People know me for the CB750 Honda, and that inline four is one of the most robust motors out there, but many other Brands are just as good, the Kawasaki Z model and the infamous Suzuki GS model too.
Here is just a couple of videos I saw and thought I would share today for my Blog.
Enjoy.
Well, seeing as it is Throw Back Thursday, here is a great little video of some super bikes of the day, I am sure that many of you will remember most of these unique machines that scared the crap out of you when you wound the throttle on.
Wow- Monday already and I guess it was a hard start for you lot today as it was for me too, and I think today I shall continue with a few more videos to try and help your workday fly by, or at least give you something different to look at on your lunch break etc.
Below is a video from back in the day about road safety, always fun to watch as our machines have changed a lot , as well as the traffic speeds too.
It is from Los Angeles in the 1960’s and boy, to see no traffic in the towns is weird these days, it also makes me laugh when the public service film and the AMA both tell you to. “Dress Neatly” as they want you to give a good impression to your neighbors. ha ha ha
And how about this, some rare footage called “Rode Safely” This was filmed back in 1955 in Liverpool, and its some cool footage to watch on a Monday and shows how things were so much different back then, compared to today’s traffic and Laws etc.
I had to laugh at the “staged crashes” and the Old style of hand signals that have changed in the highway Code back home. This is as funny as hell to watch and I am certain that these 13 minutes will have you cracking up.
Onto part 2 now of “Rode Safely”
16 minutes of awesome footage, and for me this was thoroughly entertaining, showing me what Back home like in 1955, when there was only half a million Motorcycles being ridden on the British roads.
Enjoy
Be safe out there but you don’t have to dress neatly OK? LOL.
One of the up and coming leaders in the European motorcycle shows these days is the Kick Back show in London, many builders come out to bring their best builds, many built at home in the shed.
Today, I wanted to share a few photos with you to let you see just a sprinkling of the creations that are around across the pond.
If you like motorcycles, then you will love this show as many styles and creations jump out at you, this show has a warm and friendly atmosphere and people from across Europe travel to see the bikes that are being displayed.
Many favorites of course but for me, this should be called Kick Arse!
What an awesome Triton, I’d love to hear this fire up, the Up-sweeps look great and so tightly fitted, great job.
This show seems to be taking a hold now and I am sure that the venue will just get more and more following in London and am so glad that so many shows have come up back home in the Smoke.
Cafe Racers, Brats, Bobbers, Choppers, Trackers and Customs are all sprinkled here at KickBack, hopefully one day I can revenuer back home and see them in real time.
Below, the Old Step through, many people had these back in the day, my brother has one and used it on the dirt roads as thats all we had when we were kids, so great to see these “old memory” Bikes making a come back.
Check out the Flying S Jap Suzuki- I had an AS 50 when I was 16.
So many cool builds and styles, something for everyone.
We have many shows here in the USA too and hope to feature them as and when they come up.
The choppers are always worth a look as none ever the same and I love the uniqueness of that.
This has had a lot of work to make it what it is and many just build these at home and as a hobby.
Above you can see that this FAT ATTACK Trumpy has had major surgery and the Brat/tracker look is really popular now and I would love to take this out.
I am sure that you will find a favorite here in these machines and I love the way the future of Motorcycle building is going.
I see many of these styles over here and I cant get enough of them, so continue wrenching everyone its a blast.
Not many specs that I can give as they didnt give any – But just enjoy the photos and hope that some of these bring a smile to your face today.
Beemers are very much sought after today and I can see more and more making the transformation from Stock to Custom and its good to see.
Two differently built machines but look great together, this is so much fun seeing so many cool machines being created.
Another Double Overhead Cam with old and New technology is something that always grabs my attention where ever I see one.
Above, I would so easily lose my license running around on this, it cry’s out to be ridden hard!
When I was 17 years old I had a GT500 and that thing would pull like a steam train, wish I had kept mine.
Cant stop loving the 70’s Muscles machines, unless you have ridden one of these, you cannot understand something called. “Power Band”.- But Look hard, what’s different about this Motor?
These Street trackers are popular now and I bet this is so much fun running around.
Great looking Sportster, I have an old 883 I shall play with later on.
Thanks for reading my Blog today, if you are in London in April this year, then Kick back is on again, make sure you can find time to check it out, if you do go, send us some photos, love to see it.
Just a few Video’s for your enjoyment today, have a great week.
Here is the 2015 Show Below.
And finally 2016 show, enjoy all my friends.
