W/NW : Motorcycles

Not the most exciting shot, but one of the most exciting bikes I ever owned.

Ducati.jpg

Ducati 998 Matrix

Best,
-Tim
 
I was thrilled to encounter this little Ducati Elite a couple of years ago at a show. I don't think they were an official import into Australia, although a few have snuck in since they were originally made in 1959. They always looked so distinctively pretty, maybe even, the prettiest of all the many Ducati single cylinders. It uses a built up roller bearing crankshaft like all the early Ducati singles (and most of the bevel twins) but is a valve spring engine that pre-dates introduction of desmodromic valve gear on the road going 350 Mark IIID. It was simply gorgeous. I know the owner, so I prevailed on her to let me get a couple of photos of it by itself, at the end of the show. It was awarded best in show against some pretty decent competition (deservedly, I thought).
Cheers,
Brett

Rolleiflex 2.8/80mm Xenotar
Fujicolor Pro 400H colour negative.
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That's a truly beautiful bike, new to me. The attention to detail in the design elements has had me looking at the photo for ten minutes, from the tank, to the horn, to the 1 into 2 pipe, to the intake trumpet, to the cooling for the front drum. It's not just the design, but the quality of the execution. Reminds me, for some reason, of an Alfa Giulia Sprint Speciale from the same period.
Thanks for posting (very nice in photographic terms as well).
 
Larry Cloetta said:
That's a truly beautiful bike, new to me. The attention to detail in the design elements has had me looking at the photo for ten minutes, from the tank, to the horn, to the 1 into 2 pipe, to the intake trumpet, to the cooling for the front drum. It's not just the design, but the quality of the execution. Reminds me, for some reason, of an Alfa Giulia Sprint Speciale from the same period.
Thanks for posting (very nice in photographic terms as well).
Click to expand...

Thanks Larry—it's the only one I have ever seen in real life. I was well aware of the model, and had seen many photos of them. They look so lovely in print, but it was worth the two and a bit hour return drive to the show in itself, to actually see one, because those intricate curves in the tank, the intensity of the red paintwork (and so much of it!) with the chrome is glorious.

Here's another image I took of it during the show itself. There were people everywhere (and literally a queue to photograph the little Ducati) so I had to go low and tight to frame them out, but it does give a better look at that lovely little gear driven engine—the only chain on a bevel single or twin (strictly speaking, excluding the starter motor chain on some of the later twins such as Eg. the Darmah) is the final drive chain.

This one was made with one of my Zeiss Contaflexes (a Super BC, from memory) and its 50mm Tessar, with a f=1 metre Zeiss Proxar close up diopter lens on some of Fuji's original RVP (Velvia) I have been working my way through 100 feet of.
Cheers,
Brett
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Extremely good-looking bike Brett, and photos. I had a new 450 Ducati Desmo in 1971 which had a very similar design, also in red and chrome, but not quite as ornate with the tank or muffler. It was very different to ride than the British bikes I'd been riding up to that point, and I think the best-cornering bike I've ever owned.
 
What I ride now: BMW 800GS, here with two of my friends. The Ducati was the beginning of me moving to European bikes. My GS on the right, in the Stirling ranges of South-west Western Australia. Leica M6 with Elmar-M 24/3.8 on Delta 100.
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2015 Le Minz Scooterthon

2015 Le Minz Scooterthon

Some pics of my scooter racing team and others in the last Le Minz Scooterthon held here on the Gold Coast. A 24 hour marathon for 50cc scooters.
 

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Just picked up the SuperHawk yesterday after having had a bit of work done on it. A newly ported and polished head plus a high-spec camshaft were installed, and now it has a lot more bottom end and midrange, plus a bit more at the top. Yesterday was 'test and tune' day -- we ended up bumping the main jets in the Amals from 240 to 260. I'll ride it for now and see how it does.


SuperHawk 2017 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
 
Saul said:
Vince,

Nice leathers, but canvas shoes?? :eek:
Click to expand...

No they are actually pretty thick green leather - they go up mid-calf. I do have three pairs of leather boots, just chose to wear those yesterday.

And the jacket is waxed cotton - I have an 'armoured' shirt underneath.
 
Found a pic from 1997 when I was club racing this little guy. Honda RS125RR GP bike. Really fun bike that would about rip your arms off when it got "on the pipe".

BHF1.jpg

Canon TX w/50mm f1.8 SC & Kodak Ektapress

Best,
-Tim
 
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