go go rosario

Kwaka triple dreaming...

2011-01-05T13:08:00.000-08:00

Forum surfing turns up some wonderful widow makers...

...

2011-01-04T15:29:00.000-08:00

...well it's true...

Why? Why not?

2011-01-04T01:21:00.000-08:00

Mr B. Martin's soon to be quite rapid CB750/4 Turbo. Something about the two words 'motorcycle' and 'turbo' in the same sentance that makes my eyes click into the 'wide open' position...

...Stay tuned Central New York, it'll be quick...

There's a whole bunch of different here. Still to come is an original Dresda swing arm and possibly rear sets...

Achtung: Will inhale large birds and small children...

No one paints like that anymore! Someone put some love in around the 70's...

Tasty Giro...

2011-01-03T01:01:00.001-08:00

Small cc machines, check. Miles  and miles of road rally stages timed by officials, check. The Carabinieri cheering you on as you fly through the Italian country side, check.  A couple of terse gents posing on their Moto Giro steeds....

...jealous...

...bucket list...

photos courtesy of Dreamengine2 srl...

...with apologies to stuff and junk...

2011-01-02T00:13:00.000-08:00

Stuff and junk has been going on sapping my time from what I love most. Two spinning wheels, the lady friend and this rant box I have here that for some reason you lovely people still like to mosey on over to.

...I'll be back soon folks...

...Rosario...

Putting on my chuffed pants...

2010-10-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

Most of the parts for my soon to be sorted Honda 4 are flying in this week and I've been getting all giddy.

Other things that get Rosario all giddy...

Getting all South East Asian on a CT90 carrying my Honda 4 donk...

The Suzuki RP68 50cc Grand Prix triple...

V3 that spun to 20,000 rpm punching out 19 shrieking horses...

...with a 14 speed gearbox to keep it in the sweet spot...

Jane Fonda...

.Fin.

Shinya Kimura

2010-10-04T04:54:00.000-07:00

The Story is in the leather...

2010-09-15T23:37:00.000-07:00

... Still looking for some cow carcass to keep my skin intact, but until I stop putting moolah into my cantankerous Honda 4, i'll keep this perusing in the file marked, "Research" ...

Ever since receiving some second hand racing skins, I've been heavily interested in their manufacturer...

Lewis Leathers opened up shop in old London Town in 1892 as D Lewis Ltd, specializing in general tailoring. Not long after the doors opened, a small niche for creating and altering protective garments for men participating in adventure sports was made apparent. That being flying and motoring type activities I take it and of course it all grew from there...

In 1956 they targeted the youth market directly with the traditional double breasted 'Bronx' jacket, and a certain section of motorcycling society found a uniform...

... Now today, in Sydney at least to pick one of these up new costs around $1500, which is a tad pricey. What I find amusing though is when you send your exact measurements to the shop in London, they'll send a tailor fitted jacket for $1000 AUD. Hrmmm...

In 1970 color made its debut on mens motorcycling jackets with Lewis Leathers. Polarizes people I've found, but i think they look swish...

I have my measuring tape and size chart ready...

The Bad Ass Register...

2010-09-14T00:33:00.001-07:00

This guy.

Picture says it all really...

Rockers Run down South...

2010-09-13T04:40:00.000-07:00

Ton Up Boys MC threw a ride together down South through the Royal National park. Thought I'd take a few snaps before hand...

Crappy photography thanks to Rosario...

Dear MV Agusta. Keep making these.

Cheers,

Rosario...

Old Mate that owns Love Cafe 3# (the assembly point), rocked up on his 750SS that was particularly peerty...

... as opposed to the other old mate. Duct tape seat on a worn out Duck. Like every Ducati should be...

Blown street tracker Trumpy...

Highly modified square case Duke. Think he only rocked up for the morning ceremony of everyone kicking each other's tires. That or he was that quick that we never saw him again...

Old mate!

Big Jota...

Rough as guts Duke was leaned right over through the twisties. Didn't like traffic though with what either sounded like an aggressive cam, or improper timing. Judging by its pace, i'd say the cam...

Hero of the day. This Indian made the whole 200 kilometer round trip without incident. Old mate Chris inspects!

Honda Four Chopper!

Rockers Run? Ok. Heres some British Iron...

When the weekend beckons...

2010-08-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

... you work on your project bike ...

... you stop and admire a 750SF ...

... you wonder how comfortable a CD250 bobber would be ...

... take a really dodgy photo of a beautiful MV 350 Electronica ...

... and say screw it i'll take another shot with the orange one ...

. fin .

The Bad Ass Register...

2010-08-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

The screaming side-car siren, who had all the men looking over their shoulder not just cause she was perty...

The very lovely, the very fast...

Dane Rowe...

go go Dane Rowe...

Me and few thousand bikes, and I...

2010-08-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

More National Moto Museum goodness...

... Just the race bike section. Gary McCoy's leathers hanging front and center...

Dresda Triton sitting pretty...

Early Norton 350cc Single racer...

It's not a board track replica unless is a girder mounted Villier's stroker...

When video games were made up from the TV not plugged into it...

...aaaaand i'm back!

