Man or Madman?

GI forgot to mention, that in order to get to the Verona show, he rode a 1,940 mile round trip via the Swiss Alps on a shiny (started as) new 1100 Ducati Monster, he was road testing for another magazine. Even the waterfalls were frozen it was that parky.
My balls are not made of stainless-steel, and I'm not so manly / insane and travelled by centrally heated steel box. All his bits survived frostbite, and he has dinner party repartee about killing mountain bears, and spitting in the face of over friendly border control Polizia. (OK I made the last bit up. This story doesn't need embellishment. But GI must have Uranium running through his veins). We salute you. BP

NB. Rather than strap on a messy Victorian piss drainpipe, GI decided to opt for the simpler - if less healthy, abstinence of drinking any liquids for the two consecutive days of riding (2 there, 2 back). And what did finally trickle out, looked like Maple syrup. No he didn't put it on his porridge.

The Kings of Europa

An old photo Austin took of Peter Boast on the first incarnation of his SV650 framer and Marco on his 70bhp (it was late, I was getting carried away, I think Marco's bike is closer 70bhp - GI) Wood Rotax at Scunthorpe, I think. These guys are the kings, the fathers of European short track (along with Jan-Willem). We salute you. GI
PS I like Boastie's kevlars. He looks like a drum majorette.

Verona Friends 1

Ben and I have just been out to Verona for a great bike show. We were working, but the jobs we had lined up meant we had to hunt down the most interesting people and talk to them. These are some of our favourites. More soon.

This is Yone from Bull Original. He was over with Tom from Fork.They're both big noises on the chopper scene in Japan. Yone was looking through Sideburn 1, saw the page on Bratstyle, pointed to one of the small pictures and said 'That's me.' He makes their seats.

Giancarlo Falappa was walking around late on Friday, a bit disheveled, a bit of a shuffle to his walk. You could tell people didn't know who the hell he was. I wanted to shout, 'This fella was one of the best Italian Superbike riders of all time, you tossers!' But I just said hello to him instead.

Talking to Roberto Rossi on his stand, this fella said 'I sent you photos of a brown Triumph.' It didn't click. I never thought of this bike as brown and the bike wasn't in sight. Then it occurred to me - Dino of Drags and Racing!

The great Mr Otto Nero, one of our blog inspirations. He bought us a pint.

Jesse James was the biggest surprise of the weekend. We spent an hour talking to him as a hundred Angels milled around outside for autographs. We're not needy freaks who want to be friends with people because they've been on TV, but Jesse was genuinely likeable. And had good stories about working at Ascot. He hates 'Moto Gutzees' though. 'We both own Guzzis,' we said. 'They're fucking retarded!'
Is it just me or does that leg of ham look like a machine gun?

M&M's SR400

From the very cool Japanese company M&M's. Just lovely. The ideal lightweight urban hipster mobile. Someone in London should start making these and flogging them to Shoreditch types. GI

CORRECTION: "Thank you for introducing my shop by the blog. However, the name is different.
M&M's motorcycle Please put 's." Thank you.
M&M's M/C M.Mihayashi

SORRY

Off the shelf Board Tracker update

I really wasn't sure about this bike when we first saw the Thomas Harvey website. It wasn't the bike so much, because I think it's a looker, as the idea that motorcycling can support a company that makes a bike like this. I thought if you wanted a modern-powered very trad take on a 1915 board track racer you'd build, or commission, a one-off. Maybe this is the start of something else for the company. Or a labour of love sideline.
Also, that's a big, heavy motor to run without a front brake. Where is it designed to be used? We'll tell you as soon as we find out.
But Sideburn wishes him the best of British. We like a trier. GI

European domination

Brit iron, Italian rubber.
I never knew they ran Pirellis back then. I wouldn't even dream of racing on those and I'm slow. What's that all about? I've had it drummed into me that tyres are everything, but Gene could kick all our asses on these. Perhaps I need better tyres because I need all the help I can get. GI
Photo found at ze last chance...

ADDITION: I'm going to have to teach Wayne how to post a comment (you just click the bit that say '0 comments' below the post), because he keeps delivering gems. Like this: "Those tires are still the shit on cushions. Cut Pirelli on the front was the only tire to use at Ascot."

Killer in the sun

More on Marcus's street tracker H-D project.

'My tank is back from painter! That flake paint is a killer in the sun! And I am happy with the bare metal section too. If you write about it, mention a thanks to Martin at Ivves Custom.
Thanks for the stickers as well. I got my CD5s today, they are soo FAT!'

Mario's new baby

This bike is going to race in Europe, and hopefully come to the UK too. Thanks, again, to Jan-Willem of the Dutch Brothers.
'What do you think of Mario's new baby? It's got 95bhp & 85 pounds.foot torque at the wheel!'

Special 79

Stumbled across the blog, Special 79
He makes beautiful tanks from ugly tanks. And write things like this:
'Many things inspire me on a daily basis, but I'd have to say that I derive the majority of my inspiration from looking in the corner of my studio/shop and seeing a stack of raw materials, an old tank that need resurrecting, or just realizing I have a fresh tungsten in my tig torch when I sit down to weld. That first step into the shop in the morning, wondering what will come out of that day's efforts.'

India Rubber Urinals

We're men of the world (except you Bunny Jerez) and there have been times when all of us just needed to keep on riding or driving, wishing we could ignore the call of nature and keep that throttle cable stretched. But have you tried pissing in a bottle, while riding a Benelli? Man, it's tough, even at 40mph. Luckily, Sideburn correspondent Mick Phillips brought this item to our attention. Unfortunately, as Ben wisely points out, Victorian time travel not withstanding, we might struggle to get our hands, or anything else, on one. 'So,' Ben continues 'may I be so bold as to suggest a DIY version, to include...
a rubber Johnny
a rubber band
a measured length of brake bleeding rubber hose (from 'fellow' to ankle)
a cycle clip'
If anyone has ever tried this, please let us know the details. GI