Good to see Carpy and what better shop to see on 360? #theta360 – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA
Well Happy Thursday everyone, seems to come around way too fast, so this morning this will not be a huge Blog just as quick hello as people do follow what I do on the website.
Just amazing about technology and how far it has come, as the above is a few seconds that my buddy Zach Siglow recorded when he came to my shop to pick up his Motorcycle.
I am blown away with what technology can do to help in small businesses.
There are so many that can now render a bike on a computer to show a potential customer what their machine may look like, and they can see it right away, as before pen and paper and numerous phone calls and meets would take place.
If I had to design, say a Sportster for a client, with a few key strokes and the help of a 3D image piece of software, anything is possible.
Look how awesome this is for a Honda Twin Cafe Racer design for a customer, just insane eh?
Just check out the design of this Triumph Bonneville, I am so stunned by how cool this looks and am sure the Customer would be amazed too.
Just an infinite amount of ideas and prototypes you could do with out the days of sketching and trying parts to see if they can fit on the real bike.
Just wish I had the time right now to make something up and of course the software but- I think that is the way things are going and to be honest , I love it.
Look at how cool this rendering is of a CB750 in the style that I create.
Simply a joy to look at, so if you have the time, maybe have a go and let me know how you get on?
Its just your time and imagination you need and of course, a bucket load of Gold nuggets for the software. Ha Ha
Have a Great Thursday.
People often email and cal me saying that they are stuck on what to do on, or with their Motorcycle and, as the weekend is almost upon us I thought that I would just say a few lines here.
Now, we all get that Void part of building where we hit a wall and just seem to be stuck in a continual handbrake turn for idea’s and ways of direction- Believe me, I have been there so many times I thought that I would be in the Guinness Book of records for being so discombobulated at certaims times of a project.
What ever you are doing and you get stuck, just have a cuppa and think about where your Original Idea was, jump on the internet and look for forums or you tube for other ideas people have done to get you re-inspired once more.
It is very hard to rekindle a flame when the wind is blowing, but sometimes if you make a slight adjustment, all becomes calm and you will see that light once more. You may have a stock as a Rock CB750 Honda in your garage but- it has sat for 20 years and nobody else wants it so what can I do to make this my own style of bike?
Now, even if you have a rusty heap in the corner, it can be resurrected but- the Pro’s on Cons for this can go on for many a mile, so for me I thunk my advice would be to get something that Runs, that way have a super platform to do what ever you want to the frame, the gas tank and seat and of course the wheels and handle bars.
Motomussi built a cool CX out of a snotter and so can you.
You can find something affordable and spend your own time massaging it into something cool and creative.
Below, Ed Turners concept hit the nail on the head.
Find something affordable too, as no point trying to rebuild a 1940’s Sunbeam as the parts will be almost impossible to find and when you do they will be sky high.
just have fun and do what you can as it does not have to be a high dollar machine to turn heads.
Enjoy what you do and drop me a line if you need help or advise anytime.
Here we are with one of my bikes, and this is a great period in my life, this is a 1974 TY250 Yamaha and sure is a fun machine.
This bike fires up first kick and is reliable as hell, so if you are into Vintage trials, this is perfect for what you want.
This has all the parts and everything is great on the bike, it runs, stops and all the gears and clutch function very well indeed.
Original parts all through out, no repro parts at all, I have a tail light I need to fit back on.
Ride for fun or easily restore to show condition.
I am in Anaheim and can send video and photos, you can also email me on carpy@carpyscaferacers.com or drop a dime to me at 714-598-8392.
Headlights are getting hard to find also gas tanks too, so, a perfect opportunity to grab this classic and have some fun with it.
There seem to be quite a few Vintage Trials bike clubs popping up these days, so you should be able to go out and compete on this with no issues at all.
This 1974 Trials bike, designed by Yamaha and Ridden by infamous Mick Andrews, blew the trials world apart when they debut this machine.
Available now $1500 and ride off into the Sunset and up any Rock you like. 714-996-4597 or text 714-598-8392 or email on carpy@carpyscaferacers.com
If you are into Nostalgia the way I am, you will appreciate this original Motorcycle. A fun 250 CC legend of a bike.
Here it is right now and how she sounds and I am running Castrol R too.
Well, it was that time of year already and I wanted to go to the show with My Girlfriend as she wanted to ride her Bonneville to the event as well.
