Friday bike

Sometimes the Friday bike is something I've seen, or something I remembered, or just something that I found on the Web. This weeks' I found when searching YouTube for videos about touring in the Alps, and this turned up.

Two riders in Austria with Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcones, this weeks Friday bike.

The Nuovo Falcone (New Falcon) was built from 1971 to 1976, and is basically a reworking of the older 'Falcone' model. (Nowadays they would say 'reimagined!') It was a fairly low powered 500cc single with a distinctive horizontal cylinder, stacked silencers and a truly huge flywheel casing. Many were used by the Italian Police and Army before being sold off.

See what I mean about the flywheel! However, I think it's a very smart and 'balanced' looking bike, and I love the single saddle and mudguard mounted luggage rack.

Not sure about the silencer, and note how civilian (and civilianised military) bikes had a rather precariously positioned pillion saddle in place of the rack.

It was not one of Moto Guzzi's successes, and even Guzzi enthusiasts don't rate them highly, but I think they've got a rather 'chunky' style. Examples occasionally come up for sale.

This example is on  Ebay at the moment (at a rather silly price!)

Some websites with more details: one, two, three, and here's a video of an owner starting his. Listen to how slow the tickover is, heavy flywheels have their advantages!

Note comment from owner: Cruising speed is 80 km/h. It is possible to ride faster (100-110 km/h) but it is not very comfortable then. Top Speed is 125 km/h approx. (80 km/h = 50 mph, 125 km/h = 78 mph) .

Anarchy

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride

This event was planned as a number of motorcyclists going for a run on their bikes whilst dressed in smart suits. However, to prove the power of the Web, once news of it had spread, numerous other rides took place all over the world. I had e-mailed a few of my friends suggesting we have our own one here in Scotland, but nobody got back to me as they thought I wasn't serious!
As it turned out, the planned day, September 30th, was so wet here that we'd have to have worn diving suits! Oh, well better luck next year!

As you can see from the organisers' website, numerous rides did take place, see blogs and I've stolen a number of pictures and videos from them

Sydney

London

Washington

 Sydney

London (extra cool points for the lady in matching red coat and Indian!)

 And best of all, the Madrid ride was even featured on television

Mo will be along in a minute with a translation, but they are either saying 'look at these distinguished gentlemen on their fine motorcycles', or 'look at that bunch of idiots!'

Talking of Spain, we all know Dali was there in spirit!

It wasn't just gentlemen, there were also some ladies taking part.  

 I say, ding dong!

Goodwood Revival

To kind of make up for my post about banger racing, here's something a bit more respectful of old cars.
In September each year the Goodwood Revival is held. It's a big show dedicated to classic vehicles, aircraft, fashion, etc.

As you can see, a lot of visitors really get into the spirit of the event and dress accordingly. However, as it's held at a racetrack, there are lots of demonstration laps and proper races. I found one for early 60s cars, and it's really interesting to see so many different cars are taking part, - who would have thought that a Mini and a Jag would be so close on the track. Although I think using a Ford Galaxie is cheating a bit as they weren't sold here!

Drink! ...Drink!.....

Don't look, classic cars fans!!

Back in the 70s, old cars were just that - old cars. Not 'classics', 'appreciating investments', or and other such rubbish. They were worth nothing and nobody wanted them.  So the only thing to do with them was race them round a track bashing into each other, and hope that your car survived to the end. I remember watching this as a teenager on 'World of Sport with Dickie Davis', and if you watch this clip to the end, you'll see Dickie himself. He was very popular with 'women of a certain age' - must have been the moustache and bouffant hair. Perhaps I should adopt that look!

Just to underline how little people cared about old cars in those days, even by the mid 80s they could have a race just for Jaguars.

Of course, the spectators wanted to get in on the act, so they let them race their own cars on the track. They didn't need helmets or roll cages, and you'd need the windows for the drive home - what could possibly go wrong?

Sculpture corner

Thanks to mr. combo for this one.

A statue has been unveiled in Paris commemorating Zinedan Zidane's infamous headbutt of Italy's Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup Final.

Love that facial expression!

Article from France 24:

Six years after French football legend Zinedine Zidane was ejected from the 2006 World Cup championships for headbutting another player, the infamous moment has been immortalised in the form of a bronze statue in the heart of the French capital.

It was a moment that France will never forget. In the 110th minute of the 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy, Les Bleus captain Zinedine Zidane headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi. Zidane was ejected from the game, France lost and a nation was left heartbroken.
Now the infamous move has been immortalised in the form of a massive bronze statue on exhibit outside of Paris’ world famous Pompidou centre.
The five-metre (16 feet) tall statue, which is very appropriately titled “Headbutt”, had already attracted herds of tourists and locals on Wednesday, who jostled each other to have their photo taken beside it.
The gargantuan sculpture was created by Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed, who the Pompidou is doing a retrospective exhibit on from October 3 until January.
“An ode to defeat”

"This statue goes against the tradition of making statues in honour of certain victories. It is an ode to defeat," said exhibition organiser Alain Michaud.
Zidane became a legend in France after playing on the national teams that won both the 1998 World Cup and the Euro 2000. The headbutting incident was made all the more tragic by the fact that Zidane had announced that the match would be his last professional appearance as a player. Zidane later claimed that Materazzi had provoked him by insulting his mother and sister.
The statue will remain in front of the Pompidou till the end of the Abdessemed exhibition in January. A much smaller version of the piece was previously on display in a New York art gallery.

And here's the original: