JANE MOTORCYCLES - BROOKLYN, NY

As I'm not a big motorcycle fan but a great coffee lover and as a coffee lover I couldn't resist to enter Jane Motorcycles.

Two years ago Adam Kallen & Alex Dimattio opened Jane Motorcycles @ Grand Street, Brooklyn. this spring they moved to their new location with more space. Jane Motorcycles is a new take on a motorcycle shop. With not just a bike and a helmet but also the perfect motorcycle jacket from Lewis Leather or Belstaff, boots from Red Wing, knits from North Sea Clothing and helmets from Bell.  But.........they serve a great cup of coffee too.

Whenever you are in Brooklyn, NY you have to stop by at

396 Wythe Ave. Brooklyn

INDIAN MOTOCYCLE JERSEYS

When you think of classic American motorcycles, two brands come to mind,

Harley-Davidson & Indian.

Indian is the first major player on the scene, rolling out production in 1901– two years before Harley-Davidson. Started in Springfield, Mass. by Oscar Hedstrom & George Hendee, a couple of bicycle racers and self-taught engineers.

The Indian factory team took the first three places in the 1911 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy.

Competition with Harley-Davidson in the early days was fierce, and factory sponsored racers were expected to be loyal– it was pretty unheard of for guys to switch allegiances back then without controversy.

The riders were proud to wear a Indian Jersey which were hand out by the factory to the drivers, those jerseys are scares and if you find one it will cost you some 400 bucks.

PS did you know that the nickname for the factory was the wigwam.

DOUBLE RL & THE LOVE FOR VINTAGE MOTORCYCLES

Surfing the net I found these great pictures of the Double RL, Soho store. They had some amazing vintage motorcycles on display in there flagship store from the turn of the century. Saying turn of the century means the 1900's. American bikes like an Indian and Harley Davidson, but also for me total unknown bikes like the Yale and Thor.

Thor motorcycles were made by The Aurora Machine and Tool Company, which began as a machine shop in 1886, providing forging, castings and parts for many bike manufacturers.

The history of Thor is closely tied to the history of Indian motorcycles.

The Yale motorcycle was built by the Consolidated Manufacturing Company based in Toledo, Ohio, after they had acquired the rights to the California motorcycle. The California is famous as the first internal combustion vehicle to cross the American continent in 1903.

 (pics are made by Chad Davis)

BIKES ON FLORIDA SANDS - DAYTONA 1948

 

 

 

 



 

For years, since the start in 1937 until the early 60's, the prestigious Daytona 200 motorcycle race was run on Daytona Beach instead of the Daytona Race track.

The 1948 event was covered by Life magazine and reported that 155 motorcycles started and only 45 finished. Wining rider, Floyd Emde, averaged 84 mph got $2000,--. He won with a thin margin of 12 seconds. 1948 was the first time a rider led the race from flag to flag, and it was the last time an Indian Motorcycle won the 200. It's a great story but for me it's the pictures who speak.

CHAD IS BORN TO BE WILD

Last year I visited the Harley Davidson Museum, which opened it's doors on July 12, 2008. The story about the Harley-Davidson Museum is a true story that started in a family's backyard shed in 1903. The place of the shed and the museum is Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It's a story told through steel and brick, leather and chrome, and hands of skillful craftspeople. The museum houses a Harley-Davidson from every year of build as from 1903 till now. The first one called Serial Number One is beautiful displayed in a glass case. Further you can find lots of posters, magazines, clothes, trophies all telling you the story of an American Icon. Part of the tour through the museum is a stop at the restoration area, where the founded gems are carefully restored.

GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING

HEAD OUT ON THE HIGHWAY

LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE

AND WHAT EVER COMES OUR WAY