The Abingdon "King Dick"!!! Really!

Here's a link to Motorcycle Classics article. Cool bike indeed.

The Sears Allstate.

Really just a Puch Twingle Re-badged. Very interesting bikes though. Here's a link to a good explanation of how they worked... Twingle

Manga: Biomega.

Biomega is an Surrealistic Cyberpunk action manga by Tsutomu Nihei. It follows a character by the name of Kanoe Zouichi-a synthetic elite soldier created by Toha Heavy Industries and his AI companion Kanoe Fuyu whose luminous form is integrated into the system of his 4000XLA Toha Industries Motorcycle.

The 4000XLA Toha Industries Motorcycle

Fuyu assists Zouichi with situational analysis as well as advising him on strategies. Like the other AI's in the comic series she has had emotions programmed into her. The bike itself comes equipped with a rifle, a hand held railgun, and an axe for close combat.

Biomega is the second prequel to Tsutomu Nihei's highly successful Blame! series. You can download translated issues of Biomega here.

Saurashtra no sinha.

Via The Hindu By G.V. Joshi

"Life in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat is almost impossible without a chakkada ride. As it can carry a heavy load, it is called Saurashtra no sinha meaning the lion (on The the roads) of Saurashtra. A chakkada is as much a symbol of Gujarat as the Asiatic lion of the Gir.

No one knows for sure when the first chakkada took to the road, but the one popular story is that the first chakkada was made by the then Jam Saheb, the Maharaja of Jamnagar. He got a trailer fitted to his motorcycle to transport garden manure across his palace grounds that was spread over several hectares.

The concept appealed to the local people of Jamnagar, who started converting their Royal Enfield or other high power motorcycles into chakkadas in the 1950s.

It probably got its name from the fact that six (chak) different parts were traditionally used for its manufacture the Greaves 7.5 hip diesel engine, the Royal Enfield bullet gear box and bonneted fuel tank, the Austin differenital, Hindustan Motors’ Ambassador brake drum, Fiat tyres for the rear and motorbike tyres for the front, and a motorbike chain."

One hell of a Yamaha Streettracker.

If I wasn't so into 2-strokes I'd definately be into these...

Modern XR Harley Roadracer

Jay Sprongsteen's Harley Racebike

Henrik Björkman's Thunderbolt Electric Scooter Concept.

Via Trendhunter:

"The Thunderbolt Electric Scooter Concept by Henrik Björkman does not break new grounds when it comes to technological advances. The scooter’s design emphasizes a curvy hole where the engine is traditionally placed. The result is a not-so-subtle protest against combustible engine use. The Thunderbolt has a range of around 70 KM/H on a three hour charge."

Old Flathead Sportster...

I love these old relics... They're as much "industrial art" as they are motorcycle... imho...

They CAN have problems though...

The motorcycle in cinema-Murdercycle.

(clip via youtube)

Via moria:

" Kirby, a disgraced Marine, is brought in for a top secret mission. He is to head a team, joined by a forensicologist, a shady CIA agent and a psychic, and enter a classified testing grounds in Colorado, but is told nothing more about the mission than that. But once in the grounds, he and his team find they are dealing with a lethal armoured motorcycle and rider that have been taken over by an alien force and cannot be stopped by the mere guns that they are armed with."

Ducati GT 1000

Florian Dezauer's Ketto concept.

Via businessweek.com

"Ketto is a motorcycle with a sharp, aggressive appearance, and a transformable upper part that allows 'streetfighter' and tourer to be combined in one motorcycle. The upper portion and foot posts move to optimize the riding position for both sporting and long-distance travel. The design features integrated storage space for a helmet at the rear."

Beautiful Kawasaki Z1 900

Ka

Honda Super Hawk.

High concept: The Fichtenfoo Monoracer.

A few posts ago we saw Fichtenfoo's perfectly built up model of the Junk tank rock Monowheel kit. Today we are going to look at the skilled modelmaker/ and graphic artist's future model-art project, the MonoRacer.

Based on the designs from the Japanese animated movie The Venus Wars, and real-world creation The Riotwheel. Fichtenfoo's 1/24th scale model shows a carefully thought out bit of imaginative engineering, and with the advent of new technologies the Monoracer may indeed be able to be built in full scale by someone far, far more clever than us. We eagerly look forward to the day we can go to the local Monoracer meets and loose our hard earn money in a truely futuristic way.

We'll be sure to keep tabs on the progress of this great bit of design.

