Custom Bike Show June 24th

Hey Everyone, Check this out. I am going to head out and go to this. I would love it if as many Boggers as possible showed up and supported the garage building community and give this show a decent British Presence despite the fact that they can't spell British right on the poster..... lol.

Oh Royal Enfield.....Must lust grows

I don't know what it is about these little bikes.  I love small CC machines like my little CB350 and my 77 Suzuki's 400 motor is really a gem.  Its got 40hp and is so smooth for a bike of that time.  They are light and quick and really fun.  I look at the Royal Enfield and my mind twists to the old days of motorcycles.  It plucks my vintage heart strings.  I have to say I want one, bad....

The 500 is such a gem and they have absolutely nailed the looks.  This year they released the desert colored army bike and man oh man do I love this bike.  I can't think of anything I would love to ride around the city more than this. Have a look:

Desert Storm II

Desert Storm II

They have been also showing off the new Cafe Racer and this too looks like a commuting dream.  I love it.  The designers at Royal have done a bang up job at keeping the look from the 60's.  No, they aren't horsepower machines with the 500 beating 27hp but honestly, if there is one thing I have learned in 20 years of riding motorcycles is that on the right bike you don't need 165hp to have a great time. 

So I was picking up some beer today....

Ok so this is a bit of a rant and not so much of a motorcycle post but I have to say... what the hell is the deal with light beer.  Common people why are you drinking this stuff.  I love beer and am by no means a beer snob.  I don't think that only people who drink beer from the micro micro micro breweries from the smallest village in England that are a IPA or double IPA are the only people who know something about beer.  You don't have to drink that stuff to drink beer.

When I go into the liquor store I almost get lost in all the types of domestic and euro beers that some stores have.  I sit there are and look at the offerings from Alley Kat, Big Rock (from right here in Alberta) to my home in BC's Tree Brewery and Vancouver's Granville Island Brewery not to mention the Euro lovelies.  As I sit there and try and decide which delicious treat to pick up there will be at least five other people who come in, pretend to look at and scratch their head at the choices just to go and grab a case of Coors Light and walk out oh wait it's the weekend and they feel saucy so they bought Bud Light Lime.  What the hell, why even pretend?  Oh and the reality is this, if you need a mountain to change color on the can to tell you that it is ready to drink you need to put the beer down and step away from the fridge.  Enough.  Just because you can drink a case of light beer in one night doesn't make you a super man.  It makes you have to go to the bathroom....a lot.  So do yourself a favor and instead of drinking a dozen light beer go and buy a six pack of Granville Island Pale Ale or Lager or Hefeweizen. 

Heck go to Hudson's or Original Joe's and enjoy one of their home brews.  Hudson's has started going the extra mile with their brews and their latest Scuttlebutt is absolutely magic on a hot summer night.  Original Joes has a host of brews that are really wonderful too.  Try the Blonde.  Its amazing.

With the amount cheap and light beer being sold these days I guess it goes to show you that people either drink to get drunk or to find a bathroom to hide in instead of enjoying the wonderful tastes that mid sized breweries offer.

Do yourself a favor, when you are beside me in the liquor store and you are pretending to look for something tasty - pick something tasty.  Don't grab the Silver Bullet and run to the counter.

Photo Shoot

Hi Everyone. What a great night last Monday night was. I can tell you how much I appreciate everyone coming out and hanging around for the shoot. We had our largest turn out ever and the front of Hudsons was completely surrounded by Modern Classics. What a site! Here are a few samples.

Overall I took about 85 pictures which will turn into about 30 or so great pictures.  There are some other pics up in the facebook site.  So thanks again Boggers.  It was really a great night.

Michael

Ton Up!!

Here is the Cafe Racer TV official music video.  Great song even better bikes!

Norton is back at the Isle of Mann!

Hey everyone, I subscribe to the Isle of Mann newsletter and today they announced that Norton will participate this yea with a brand new V4 machine..... yep V4 as in same engine configuration as the famous Aprilia RSV4, Ducati Desmodici and Honda Interceptors of years gone by.

Have a look at the picture of the bike without its numerous sponsorship decals....

From the Isle of Mann newsletter: 

"Norton will return to the Mountain course at the 2012 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy, it has been confirmed.

The legendary name will be back with an all-new 1000cc V4 machine ridden by reigning TT Privateer’s Champion Ian Mackman in the PokerStars Senior TT on June 8.

It features a Spondon chassis with Ohlins front and back, Brembo brakes and an RSV V4 engine. It has been built solely within the factory at Donington Park, with many of the parts - from wheel spindles through to throttle bodies - built within the CNC machine facility in the Norton factory.

The company has also partnered with Active Technologies Limited for the fuelling system and electronic package. All the styling and bodywork has also been completed at the factory and the team will operate with their traditional polished aluminium tank...."

Read the full article here: http://www.iomtt.com/News/2012/04/18/Norton-to-race-V4-at-the-2012-Isle-of-Man-TT.aspx

You will also be able to watch the Isle of Mann this year via online stream which will be available here:  http://www.iomtt.com/



1951 Triumph Sidecar vs 2007 Sidecars

Man... watch this video.  This is just something unreal.  Who says those old side hacks don't fly.  Check out this 1951 Triumph racing sidecar rig race against 2007 Sidecar rigs.  I beleive the 07's are the standard 130hp 600cc machines.  The 1951 is a 650cc machine. 

The start is something amazing.

History Road, Reynolds Museum

Ok Everyone, June 9th and 10th - Make sure your bikes are shined up for a ride down to the Reynolds to enjoy the History Road event.  I am leaning for a Sunday the 10th ride down.  This event attracts hundreds of vintage car, muscle car and motorcycle enthusiast from all over Alberta.  They fill up the field between the Hanger exhibit and the main building. 

A group of Triumphs would make a cool statement down there. For more info go to the Reynolds website at:  http://www.history.alberta.ca/reynolds/specialevents/historyroad.aspx

Michael