Nothing draws a crowd like the Seal Beach Car Show. Each year Main Street in Seal Beach closes down to welcome over 35,000 visitors, 600 cars, attractions and businesses come together with the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce and the City of Seal Beach to produce one of Southern California’s most memorable automotive events. With 30 categories of classic cars, there is something for everyone!
Early in the morning it was pissing down with rain and the bikes were sat on our driveway soaked to the skin, but- by about 10:00 am it had cleared up and the Sun was starting to poke it head out of the clouds to get the day off to a nice start.
Jennifer led the field up to our next meeting point which was awesome to see her up front and had no worries at all as we sped along the back roads of So Cal on a Saturday morning.
We pulled in for our meet up with other members of the club and a nice little turn out as always and with the clouds starting to blow away the day nly got better and better and am sure glad that we went ahead and continued on this ride as earlier we had cancelled as the rain was heavy, but all good and drying out really fast made for a fun day for us all.
There was plenty of Brit iron on Display at our stop and we spent a few minutes just having a general chin wag to members that we hadnt seen for a while and newbies coming along for the ride with us.
Steve’s Trumpy Combo was a fun ride and a super cool bloke, he is from back home too so everyone had to try and understand what me and him were talking about.
Loaded to the Gills with an Elliptical front end, Steve rode with no worries and you could not this Combination whilst on the tarmac.
With so much room on Steve’s Combo, I think we all could of jumped on his machine and made it to the show with no worries at all.
It does warrant a few photos as I am sure you dont see this much here, back home it is not unusual but great to see here.
Flying the flag for all to see, we get ready to jump on our steeds for the ride to Seal beach.
Amanda is one of our members that loves to ride her Bonneville too and I sure hope we get more female riders, as many peoples partners want to ride and this is a lot of fun, no attitudes in our club.
Yes, that sure is a Norton that came along for the ride and looked great in its Dunstall style livery.
Running an old school 3/4 fairing was common practice back home and just starting to see them here and I love the look of fairings when fitted right.
Side view of the Flying Banana and boy does it sound solid when it fires up.
So good to see Motorcycles like this, its part of my youth and always refreshing to look at and reminisce.
Another good shot for you to have a look at the lines of the Norton.
With the clouds clearing we decide that we should set off to the show as it was actually starting to warm up.
We arrived at the Base and were lucky to be given an area to park all next to each other and the breeze was awesome off the water.
I parked my old girl and knew that today’s show would be a fun one.
Steve has a gander at a few machines as this is his first ride with us, he had a great day and hope to see him again.
Parking was great for what we needed as seal beach can be a real pain to find a spot, especially together in a club.
We all lined up and jumped on an old Double Decker London Bus for the little trip down to the show, Jennifer looks as awesome as ever.
View from the Bus as we made our way to seal beach show.
Plenty of stuff to see and a really popular event for the whole family with so much to see, be it bikes or cars etc.
Lovely or what, a real nice bit of kit that I would of loved to have owned.
With Blue skies, the day just got better and better and met many friends I had not seen for a while.
Like I said, something for everyone and I sure loved this too.
This BMW R60 with the Original Steib Side car was bloody awesome, really nice machine.
These little Pea Shooters are quite fast to be honest and would wake many a sport bike up in the corners.
A few little CB750 SOHC models were here this year and of course I know a lot about these in line fours.
Not quite sure what was going on with This Beemer but to each his or her own and a lot of work and effort was poured into this Airhead.
This was pretty darn cool, I would need a cushion for my fat arse but a really cool BMW Tracker style bike.
If Copper, Brass and Steam-punk was your thing, then above is just what the Doctor ordered.
He used an oil oil pump Dispenser tube for his Oil tank, very cool indeed.
I would of loved to have this Trumpy in my stable for sure.
Very reminiscent of my triumph when I lived back in North London and I loved everything about this machine.
A really nice selection of Motorcycles this year and it is only going to get bigger and next year we may even have our booth there.
Root Beer flake Candy anybody?
Yes it sure was busy but a great day out for all. I took photos when I could but wanted to take in the day too but, I hope you enjoyed the photos that I have shared today on My website and until next year, I hope to see you on the road.
For those like me, are interested in the antics of infamous Brit racer “Guy mad man Martin” Then this is a cool little show for you to watch where he puts his motorcycle up against David Coulthards F1 Special, A must watch for your day to cheer you up.
A fun bit of entertainment by two very cool people.
This was a great show and wanted to share it with you lot today, hope that you enjoyed this?
