Sano Trike Orgins

I've been meaning to post this cool ad for Himsl Trike Bodies for some time. I didn't just want to post it and leave it at that, but rather to show how it relates to other Heros of Chopper History.

The design of the body brings up the question, who first designed this style of trike body?

An Ad for Himsl trike bodies. Love the illustration. The art is not signed, but I have a strong suspicion it was done by Ed Newton. From the July '71 issue of Choppers Magazine.


Art Himsl's Preying Mantis as featured in the larger Nov. '70 Choppers magazine. It had been previously featured in Roth's July '69 digest sized Choppers magazine. Both articles mention the sale of the semi mass produced bodies. The first article calls it the Himsl Brother's Mantis and mentions Art's brother Mike. Art is still going strong but, what happened to Mike?

Because of the dates mention above, I'm sure Art's design was influenced by Roth's first trike, The Candy Wagon.

The trike won Custom Bike of the Year at the '69 Oakland Roadster Show. Art's Alien show car can be seen in the garage in the background.


Roth's Candy Wagon on the Dec.68 cover. One might assume that Ed Newton designed it, but it may not be wholly true.


The article inside shows Newton's early more ominous designs featuring booze related items plus a machine gun. Roth wanted something more kid friendly. Note that the high back seat body is absent in the drawings and nothing is mentioned in the article of the seat body's design orgin.


Was another Roth artist, namely David Mann, the one really responsible for the Candy Wagon's seat/body? Notice the pipes too, and compare to the Candy Wagon cover above. Did Roth decide on the style after seeing this? Did Dave do it after seeing the CW or see another sketch of Newt's, or visa versa? Based on this art and the date, I think Dave had the idea first. Roth published this poster in '68.

KTM shows off electric motorcyles at Tokyo Motorcycle Show

KTM is presenting two versions of an electrically-driven sport motorcycle for the first time. Both a sports-oriented offroad machine and a dynamic on-road bike are on display at the Tokyo Motorcycle show under the label "KTM Freeride". Read more detail here.

Ride safe

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://bestmotorstyle2011.blogspot.com//
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Kawasaki launch the D-TRACKER

Kawasaki Motors UK has announced the launch of the Kawasaki D-TACKER to the UK Market. This is a 125cc compact Super-Moto styled bike with soft compound tyres and a fuel injected engine and described as a "first real bike".

Its great to see Kawasaki producing models that are aimed directly at younger buyers encouraging them to get in motorcycling. This is their second 125cc model on top of their two successful 250cc motorcycles.

With a price tag of just £2849, it features racing style digital instruments, petal disc brakes and competition style front forks and a air-cooled four stroke engine (10 HP) with electric starting.

Ride safe

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://bestmotorstyle2011.blogspot.com//
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Don

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Don with his 1975 Honda Gold Wing GL1000 custom trike. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

The Harley Custo

A collaboration between Harley-Davidson and the fashion designer, Custo Dalmau who has resulted in the exclusive Harley Custo. Read full details here.

Ride safe

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://bestmotorstyle2011.blogspot.com//
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Motorcycle test debacle revealed!

The Transport Committee has published its review of the new European motorcycle test and revealed what we all already new.

Launching the report, Transport Select Committee Chair, Louise Ellman MP said, “many candidates and trainers now have to travel too far for their motorcycle test. This adds to the cost , and in some cases, exposes candidates to fast and dangerous roads on the way to a test site — before they have even taken their test. The Driving Standards Agency needs to give much greater priority to customer service and convenience for test candidates and trainers.”

In its report, MPs conclude that the Driving Standards Agency was slow and dogmatic in its approach to test centres, failing to listen adequately to the motorcycle industry. Smaller test sites could have been retained, saving millions of pounds. No other country in Europe has found it necessary to build ‘super test sites’.

So now this mess is in the public forum, will it get sorted out? I wonder!

Ride safe

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://bestmotorstyle2011.blogspot.com//
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Suzuki launchs limited edition GSX-R600

As part of its 25th anniversary Suzuki GB have launched the limited edition Suzuki GSX-R600.
With an exclusive colour scheme replicating the 1999 factory machine, the GSX-R600 will be limited to just 25 models.

With a Yoshimura exhaust, exclusive top yoke plaque and certificate this will be an exclusive model.

Available for reservation from 1st April, interested customers can visit www.imgsx-r.com for more information.