2010-08-10T07:43:00.001-07:00

... apologies to the faithful, I have returned with a ton of moto oriented eye exercises. Been on a few long rides and I'm glad to be back showing off what I have stumbled upon...

If you ever head up the Pacific highway, East Coast Australia, you just might fall into the tiny town of Nabiac NSW. Don't just have a beer there in the joints only pub. Walk around the corner and you will fall into the greatest motorcycling chasm ever comprehended.

I took so many photo's my camera should have blown up...

All will be thrown up over time me thinks. Here are a few for good tidings...

This Trumpy bobber was sitting in the front shop on sale for seven grand!..

You know someone got laid back in the day when he (she?) rolled into town on 'Krusty' the XS650 chopper...

This odd contraption is from the good old USSR. The Soviets brought it to Australia to 'show off' transport made behind the Iron Curtain. This Riga 50cc beast was designed for 'MALE RIDERS'. Good old proletariat...

Lord Starling, Rosario's fabled man friend of long rides, giving his opinion on the collection of monkey bikes...

Spare donks hanging out...

cough cough

2010-07-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

Rosario is experiencing technical difficulties. He'll be back soon when his ignition is sorted...

Swap Meets and junk...

2010-06-22T00:39:00.000-07:00

A particular shop's swap day, got me all "i'll pop by to that"...

SR salt racer looked slick. Owner's name was Ross. Tops...

Scott's awesome speed twin. Everything is basically handmade and different. When you're an engineer by trade, and have an eye for detail, this is what you end up with. The front honda drum wasn't even linked up to a lever, why? It was pissing him off. No brakes? No worries?

Race cams, hand made pipes, well... hand made everything. Mind-gasm...

Guard Koala...

As New Harley flathead. Even the stickers were new...

The Bad Ass Register...

2010-06-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

The Canadian three time grand prix winner, 65' 250cc runner up, near death recoverer...

The road racer formally known as Mike Duff...

Michelle Duff...

Old/New leathers woot...

2010-06-20T18:42:00.001-07:00

Shitty camera, great skins!

Just received my first ever full race leathers made by none other than Lewis Leathers. Woot burgers. Now off to the tailor so they can make me fit into them...

The Bad Ass Register...

2010-06-16T10:41:00.000-07:00

4950 air kills, 4131 ground kills, and it shot down 230 v-1 rockets...

The Axis smashing, high climbing, deadly diving, sky bastard from America...

The P51 Mustang.

The Great Guzzi!

2010-06-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

If you sit up all night till the early hours looking at bikes much better than yours then you're bound to know about Wrench Monkees...

Here's a little something they prepared earlier...

Surely that's the cleanest 850 Guzzi ever built...

It may be the yellow door...

2010-06-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

...throwing out contrast and junk, but I believe this shovel has looks. Found this across the interwebs. I'm not your typical Harley-single- crank-pin sort of guy but I think this is hawt...

Love the AMF tank harking back to the days when the company was owned by a bowling magnate that ruined them... More.

Or is it just cause it looks good?

Bobber-tastic!

The story is in the leather...

2010-06-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for new dead cow to drape around my shoulders and the choices out there are immense. My perusing has left me looking at the older guys, who still wear the jackets from their yesteryears.

One of such brands is Belstaff.

Funnily enough, their motorcycling jacket of fame was never constructed of leather, but of waxed cotton. The founders Eli Belovitch and his son in law Harry Grosberg were the first to make such a garment and it's water repelling qualities earned a good name for the company in the cycle circles.

It also looked good.

Cue McQueen...

The company now makes all sorts of clothes, but they still have stayed true to their roots and the wax cotton jacket is the same today as it was in the 20's...

Aphrodisiac in a paint gun?

2010-06-14T02:10:00.000-07:00

Wakey wakey hands off flakey...

The adventures of Sandy, the delectable cb500/550!

2010-06-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

I have finally dismantled my 550 four honda motor, and the lesson has given me a new insight in the benefits of blue printing. Honda have always made a quality product (lets forget about the cb400N hawk for a second) with great metallurgy and blindingly simple designs that put them far ahead of their english counterparts in terms of reliability.

The curious thing about Honda's older machines was that they were steadily detuned over the course of their production. The venerable 750 four started out rated at 67hp, with a wicked throttle response, a fast advance unit and a painful set of four individual carbs with four individual throttle cables. Hop on the early K series machines and they're a blast, if not immensely top heavy. After trying a friends late model 750, it felt like it was missing half the power. Stock air box, stock pipes, stock jetting and the ignition was in check and everything.

Allegedly this was all in the name of increasing user friendliness and fuel economy. There's a guy in Colorado who goes by the name Honda Man who has built over 100 750/4's. He reckons by the fifth year of production the big honda was down to 38 horsepower. Even the 'Black Bomber' cb450 twin has more punch on paper than the later version, the cb500 twin.

All of this Honda tomfoolery is obvious in my 500/4. It was designed to be easy to maintain, easy to produce and not be overly loud. The inlet tubes that the carbs hang onto are mismatched to the inlet bores, interrupting flow. There's casting marks inside and down to the inlet valve as well as out exhaust tract, doing the same, which will require a soft dremel and a polish. The standard exhaust is restrictive and the standard cam (besides being worn to an inch of its life) is made to be user friendly and smooth as possible.

