W/NW : Motorcycles

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Fujifilm X-Pro3 - Fujinon XF 50mm f2 R WR lens
Astia film simulation
Yokohama, Japan - July 2020

All the best,
Mike
 
Yokosuka_Mike said:
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While I can't give the ergonomics high marks, that appears to be a fairly elaborate build. The Buco helmet is a nice touch as the only nod to protective gear (not counting the hi-viz pink shoelaces of course), lol. With that in mind it's a good thing for the rider (as well as yourself) that he didn't fall prey to target fixation as he appeared to be staring right at you.
 
With this post I'm able to combine motorcycles with my own history of photography. In this case, the subject is my dad proudly posing with his 1970 Honda CB350 Super Sport. As a young kid I thought his CB350 was one of the most beautiful objects I had ever laid eyes on. I'm still quite fond of this particular design to be honest. The photos seen in these images were taken with my very first camera, a Kodak X15 Instamatic. When I look back upon memories like these I'm so grateful that I developed an interest in cameras and photography early on in life.

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Yup, yup, fine machine! Nifty nostalgic photos... My CB350 was a 1969 model that I put some mileage on in the two years I had it, traded in on a 1970 CB750. One fall the 350 took me from Seattle to Long Beach CA and back just for the adventure of it, felt likely to freeze to death in Oregon. What memories. That was a good bike. But after a few weeks riding a friend's CL450 it was evident that bike was built somewhat better.

BTW and FWIW, the "350" Honda motor is actually only 325cc displacement... :)
 
A man, a woman and an old Triumph out for a Sunday ride.

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Fujifilm X-Pro3, Fujinon XF 35mm f2 R WR lens
Astia film simulation
Yokohama, Japan - August 2020

All the best,
Mike
 
The year was 1978 and the event was the Trans-AMA series held at RedBud Track & Trail just outside of Buchanan, Michigan. In the early 70's, motocross racers from Europe were considered to be the best in the world. But as the sport blossomed here in the States, American racers became more and more talented.

The concept of the Trans-AMA series was to bring over some of the best European racers to compete with the Americans to help grow the popularity of the sport here in the States. Suzuki rider Roger De Coster (known simply as "The Man") from Belgium was one of the best there ever was and he had won the Trans-AMA series four years in a row from 1974 - 1977. America's Bob "Hurricane" Hannah had taken the American scene by storm on his factory Yamaha just two years earlier and in 1978 he went on to become the first American rider to win the Trans-AMA series. As it turned out, he would also be the last as the that would be the final year for the series.

Here a few images of De Coster (#104) and Hannah (#2) taken at that event, both during the parade lap (for the benefit of the fans) as well as during the competition itself. I was 16 when I took these photos. The desire to capture action was one of the driving forces behind my decision to invest in better photography gear at that point in my life. Far different than my photographic pursuits today.


Roger De Coster by Bill Guthrie, on Flickr


Bob Hannah by Bill Guthrie, on Flickr


Roger De Coster by Bill Guthrie, on Flickr


Bob Hannah by Bill Guthrie, on Flickr


Roger De Coster by Bill Guthrie, on Flickr


Bob Hannah by Bill Guthrie, on Flickr
 
Larry Cloetta said:
Nice shot. Bike needs a center stand though:)

Have you replaced it/still riding with something else?
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Thanks. I sold it and bought a KTM 1190 Adventure (with a center stand!); but sold it too, and I'm no longer riding. As I've aged my reflexes, sense of balance, etc., have declined, and in the current era of distracted drivers on cell phones, texting and lord knows what else, not a good combination. I do miss riding though.
 
ASA 32 said:
Thanks. I sold it and bought a KTM 1190 Adventure (with a center stand!); but sold it too, and I'm no longer riding. As I've aged my reflexes, sense of balance, etc., have declined, and in the current era of distracted drivers on cell phones, texting and lord knows what else, not a good combination. I do miss riding though.
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I hear you. Am pretty much at that point myself. Still have one bike, but think about it more these days. It may have quit making perfect sense a while back.
(Local KTM dealer is a friend and has been trying to get me on a 790 Duke..seems excessive at this point.)
 
^ Larry , I just got a Moto-Guzzi Eldorado this march and am loving it , first new bike in 36 years , oh yeah , I'm gonna be 70 in 4 months :) . Peter
And in reference to the Honda 350's , they were the first Honda motorcycles I worked on as a motorcycle mechanic apprentice in the early 70's .
 
Guth said:
My 2013 Honda CB1100, complete with a center stand of course...


CB1100, Cathedral Park, Portland by Bill Guthrie, on Flickr
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Many modern bikes, in a search for ever more marketable performance numbers, have seemed to be more and more MotoGP capable, and less and less street oriented.
This bike has always seemed to me to be one modern bike which is aimed at the actual everyday needs of normal people. A completely modern bike which just updates everything Honda got right about motorcycles decades ago. And it doesn’t look like an insect.
 
I like riding my 1970 BMW more often than my 2009 model these days. And my son has taken to bicycle riding more than motorcycling. Here he is combining the two by parking against my bike at the cafe.
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John Mc
OM-1 50/1.8 Zuiko
 
Moto-Uno said:
^ Larry , I just got a Moto-Guzzi Eldorado this march and am loving it , first new bike in 36 years , oh yeah , I'm gonna be 70 in 4 months :) . Peter
And in reference to the Honda 350's , they were the first Honda motorcycles I worked on as a motorcycle mechanic apprentice in the early 70's .
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Peter, this 1981 V50III of mine sat dormant for the last 4 years while I rode something else, but just put a new set of Avons on it and redid the electrical system and carbs (so it would not be dormant). Pretty much all original, more my speed now than a liter bike, and ready to go again. 500cc shaft drive twin.


Fujifilm S5 Pro
 
Looks very nice, Larry, and a comfortable size and configuration. I was not aware they made this smaller model.
 
Doug said:
Looks very nice, Larry, and a comfortable size and configuration. I was not aware they made this smaller model.
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They were not that common in the States. One of the bike magazines at the time named it the World’s Best 500, and Guzzi didn’t often collect “world’s best” titles. Billy Joel was a Guzzi fan and bought this particular bike for his wife, and an 850 Le Mans, I think, for himself. Long story.
I’ve had it for 20 years or so. It’s a really sweet handling bike with a much different character than, say, a GPz 550. They’ve become something of minor cult favorites as a basis for custom bike builders to do exotic builds on as the idea of a shaft drive 500 makes for potentially a clean build.
 
mcfingon said:
I like riding my 1970 BMW more often than my 2009 model these days. And my son has taken to bicycle riding more than motorcycling. Here he is combining the two by parking against my bike at the cafe.
U51008I1601040245.SEQ.0.jpg

John Mc
OM-1 50/1.8 Zuiko
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Really enjoy this Father // Son pairing!!
 
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