When I was a kid I loved many Motorcycles, Obviously the TT bikes, any Road Racing, Drag bikes, but what we called Dirt bikes were a huge impact on my life, I loved trials riding but only has a little SL125 but could do unreal things on that only because I had the passion, will and determination to accomplish anything if it was up a hill, through some tree’s or through some rocks.
Sad to hear that Martin has passed away, my brother informed me this morning, only seems like yesterday i was using Blu-Tak to stick a poster of him up on my bedroom wall, much to my mum and dad”s annoyance.
My Heros of the Trials back then in the 1970’s and had poster taken from either motorcycle News or trials and Motorcross news were:
Mick Andrews ( TY250) Martin Lampkin (Bultaco), Sammy Miller ( CZ), Rob Edwards ( Montesa), Jim Sandiford (Montesa).
God Bless you mate, plenty of wide area’s to ride now ya upstairs Martin.
All great guys with skills I would never come close to ever even if I practiced 24 hours a day.
Martin and later on his Son Dougie really did dominate the trials world and as a teenager, I had Posters of these at home.
His family has stated via Trials Central:”It is with deep regret that we inform you of the sad passing of Harold Martin Lampkin, better known as Martin Lampkin, who lost his cruel year-long plus battle with cancer earlier today at the age of sixty-five.
“As the first ever FIM Trial World Champion back in 1975, Martin who continued right through to the present day to be a recognised and much loved figure within the motorcycle community the World over, passed away peacefully surrounded by his immediate family near to his hometown of Silsden, Yorkshire.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with his wife Isobel, his sons Dougie and Harry and other members of the Lampkin family, plus all his many friends motorcycling and otherwise at this sad time.
“Funeral details will be confirmed in due course.
“In the meantime, we politely request that the family’s privacy is respected during this difficult period.”
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His son Dougie, who followed in his father’s footsteps to become a 12-times world champion motorcycle trialist, stated on his Facebook page:” Devastated to announce the news – my dad Martin Lampkin passed away this afternoon after year plus battle with cancer aged 65.”
Martin Lampkin was born 28 December 1950.
He competed in a variety of off-road motorcycle events, but specialized in observed trials competitions, winning the inaugural FIM Trial World Championship held in 1975.
My heroes of the trials era were a Family named Lampkin.
His family has stated via Trials Central:”It is with deep regret that we inform you of the sad passing of Harold Martin Lampkin, better known as Martin Lampkin, who lost his cruel year-long plus battle with cancer earlier today at the age of sixty-five.
“As the first ever FIM Trial World Champion back in 1975, Martin who continued right through to the present day to be a recognised and much loved figure within the motorcycle community the World over, passed away peacefully surrounded by his immediate family near to his hometown of Silsden, Yorkshire.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with his wife Isobel, his sons Dougie and Harry and other members of the Lampkin family, plus all his many friends motorcycling and otherwise at this sad time.
“Funeral details will be confirmed in due course.
“In the meantime, we politely request that the family’s privacy is respected during this difficult period.”
His son Dougie, who followed in his father’s footsteps to become a 12-times world champion motorcycle trialist, stated on his Facebook page:” Devastated to announce the news – my dad Martin Lampkin passed away this afternoon after year plus battle with cancer aged 65.”
Martin Lampkin was born 28 December 1950.
He competed in a variety of off-road motorcycle events, but specialized in observed trials competitions, winning the inaugural FIM Trial World Championship held in 1975.
He was the third son in a Silsden motorcycling dynasty and began riding motorcycles at an early age.
His older brothers Arthur and Alan Lampkin were successful motorcycle racers and became members of the BSA factory racing team in the 1960s. In the early 1970s, Lampkin established himself as one of the top competitors in motorcycle trials, gaining the attention of Francisco Bultó, the owner of the Bultaco motorcycle company. Bultó offered him a job as a member of the Bultaco factory trials team and, in 1973 he won the European trials championship as well as the British trials national championship. The European championship was considered to be the world championship at the time, as the sport of trials had yet to develop outside of Europe.
In 1975, the European championship was upgraded to world championship status and Lampkin claimed the title to become the first-ever trials world champion. He continued to experience success in the world championships until 1980, when the Bultaco factory began to experience financial troubles.
Lampkin then joined the SWM factory team until he retired from professional competition in 1982. Besides his European and World Championship titles, Lampkin was also a four-time winner of the Scott Trial (1977, 1978, 1981, 1982), a three-time winner of the British trials national championship (1973, 1978, 1980) and won the grueling Scottish Six Days Trial three consecutive times (1976, 1977, 1978).
After retiring from competition he supported his son Dougie in his successful career.