As far as a mass produced motorcycle goes, this isn't so bad but i can't wait to build this thing with perfect tolerances, a lovely port and polish and a hotter cam in it. If it all goes to plan my little road going racer will have the motor Honda should have built stuffed below it's tank.

Love, Speed and Loss...

2010-06-06T08:59:00.000-07:00

If you haven't the time, you should make some, as I have the documentary for you.

Kim Newcombe did what very few did, that being building his own bike, taking it to the manufactures and kicking some ass. Damn it, Kim's going on the bad ass register.

The story is not just involving a particularly smart fellow, but his wife and son that journeyed with him across Europe in the golden age of grand prix racing. If you don't get emotional I wouldn't want to know you.

New Zealand, your record with two wheeled hero's seems to grow.

Burt Monroe, Kim Newcombe, John Britten...

Love. Loss. Speed.

MV stroker...

2010-05-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

Tiny MV Agusta stroker, hanging out the front of Moto Ciclo.

Thought it was a Pullman, but on second look the frame is different.

I'll figure it out...

Riding wouldn't be riding without...

2010-05-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

The Black Keys...

Schwantz's hectic man balls dive...

Wholesome gas station grub...

How it should be done...

2010-05-24T09:45:00.001-07:00

There's a guy over in mother England named Tony who is quite the two stroke fettler. And he's good. Like built his daily RD from shit to better than new in 27 days good. So when he goes and gets himself a DS7 and turns it into something cafe oriented, you know it'll come up trumps.

Not some, "slapped on some clubmans, ill fitted bum stop seat and shitty retro wannabe cafe check stripe".

An actual cafe racer, built in a shed.

Before...

Ta daaa....

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGG ding ding ding ding ding....

Chris 'Knievel'....

2010-05-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Late one night Chris and I were racing to the late night coffee shop. He's on his big old cruiser flying past and fails to slow for the giant cobble stone round about ahead. I only laugh now, but at the time I lost my shit. He hits this thing, gets his million pounds of metal airborne, sideways, and manages to the land the thing without even so much as a chipped ankle. I pull up after the spark show of steal on gravel, run over to the guy and he's lying on the ground like he wanted to be there. Dusted himself off, he saw the incident as merely a test for his kevlar jeans, and got a coffee.

The event apparently gave a passing stoner a conniption.

Usually when a guy comes off he rarely gets back on. Old mate Chris has been down the road the wrong way a few times but this guy puts more miles on than a truckie on ritalin...

It's not all about bills, taxes, rent and the news. It's still ok to play and get dirty, just don't tell your parents...

It's a piece of shit...

2010-05-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

...and I love her. My neighbors don't.

They hate me.

...RRRRRIIIINNNGGGG ding ding ding pop ding...

Honda done good...

2010-05-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

Suddenly this retro thing doesn't make me red with anger. 10 points to Honda for taking a step backwards and dishing out the cb1100. I already know of one custom builder who's put down the dosh for one and asked that it should arrive in pieces.

Huzzah...

The message is in the fine print...

2010-05-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

There's this Spanish guy named Gianmarco Magnani, and he's knocked up some prints for his portfolio titled, "Silence Television".

Even if the guy hasn't thrown a leg over a bike, he sure as hell has looked at one for a long time.

You can check the whole thing out here...

There's something about the aesthetic of 70's road racers that gets me all mushy inside...

The Bad Ass Register...

2010-05-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

The Batman...

Sound Check...

2010-05-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

If the amazons screamed, it would sound like a MV GP machine going flat chat...

Wolf like her...

2010-04-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

Now I don't care if he's jumping on the band wagon, welcome Mr Jason Lee Parry. A big 'Ta' for bringing Hailey Clauson with you...

The rest of his shoot on trendhunter...

Narrow case or wide case, at this point I do not care...

The track is back for more...

2010-04-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

More Barry Sheene festival of speed goodness...

RD all dressed up for the races...

CB350!

Had me all, "damn, that's what I wanna do..."

It's fitted with a set of 350gp pistons, a hotter cam, pair of bigger mikuni's, a suzuki drum on the front and a one piece tank and seat! A teat? A Sank?

Sorry, get all giddy with little cb's.

Molnar Manx making me feel shit about my bike building skills...

Loud as a rifle, fast as a bastard, a carb that can inhale a child and a finish that make my knees wobble...

Bloody Manx.

Kwaka triple waiting to tear someone's head off in a fit of two-stroke madness...

The Bad Ass Register...

2010-04-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

The TZ750 conqueror...

King Kenny...

Racer's rides...

2010-04-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

What some guys rocked up on to the races on Sunday...

A 'Tri'-ton. Trident engine shoved in a featherbed. 59' cover is like putting Bellucci in a tee shirt with 'hot' written across it though...

450 Desmo single.

Don't see too many baby duke's flying the red, white and green these days...

Old mate's Norvin. 'Fugg it he says, i'll race the red one as well'...

Jumping two strokes batman!

2010-04-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

Eastern Creek filled the nostrils of all tinny two stroke lovers...

