A Good Issue

It's been a while since I've posted any of my old magazines. This one has a ton of "out of sight" images. The American Chopper Enterprises/Himsl Custom Paint Studio ad came from this issue and so did one of the photos of Roth's Mail Box trike.

These cover bikes were not featured, but here's what it said on the index page: Jammin' is what it's all about. In front is a bastard '57 lower end in a '56 frame, topped off with a '62 shovelhead upper end. Close behind is a '49 Pan bored .030 oversize, raked, and running a 12" overstock extension.

The tape on the bound edge of this issue is testament to how many times I looked through it. I'll be posting more from it soon.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Cheryl

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Cheryl's grandfather, Edwin Wright, with his 1930s bike of unknown make and model. Do you recognize the bike? 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.

A Few From Pops Day

You can' tell from this photo, but there seemed to be more people than usual.


This KR was one of the highlights of the event to me.



Original Bikes Rock. In this case, a 1969 XLCH


There's no white wall on choppers!


I believe I overhead the kid with the family that owns this trike say it was a '38. I didn't see anything '38 about it. The tanks are '47- 50, and the engine was stamped '59. The rear box may have been the smaller early one.


It's nice to see old relics (27 Henderson 4), being ridden, but watching him almost lose it getting into traffic was scary. He popped the clutch, got squirrely, and ended up on the wrong side of the road. He recovered quickly and was really lucky that nobody was in the lane at that moment.


Garage Co. bikes. Nice stance. This shovels swinging fender, frame and springer combo reminds me of Roth's Oink.

Leave it to me to only photograph American bikes at a British shop. The truth is, I was disappointed at the turn out of Brit bikes this year. Maybe it was my timing.

BMW Recalls 2005-2007 R1200GS Adventure Motorcycles for Fuel Tank Bolt Problem

BMW is recalling certain 2005 through 2007 R1200GS Adventure motorcycles manufactured from December 7, 2005 through September 26, 2007.

The fuel tank front attachment bolts can work loose allowing the bolts to come into contact with the fork leg if the handlebar is turned a significant amount.

The number of units affected has not been announced.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

MV Agusta Recalls 2010 F4 for Air Cleaner Problem

MV Agusta Motor S.P.A. (MV Agusta) is recalling certain model year 2010 F4 motorcycles manufactured from February 10 through April 19, 2010.

These motorcycles are equipped with an air filter frame, P/N 8000B4061, which may lift out of position, allowing intake air to bypass the filter.

66 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW Recalls 2007-2009 K1200 and R1200 Series Motorcycles for Brake Line Problem

BMW is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 R1200 and K1200 series motorcycles manufactured from August 2006 through May 2009.

Due to the current routing of the front brake lines, it is possible that during riding, and therefore associated vibration, the brake lines could be under strain. If the vibration/strain is significant, the brake line could split and start to develop a leak.

15532 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Fathers Day Party

Sorry for the late notice... I almost forgot.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of them doing this. It's basically an informal ride in event and free. I've gone a few times over the years and plan on being there. I've heard, that in the past, Jay Leno has come by early in the day.

A One, and a Two, and a Three

I've been going to the Long Beach Swap Meet since it began (1989?), and would often see bikes that I really liked but, never took a camera. One rare occasion, in the summer of 1996, I did take a camera and shot the following photos as I was preparing to leave.

A One. I really dig this old road warrior. How about that passenger seat?


I call them Blend Bikes (made up from a unique blend of different year's parts), or Swap Meet Bikes, since their owners have built them up or keep them going by using whatever they find at the swap meet.


A Two. What's this... another cool flathead parked along side?


A bit more of an original survivor. There is nothing cooler than old bikes that are taken out and ridden.


And a Three. This one's blend of parts isn't really working for me but, you don't often see three UL's being ridden together. I assumed they were all buddies since they were just about the only bikes left in the lot. This one could very well be the same bike a friend of mine bought a few years later (at Long Beach), and restored to stock.

I never saw them again. I can't help wonder, where are they today?

Russian biker babes in leather!

Yes we rather though that headline would get your attention!

Well you attention is needed because we've put up a range of excellent desktop motorcycle wallpapers on www.inter-bike.co.uk for you to download of russian biker beauties Nadia Yakhnich and Nataliya Lyubimova, who both ride for Yakhnich Motorsport ,clad in Spyke leathers.

The pictures were kindly donated by Italian motorcycle clothing brand - Spyke.

You can download them here.