Ride safe

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://bestmotorstyle2011.blogspot.com//
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

2010 Yamaha FZ8 Gallery

2010 Yamaha FZ8 Front View

2010 Yamaha FZ8 Headlight

2010 Yamaha FZ8 Blue Series

2010 Yamaha FZ8 Sport Bike

2010 Yamaha FZ8 Pure Black

2010 Yamaha FZ8 Photo

2010 Yamaha FZ8 Rear

2010 Yamaha FZ8 First Look

Triumph Thunderbird 1600 Cafe Racer

Triumph Thunderbird 1600 Cafe Racer Photo

Triumph Thunderbird 1600 Cafe Racer Motorcycle

2010 Yamaha Fazer8 ABS Motorcycle

2010 Yamaha Fazer8 ABS Motorcycle Wallpaper

2010 Yamaha Fazer8 ABS White Edition

2010 Yamaha Fazer8 ABS Sport Bike

2010 Yamaha Fazer8 ABS Picture

2010 Yamaha Fazer8 ABS Engine

2010 Yamaha Fazer8 ABS in Action

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Black Cat

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Black Cat on her 2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883XL Low. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

More Fun From Lincoln Park

Here's the other 1948 Lincoln Park photos from Harry Sucher's book. They are some of the coolest racing shots I've seen from that period and the first reason I believe the date was wrong on the Don Fera photo caption in the previous post.



This VL appears to be fitted with WL tanks. I'll bet these guys rode these machines on the street and raced on weekends. This and the Knucklehead in the above photo are good examples of how race bikes influenced the 'California Bobber' look.

A Lost Opp

The year, 1993. I was at the El Camino Vintage MC Show checking out the bikes when a quiet elderly gentleman near a restored Harley VL For Sale, commented to me, "I didn't know they were so valuable now... I guess I better go home and put a lock on the garage."

The bike he was commenting on. I believe the price was about $10k.

He went on to say that he use to race VL's, still had a few plus a garage full of VL parts. He then said there was a picture of him taking a jump in Harry Sucher's The Milwaukee Marvel book. I told him I had the book and knew the photo he spoke of. We talked briefly and he handed me a card with his contact info.

Of course I knew this photo... It's so cool. The year stated is likely incorrect. There are some other similar jump photos in the book on the same course and by the same photographer, but dated 1948. Also, the rear wheel is a 16" and they weren't available until the '40s.

I should have struck when the iron was hot. As time passed, I felt more uncomfortable about contacting an elderly man that I really didn't know.



I'd guess he has long since passed and I blew a unique opportunity to learn some M/C history first hand. Still, it was nice to have met and chat with one of M/C's old timers.

Anybody out there who knew Don Fera, know what happened to him, or his bikes?

Long Beach Twofer

I haven't posted any in awhile, so here's a few pics from the last two swap meets. It was raining the days before each meet and both times cleared just in time with some perfect swap meet weather.

January 24th

I followed this chopped Sporty in and had to get a better look. You might say, today's take on a '70's bike.


A slight mix of parts from different years makes it a bit hard to tell it's a '68. It was pretty cold (by So Cal standards), before the the sun got high, hence the frosty windshield.


From Reseda to LB. Flathead Fern's son braved the early morning cold aboard his recently acquired Shovel.


No, the Knuckle wasn't for sale, but rather a rebuild for customer pick up.


There's always a interesting bike or trike or two for sale.


A rather strange mixture of parts and colors makes up one man's idea of the perfect bike.


'48 basket anyone? If only I had the bucks.


The box was from an old bakery.


Flathead Fern and son. One of the regulars that has pre-Evo stuff. You can pretty much see how nice the day turned out.


February 28th
The rain stopped again.

As soon as I walked in, I came face to face with this very original '78 75th Anniversary Sportster. 75 for H-D not XL's. It's a little hard to tell here, but the wheels are gold. It sort of set the theme (Sportsters), for the day.


Didn't know they made a Twin-Cam in '38.


Since my first bike was a '71, I have a soft spot for them. I like how simple, skinny, and small this one looks.


Spotted just seconds after Kirk of Sporty Specialties mentioned how often early Sportsters seem to turn up even though their numbers were very few.


A bona fide '57. Engine numbers don't lie.... well at least, most of the time.


I was caught off guard coming across The Baker Shaker from the Kemosabe blog. It's kind of weird seeing a bike in person after online. Sometimes it seems, if you wait long enough, everything eventually shows up at Long Beach.


Mike "Born Loser" D. holds court and promoting the Born-Free show at his usual spot. Hold the date, June 12th.