I couldn't help but give the mighty 'taco the thumbs up...

TR500 titan. Suzuki's weapon of proddy bike choice...

An immaculate RD350. Beautiful and fast. I only know one guy who could make a bike this clean, and he was impressed...

go go round n' round..

2010-04-05T23:50:00.000-07:00

Barry Sheene festival of speed = loud, fast, angry machines that don't like sitting in museums...

The mighty Manx.

Like the sound of an automatic shotgun going off in your ear...

If you are fearless, swallow razor blades, and like things people tend to be terrified of, you know, like death...

You must be the owner of this machine.

Yamaha TZ750.

If you can't pay Kenny Roberts enough to race one, you must be insane...

P-e-r-f-e-c-t condition T500 Titan. You cold eat of the cases...

My small cc fetish continues. Suzi' T125 Stinger.

125cc of parallel twin awesome little-ness..

Riding wouldn't be riding without...

2010-03-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

The smell of Castrol R...

Johnny...

Growing some balls...

I want a V7! The old one though...

2010-03-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

An old v7 waiting for it's owner beside a cafe in Sydney's Inner West...

Apologies for the unprofessional cameo in the mirror...

I want an s90!

2010-03-20T21:25:00.000-07:00

Cuter than a puppy! 90cc of tiny...

The Bad Ass Register...

2010-03-15T07:48:00.000-07:00

...upon first seeing a flame thrower...

"Where do you put the bayonet?"

"Chesty" Puller...

Two strokes get my votes...

2010-03-13T08:01:00.000-08:00

In today’s age of Global Warming this, and 'eco friendly' that, I seem to be out of step. No it's not because I use plastic bags, or mix paper and glass, it's because I've been riding a wopping big two-stroke.

Picture a sunrise on a tidy inner-city suburb, everyone's Prius is shimmering in the rising sun light. The children are stirring for school then suddenly there's the 'crack' of a kick start and the piercing sound of a stinky two stroke. Welcome to my street, and the reason to as why my neighbors may hate me.

My brother left his broken down black and gold 1969 Suzuki T500 in my care for awhile, knowing full well I couldn't resist the temptation to fix it. After cleaning the carbs, adjusting the oil pump, replacing the plugs and sorting the timing, it fired up first kick with a blaze of two stroke oil vaporized in the air. Knocking the bike into first had a real 'clunk' to it, but i wasn't expecting much from the 40 year old gear box. I gave it a blip of the throttle, the neighbors by now were staring through the windows, as I pulled away.

Now to compare this bike to modern day motorcycles, is a bit unfair. To me the Titan is far more enjoyable. Yes, it doesn't stop like a GS500, and may not be as reliable as a GS500, but it'll murder it in a straight line. Where as the GS slips the power on from low down and delivers it in a controllable way, wring the Titan's neck and it will want to rip your head off. The rumor that circulated in the USA about the Suzuki and Yamaha's equally potent RD was that the Japanese exported the big two strokes as revenge for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Such was the toll on inexperienced motorcyclist from oil breathing Japanese monsters .

So with that in mind I'd try a bout of playing traffic light grand prix. The Titian doesn't require any feathering of the clutch, but drop the lever in the power band and you'll leave the rear spinning. It just comes on and you are away. Slap it into too high of a gear, and it won't struggle. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to rev the buggery out all two strokes to get moving. Down low the Titan belches a 'bwwaaaar' before becoming a scream above 4000rpm. The induction noise wins out on a close battle between the smoking exhausts and the wind invading my helmet. And that's just fine, cause as I'm trying to get my chin on the tank I started to wish all bikes gave me this sensation.

The long swing-arm flexes something fierce around the sweeping bends, but the frame seems entirely predictable in which piece of road it will spit you down. There's a hint of understeer, but rolling on the throttle and getting the weight on the rear takes it out, giving you some delightful cornering.

When I pulled up to work at the local pub I had a very large smile across my face. It's one of those machines that give you an event, not just transportation.

Disembarking, some one who must have seen my grin, comes up to me and asks, "do you enjoy polluting? It's spewing smoke everywhere, you should have a hard look at yourself." I tried to explain the joy's of motorcycling and indeed two strokes, but he wouldn't have a bar of it. I paused and asked what vehicle is his daily driver?

"A Land Rover."

I walked away with a clean conscience, and with that aroma in the air only burnt oil can create...

The Bad Ass Register...

2010-03-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

Marcello Mastroianni...

Out of rego, not out of fashion...

2010-03-03T06:39:00.000-08:00

I swear I live in Ducati land. Walking home from the local sauce factory, I walked into this 600 Pantah. No rego, warm motor, no worries...

Moto Doctor...

2010-03-01T07:42:00.000-08:00

Feeling drowsey? Life got you in a rut? Booze, cigarettes and drugs not doing it for you anymore?

Buy a motorcycle, watch this twice and call me in the morning...

(hint it's got Steve McQueen in it...)

You're Welcome...

The Bad Ass Register...

2010-02-27T00:06:00.000-08:00

James Hunt...

Go on, play a little...

