Dumb Stuff: Ugly, Lame, or Stupid...

or How to Destroy a Perfectly Good Motorcycle.

I've been holding back for a bit.

This blog is mostly about what I like, but like the header says, also Dumb Stuff. Those of you who have been reading the blog for awhile probably kind of "get" what I like and what I don't, so here we go.

Ugly, Lame and Stupid... and a waste of Knuckle Heads.


Grubby old bikes are OK with me, but I don't see how just piling on Garbage is cool.

Speaking of Garbage....

Holy Swiss Cheese! It slices and dices! There's a lot going on here.


I believe Ness makes these foot boards. Money and chrome don't necessarily=Cool.


Theme Bikes. WTF? The guy checking it out basically sums it up.

I've said it before: "Just cause ya don't like it, doesn't mean it ain't fun to look at!"

Last Born

You really don't need me to post a ton of photos of bikes that have already been all over the blogs, so this will be it.







History repeats itself. I predict... After everyone gets their fill of the Bates solo, contoured seats will be back.




Cool shirt


For the the last 10+ years guys have gone back to an aggressive riding position, but there's something to be said for the long laid back style of the early 70's.


Photo: Mike Davis
Final note: When I walked back to my bike, who was checking it out? None other than "Sugar Bear". A King of Long Choppers checking out a stock bike? I asked him if he wanted to cut it up? It turned out he once owned a '70. His ol'lady was trying to get him to leave so I didn't bother him for a photo. It was a pleasure talking with him and a nice way to end the day.

Ed Newton, Big Twin Again

Ed Newton, Art Hero 3

Here's an old AEE/ Ed Newton ad I kept from a 1969 Cycle Guide.


Ed Newton had been doing all kinds of cool art and designs for Roth. Since Roth and Tom Mc Mullen were friends, I guess it was natural for Newton to design the Big Twin. During this period, nobody was doing cooler stuff than Newton.

This Month's Header

For October I figured a Halloween themed header was the way to go.


At first, I was just going to post this art, then decided it would be better if it was something motorcycle related. I then thought, maybe I could make it a cool trike using part of my KnuckleReaper art.


The donor art.


It took about 4 hours of tweaking and color retouching to blend the bike into the scene. I think it came out pretty neat.

First Born

Highlights from last Saturday's Born Free Show


After pulling in, this was the first bike that caught my eye.


Row after row of old's'cool scoots showed up.

You don't often see bobbed stock fenders on chops like this. Check out the old time fork extension technique.

"Look at dem Brit bikes"!


OK, I'll come clean. I was the dude responsible for picking Best Shovel. The vintage style, stance, and the unique paint theme sealed the deal.

What sort of man reads MC art? Who the F#@K knows? If this guy had shown up just a wee earlier, He would have snagged Best Shovel.

Some of the hard charging staff. Mike was running all over and Grant was the MC. All day tons of Free stuff was given away. So much that, if you didn't win, you truly must be a Born Loser.

Not all the cool rides were chopped.


I love this style of sporty.


I believe John Edwards won Best of Show. It cracked me up when I saw him ride in wearing that real WWII German helmet. Later, he introduced himself, seems like a good guy.

This Pan just didn't want it's photo taken (every shot came out blurred). I had to include it anyway.
The show was a complete success and the gang should be happy. Where else can you see so many of the coolest rides around, enjoy free food and drinks (yes beer) , and win some really good stuff. Not just t-shirts and stickers but, stuff like Roth air scoops, and custom kicker pedals.

The only thing not cool about the show was the weather. It was about 100°. The high temp and glaring SUN took it's toll on my camera, as an unusual number of my pictures came out bad, therefore some bikes won't get covered. Or, ...maybe it was the beer.
More to come.

El Camino 09 Part 2

It took me so long just to do the swap meet, that by the time I made it back to the show area, many of the bikes were loaded and gone. Most of the bikes left belonged to guys waiting to hear if they had won anything.

If your into Antique MC's , you probably know this fella. Mike's done bikes for big shots such as Jay Leno.


This '66 returned but this time with a side hack.


Too flashy for me and likely for the judges as well.


Craig Taylors exceptionally clean '61.


I heard he took it all the way to Davenport.


You had to see this BMW's color in person to really appreciate it.


Nice '51. I love black wheels but not with whites. If your into flash and want to run whites wouldn't it make more sense to have chrome wheels?


Interesting but too much flash (and red), for my taste. All that work, so why the funky and torn '80's Sportster seat?


A simple Chief. It may have been the only Indian in this groups line up.


Pepper Red and Ivory White. Yes, the factory really did this simple form of two tone for '54.


This funny little Powell was the last (scooter class), bike standing when I came back. It appears the seat and rack are sprung by those 3 springs in the back.

An Indian for Irish Rich....

and other Indian Motorcycle lovers... well sort of... it's the P-61 American Rocket

For 1951, it's quite the Hot Rod. Although it looks the part, it's really too heavily modified to be considered a Bobber. Pierce hoped it would become a factory model.


I like the "H-D parts dept." gag.


Old time cyclist seem to always come up with clever slogans for putting down other makes.

For more on this scooter click on this:
http://irishrichcustomcycles.blogspot.com/2009/09/american-rocket-p-61.html