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

TriBSA Cafe Racer

John Gulliver recently shared this old photo of his Triumph/BSA hybrid or "TriBSA" cafe racer with Her Majesty's Thunder. It's actually much more than just a combination of parts from two bikes. John describes it this way:

"...my home built 'special' Cafe Racer, all alloy 'mini' Bonneville motor ie. splayed head twin carb. 500, 'Gold Star' frame, RRT2 gear box, alloy engine internals. Norton 'Roadholder" forks and 'Commando' TLS brake, Eddie Dow "Superleggera" triple clamp... a lightwight and handy bike...

"It was sold to Simon, Tolkien's grandson, the registration number was SGT, his initials. Enthusiasts will notice this 'photo is cult magazine reversed, for their benefit the bike has RRT2 g/box, all alloy engine, Norton 'Roadholder' Eddie Dow 'Superleggerra' top yoke, 'Bonneville' h/light, Commando 2LS brake and lots of other stuff. The bike was featured in a cult magazine called 'On yer Bike'. Almost nothing in the engine was stock, including alloy t/wheels. all valve gear, Monty & Ward racing c/rods etc. etc. not bad work for a school boy..."

Such a clean, tasty machine.

Ready to Rumble!

The only thing I don't like about sponsoring an event is having to haul supplies instead of just riding in. Regardless, the Enfield and lots of gear from HMT are ready for the Bull City Rumble this weekend. Mods and Rockers, the forecast calls for Thunder.

Thanks to Hipstamatic for making my truck look way better than it does in real life.

The Enfield is loaded.