation, I have a few ideas for more exhausts, Handle bars and other parts, so stay tuned to the site if you can.

Oil leaks whilst i was away need to be cleaned and gaskets fitted, Doors painted and hung, and then organise the bikes and where the parts will go is something that is not to be rushed but everyday there is something to mess about with and I enjoy so much.

Thanks for reading my posts, I like to share what I have been up to and its great hearing from you too and seeing what you are building at home, if I can help I always will be it via email carpy@carpyscaferacers.com or call / text at 714-598-8392 as its a pleasure having a chin wag where ever you are in the globe.

 

 

The Rocket Four Motorcycle I built out of a non running CB750 Four Honda back in 2007

Time does indeed scream by at a pace that I really cannot fathom these days, but I am glad there are such things as you Tube etc that keep videos that I posted all them years ago.

Here is the “Rocket Four” Bike that I created out of an old non running inline four, I love these 500 pounders and this was a great build that none were around at all when I did this, so it stood out, I have no clue where the bike is now but hope they had fun with it?

Fun days and The seat I made for this bike came on to be a best seller for me, sending over 500 of these Rocket Four seats all over the globe, quite proud of that to be honest.

Some older machines I built

Funny thing the internet, although it may seem new, it has been around just over 20 years now and I remember when we had My Space etc, the things we did to promote ourselves back then.

Anyway, just thought I would add this old video, forgive the clarity, but I created some cool rides back in my garage and thought that I would share with you all today.

 

My shipping adjuster on the website took a massive crap and we have just about sorted it out and also added a choice of UPS as a service for way cheaper shipping too, thanks for ordering from me at this time of year, I really appreciate it.

Here’s that Old Video of just some of the bikes I used to create at home.

 

Firing up the CB500 with New velocity stacks.

Messing about with the CB500 this afternoon, I fitted some aftermarket Velocity stacks to the bike, with screens, so that should help the bike breath better and I also managed to find a 15mm Die and tap the threads to a course range and the New petcocks I bought, screwed right on.

No idea if they will leak but should be fine and on the weekend I shall fit the gas tank, buy some 97 octane gas and see if I can ride the old girl.  Still more to do, I need to buy some Throttle cables so I have a Push Pull set up but she should run ok for the time being.

Weekend is here but its going to be damn Hot In Southern California

I know, I know- I should not complain about the weather, but- I left the shores of Blighty back in 1997, this weekend it will be in the 90’s and I am lucky that I now have the Barn to work in, albeit no A/C.  Its surprising how much you can get done when there is a big ball of fire trying to make you evaporate.

Today I shall be packing up quite a few New exhaust systems, with more on the way, busy time of the year for me as people are wrenching on their machines and of course, with warmer temperatures, then riding season is at its most fruitful, I too love riding early in the morning as the warmth of the Sun begins to make the tarmac steam and for me, there is nothing better to clear your head than a crisp morning.

But parts have to be re-stocked and I am trying to get the New Place in some sort of order, so I can pick and pack my parts a little easier and then ship right out to my Customers, I am lucky as the Main Post Office is just down the road, so that means I can take them directly to the Loading dock to scan and load the packages and boxes onto the truck that is going out to deliver.

I am coming up with a few different parts too and this all takes time, but I am enjoying what I do and when you work from your own Workshop with no landlord hassling you, a lot of stress simply disappears.

Happy Sunday everyone and hope you get a little bit of time to be able to do some wrenching on your machine, let me know if I can help by phone or text, 714-598-8392.  keep building and keep riding.

Plymouth to Ivybridge Ton Up Boys 1962

Young Motorcycle Racers are gathered by a transport café on the A38 Exeter to Plymouth road. They are the ton-up boys taking off into the night.

British biker subculture originates in the 1950s and is influenced by American pop culture and the rock and roll music of Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and Chuck Berry. 1960s rockers portray a rebellious image emulating the cool moody actor James Dean with white t-shirt and socks, jeans and Black Boots with Fisherman socks, and of course , leather jacket, quiff and motorbike.

 

The ton-up boys create a lifestyle out of motorbike racing. The aim is to reach the speed of one hundred miles an hour in other words do the ton. The transport café is the starting and finishing post for races and games such as buzzing or chicken are played.

Chicken is putting a record on the jukebox and running to your bike and doing the ton and returning before the song finishes. Chicken is also doing a u-turn lean where the outer edges of the tyre touches the road used to measure a rider’s skill.