2010-02-26T07:16:00.000-08:00

Honda as a motorcycling company has achieved quite a bit if I do say so myself. Numerous Isle of Mann TT wins, Grand Prix titles, bringing four cylinder motorcycling to the masses, wait, bringing motorcycling to the masses, a la Honda Cub and so forth. Today they are a company of mass proportions and at the front of innovation. If you're going for you're first bike, a Honda could be a good option, as they have some decent history to fall back on. I however, fell a little too hard on the history...

I found a CB250 73' model and it had been sitting in a shed out in Gundagai for the last 25 odd years. Quite unloved, I put it on the trailer, dropped it off at home and put some air in the tires. After I swapped out the battery, adjusted the points and gave her a kick, away I went. The clutch was as hard to squeeze as a cricket ball, the old twin leading shoe drum brakes were as responsive as granny hitting a mosquito and the cam chain rattle was causing small animals to circle out of control. There was a lot wrong with the little put put, but I absolutely loved it....

Ask anybody what their first bike was, I say 10 bucks says they all crack a smile at the memory of it. There was no such freedom at that time, bar a boat full of women on international waters, that could match the feeling of your first ride on you're first motorcycle.

Something would always go wrong with the thing, and being a less than average paid bar tender, it required me to figure it out and fix it on my own. The amount of times i have sworn at the the little twin, and thrown things at walls due to the problems it has caused me. I had no one to teach me but a terrible aftermarket manual that seems to have been written by an alcoholic who started drinking on page one. Alas, something happened. I got it right. To any one slightly handy with a hammer, saw or vernier calipers, you know this feeling.

It got me thinking, there are people who don't know this feeling. They pay for everything to be fixed, tuned, painted, and even cleaned. Now this is fine, have the cash? Have something better to do? Don't care about silly early 70's Hondas? No problems, it's just your missing out...

I fear the spanner twirling days are dying for my fellow younger riders. Most of my friends don't even change their own oil! Shock horror. Yet like riding, getting to know your machine is a bit of an accomplishment any one can achieve. Every time I go riding my now Hailwood wannabe Honda, I get people my age telling me they wish they could do that with a two-wheeled machine. It's easy, just find a manual written by an alcoholic, scream at it lots, kick the wall every now and then, and you have landed in the world of DIY motorcycle maintenance! Welcome, mind the oil slick on the floor....

Rosario returns...

2010-02-26T07:08:00.000-08:00

With many apologies, and excuses ranging from not having a camera nor computer, to ladies in their Mercedes running into my bike, i've been preoccupied and unable to tend to my much loved blog.

Welcome back all...

Turner the alchemist, turning metal into gold...

2010-02-07T05:42:00.001-08:00

The motorcycling goose that laid all the Golden Eggs was a man by the name of Edward Turner. For all those who throw a leg over old British Iron, much thanks for the emotive experience it has become to us is due to Mr Turner. He not only was innovative, but a saviour of the British Motorcycle Industries' Golden age.

In 1927 he built his first complete motorcycle, The Turner Special, with a 350cc OHC mill at a time when the norm was side-valved flatheads. From that point in time he saved nearly every British Motorcycle company in one way or another with his radical designs.

What he will always be most famous for was his return to Triumph in 1944 and the greatest modern example of alchemy. Triumph we're sliding down Bankruptcy Mountain as BSA, using one of Turner's designs no less, were at the summit. The alchemist picked out a design he originally pitched in 1939 and threw it over the drawing board.

Turner gave Triumph the Speed Twin.

The design stayed in production till the Meridian plant shut in 1983. This design's most famous form came in the shape of the world's most famous motorcycle. The Bonneville. The engineers at Triumph had to design the Bonneville in secret, due to the surprising issue, Turner detested motorcycle racing and racing replica motorcycles. Their secret design, completely based upon Turner's Speed Twin, was taken out to the Bonneville Salt Flats, breaking every record in it's class. Thus giving the Triumph secret machine it's name, Bonneville.

Turner thought, "this hot 650" would ruin Triumph, but due to his design, it saved the ailing company once again.

It's nice to know history is still heartfelt, and that we embrace good ideas. As every time you see a new Hinckely built Bonneville, you can look down on the familiar twin and think, "ahhh Mr Turner made that..."

1959 T120 Bonneville

An Italian in silver...

2010-02-01T06:08:00.000-08:00

Went for a rainy ride to Picton via 'the Gong' and landed next this 900SS Duke. As a wannabe rocker, it still amazes me why they don't keep building stuff like they used to...

I can see you, Mr Bevel drive...

Leather maketh the man...or woman...

2010-02-01T05:26:00.000-08:00

It's been the choice of clothing for the Bolsheviks in the Russian Revolution, the livery of rock stars, the robes of the Commissar's in the Soviet Union and the warmth of fighter pilots. The anti-social type's wore them post-war. You kept your daughter between you and them, these bikers, greasers, rockers. What ever you want to call them, those on two wheels had their protective clothing on, and it looked good...

McQueen the King sipping on his morning cup of joe...

Ms Moss wearing a Ton Up boy's standard issue...

Brando in a Perfecto Jacket...

Why, hello Audrey....

2010-01-27T05:55:00.001-08:00

Australia Day Bike Parking...

