Decades ago, when I was bucks down, I had to use towels because I couldn't afford a seat on one of my bikes. Of course, now days, Tylenol has become my go to friend. Ah, to be young again.
The hard tail with seat on the frame for 300 miles is a memory . Now I’m lookin to install the pogo seat on on my lastest shovel with a swing arm . Four fused in my neck and 2 herniated in lower back , just can’t take lookin cool anymore
Hello, With all of the talk about custom Harleys, up pops this full custom Honda motorcycle and at the “dungeon” of the Oakland Roadster Show, the American Express Honda. No connection to the credit card company other than several cards to finish the project. Ha! As fast and as nice as the build was back then, it disappeared and unless one has the original motorcycle magazine with it in a show coverage, then photos are rare. Jnaki When I took this photo, we were in a dark portion of the Oakland Roadster Show. A section specially created for custom motorcycles. But, as the popularity of custom motorcycles grew, they were allowed to “mingle” with the hot rods and custom cars, later on in other shows. Note: In a research project, this version is a scale model custom made by an older guy, known as John Teresi. His detailed account and modifications were pretty outstanding. A little change at the final build finish, perhaps due to copyright factors. I had taken some photos, prior to setting up a full on photo shoot. But, the show photos I previewed to the editors was turned down. It was just during the time when other models of motorcycle, other than Harleys or Triumphs were not allowed in any magazine. Die hard Harley guys would not touch a Honda powered anything with a 50 foot pole. So, it remained out of the color photo range and took several months of nothing but Harleys to finally post a color page for a Honda show bike… YRMV
Denver Mullins was most likely the best proponent of the Honda and Kawasaki custom bikes. His styling, paint, and general comfort of the style had many followers. Additionally, the bikes were ungodly quick. Mondo Porras continues the style today at Denver's choppers in Reno. JNAKI is correct though. In the early days, guys would have the slogan: better to have a sister in a whorehouse than a brother on a Honda. I prefer the Harley over the Honda/Kawasaki because on the Honda, one sits "on" the bike whereas on the Harley one sits "around" the bike (if that makes any sense). I have owned four Denver's frames (2 straight leg, one wishbone, and a trike) and find them amazingly comfortable.
I started working at a Honda/Yamaha/Polaris/Ski-Doo dealership in 1995 at age 15, then was the service manager and shop foreman at an H-D/Buell dealership in 2001, and then at a Polaris/KTM/Victory shop in 2005.....Have ridden just about every variety and brand you can think of......Always, always been a V-max guy, though. Green '90 bike was my first, ended up dynoing at 183 hp when we were done with it, and that was when I was at H-D and the V-rod came out. Dealership owner thought the V-rod was the baddest thing on two wheels, but he ended up owing me $300 after a little "cruise" one night after work....Yellow '94 was a 3,000 mile sweetheart that ended up in some collection in Vegas of a guy who has one of every year.
My current daily. Yeah it's an Evo but the engine is 40 this year. I tried to make the exhaust mimic an old hotrod header.
Hello, This styling was one of the first to cross over into the drag bike/traditional custom motorcycle phase. The style of bike was noted “coming from Northern California, namely the S.F. Bay area.” Low, sleek, extended out long front end of any kind, this being traditional springer style. The handle bars resting in a close in arrangements, as the long front ends were a heavy item to handle in slow speeds and turning. Mostly made of solid chrome moly bars and that added to the heavy feel when steering. At speed, it would or could flop over with the slightest of road bumps, etc. For some it was fine, for others, they extended tubes with normal shocks as longer front ends. But, gone were the “ape hanger” bars as those were uncomfortable for long distance rides. The direct access handle bars were instant grip and better steering at all times with little to none, in discomfort on short or long rides. Jnaki But, eventually, the style was overcome with handling over length and the shorter extended full shock suspension forks took over the look, we all associate with Nor Cal custom motorcycles. Just like drag bikes of the late 50s and early 6os. Like the drag bikes, there was not much room for a passenger on those low, sleek custom motorcycles. YRMV
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