I’m trying out my word processor to see if I can write a decent article with pictures. It seems to be working so far. Here is a shot of my ’06 Sportster that I built from a wreck. It was so totaled it never should have ran again. Since the frame was twisted beyond hope […]
A Brother Spills his Guts Read More »
Editor's Note: Here's an amazing find. I enjoy the flexibility Bandit and Bikernet afford us motorcycle nuts. We can bring you a feature containing a letter from the contributor, his motorcycle tale, an official vehicle appraisal, words from the restoration expert, and our Bikernet Extreme Tech Chart. How's that for a feature? In this case
1946 Knuck Restoration for Marc Read More »
I could swear I’ve hit this story before. I’m sure I’m mentioned it periodically. My first book was based on it. To set the intrepid stage, check what I wrote for Steve, the new editor of Iron Works, for their celebratory 20th anniversary issue: Every year opened with a straight-pipes backfire bang, and 1990 was
1990 The Stolen Bandit Bike Read More »
This summer I came into possession of a treasure-trove of vintage magazines — Popular Mechanics, Pop Science, Mechanics Illustrated and others — dating from 1939 to the early 1970s. I've got about eight big banana boxes full of them. Tonight I was flipping through a bunch and found this great story from the August, 1950
All New Discovery, Bonneville Report from 1950 Read More »
We're running shots of classic Brough Superior motorcycles with this attitude adjustment article. English motorcycles built from 1920 to 1940, they were the best of the best, hand crafted for the upscale rider. MOTOR CYCLE magazine once described them as the “Rolls Royce of motorcycles.” Don Whalen, antique motorcycle broker, confirmed that Lawrence of Arabia
Carrots, Eggs, & Coffee! Read More »
Rebirth of an American Classic: The Build Begins Read More »
It’s not always the model of bike being restored, but the restoration process that shines. That’s the case with this scooter. This 1921 two-stroke Cleveland wasn’t the fastest, rarest, or most unusual bike of its era. It was a slow utilitarian, base-model, but Jim Watson restored every element of this machine until it was awarded
The Perfect 1921 Cleveland Read More »
This is the Parilla formula one racing iron used by the countess Maria Bandini “Mama” when she won the 1953 Italian speed ironing championship at Rome. The countess vanquished all her opponents with her tremendous, on the edge, display of blistering speed and amazing control over a track of both linen and silk, becoming a
Discovered, 1953 Italian Speed Iron Read More »
This is an account of a 100,000 mile test of Vincent Black Shadow in 1951-3. The motor was given to VOC Chairman Tim Kirker, reportedly for testing purposes. Back in 1951, Tony Rose set out to put 100,000 miles on his new Black Shadow and achieved this aim with relatively little in the way of
100,000 Vincent Road Test Report Discovered Read More »
This is a strange one. I didn't plan to attend Laughlin this year, been there 10-12 times, done that. Then Joe Zanelli, the Primm Casino mob boss called. “I gotta contact for you in Laughlin; give Sin Wu a call.” That was the first of several Twilight Zone encounters leading to the Laughlin Run. Can
In the case of this rare V-twin we stumble across a document written to motorcycle collector and boss of Sierra Madre Motorcycles, a restoration plant, Don Whalen. We were able to yank the soild document from his tight fist as we listened to his Merkel history lesson. The letter was written by former owner Doug
Amazing 1913 Flying Merkel Read More »
Here's the strangest find of the year. This is an original custom from the '70s in an original Denver Frame. The owner recently died and his wife is escaping memories, in bad health, while trying to find peace in the desert. It breaks her heart, but she's selling everything. “I told my husband I will
Classic Chopper Discovered–Cherry Picker Read More »
In the late 1930s this one-of-a-kind Helicron was placed in a barn and forgotten. More than six decades later this odd lost little gem was rediscovered, rebuilt, and reintroduced to the world. Although the manufacturer is unknown, it's believed that this car was built in France 1932. Following the first World War it was not
1932 Helicorn Discovered Read More »
In 1935 a group of five German engineers named Killinger and Freund from Munich started to design a more streamlined and modified version of the German Megola front-wheel drive motorcycle that had won many motorcycle races in the 1920s. An original Megola. The work took three years to complete but the result was impressive. The
Rare Strange Vehicle of Pre-War Germany Read More »
Afterour previous blog posts about extending your motorcycle cables and brake lines,and another about measuring for comfortable bars, we thoughtit’s about time to take on the topic of cables all by themselves. Harley Throttle Let’sstart with HD throttle cables. Inthis modern era we use a two-cable system, something that was mandated by thegovernment to preclude sticking
How To Order Motorcycle Cables Read More »
On the map it was to be seen as a small red square set flush against the Equator, for all the world like a scarlet kerchief hung up to dry on a line. That was how Terry Devine expressed it when he first located it in his old school Atlas, but he didn’t know then
For the printed version, find the lastest issue of Cycle Source Magazine, but not at Walmart Stores. Author's Note: Funny you should run an article on how fucked up Wal-Mart (from Cycle Source Magazine) is treating its potential suppliers, trying to come off as some holier-than-thou corporation saving us from ourselves by keeping objectionable material
Walmart Wars Continue Read More »
There’s a wild air cleaner from Paul Cox. I’m going to say, and I might be off base, that most carbs are rebuilt for a couple of reasons: either they sat too long, sucked bad gas, or ran without an air cleaner too long. I would venture to guess that most carbs on custom bikes
Rebuilding The S&S Shorty Series Carbs Read More »
There were too many boxes to pack on the bike so Sullivan hauled his kids' Christmas gifts to the UPS office in his boss's van. A worn out but sympathetic clerk took his money, reminding him that the holiday was only two days off and there was no way the kids would get the presents
“If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.”–Voltaire (1694 – 1778)When I first took to the road, I only desired to experience firsthand what was known exclusively to the earliest of worldly explorers. Discovering not just a new place, but living a new life, a new culture, a new fuck under
Wayfarer: Death Comes Lately… Read More »
The smell of Wild Turkey mixed with the spicy boiling Top Ramen scent on Iron Buffalo’s single apartment stove. A loner, he worked for Custom Chrome, lifted weights and tinkered with his only major possession: a hot rod chopper. He sipped the drink as he stirred the vegetables and steak-chunks and thought about his recent
“Okay, beam me up Scotty.” Tinker put down the phone and stepped into the pentagram.Eight hours behind and nearly five thousand miles away in Vancouver, Henry flicked aside long grey hair, wiped his granny glasses, and checked an identical ‘gram on the floor for the umpteenth time. He returned the detailed instructions to the envelope
The teardrop tank was full. So was my wallet. My coal black chopper burned rubber and blended into the asphalt stretching below me and the dark sky above. The milestones popped out every other minute and so did stars from behind clouds. Sturgis conquered I was off to see Sofie at the town beyond the
As he headed home in the small hours with the baffles closed on Poke’s open duals and Bonzo snoring snug as a dormouse inside his jacket, Tinker heard the screams. He traced them to a bus stop where a trail of spilt handbag crap led to the darkened mouth of an alley.Coasting up, his headlight
The Sensible Swordsman Read More »
