This blog started when I owned and MZ Skorpion Traveller and a bike magazine dismissed it with the phrase 'you can't tour on a single'. The Skorpion's gone and I now have a Triumph Bonneville, but I can't be bothered changing the title of the blog!
I don't think I've posted this one before on the blog, but it's an interesting look at motorcycling in 1965.
Lots to look out for here:
Like how Tom's gauntlets are so wide that rain water would run down his sleeves and fill them up.
I take it he's got some kind of throttle lock that allows him to take away with hand off the bars.
Had white line paint not been invented yet?
Lots of cool old cars (spot the bubble car at 3:00).
Tom really likes hand signals, doesn't he?
Despite comments on YouTube about Tom not stopping for the lady at the crossing (5:34), at that time the rule was that someone wanting to cross signalled to road users to stop by placing one foot on the road.
Note guest appearance by Spandau Ballet at 7:26!
Here's one produced by BMW in the 70s. I remember seeing this at the 'BMW Roadshow' when they launched the R100RS.
I remember thinking the way the rider 'spins' the bike on its stand at 0:54 was cool. What they didn't tell you was that doing this wore your stand so much that it snaps! Don't ask!
Now for those of us who grew up in the 70s, Donald Pleasance voicing one of the scarier public information films.
"Oi! look there's sumun' in tha w'ota" See, people talked like that before Eastenders!
It's an Indian built Rajdoot RD 350! After Yamaha stopped building the very successful RD 350 in the mid 70s, Indian firm Escorts bought the rights and built their version from 1983 to 1990. It different from the Yamaha version mainly in having a drum front brake and a detuned engine. It was sold as a competitor to the Enfield 350, and although you'd expect it to be a runaway success (well, which would you choose?), it was never a commercial success due to high fuel consumption, very expensive and difficult to obtain spares, and a lack of dealers who could work on one. Pity, as it would be a lot sportier, and certainly MUCH cooler than an Enfield. Wikipedia
I would imagine that this was fairly 'racy' advertising for India in the 80s!
Ho, ho, ho, - this is going to upset some people!!
Contemporary artist Grayson Perry, more well known as a ceramicist, has turned his attention towards motorcycles and created a Harley custom called 'Kenilworth AM1'.
He's also designed his own leathers based on the Cerne Abbas giant sculpture.
Cerne Abbas giant
Grayson curated an exhibition at the British Museum called 'The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman' and there's a explanatory video here.
I think Grayson makes a valid point when he likens the custom bike scene to 'traditional' crafts like making a suit of armour, in that craftsmen make something individual to order.
Grayson is also well known for his transvestism, so it might be better if he didn't turn up at a Harley rally on Kenilworth dressed as his alter ego, Claire!
This time it's not the sculpture that's 'interesting', but the reaction of some people to it. An artist in Arizona has unveiled a (distinctly unerotic) nude statue, but people seen to find something in it to complain about.
Here's a bit of video of an article on television. statue
You could not imagine for a moment that anyone in Europe would object to a sculpture like this on grounds of it being 'shocking'. Not particularly interesting, yes; or not of very high artistic merit, possibly; but certainly not offensive.
I find it very strange that the US is moving further and further away from Europe culturally and morally, whilst moving closer to a country like Iran - I thought they were supposed to be the 'bad guys'.
In preparation for my trip to the Coupes Moto Legende in a couple of weeks, I dug out my 'spare' set of wheels and arranged for them to be powder coated before being fitted with a new pair of tyres. These wheels came from a 'non running' Tour I had bought a few years ago, and the previous owner had painted them with aerosol black paint, but had not bothered marking the tyres or preparing the surface. Therefore, they looked a mess!
I knocked the old bearings out and had a look at them. The front pair looked like the originals, but water had got in at some time and one of them was starting to rust. The rear bearings had a word printed on them that we all fear - 'China'! Why anyone would buy and fit Chinese bearings is completely beyond me. They are rubbish quality, bound to fail, and decent bearings only cost about £2 more.
I had ordered my bearings from Simply Bearings, a company I've used many times before. They stock just about every size of bearing (and have a useful 'find bearings by size' box), are very competitively priced, and always deliver very quickly.
At the left: decent bearings. Upper right: rusty bearing from front wheel. Lower right: cheap nasty Chinese bearing that I wouldn't use even if they were free!
I took my wheels to a local powder coater that I'd used before and had been very happy with their work. Chameleon in Renfrew. They gave them a very nice coat of metallic dark grey (they called it 'Titanium') for £100. They dip the wheels in a tank of some chemical to soften the paint, then blast them to remove everything and to provide a 'key' for the coating. The parts of the wheel that aren't to be coated (disc screw holes, bearing holes, etc) are carefully masked, then the coating is applied. I think they then bake them in an oven. (I haven't seen this bit done.)
A week later, and the wheels are ready for collection. The finish is absolutely superb and even, and the wheels I had done a few years ago look as good as new, so the durability is very high.
I fitted my new bearings then took my wheels to have the tyres fitted by my brother Stuart. I had bought a pair of Avon Roadriders. Not the 'sportiest' tyres you can buy, but they suit my style of riding. Good grip, long life, and a reasonable price all add up to make them a good choice. I looked round the Web to see who was selling them at the best price, roundandblack on Ebay.
I bought a 110/70 - 17 for the front and a 140/70 - 17 for the rear. I'll let you know how I get on with them.
To make it easier to inflate the tyres, I fitted 'Ariete' angled valves. Much nicer than the cheap rubber ones. Link 11mm ones fit the Skorpion's wheels.
I fitted the wheels and took the bike out for a run to see how they were. Ever noticed that I bike feels much nicer of new, round tyres before the 'square off' a bit? I then filled my panniers then took the bike back out to check whether I needed to adjust the pressures to cope with the extra weight. The bike felt nice and stable, so that's it ready for its trip to France.
New tyre, newly coated wheel, Brembo caliper, and stainless bolts.
Nice deep tread, should wear well.
Ready for France!
And for the source of the title - sing along, children......
Now for a piece of 70s exotica! A unique opportunity has arisen to purchase one of the meanest, toughest, and down right hard core motorcycles ever produced - The Fantic Chopper!!
Forget Harley Davidson, forget Triumph twins; what you want powering your 'iron steed' is a rattly 125cc 2 stroke engine. If you're not ready to be one of the 'Wild Ones', they also produced a 50cc version (for 'Mild Ones').
Be the envy of your local Hells Angels - have girls throwing themselves at you feet - when you cruise into town on your 'Italian Stallion'!
It's on Ebay at the moment - so don't delay, bid today - If you're man enough!!!
