Coolest damn thing you'll see all week. 1913 Harley, heavily optioned,TANDEM !, unrestored, with a quick history and instructions how to start it. WOW

the bike's options are discussed for the first 5 minutes, then the bike is started up and the procedure is wonderfully demonstrated, step by step. (starts at minute 5:30)
Thanks Mike! This is great!

Probably the coolest damn tank I've seen

from http://zelastchancegaragedu78.blogspot.com/

1 of 3 existing BMW R51 RS factory race bikes in unrestored condition getting auctioned

Read about the sad true story of how the first owner was ruined by the US Govt because he was German immigrant businessman at the beginning of WW2, just like many Japanese Americans were. He was the BMW importer in New York, and managed to finagle one of these seventeen R51RS racers from the factory.

In truth, BMW sold very few motorcycles in the US in the 1920s and 30s, as protectionist trade policies introduced in the mid-20s levied a huge tax (up to 100%) on 'heavy' imported goods. Thus BMWs were rare and very expensive in the US

The 'RS' was a pushrod 500cc ohv flat-twin

Emil Recke's troubles began when AMA track officials ignored the bike making the fastest qulaifying lap at a race in Langhorne Pennsylvania, and when the US finally entered the War in Dec. 1941, Recke, as a German national and 'enemy alien', had his bank accounts seized by the US government.

Suddenly broke, he was forced to sell his BMW dealership, parts stock, tooling, and motorcycles to survive, for which he was paid pennies on the dollar given the ramping-up of the propaganda machine against anything, and anyone, German (or Japanese). After selling nearly everything he owned, all he had left in the world was his most precious possession, the R51RS which had been entrusted to him by the BMW factory. When it became clear that this, too, must be sold, he did what he had to, and sold the bike. He then took his own life.
Via: http://thevintagent.blogspot.com/2010/12/amazing-unrestored-bmw-racer-at-auction.html

Early Harleys and Indians

The above Indian riders were relay riding from New York to San Fran, and I notice there are no front brakes. read about it here: http://www.shorpy.com/node/9225?size=_original

from http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=920

Cool old police vehicles and motorcycles

Above, 1912 Detroit

from http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=738

Some of the most unusual photos show up on Tumblr sites... but it takes a lot of browsing

above via: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=563

Who decided that an elephant needed to be jumped over with a truck? Well I was too busy to do the homework, but the photo was such a hit that Brian at Bangshift.com delved into the history books to see what was going on http://www.bangshift.com/blog/Photo-of-the-Day-A-1957-Ford-Truck-In-Flight-Over-an-Elephant.html

That'll show those rich Carbon fiber buyers

You laughed at this too, didn't you?

1907 Motorcycle gangs didn't look as rough

A concept from Chevy if I recall correctly. I'll see if I can find more on it.. ah ha! GMC Universalle http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/03/gmc-universalle.html

from: http://makeadish.tumblr.com/

It was only a matter of time before someone tried to make a working copy of the Tron lightcycle

This is a rolling motor driven creation by the Parker Brothers Choppers http://www.parkerbrotherschoppers.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=4&zenid=urth348n839kubk3qljp2grak1 but from the videos, it only moves about 5 mph, and has a useless limited range of front wheel turning from side to side, maybe 5 degrees?

The videos are on you tube, and just too stupid of music, self publicity logo shots, and lack of mobility of the cycle. Too much of a waste of time to post them here. You'll see for your self that if it were worth it, I'd post it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWqgLn2-FJo&feature=related

to compare this with the real Tron lightcycle http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/10/tron-legacy-artwork-by-artist-daniel.html or the beer barrel bike https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBIWyiFN9s4yjJffztfMoOD2Fe2LlYgBYJeZSDFel8UTb1UEt3vJ3ciwr82utCpQ4LkK9fKxJLets_4KWQOQlxdXCdDPWUHrBTT1nX0ciUn1hASLRyeyqw9cuo3JL0gI-ZZVwjX_S-X0/s1600-h/ssfunny-superbike_01.jpg

No Regrets, the 2006 biker build off winner by Roland Sands Designs was back at SEMA

The Rooke Scrambler

For the other National Guard bike that Rooke brought to SEMA: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/11/rooke-customs-3-wheel-200hp-national.html

Looks cool, interesting and rare... probably because sitting on this seat on a idling Harley would cause your crotch to get cut up on the gator ridges

Here below is another outside the convention halls

Want to join a motorcycle gang, but not sure where to find the right one? Ken at Spotmotorcycles.com did the research for you (funny)

Are you a proud Jewish biker? We've got you covered. Got a mean streak and hail from the great island nation of New Zealand? You'll find like-minded friends below. Love to do good deeds and can rattle off every entrée at The Olive Garden? We've found you a home.

Browse each group and find the one that best suits you. Direct links to each club are provided so you can start working on your application ASAP.

There are the Granny's only, the Samurai only, the East Bay Dragons (blacks only Harleys only), South Korean, Native American, (Nuns) sisters of the Muskegon Motorcycle gang, the Hillel's Angels (Jewish only), Black Power MC in New Zealand (Maori only), the Australian Notorious (Muslim only)

It's a good read, and often funny: http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/offbeat-motorcycle-clubs/

What is the Elvis connection with Ed Roth, and Gene Winfield?

Elvis was driving an Ed Roth trike, and Ed made tops with his trikes, http://www.aeclassic.com/73rothtrike/ (to read about them). Well, back to the story... so you can bet that most of those tops never saw the road, and one was located in a backyard by Spider the pinstriper, and as you can see below, he pinstriped it, and brought it to a show and Gene is photographed sitting it it.

Thanks to Spider for the story, and let this be a lesson. Learn what you can from everyone you can, a lot of people have great story!

See a gallery of Roth's trikes: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/ed-roths-trikes.html

"Black Jack" radial engine chopper. Not the first radial chopper I've posted, but I'm not over them yet

for the story about it: http://redoubtreporter.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/bike-takes-flight-%E2%80%94%C2%A0motorcycle-powered-by-airplane-engine/ in the story the bike builder and owner states that there are only 3 radial engine choppers... I guess he hasn't looked at my blog, I've got 3 others posted, Lucky 7 seems to be posted 2wice, before (at SEMA 2009) and after a blue paint job, one chopper at the Pebble Beach Concours, and another I can't locate right now. If you want to see the others, just click the label at the bottom of this post "radial engine"