2010-01-26T07:08:00.000-08:00

Heat + Iron + Steel + Rubber = Hyde Park on Australia day....

Copper checking out a kaff Beezer...

The fella on the J.A.P powered Rotax having the time of his sideways - life...

Jawa speedway machine. Slide, rigid, slide...

Baby blue Eso...

J.A Prestwich's finest showed up...

Vincent engined side car jobbie...

A Sunbeam S7 thats ridden daily. In a word full of electronic ignition and kill switches connected to kick stands, it's nice to see some used goods from yesteryear...

Beezer Golden Flash...

Couldn't find the owner on this one, but looks like a Villiers powered Jawa from the 30's...

L.A.P.D flathead...

Carburetor Zen...

2010-01-25T04:49:00.000-08:00

Meditation, allegedly, is the concentration of the frontal lobe region of the brain.

Feeling stressed, depressed, unimpressed?

Repair those carbs and have a good weekend...

The Horror...

2010-01-24T04:25:00.000-08:00

In these politically correct days we live in, it is a breath of fresh air (pun, apologies) to look back at a time where ring-a-ding two strokes were king. The history of the technology is a long one, but fascinating, sounding more Bond than Clymer. Suzuki paying for the defection of the East German GP rider Degner? A brief case of parts and chambers developed by a Nazi scientist taken over the Iron Curtain?

Take that Ian Fleming.

It takes someone quite brave to ride these machines hard. Underestimate the big two stroke bastards, and they'll bite. To the unwise hopping on these relic's of a smokey past, you can see the moment they figure out what these things are made of. When they snap back the throttle and catch the power band, it's that look of horror...

Suicide Machine and once holder of the 'fastest production bike' title.

Kwaka H2.

750cc of death...

Suzuki's T500 Cobra/soon to be Titan. Legend has it that Yamaha's RD and this mean s.o.b were sold to the States as revenge for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Such was the carnage with inexperienced riders...

Kenny Robert's TZ750 flat-track monster. At the time of it's debut on the Indy Mile, it had twice the horse power of it's nearest rival and less of the weight. Robert's started from the back, working his way up to win in spectacular fashion.

On the podium King Kenny told the crowd they don't pay him enough to ride the thing.

Valentino Rossi wasn't game to ride it.

Banned from the AMA championship.

Enough said.

Peace on two wheels...

2010-01-20T19:56:00.000-08:00

Riding around in your automobile,

with your baby beside you at the wheel,

you lent in to give her a kiss,

nearly took me out but you missed.

So i'm pissed on my motorcycle,

racing to catch you, whoops you stalled.

Give you an earful, some verbal pain,

later that day you nearly hit me again!

When will you ever really learn?

Tarmac rash really burns.

Words By Rosario

Inspiration by ass in Vee Dub Golf

Riding wouldn't be riding without....

2010-01-05T21:12:00.001-08:00

On Any Sunday...

Tom Waits. He knows karate, voodoo too...

The Stelvio Pass...

Singing Auld Lang Syne...

2010-01-01T21:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Years all. It's going to be a good one.

Remember:

"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."

~ Anonymous

Freezing and still ridden, I tip my hat to you...

2009-12-28T22:21:00.000-08:00

I don't take to kindly too cold weather, so when i spotted some bikes in Manhattan with warm motors i was impressed to say the least...

An Indian Chief! Out the front of the 'Ear' on Spring Street on a Tuesday bike night. If it isn't dripping oil, its empty...

A Stock CL450 in an empty store room in soho! It was in beautiful condition just sitting there locked up.

I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas....

2009-12-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

6th Street Mecca

2009-12-19T07:14:00.000-08:00

I had heard about a place called Sixth Street Specials on the lower East Side. Thought i'd mosey on down and have a geeze. I found the owner Hugh, his employee Fumi and what i believe to be the coolest collection of bikes i've ever seen.

Now, i'm used to most bike shops not even blinking an eye lid at a young guy looking for parts. I have to say Hugh and Fumi were true gents.

Trumpie Flat tracker. They like to race at this place...

Probably the biggest king and queen seat i've ever seen...

Another hard-tail in construction, with this chopped up sportster tank.

Bonnie heads anyone?

In every corner there's something. Here's another customers bonnie they're building.

Now, not the best set of photos, but this bonnie flatracker has some unbelievable work done. The side cases are engraved like you wouldn't believe...

Holes have been drilled through the fins...

And the tank is covered in engraving...

Just one of the many Triumph Bobbers

Beautiful Beezer...

Hugh pulled the covers on a featherbed framed norton commando. He told me the price, lets just say I kinda lost my shit. I'm moving back over here...

Hard tailed Beezer. There were just hard-tailed frames everywhere.

Uhh, sure, i'll buy the cleanser....

2009-12-19T06:33:00.000-08:00

I've ventured down to New York City to have some fun and destroy my liver. I was alerted to a cosmetic store that had some significant two wheel iron parked on their showroom. With a girlfriend for cover, we went in...

A 34' Harley flathead. Owned by Clark Gabel! The story goes he used to ride it to mexico with his friends and play tag at around 90mph.