Ride safe

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

Retro rides again with the new Honda VT750S

Honda UK have launched the retro styled VT750S into the UK market.

Powering the new VT750S is a liquid-cooled, V-twin of 745cc with Honda’s latest PGM-FI fuel-injection system but in keeping with the classic styling, the V-twin features finned barrels for that ‘air-cooled’ look.

The frame uses a strong, steel double cradle design, steering geometry has been specifically chosen to give excellent feedback and neutral handling, aided by a 19-inch front and 16-inch/150mm rear wheel. It has 41mm forks and twin shocks, which are adjustable for pre-load, adding to the classic look. A large 296mm front brake disc is aided by a 180mm drum at the rear.

The upright riding position, chrome finished headlight, twin exhausts, wire-spoked wheels and teardrop tank all hint to a bygone age of motorcycling.

Ride safe

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

BMW K 1300 GT Exclusive Edition launched

BMW Motorrad have launched an exclusive version of their grand tourer the K 1300 GT.
The K 1300 GT Exclusive edition specification includes:-

• Electronic suspension adjustment (ESA II)
• ABS
• Cruise control
• Automatic stability control (ASC)
• Tyre pressure monitor (RDC).
• Heated grips
• Seat heating
• Xenon headlamp
• On-board computer
• Large topcase (49 l) with colour matched lid and common-key lock barrel
• New paint finish in Granite Grey metallic/Granite Grey metallic matt
• Exclusive Edition plate

Ride safe

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

BMW Recalls 2008-2009 F650GS and F800GS Motorcycles for Drive Chain Problem

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2009 F650GS and F800GS motorcycles manufactured from September 27, 2007 through March 30, 2009.

The drive chains may not have been produced to specification. As a result, over time the drive chain could break.

The number of units affected has not been announced.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

BMW Recalls 2007-2008 G650X, G650X Country, and G650X Moto Motorcycles for Roll Gear Pin Mounting Attachment Failure

BMW is recalling certain model year 2007 and 2008 G650X Country, G650X Challenge, and G650X Moto motorcycles manufactured from November 29, 2006 through May 19, 2008.

Over time, the roll gear pin's mounting attachment could break. If this occurs, it would be possible for fragments of the attachment to become trapped between the drive chain and the rear sprocket.

The number of units affected has not been announced.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Norman & Dorothy

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Norman & Dorothy with their 2009 Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide Ultra Classic. 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.

Young Punk

Ruby Duby Doo! I wasn't aware of this early Hopper film until seeing some images on the Nostalgia on wheels blog. A quick search turned up this cool poster. That's DH on a glide fitted Knuckle.

Born-Free 2 Part 1

For anyone (in So Cal), who's truly interested in vintage choppers, the show last, Saturday was a must attend event. For that matter, it drew people from all over the country and even Japan. Also, no one could make the excuse, they couldn't afford it, as everything including food and beer was FREE... unheard of in today's world!

Here's some random shots from the show.

The focal point in the closed off street was at Pacific Coast Cycle in Signal Hill Ca.


Quite a few Triumphs came out and many were amongst the cleanest of the bikes in the show.


I got so caught up in taking photos I missed the chance to really take in this sleek knuckle.


This cool '35 VL took home best Bobber. You can blame me for that, I judged the category.


Another really nice bike that I didn't eyeball enough. Anybody know if it won best Shovel? It must have been a contender.


A Lovely line up from Jeremiah.


I spotted this nice Panhead early in the day. It didn't stick around long enough to contend the Bobber class.


Future Chopper Jockey. Lucky little fella, I wish I could have attended a show like this when I was his age.


Best Panhead went to Mark Drew's period piece.


Max's Knuckle. Is it just me or does the peeling chrome on the Roth air scoop look like a hand flipping the bird?

Update: Dave Smits sent a photo. It is indeed the '"birdie" , it jogged my memory, I do now remember seeing it on Max's or some else's blog.


This is one of the nicest unit Triumphs I've seen in awhile. Not too much stretch or gap in the hard tail section like many. Gives it a real vintage look. I believe it took a trophy home.


I got to admit, I had some reservations about the show this year. With all the early promotion I was concerned that it would get too big, out of hand and would be shut down like some other events in the past. With many hundreds or thousands more in attendance than last year, all went very well and I didn't see or hear about any problems.

It was truly an unusually cool event. They basically just threw a bike party and everyone was welcome. Again, a BIG THANKS! for having us all goes out to Mike, Grant, Harpoon, and their whole support team.

