eBay Find: 1971 Yamaha DT1 MX
The 70’s were a gold-era in the production of off-road motorcycles, it may just be my personal preference but bikes like this just look so much better than the plastic and graphics covered dirt bikes of today.
Motorcycles
SCPR Sportster by DK Motorrad
The Harley-Davidson Sportster is a venerable beast, first introduced all the way back in 1957 the Sportster has seen countless model variations and almost limitless customisations. With all that in mind, I can’t help but be convinced that if the powers that be at Harley-Davidson just rolled a motorcycle like this out of their Milwaukee factory, the company’s fortunes would rapidly take a turn for the better.
Silodrome Sunday Cinema: Evolution Custom Industries
We’ve decided that we’re going to feature short films on Silodrome on Sundays, a sort of weekend-24fps-salve for all that ails you. This week we’re featuring a wonderful short film about Paul McKinnon, the owner of Evolution Custom Industries out of Sydney, Australia.
Adventures of a Motorcycle Despatch Rider
The book Adventures of a Motorcycle Despatch Rider is the true story of Captain William Watson’s experiences during the first World War. The book covers Captain Watson’s extraordinary journeys through Ireland, Wales, England and France as the first 2 years of the war unfolded.
Custom W650 by Deus Ex Machina
Randy De Puniet, a well established star in the world of MotoGP, took delivery of his first Deus Ex Machina motorcycle this week. He commissioned Deus to build him a mid-sized bike with a 2-up twin, it had to be light enough for spirited city riding and have enough power on tap for highway excursions out of Sydney.
Retro Flight
You just have to love the character embodied in this photograph. I don’t know if it’s the unfurling cape or the fact that that suspension is going to bottom out in a big way when he lands, but something about this snapshot just makes me happy.
Moving Westward by Dime City Cycles
Dime City Cycles is a New York based one stop shop for anyone building custom motorcycles, be it a café racer, a flat-tracker or a bobber, DCC will generally have the parts you’re looking for.
Steve McQueen’s Cleveland Fowler
Cleveland started manufacturing motorcycles in 1915 with fairly rudimentary 2-stroke singles, by 1925 demand for a larger and more powerful 4-stroke finally won over the company management and engine designer F.E. Fowler set about building an all-new 4 cylinder 4-stroke with a 600cc displacement and a 3 speed transmission.
German Board-Track Racing
After mentioning my dismay earlier this week about the lack of modern board-track racing in the article about the Revatu Pea Shooter one of our readers shot me over an email with a link to this fantastic film about a crew of modern day board-tracker racers based in Germany.
The Slugger by Mikael Lugnegård
I love great industrial design. It actually puts me in a good mood to discover hitherto undiscovered designers whose work deserves much wider exposure. This motorcycle concept, dubbed “The Slugger” is the work of Swedish designer Mikael Lugnegård, a talented 31 year old with a penchant for automotive and motorcycle design based in Umeå.
John Wayne On A Motorcycle
This great photograph of John Wayne was taken in 1970 on the set of Big Jake, a western set in 1909. Wayne is said to have used the Honda to get around the set and there are rumours that he wrote the bike off one evening after having had a few too many drinks and attempting to ride back to his trailer.
The Velocette KTT
The Velocette KTT is a milestone in the history of the motorcycle, it was the first production motorcycle to use a foot-shifter (the bikes of the time used hand-shifters) and is credited with setting the trend that all modern production bikes now adhere to.