20th Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show 2011

I love the Japanese. Via Hummingburger

My Work on the Gears of War 3 Rat Bike

By day, I'm an artist at Epic Games and have worked on the Gears of War series since the beginning. With the launch of Gears of War 3, I've shared some of my work on Flickr. In 2010, we had planned for players to be able to ride a motorcycle with a sidehack. Pete Hayes built the motorcycle model and I textured it (painted the skin). 

HMT Tutorial: Change the Kick Start Spring on a Royal Enfield

After 16,880 miles, my kick start spring snapped on my Royal Enfield. I fixed it and share this beautifully simple experience with you.

The Ace Cafe Looks For USA Site

Mark Wilsmore, restorer and owner of the original Ace Cafe in London, is now searching for a USA location. Mark says,"It’s another royal wedding of sorts, the best of American and British motorcycle enthusiasm coming together. Ace Cafe North America will let us share the tradition and pay homage to the vintage speed machines that ruled the streets of London, and those who rode them, along with celebrating everything that’s great about American car and motorcycle culture. It’s going be a great venue."

Post your location suggestions right on the page at AceCafeUSA.com

photo by Pete Woodhead

photo by Jennifer Worden

The Great Escape Re-Enacted

The Great Escape, one of the best war films ever made and one of the most daring motorcycle stunts ever performed on film. During filming, McQueen's racing buddy-turned-stunt-double for the film, Bud Ekins jumped 12 feet in the air across 65 feet at around 60 mph. He described the air up there as being total silence, seemingly hanging forever. Motorcycle stunt rider Steve Colley attempts to recreate the famous stunt on a Steve McQueen Desert Racer Metisse Triumph.

Jon Rispante's 1970 Custom Triumph Bobber

 More images at Show & Go, Bike Exif

Honestly, this is my ideal bobber. Triumph soul, black on black, 16" rear wheel, stock tank, hardtail with a 4" stretch, and as much drop as it can handle. This one is built by Jon Rispante and uses parts from three different Triumph motorcycles. Fork and gas tank were taken from a 1960s T100, the rear fender and many other elements borrowed from a 1966 Bonneville. The main donor was the bike was a 1970 Bonneville.

Rispante completely rebuilt the Bonneville engine, set the carburetor on the TR6, and Boyer ignition kit MAP Mikuni. Headlight is taken from a Model A Ford, tires - NOS Goodyear Super Eagles, 19-inch front, rear 16 inches. Once everything was assembled, painted, he decided to completely eliminate the chrome. An excellent choice for what is a timeless, classic, British motorcycle.

More of Jon's custom, vintage Brit work at the Born Free blog.

Bob Magill Photographs 1940s Motorcycling America

You ever notice that the cool kids don't look like they're trying to be cool? That's the secret.  Live life. Love others. Do your best work. Be your best self.

Of course, big-cuffed denim, leather jackets, goggles and vintage British motorcycles help. Bob Magill captured this as a large-format photographer for Life Magazine. These photos are part of an excellent feature at The Selvedge Yard.

Standard Issue

Some things are timeless. Love's like that too. The photo below is part of an upcoming style shoot done exclusively for Her Majesty's Thunder apparel. Live Better. Ride British!

Double H Brand boots and Levi's 501's

Sawczuk's Pinup Girl

Filip Sawczuk's custom Triumph bobber. Now with pinup girl accessory.

Via ADVRider Forums

Cycle Magazine

Yes, Little Mamas need a day off too.

from Bubble Visor

Military Royal Enfield Spotted

While I was out recently, my buddy runs up to tell me there's a military Royal Enfield sidehack in the parking garage. I've never seen one in the wild and while I could appreciate it - I couldn't help envisioning how it might look different after I was done with it. 

Oktoberfest NSU

Berlin, October, 1958. Anybody know the year of this NSU?

VIA

100 Followers!

We've reached 100 followers! Thanks for your support for the HMT blog. I've met some of you at shows or rides and spoken to many more online. Your love of British motorcycles and your kind comments for the blog always make me feel good. Thanks again.
Ton up. 

A visit with Jay Lajkov of Vintage Customs

Recently, my buddy Sanders and I took a motorbike road trip and paid a visit to the garage of Jason Lajkov, of Vintage Customs, located just outside Daytona Beach, Florida, USA. I always love meeting talented, creative people who are humble. Jay is one of those people. He's a talented graphic artist who turned into a bike builder. He typically sticks to Yamaha XS650's and Honda CB's but his designs are so inspiring and the principles can be applied to vintage British bikes as well.

I got to see the Speedster in person. And it's spectacular. It was drained of fluids so I couldn't hear it in person, but you can see a video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FNu70g5tX8

More pics here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisbartlett/sets/72157627737333212/

Jay was laid off a last year and decided that what he'd really like to do for a living is take his hobby full-time. He's been doing great with his commissions too. While we were there he showed us a Honda that he was working on for a bike shop in Australia. Apparently down-under, American-made custom bikes sell for four times their normal US asking price. 

Sanders, myself and Jay

I won't give away his secret, but Jay buys 12-15 motors at a time. 

He hand painted this tank in a process that required tons of masking and remasking. Beautiful!

The Copper Devil is a Yamaha XS650 with a totally custom hardtail, fabbed by Jay himself.

Inspiration Point: Speedster

UPDATE: Jay has put the Speedster up for sale on eBay at a very reasonable price!


Jason Lajkov, designer, builder and proprietor at Vintage Customs is quite a prolific builder. Most of his bikes are vintage Yahama 650s and Honda CB's (sorry no British iron) but I find his work extremely inspiring. His ideas can easily be applied to Triumphs, BSAs, Nortons and Royal Enfields as well. Thanks, Jay!

Bull City Rumble 2011 Photos

This year was huge. From the numbers I've heard, on Friday night 60-100 of us rolled up to a tavern, then headed to a local cafe (a place that was predetermined and arranged with the owner. The cafe owner then got upset when so many bikers showed up and said that we were "chasing" away his customers! So the large majority of us tore off to the Fullsteam Brewery in what became a very dramatic show of volume, exhaust fumes and tail lights. It was like a scene out of some 1950s movie. Lots more photos on Flickr.


On Saturday, my sweet girls and I set up the Thunderdome and got to hang out with the nicest people you'd ever meet. So many bikes this year!

Durham, NC closed down the whole street. 

Sparkling Norton

Ice cream girls

Mod whitewall

Cafe racers

HMT Transport

Well dressed HMT fans

My angel helpers

Honda

Mods

Matchless

Yours truly