Change of pace

Towards the end of last week I realized I had kind of run out of things to talk about in the motorcycling world. It isn't easy to come up with new information each day considering Facebook already does that for you. 

There are also several other great motorcycle blogs written by women who have a better focus on what they want to write about and you should definitely check them out.

So after some thinking I have decidedto focus more on classic bikes, which is how I grew my passion for motorcycles in the first place. 

With the cafe racer movement coming back in full force and the chopper movement somewhat behind us I think showing all of you these brilliant machines in their original style will help put all the modern technology and engineering in perspective, make us all appreciate where these machines have come from and where they will go. 

I don't think anyone can move forward without taking a good look at their past.

So I hope you will all stick with me as I in lack of better terms bring up the past of motorcycling.

Brit Bikes

As you all may have figured out I Love British bikes. I also happen to love pretty much everything else that comes out of the UK. There's just something about the culture I love.

What I find most amazing about today's British bikes is that they are all a Phoenix of some kind. Triumph came out of the management failures of the early 1970's, Royal Enfield survived through India and Norton is just now beginning to come out of it's preverbial ashes.

I hope these remaining three continue on. There's something to be said about learning where these bikes came from and I'm honored to be around to see where they will go. 

Could Triumph enter the ranks of MotoGP factory teams? Is a new Norton Commando the next "must have" cafe racer? Will they ever make a better Royal Enfield (at least they don't catch fire anymore)? These are all things I'm excited to see and you should be excited too! 

Favorite Riding Jacket

If you could change one thing about your favorite riding jacket what would it be?

I would want my jacket to be a but more broken in than it is right now. Don't get me wrong I love wearing it but I just don't feel like I can move in it very well. I know they are meant for safety but us tiny girls tend to get overwhelmed in these kind of protective riding gear. 

I currently wear a textile Dianese armored jacket which I do love but the armor is still "universal" which doesn't work so well for my small frame. It makes it difficult to move. I currently haven't found a leather jacket that I like, every one I try is too stiff and limits my range of motion even further than the textile.

Despite these small problems I always wear protective gear when riding even if it means I'm uncomfortable. 

Vintage Police Bike

So here's another great post from my club president and for all of you that don't know it's The BSA Owner's Club of New England. I know I need to stop poaching his pictures but they're always so great!!

Today's pic is of a vintage auxiliary police bike from New Haven,CT. It's interesting to see how only the brand has really changed over time. Modern police bikes don't look all that different from this wonderful relic of the past. I guess that doesn't say much about Harley's choice in styling...

Anyways, I do enjoy the styling of the British models, they have always displayed a beautiful simplicity and functionality. 

Vintage Helmets

It looks like vintage style helmets have made a come back in the world of riding. 

I personally have a Biltwell bubblegum pink metal fleck 3/4 helmet.

I think it started with the hipsters and scooter riders but there have been some seriously cool ones designed too like the one above courtesy of thekneeslider.com.

What style of vintage helmet do you like? The cafe racer? The bubble visor?

Riding Music

For me listening to music in the car is as natural as driving. So when I hopped on the Honda for the first time last year I put some Vivaldi on the IPhone and went off for a sunrise ride along the water in Falmouth,MA. It was beautiful to see the sunrise and follow the road curves by myself. 

Music while riding helps calm my nerves, as much as I love hearing the engine roar it takes my mind off bad stuff that could happen which sadly has happened a bunch. 

Any thoughts on riding with tunes on?

The Addams Family

So I may have hijacked this from my club president's Facebook page....who knew uncle Fester was good with a wrench and not just explosives?

Where do you get your classic bike parts?

These days there are so many options for locating hard to find parts for your classic bike. 

I personally started by calling one of the few remaining Classic British bike shops I know. I also had some help from my good friend Charlie who provided me with service manuals and some extra parts when I bought the BSA from him almost 4 years ago.

He also took me to my first bike meet complete with bike part flea market. From that point on I have made it my goal to know who I can get parts from since BSA singles aren't super common. I find my best purchases have been at swap meets or through knowing people who are willing to sell. British Only in Canada is a good source same with Don Hutchinsons Cycles in Wakefield MA. But this is all for original replacement parts not for shiny, funky,chic,new parts. I haven't gone that route...yet.

In all seriousness the BSA is staying stock for now.

But where do you all find your parts? Do you go on forums or use eBay? Do you have a cash of parts we all need to know about? What is your favorite part hunting method?

Triumph Battle 2014

As much as I love my old BSA I sometimes think I would really enjoy a brand new triumph. I went out and bought my little Honda 250 last year to practice riding so I would be worthy of the beautiful machine I helped revive but I can't help think maybe it would be easier or nicer to consolidate down two one. Now I know this is quite silly because she who has the most bikes wins and there is no way I will give up the BSA.

But if I did consolidate my inventory which model would I pick?

I've narrowed it down to two models, the Bonneville and the Scrambler. They have the same engine, same styling and almost the same price. My number one reason for choosing the Bonneville over the Scrambler would be the placement of the exhaust. I am worried I would burn the heck out of my leg, but everyone gets a Bonneville it may be nice the have something different.

If you could choose, which bike would you want out of the two and why?

http://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/bikes/bonneville/2014/bonneville#styling

http://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/bikes/scrambler/2014/scrambler

Dreams

Have you ever actually sat down and thought about your life's dreams? We all have those moments where we feel so inspired that we create this beautiful perfect dream in our minds eye. But how many of us actually achieve or set out to achieve these dreams?

I have so many dreams I have a hard time picking only one. I once wanted to be an Olympic figure skating champion, then I wanted to be a Veterinarian and then I started having real dreams about riding motorcycles. I would shift through the gears with ease going through corners on a bright sunny dream day, all before I had even been on a bike.

What no one tells you is how much hard work and stress it is along that road to your dream. Look at MotoGP riders for instance. They have to over come injuries, destroyed equipment and criticism to get where they are.

So why do it?

Because there is nothing else that will do. Nothing else that will quench that thirst, I imagine its something similar to what drug addicts feel. Eat, sleep, breathe, think, love, do what drives your spirit even if it isn't motorcycles.

But if it is... join the club!!!!