Batcycle memories

This info comes from other sources.  Thank you for it!  The Batcycle made its first appearance in 1966 in the Batman TV series. It was a 1965 Harley Davidson with a side car, but it was taken on lease and was only used for the first season episode “Not Yet, He Ain’t”.  Later that year, a new Batcycle was introduced. It was produced by Kustomotive, conceived by Dan Dempski, designed by Tom Daniel, and built by Dan and Korky Korkes using a Yamaha Catalina 250. The new Batcycle was first used in the 1966 film Batman and continued to appear in the rest of the TV series. Hubie Kerns and Victor Paul did most of the stunt work with the motorcycle throughout the series.  When the series was canceled, Kustomotive used the Batcycle in car shows, paying royalties to Greenway, 20th Century Fox, and National Periodical Publications. Kustomotive built four replicas of the Batcycle for tours. Robin’s sidecar (a detachable self-propelled vehicle) was authenticated by Burt Ward on the television series Hollywood Treasure and sold at auction for $30,000.  Batgirl’s cycle is a Yamaha 190.

Keira Knightley and a Ducati. Can it be any sweeter?

 

Coco Chanel has gone cool with a new ad for women’s perfume by using (confusingly) two tools known to attract and hijack men’s attention spans.   Here she is on a slightly modified 4-wheeled 1974(?) Ducati  750 sport, in non-stock livery, performing flawlessly.  Link to the Youtube video to see the final result.  Keira, contact me and let me know if you really can ride a bike!  Any bike!  I really want to know!  You have my number.   Classy lady, classy bike and classy ad.  Enjoy.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NwO9GgJiUQ&NR=1

Daughter learns to get back on after a crash.

Daughter pointing at Seattle

Dirt biking the logging roads NW Washington

Girl meets dirt

Another great day biking on the logging roads.  In the one picture above at my kid’s fingertip is Seattle. 58 miles away as the crow flies and we could see the buildings downtown as if they were only 56 miles away.  Coming back down my daughter laid it down for the first time.  Shaken but not stirred, she got up and was ready to start riding again.  Not before a few tears and a talk with mom on the tele though and what does she say after the dust-up?  My hair looks awful.  Spoken as only a truly focused motorcycle superstar, daredevil, media rockstar can.  Hard to watch the aftermath of the crash but I am proud of how good she’s doing.

Art of the Basket Case Book

My book “Art of the Basket Case” is a unique book portraying the world of neglected motorcycles through fine photography.  Bikes and parts in their most unattractive condition are given the overdue respect they deserve and are shown with full color and nauseating detail.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll shrug your shoulders and move on, but you will never look at greasy, rusty bikes the same way again.  I had a great time taking the pics and putting this book together and I hope people really enjoy it.  If you would like to purchase a signed copy you can order one on my website, on Ebay and also Amazon.

Book is soft cover, 150 pgs, 238 illustrations. Some samples below.

It’s Alive! Honda CB750F runs again.

A few months ago a friend gave me an 81 CB750F that needed some attention.  He had bought a new bike and didn’t want the old one anymore.  My dream situation!  I couldn’t bump start it on my driveway (not steep enough) so my daughter suggested we go to the local mountain (5 mile drive, only 800ft tall).  Genius!  I rolled down the road in gear and the bike was so quiet I didn’t know it was running the whole time.  I had my daughter tape the event in case I flew off the road or pulled an unplanned wheelie so everyone could laugh at me on Youtube.  Off to the races! 

Busy Weekend with motorcycles.

Had a great response to my book, prints and shirts at the motorcycle swap meet in Mt Vernon on Sat.  It’s also great to hear people’s stories whether it’s about a great find, remembering an older relative riding in the early days of biking or even if it’s just a story of a great ride somewhere.
You’re welcome to share one through this blog or email if you want.  Sunday was even better as I took my 12 year old daughter on her first dirt bike ride.
We rode in sun, rain and hail and had great time.  I kept to the logging road thinking it would be an easy start but after a short while she was craving some danger so we hit the side trails.  Through mud, over rocks and big roots, up and down steep hills, HA! No match for the kid.  She suprised me by doing things I didn’t do when I was her age.  I am very proud and glad as she will develop skills that will help her later when she starts to drive on the roads.

Prints on display in Auburn

Hinshaw’s Honda in Auburn, WA has graciously allowed me to display my prints in thier dealership and they’ve been passing my book around as well.  How cool is that?  This place is great not only for the new toys and great staff, but the owner has a fabulous collection of museum quality vintage bikes on display as well.  You can see it here http://www.hinshawsmotorcyclestore.com/ If you can, go there and see them in person and support them by buying some oil, spark plugs or a new bike or two.  Although my book and prints are of the “slightly used” side of motorcycling, I greatly appreciate them displaying something a little different.  Thanks to Ron and Bob.