I have seen the future of racing-and it is still ruined by cheep beer and sugary soft drink sponsors...

Another Great BSA

Ode to a favorite three wheeled toy.

You gotta love those seventies graphics...

Via sprenzy.com:

"One of my fondest memories as a 5 or 6 year old child was riding my Green Machine around the block. My older brother and I shared the Green Machine and a Big Wheel. After riding a Green Machine, it was pure torture being relegated to the Big Wheel.
Back in the day, I was a shy kid. At age 5, I was still learning to speak English and adapting to American culture after immigrating from Vietnam. However, once on my Green Machine, I was transformed into the coolest kid in the neighborhood, at least in my mind.
My hood consisted of a square block around Bridge and Third Street in sleepy New Cumberland, PA. Nonetheless, I patrolled that block like no other on my Green Machine. I pretended to be a police officer or a fireman from the TV shows of my youth, namely S.W.A.T. and Emergency! I spent endless hours power sliding around the block and enjoyed every minute on that green tricycle.

I loved my Green Machine because it was the coolest toy in my hood and it was also my first mode of transportation that allowed me to explore the world. The world at the time was a square block, but grew bigger over time with my first BMX bike, a 10 speed in junior high, a mountain bike during college and road bikes in my 30s. You can attribute my love for cycling and desire to explore the world to that Green Machine.

Much to my surprise the Green Machine was re-introduced by Huffy in 2003 and updated again this year. The 2006 Huffy Green Machine “is designed and engineered for today’s kids. The new version of this old favorite is high tech, durable and cool.”

BSA Victor!

I love these bikes! Must be Like riding a Jackhammer!

Cut Out Scooter Postcard.

From scooterworks.com Via Craft:

"This super-cool postcard (Part # PC1 Price: 2.99) contains pieces to make a cute little Vespa model! It's made in Taiwan, and has that Asian toy charm, with oversized headlight and short wheelbase. You cut the pieces out with a utility knife and glue them together. Instructions here."

flickr: nc454's futuristic motorcycle.

Via: nc454's photostream:

"This is the latest in my series of futuristic motorcycles and frankly I think it's the best. I was inspired by artist Arthur Radebaugh (no relation) who was famous for drawing futuristic modes of transportation in the 40's and 50's and so on."

Nimbus!

I confess that I don't know much about the bike except to say that it's very cool. Open valves and flat-bar frame. Damm.

A Pair of Honda 400 Four Beauties

The prettiest Exaust pipes ever... IMHO.

Jut your average Honda, Mike Hailwood Replica.

Anarchy Online's hoverbikes.

Anarchy Online is a science fiction MMORPG (Massively multiplayer online role-playing game) released in June 2001 by Funcom set on the world of Rubi-Ka and its extra-dimensional twin, the Shadowlands. It is one of the few popular MMORPGs that makes use of a science fiction setting as opposed to the more common fantasy setting. A wide array of personal transportation options are available in the games massive virtual worlds, including flying jets, and hover bikes (our personal favorite) Other crafts exist but are rarely used due to having very specialized utility or being exceedingly difficult to acquire. There are many types of any particular vehicle and bike that vary in cost, speed, and aesthetics.

Znug Designs concept bike.

Ah, another case of Akira influence. Znug Designs from Japan, (who seems to stem from the furniture designers at coex-design) have created this electric, belt driven FF (feet first) bike concept. No details are given on the bike- but we like it when designers and artists are given to create transport design-as some of the most imaginative creations (and solutions) come to the surface,

A little Velocette Action

Mine Yoshizaki's cuter scooter.

Pict from dvdyke's flickr photostream

Mine Yoshizaki (吉崎観音 Yoshizaki Mine, is a Japanese mangaka (manga artist) who first started his career by making dōjinshi (self-published works) based on video games. He is best known for his manga Keroro Gunso, published as Sgt. Frog in the United States. In 2005, Sgt. Frog received Japans 50th Shogakukan Manga Award for childrens manga.

This cheeky 1/7 scale PVC statue can be yours for a mere $89.00 from Fullmetal toys.

Anticipation..

A BMW R1200RT still it its crate-From CatsFive's flickr photostream

Another mystery bike.

This mystery bike comes from portalmotos "odd bike"thread. Looking like something out of a bad French Science Fiction film, the rider in the top photo peers through a slitted visor only used for gazing into pulsing atomic reactors. Still it's all great fun-and besides I never thought screen door mesh could be used as an aerodynamic aide as I think it would somehow defeat the purpose. Any clues to this bikes origin are most welcome.