Steve McQueens 1934 Indian sporting a suicide shift

A 79' Harley Low Rider. Nothing crazy, besides this 80ci machine being painted and pin stripped by Kenny Howard. You know, Von Dutch. The real one that achieved things and went crazy, not the trucker hats.

Pioneers! O Pioneers!

2009-12-11T13:48:00.000-08:00

"O you youths, Western youths,

So impatient, full of action, full of manly pride and friendship,

Plain I see you Western youths, see you tramping with the foremost,

Pioneers! O pioneers!"

Walt Whitman

How about this weather...

2009-12-11T13:32:00.000-08:00

I'm in Upstate New York, and looking around for some ice racing. In the mean time I found this jawa on the world wide web, getting me more excited about this dirt style racing on crack. Ice hurts more than asphalt apparently...

A staple Italian dish and a british motorcycle...

2009-12-03T07:12:00.000-08:00

As alot of guys who love the more classic iron slash customs should, you have to take your hat off to old 'meatball' for his starring in Brittown. He didn't reinvent anything, just gave us a dvd of a guy doing what we love. Not to mention building some stuff i wish I could hold onto. I love bonnie's for a reason, it's cause i watched this guy build one.

Go Johnny, go go go...

2009-12-01T07:26:00.000-08:00

"So, you're the man in black..."

Swap meet parking lot....

2009-11-20T19:44:00.000-08:00

A bike shop in inner sydney held a swap meet today. Thought i'd mosey in and see what people rode up on...

An old panther! I believe it's a model 100, but seeing as it has "The last of the dinosaurs" emblazoned on its fender, it may be a 120. Love to see the old girl still going...

Volocette 350 Mac, just waiting to be restored. Looks like 30 years of dust sitting.

Stopping me in my tracks was this Mike Hailwood replica 900. First thing to hit my mind was wishing i was back in 1978 on the island watching this thing being ridden in anger. It's had a ground up resto, rides like a pig allegedly due to some imola cams, and the fairing is an exact mould of the real bike's. Apparently it feels like it's idling properly at 4ooo revs.

Egli machine bevel covers. The owner doesn't touch the throttle until he watches oil shoot on the glass.

XS650 bobber.

Another war time BSA! Clubman's, a megaphone, and the original springer front end. Love the green headlight against the yellow body work.

A knuckle and a bonnie walk into a bar...

2009-11-10T03:29:00.000-08:00

Bobberific. Here I found this hard tailed bonnie and 47 knuckle outside one of Sydney's nicer bike shoppes. Apparently the knuckle doesn't stop. Stopped me...

Nodding and waving my problems away...

2009-11-03T22:15:00.001-08:00

When enduring one of those days best forgotten, where everything becomes a little too much to handle, i was riding home with the utmost sense of failure. A dying feeling of trust with my fellow man you see. All it took to reverse my attitude was 'the wave' from a passing rider. There's something in that, that our four wheeled brethren will never know.

Cheers 'guy-on-sv650'...

Introducing Sandy...

2009-10-29T10:12:00.001-07:00

There's two great sensations from building a motorcycle. The day you get it, in all its derelict glory and the day you shut the gas cap and switch on the ignition. This is my cb500/550, or as my dutiful girlfriend calls it, Sandy. Next time you see her, it'll be a real 'after' shot. I'm about to hack into her, and I feel just swell.

Fast women....

2009-10-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

What does it mean, when the first thing I noticed is that she doesn't have any brakes?

Scrambling with a French twist...

2009-10-14T03:05:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you're trapped in the Moroccan desert, miles away from water and civilization? I would usually go with panic, but not in the case of Emile Leray. Noticing a pile of scraps that used to be a Citroen 2CV, he turned it into a two wheeler, and rode to safety. Take that junkyard challenge genre...

Scary Canary Triton

2009-10-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

Triton's were put together for three reasons. Go go in a straight line, go go round and round, and to make small children run to their parents screaming. Add some slammed down bars, bum stop seat, and a drum so big, you couldn't catch a fish in it. Stir gently, then race to the next cafe and back...

Ode to lulu...

2009-09-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

This is Lulu. She's a cb250 that needs a carb rebuild, and some form of side stand. She has straight pipes, bum-stop seat, and a cb160 tank. And she's mine. Something's always wrong, and I have to lean her against walls and sign posts to park her, but i love her for all her faults. And yes i act like it's a person.

Bars down, bum's up and your away...

Designed on a pack of cigarettes, built in a shed...

2009-09-23T10:09:00.001-07:00

Burt and his scout are so famous now that it feels like a cliche to put them up here. But every time i'm working on the bike, I can't help but remember him and his story.

Like Mr Munro said, "If you don't follow out your dreams, you might as well be a vegetable"...

The world's fastest Indian with no clothes on...

McQueen the king...

2009-09-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

Was watching bits of 'Le Mans' tonight and remembered just how cool Steve McQueen really is. No one else could make fireproof clothes look that good. Ode to the good man and his love affair with everything two wheeled...

Smile for the camera...

Sliding and smoking...

Steve relaxing on a normal day...

Tucked away in a coastal valley...