 

A Westwood TV production, presenter not known

Fun Time doing an Episode with Larry Romestate and Jay Leno

I had a ball when we were filming this, fun times that I always treasure and hope you enjoy this too, Larry designed his BMW over many years and we used to hang out in my shop brain storming, he did a super job completing his machine and he rides it all over the place. Just thought I would share today.

 

Have a great week everybody and keep building at home and above all have fun.

 

The Dispatch Cafe Machine 1975 CB750 F Super Sport S.O.H.C.

Been a while since I have tinkered in the Barn, I am starting to do a bit of creating on a machine I have had as a stock bike and sat in storage for many moons, and I thought to myself, why not create something that I personally rode back in the day and in the style of what was the latest Motorcycle hitting the TON back in London.

I have loved bikes as a kid and my bedroom was literally covered from walls to ceiling in motorcycle posters, of course I loved the Cafe Racer scene and had many Dunstall style bikes on my wall, but wanted to have something similar when I was old enough to ride.  I actually put Clubman bars on my first ever little moped as a crazy 16 year old, I had a Bikini Fairing on the front and a little expansion on that ride, I loved it.

I was a Dispatch rider in London and Birmingham, delivering stuff all over the UK but many trips around the City of London to iconic places like Buckingham Palace , The House of Lords, Newspaper and Magazine Companies, to dodgy Porn Video tape sellers in SOHO, but I loved it.  In London especially, you needed to be able to carry as much as you could for the better wage, but you also needed to be a streamlines as possible to speed through the busy roads of London.

The Creation I am putting together reflect my life, so not a quick build, this is something I will take my time on and weather you like it or not, it will be something that is really a part of me and my life on two wheels. It will take some sorting out to fit the Original Avon fairing that was indeed on a Dispatch bike in London, I have had it years its beaten up and half missing but that’s perfect as we never had any money for lavish New parts, we bought stuff out of a paper called the “Exchange & Mart” then fitted it and never really had time or cash to fully paint it, so this will be great for the ride and I hope I can fit this to the machine to work just like it did when I was a lot younger. LOL!

 

I used to spend many an hour looking through that rag as it was only 15p and I am sure people back home in Blighty reading this will also remember doing the same, no internet then ha ha.

I am happy that I can do this and reflect on the years that have seemed to have flown by, no idea where the 140 pound Skinny Fella went to but I can always reminisce with this build, the bike was super heavy but strong as an Ox, I hope to get the bike completed sometime this year and will show it as a feature on the website.

I may go with a different seat of mine, I have already tried 5 different seats and still not happy, but thats half the fun of designing something and when I get it right, I shall feel a whole lot happier.

You used to see so many of this style when I was riding around Oxford or regent Street, on a busy Tuesday morning, having a fairing and side Panniers gave me so much more loading space, some days I would even fit a back rack and a top box, but that did get a little over laden at times.

I think I have a screen for it but can get one from a company here or in the UK, so no worries on that, but a long way to go as I have to allow for the steering to move smoothly and not catch anything mid turn.

Of course I shall have a headlight in the fairing, an old style one too and the obligatory Fog lights as well, fun times ahead and thought that i would share.

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year Everyone

Here we are 2022 at last, man – What a crappy 2020 and glad to see the back of it and start a fresh and hope that we all have some good health and enjoy life as much as we can.

I somehow caught the Flu over Christmas and it Royaly buggered me up, Only about 80% right now but at least I am up on my feet, and I wanted to make sure that I did a bit of work at the house and get a few things ready for when My Barn arrives for assembly on Wednesday.

I have a few Projects I would like to finish this season and I hope my health gets a lot stronger as I took quite a whooping last year with Covid and the Flu, so lets all keep our pinkies crossed that we are all fine and can go and wrench on our machines to our hearts content.

There are many things that I hope to make and offer on my website for all the avid Motorcycle builders out there, I receive so many emails and texts about what you lot are up to, it drives me to help get your machine completed, and sure hope that you can complete yours this year to get on the tarmac for the new season when it eventually arrives where ever you are located.

Just wanted to wish you all a Very Happy New year and thank you for all of your orders, emails, phone calls and texts, I love chatting to you all and look forward to continuing great communication with you in this New year we have all started.

Look Forward to seeing what you are all creating and maybe see you on the road one of these days?

 

Here is something to have a laugh at at days gone by back home 1965.