ID These Bikes?

Hilo, HI.   Reproduced by permission

The above photo was sent to me by the member of a photography group to which I belong.  The lady is seeking info on the brand of bikes in the picture.  The shot was taken in Hawaii and I'd guess in the mid to late 1920s judging by the car.  That rakish fellow in the middle is her late father.

The bikes appear to be from the late 'teens and the handlebars are about the wildest I've seen.  They make "beach cruiser" bars look like clip-ons!   So far my on-line friends have suggested either March or Henderson brands but nothing conclusive. 

Can anyone out there ID these bikes? I'm afraid I haven't a clue as to the brands.  No prize for the winner, just a little tidbit would be added to someone's family history.

France In America

When I first started riding back in the '60s one of my dreams was to fly to England, pick up a new Triumph Bonneville 650 at the Triumph factory and tour England.

Gary France, way over in the United Kingdom, is by all accounts a man who likes to get things done.  One of his long standing dreams was to fly to the US and tour our great nation astride his Harley-Davidson.

Success in business allowed him to retire at the young age of fifty and he finally had the time and resources to do the sort of trip that for many people remains only a dream. I'm still dreaming here.

His blog detailed his careful trip planning and eventually his trip.  I picked up reading his blog while he was still in the planning stages of the trip and while it was was written it was just another blog about a guy planning a trip.  Gary writes very well, no issue there, but trip planning is just trip planning, the least interesting part of any ride adventure.  But I kept following along and when he hit the shores of the USA, that was when the blog hit it's stride.

Gary writes clearly and is a keen observer and photographs as well as he writes.  His detailed account of his trip across the US is filled with insight, humor,  and considered observations.  If he had an inclination to look down his nose at his American cousins, as some do, it didn't show.  He wrote like a gentleman and like a true gentleman, pointed out mostly the good but didn't shy away from the few negative things he encountered.  Some of his observations made me shift uncomfortably but I couldn't disagree with them.  All in all I've never read a more balanced account by a foreign motorcycle visitor to the USA.

Somewhere along the way the idea struck to take all those blog entries and turn them into a proper

book for his friends and family.  So he did.   Gary being the sort of man who likes to get things done and done right then proceeded to contract with a book publisher to put all those blog entries into book form and have 1200 or so copies published.

France In America  is no weak kneed book of sketchy quality, the physical volume is first rate and when my copy came in the mail, a gift from Gary, I was amazed at what I'd received.  I was expecting a little 8x10 book a half an inch thick with scattered "use a magnifying-glass-to-see-them" photos.  What Gary produced is a volume on motorcycle travels in the USA that has no modern peer that I've seen.  Decades from now when people are humming around on their cocooned electro-cycles, everything made safe and sanitary by nanny state governments, lucky people will find a copy of France In America and say "That was a real ride."

If you love bike travels or are only dreaming of them, or want to give a wonderful gift to someone who loves those things, click on over and order a copy of France In America.  If you're a blogger and want to see how first rate motorcycle travel narrative is done, buy the book.  It's not inexpensive but it is worth it.

2012 AACME Vintage Motorcycle Show

1939 Crocker Special

The annual event put on by the Arizona Antique &  Classic Motorcycle Enthusiasts has come
and gone again. Entries seemed to be down by a significant amount even as the swap meet appeared to be more filled out than last year.  I have no idea how they promote their event but if I didn't know about I'd certainly never hear about it.

It is interesting to see how the quantity and mix at the swap meet part of the event tracks with the economy.  The last three years or so the items offered were off smaller items, junkier, and with fewer complete bikes for sale.  This year there were more bikes for sale and of a higher quality but there were more Japanese motorcross bikes and a few Bultacos and a seemingly smaller number of Harleys. 

Anyway, I was there with my trusty new camera and had a fine time.  Old bikes, sunshine, and a new camera made it impossible not have a fine time.   There were some very fine bikes in the show but fewer of them, especially in the true antiques.  I always love to see the old board track racers and this year there were none.   Custom vintage bikes seem to have slipped in the door and the stuff in the parking lot was about as interesting as the bikes entered in the show.

Here's a selection of photos from the day via the new Nikon D600:

 1954 Triumph bobber

 1953 Anker JLO 250cc.  My Brit friend Simon said it was originally built by William Anker but he was persuaded to not call it the W.Anker.  There's Brit humour for you.

Hat on a Harley

1954 BSA Road Rocket

1964 Triumph bobber

1964 Triumph bobber rear fender

Vintage bike, vintage rider.

I'm liking the new camera a lot.  It's giving me everything I hope for and more.  Some model airplane photos I shot at a contest back in January, my first real outing with it, are in the March issue of Flying Models Magazine and one will appear in the June issue of Model Aviation.

 The rest of the photos from the vintage day are here.  Click!