2009-09-13T22:47:00.000-07:00

Today my friends I rode up to Gosford, and we discovered Pacific Harley Davidson. Not your usual Harley dealer, as everything was custom, nothing newer than 1980. What caught my eye was this knuckle head bobber. She's a suicide shifting, springer springing, polished everything.

Riding wouldn't be riding without....

2009-09-08T21:10:00.000-07:00

Chuck

T- 800

Girls on Bikes

Norton does what I say...

2009-09-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

Well, not really, but they did read my mind. I'm always asking myself why don't the old British giants get up and make what they used to? Norton are doing just this and are remaking the Manx. It's called the 30m now, as in the designation Norton originally gave the bike. They're even thinking of entering it in the TT! I would not care if it came dead last, I would want to see a Manx racing on the island. Down side? It costs 30,000 pounds. Yipper.

Old and wooden

2009-09-06T22:09:00.001-07:00

This is Clemen's 42' BSA 500 single. I was caught by surprise when I saw that the seat, battery box, headlight and controls were made out of wood! Not to mention the tiniest Z bars i've ever seen on a bike. The level of craftsmanship made me look at my bike and wince.

Rat Rod Parking Lot

2009-09-06T09:11:00.000-07:00

Rode down for your typical hot rod show on fathers day, where there was lots of beautiful machines ranging from cars to boats. Ironically, I didn't want to go much farther than the parking lot, where their two wheel cousins were sitting...

Old mate rocked up on this AJS single number. No number plates, no indicators, and needs a few lads to help bump start her. Was getting smiles all day.

Hard tail trumpie with those lovely scrambler pipes.

Found this hiding behind a bunch of 32 Fords. No stopping some people.

Do you know what they call a cheese burger in France?

Now as a wannabe Rocker, I usually turn a blind eye to Vespa's or indeed anything scooter related. But I was torn with this rat of a stinky step-through. I looked all over for the owner to get it's story, but to no avail. One Vespa, pre-loved.

Just a duke 860. Just.

Beezer Geezer

2009-09-04T07:51:00.000-07:00

Apparently bikes get the girls.

Banana Duke

2009-08-30T03:29:00.000-07:00

Funny the things you see just sitting on the side of the road. Especially when it's a non-desmo 750ss Ducati.

No Motor, No worries...

2009-08-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

Ben Soutter's fixie. Didn't cost him an arm and a leg and looks better than any $2000 frame i've ever seen.

Love the white front wheel and the rear white walls.

Silhouettes of Speed

2009-08-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

Hail to Hailwood, Forza Agostini. Two of the best, on two of the best looking machines. They both look bored waiting...

Mike the Bike

Ago

Go Go Rosario

2009-08-27T02:18:00.000-07:00

My father, from when I was a kid, told me never to hop on a motorbike. The day he found out I had one, he swore and yelled till he was blue. Sure he had had them, but that's different."Do as say not as I do". He had a cigarette, and went quiet for awhile until he finally piped up,

"So. What is it then?"

This is for all the people who love two wheels. I'm going to fill this page with the machines and the people that love them.

Smile for the camera...

go go rosario

Kwaka triple dreaming...

...

Why? Why not?

Tasty Giro...

...with apologies to stuff and junk...

Putting on my chuffed pants...

Shinya Kimura

The Story is in the leather...

The Bad Ass Register...

Rockers Run down South...

When the weekend beckons...

The Bad Ass Register...

Me and few thousand bikes, and I...

...aaaaand i'm back!

*cough cough*

Swap Meets and junk...

The Bad Ass Register...

Old/New leathers woot...

The Bad Ass Register...

The Great Guzzi!

It may be the yellow door...

The story is in the leather...

Aphrodisiac in a paint gun?

The adventures of Sandy, the delectable cb500/550!

Love, Speed and Loss...

MV stroker...

Riding wouldn't be riding without...

How it should be done...

Chris 'Knievel'....

It's a piece of shit...

Honda done good...

The message is in the fine print...

The Bad Ass Register...

Sound Check...

Wolf like her...

The track is back for more...

The Bad Ass Register...

Racer's rides...

Jumping two strokes batman!

go go round n' round..

Riding wouldn't be riding without...

I want a V7! The old one though...

I want an s90!

The Bad Ass Register...

Two strokes get my votes...

The Bad Ass Register...

Out of rego, not out of fashion...

Moto Doctor...

The Bad Ass Register...

Go on, play a little...

Rosario returns...

Turner the alchemist, turning metal into gold...

An Italian in silver...

Leather maketh the man...or woman...

Why, hello Audrey....

Australia Day Bike Parking...

Carburetor Zen...

The Horror...

Peace on two wheels...

Riding wouldn't be riding without....

Singing Auld Lang Syne...

Freezing and still ridden, I tip my hat to you...

I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas....

6th Street Mecca

Uhh, sure, i'll buy the cleanser....

Pioneers! O Pioneers!

How about this weather...

A staple Italian dish and a british motorcycle...

Go Johnny, go go go...

Swap meet parking lot....

A knuckle and a bonnie walk into a bar...

Nodding and waving my problems away...

Introducing Sandy...

Fast women....

Scrambling with a French twist...

Scary Canary Triton

Ode to lulu...

Designed on a pack of cigarettes, built in a shed...

McQueen the king...

cough cough