When is a motorcycle not a motorcycle? Gyron 1.

Gryron 1

In 1967 car stylist Alex Tremulis (Tucker Torpedo) and multiple gyro patent holder Thomas O. Summers (ceo of Gyro transport systems) created the Gyron 1 " gyrocar ". Powered by a 80 HP Mini Cooper-S motor with gyro stabilization provided by a 180 pound "brute force" gyro to keep the car upright and balanced at all times. Under full throttle Gyron 1 could do 0-60 in a wheezy 15.5 seconds-but to be fair the idea at the time was to create a Gyro/motorcycle hybrid rather than a road missile. Steering was by the same principle of regular a motorcycle and controlled by means of aircraft cables and an automatic "black box" witch "did the thinking" for the driver.

The aluminum body was hand formed by L.A. coachbuilders Troutman and Barnes to Tremulis's concept drawings, and resembled many of the American coupes of the period-but only much, much narrower. The Gyron1 also used the Mini's transmission, witch then turned several belts to put he power to the single rear wheel. The innovative car, bike, er-whatever-used the typical concealed and retractable "landing wheels" that we now see on modern enclosed motorcycles, like the Peraves Ecomobile.

Sadly the unique concept was just that, and has now since been long forgotten-With the exception of us and Stephen Cobbs Gyro Car Blog.

(see also Dalniks)

Click on the image to see the full size article from Motor-Trend 1967

The poet detained by the police.

Typical-poets are almost always the first to be hasseled by "the man"

Several weeks ago after my dinner and before my trip the to sweet shop I wandered into one of my villages many bookshops and picked up a rather neglected copy of Lucien Clergue's photobook of "Jean Cocteau and the testament of Orpheus". Once home and in bed I carefully went through Clergue's remarkable islolated and surreal images and found this picture of Cocteau encountering some of the local motorpolice.

So there you have it..most likely the first motorcycle blog to have Cocteau, Orpheus, or Clergue.

The ghost bikes.

from goodmagazine by Patrick James

"You might have seen them on your way to work—old bikes spray-painted white, adorned with plaques, and permanently bolted to street signs. These Ghost Bikes are sobering epitaphs for bikers who’ve been hit or killed by automobiles. The first Ghost Bike appeared in St. Louis in 2003, and now the monuments have been erected by cyclist groups in nearly 30 cities around the world, serving as a stark reminder that drivers must share the road with more fragile means of conveyance. "I wish I never had to do another one," explains Ryan Nuckel, who helps create the bikes in New York. "But as long as there’s a need, they'll continue."

Cafe Racer of the week: Master Chief.

Master Chief's Brute Chopper

Lead character Master Chief from the massively popular X-box Halo 3 game is not just stuck with his politically incorrect SUV to help take care of his alien warfare buiness. Later on one of the games many levels MC manages to steal an alien "Brute Chopper" a giant single spiked monowheel complete with some sort of grand sciencefictiony glowing antigrav pod in the rear of the bike- and equipped with twin "Brute Spiker"guns.

and of course we must have a lego version

Voxan designer Sacha Lakic creates another perfect thing to sit on.

Sacha Lakic's Meridienne sofa.

Modern technology and a clear vision have enabled brilliant Motorcycle and scooter designer (Voxan Charade, Bimota Mantra) Sacha Lakic to create the "Speed Up" series of contemporary furniture for French manufacturer Roche Bobois. It may be the perfect combination of Sacha's transport design and Roch Bobois' cutting edge reputation that allowed such a bold line to be realized. The Meridienne 3 seat sofa / chaise lounge (above) speaks for its self.

The Speed Up series also includes a dining table and chairs, a sideboard, and several storage units in a variety of vibrant colors.

flickr: jesterhoax.

"Dirty Motorcycle Mecha" from jesterhoax's photostream.

The Art of Bryan Christie Design.

motorcycle boot for VehicleSF

"Bryan Christie is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been featured in such publications as WIRED, Newsweek, The New York Times, Esquire, and Field & Stream. He began his training in 1996 at the illustration and animation studio SlimFilms, picking up skills from his father, Andy Christie, and Pete Samek. From there he took a position as assistant art director at Scientific American magazine, where he designed and illustrated covers and editorial content. Bryan was impressed by the distinctive aesthetic of the magazine from the '50s and '60s; its influence can be seen in the development of his own unique style"