More pics to come....

A Good Ride

A card I made for our anniversary last week

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Mike

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Mike on his 2006 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 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.

This Month's Header

The Candy Box
What do models have to do with Summer? Well, when I was a kid, if we couldn't go to the beach, or playing various games in the street, we built stuff. As a matter of fact, my brothers and I were fairly avid car modelers. Most of the time we just couldn't help but modify them to the extent that they rarely resembled what was on the box cover.


I built this model sometime around 1970-71. It was it's second build and was loosely based on Roth's Mail Box.

When my interest shifted, I stopped building cars and started building bikes. The first one I remember was Revell's "Chopped Hog". At first it was built as it came, but since it was a lousy depiction of a chopper, I quickly tore it apart and customized it. I added a hard tail, a molded in peanut tank, new pipes, sissy bar, rear fender, seat, and scratch built a brass springer.

The next victim was Revell's CHP model. I don't recall ever building it stock. Instead, it became the raw material for a chopper based on Jim Breo's trike from the first issue of Big Bike magazine. I posted Jim's trike here last January.

As in real life, a cop bike becomes a donor.


Here's how it looked the first time around. In someways I wish I left it alone.

Like most of my models, it didn't stay intact long, and soon it was apart for a new build based on Roth's Mail Box. Since, I had already modified the Shovelhead frame and engine to look like a 45 c.i. Servi-car. The new mods consisted mainly of stretching the down tube, molding a cut down gas tank, building a body, and adding a longer springer.

The Real Deal. The Crosley engine really only looks good from this side. Roth didn't want to use another flathead 45 since he had already built the Candy Wagon. Each trike project was built to gain more experience. The Crosley engine was an experiment for using a water cooled engine with the radiator mounted in the back and served as a stepping stone towards the later V-8 powered trikes.



Roth's original Choppers magazine used Ed Newton's Mail Box drawing at the top of the letter's to the editor page. For fun, I took a shot at replicating it.


Engine and frame mod details. The cam cover was cut down and the timer centered. The barrels, heads, and push rods were cut down and filed to resemble flathead cylinders. Drag pipe were fashioned from other pipe pieces. This is the second oil tank and was made from a rear shock capped on each end with a spotlight. Now, the only part of the frame left intact was under the engine and trans and the seat post. The drive chain was moved to the right side. Rear fender mounts were used as 45 brake and clutch side straps. Some parts, like the kicker, brake pedal and foot pegs, have broken off over the years. A top engine mount was never made.


The finned heads were scratch built from sheet plastic. Cutting and fitting each fin and the bolt pattern was the most tedious chore. The carb was moved to the left and a working choke was made from a pin. The primary cover was also reworked to resemble a 45's. The left side engine case was the biggest omission, it should be finned. The spark plugs wires and coil have since come off.

The body was made from balsa wood and the interior is covered with vinyl. The gas tank is from a Triumph kit. To create the indents, the knee pads were cut off and glued inside on the opposite sides. The fork was scratch built out of brass and was from another model I built. I don't remember ever seeing a color photo of the real trike back then, but read it was fogged in various colors. My attempt at custom paint was fogging some red over the green Testors metal flake and was never very happy with the result.

The Candy Box. Another fun exercise, a Photoshoped Candy Wagon/Mail Box combination for comparison. You can definitely see the Candy Wagon's influence on my model.

I still have remnants of other chopper models but, somehow this one survived. It was tossed around and stored in a box for about two decades but has since been on display in my studio for about the last 6 years. I'd like to rebuild some of the others, but that will have to wait for a future Summer.... perhaps in a second childhood?

New Ducati Monster 796 arrives at UK dealerships

Ducati's new Monster 796 arrives at UK Ducati dealerships with 10 additional colour selections in addition to the standard offerings of white, black and Ducati red.

New ‘Monster Art’ body kits for all three members of the Monster family; giving riders the chance to accessorise and customise the look of their bikes with ten all-new color choices.

The Monster panel kit includes tank covers, a mudguard, a micro-bikini fairing and seat cover.

The Monster 796’s air-cooled engine produces 87hp and 56lb/ft of torque, and weighs in at 167kg. The Monster 796 has adapted a comfortable new seat, higher handlebars and optional passenger grab handles, Borrowed from the 1100 model, the Monster 796 features a single sided swingarm and four piston Brembo brakes. These features combine with an APTC slipper clutch, blackened foot rests, and new five spoke wheel.

Ride safe

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