An ad for one of the very first swingarm big twins. It musta been a pre ’64 Panhead. We busted into Bob T’s garage recently while he was lost in a bottle of Jack Daniels, but not that gone. We just barely roamed into one of his antique collection drawers and he came to life, […]
Rare Old Bike Tools Read More »
This rare Crocker sold for an all-time high dollar amount of $275,000 in November of 2006. The broker was Don Whalen of Sierra Madra Motorcycles, (626) 358-9696. If anyone can find a bike or a buyer, Don can. There's a constant controversy regarding Crockers. Many of the bikes available today were never complete bikes, but
The Crocker Archives Read More »
Here’s a trophy from 1947, worth thousands now. We needed something cool and rare for the Cantina Digital Discovery area, so I was told to hauled ass to 17 Palms, Califa, a dusty berg in the Mojave Desert. A buddy of mine, Bob T. lives out there in the sand. In the shell of a
Actual Vintage Triumph ad from Bob T. Collection. Change it is inevitable and it is constant, be it a change in scenery around the house or the changes in noises you make as you get up off the floor from working on your bike…things change. I recently made a change on the job front and
Restored 1953 Triumph Blackbird Read More »
This is a steam trike sitting for sale about 2 blocks from my place, had to grab my camera,” said Gene Koch of Drag Specialties. “It’s a one-off that somebody built and I've never seen anything like it. Needs a lot of work, the owner had no idea who built it or when. Wants $7,000.
Discovered: One-Off Steam Trike Read More »
Classic biker cartoons from the 1920s from the Bob T. collection. “We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation has many civilians up in arms and excited to join the military. For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand. Here are a few of the areas
Non-Military Code Of The West Discovered Read More »
We're fortunate to dig up fantastic historic material. Paul Garson backed up Robin's shots with the following text. Here is Robin's caption: THE FELLOW WHO SENT THESE TO ME RECEIVED THEM FROM AN OLD SHIPMATE ON THE USS QUAPAW ATF-11O. INTERESTING AS HE'S NEVER SEEN THEM ANYWHERE ELSE. I THINK THEY'RE SPECTACULAR. PEARL HARBOR December 7th,
Amazing Shots from Pearl Harbor December 7th, 1941 Read More »
“The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire” was a popular truism of the 18th-mid 20th centuries. The vast island nation’s colonial “properties” around the world, extended from the “Raj” of the teeming Indian subcontinent to the rubber and oil riches of Southeast Asia. There was another saying, “Only Mad Dogs and Englishmen Go Out
The History of BSA Motorcycles Read More »
If you didn’t like high school algebra and doing your taxes makes your head spin, maybe you shouldn’t read the following. We get into some deep waters as we try to fathom the often bizarre world of Harley-Davidson’s “secret codes” employed since the dawn of the company’s existence. But if you’re into old bikes, like
Doing H-D Math: The Number Mystery Read More »
History is what the winners say happened. In this case, the winner was Harley-Davidson. The Milwaukee Marvel alone survived the Hundred Years War, a century of innovation and most often extinction. Scattered across the scrap yard battlefields of the first few decades of the 20th Century you could count the rusting steel bones of around
The History of The Prehistoric Motorcycle Read More »
In a rare find in the dark recesses of a California Desert Bob T. motorcycle historian, found this rare Indian sales brochure. We bring it to you exclusively in Bandit's Cantina. Since I couldn't find a year mentioned I called our Bikernet Historian, Don Whalen, of Sierra Madre Motorcycles in Pasadena California, and waited for
Indian Documents Discovered In Desert Read More »
This Dave Mann painting was comissioned by Easyriders in the late '70s. I saw you, hug your purse closer in the grocery store line. But you didn't see me make a donation to the Salvation Army. I saw you pull your child closer, when we passed each other on the sidewalk. But you didn't see
The following has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Aye from GA.–Rebel “We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren,
Non-Rights–A New Code Read More »
Illustration by David Mann. Bikernet is constantly on the prowl for the illusive Code Of The West. Sorta like the whole Christian world looking for Moses’s tablets. Sure we’re looking for the real thing, but even more-so we search for the ultimate Code of The West meaning, the core of the Code. Just recently a
Some bikes start like a harmless night out on the town with the guys. Remember, it turned into an epic bender, that you can't remember, but you know you had a good time and somehow ended up with a girl like Becky. This Evel G-Bob started off life as a bobber with a 21 inch
Becky, The First of The Girls Of Bikernet Read More »
Article and photos courtesy of Dave Blackwell, member of the New Zealand Racing 'Team Indian' , founder of IORNZ (Indian Owners Register of New Zealand). “This is a tribute to H.J Munro, a.k.a 'Burt' Munro.” Here’s the story behind the World’s Fastest Indian Movie starring Anthony Hopkins. In 1920 a 21 year old Southlander stood
Worlds Fastest Indian, The Munro Special Read More »
The author leaving town. (Dedicated to Val, aka; the Purpleponygal.) The author stealing through European streets. Roaring down the highway One wheel on the ground Never under 90, judging by the sound Later in the evening, we’re tearing up the town Always seem to end up with the coolest chics around Tearing up the back
Poetry Discovered In An Old Tool Box Read More »
Here’s a strange one. First it starts out with a strange connection, Jim Murillo, of Jim’s Cycle Painting, in Gardenia, California. He’s a recovering something or other, who roams the streets of Los Angeles doing, I don’t know what? If you call his shop the answering machine always picks up. “This is Jim’s Custom, err,
Speedway Racer Mystery Read More »
Bob T. is our connection to the remnants of the Code of The West discovered hidden in the rusting fin of a half buried ’59 Cadillac. He also has an extensive llbrary of antique biker photography, memorabilia and knives. I can’t tell you where he lives? He won’t tell me. I know he’s in the
Another Rare Desert Discovery Read More »
Fans of the original Indian motorcycle often like to remind their Harley buddies that their Springfield splendor preceded production of the Milwaukee marvel by two years…Indian appearing in 1901, Harley-Davidson in 1903. Truth be told, both Indian and Harley were upstaged in the history books (generally unread it appears), by a Massachusetts bicycle concern called
The First American Motorcycle–The Orient Saga Read More »
Got an award from W. S. Harley for something designed for early Sportsters. Good Friend past back in November, 2005, Don 'Snuffy' Smith. One on the best Harley mechanic's around. He was a flat tracker back in the '40s and '50s. Everyone up in the Hi Desert went to him for lower end work. But
A Tribute To Snuffy Read More »
Last night at 2:00 a.m. in the morning the Bikernet Corporate bell clanged at the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor ghetto Bikernet International Headquarters. We scrambled for our sawed-off shotguns recently loaded with massive 12-guage slugs. Clammoring down the steel ship's stairs we set up an armed perimeter around the gate and on the
This was a 5 by 7-inch mag on how to extend a Springer and fork tubes with slugs (I thought those were slimy little creatures). This is what they came out with before they started making one piece tubes. This “how to” booklet was about 20 pages. It didn't have a date, but had to
Author’s son waiting for another sidecar ride. I took off early today from work, got tried of dealing with idiots. I just wanted to get an early start on the 3 day weekend and hook up with some partners and ride. While driving thinking about brothers lost many years ago. The cell phone rings. First
Happy Veterans Day Gift From Bob T. Read More »
