Technology ramps up in Terminator Salvation with remote-controlled motorcycles dispatched by Skynet to destroy the humans (and we assume-most motorists). Full story on the film and the production design via Wired.Saturday, January 31, 2009
Upcoming Terminator Salvation's "Mototerminator" close up.
Technology ramps up in Terminator Salvation with remote-controlled motorcycles dispatched by Skynet to destroy the humans (and we assume-most motorists). Full story on the film and the production design via Wired.
Our Favortite hero...The Vigilante: Fighting hero of the west.
Via: under-appreciated, oddball and/or just generally cool characters and comic books
"The Vigilante also has the honor of being one of the first DC Comics heroes to make it to the silver screen. In 1947 The Vigilante became a thirteen-chapter movie serial, starring veteran action star Ralph Byrd.Greg Saunders, the "Prairie Troubadour" AKA The Vigilante on his trusty steed.
Plot:
Greg Saunders, the "Prairie Troubadour" of the screen, was shooting some scenes of a movie at George Pierce's ranch. Prince Hamil of Aravania arrived, presenting Greg, Pierce, Betty Winslow, Capt. Reilly and Tex Collier each with a fine Aravanian horse. Greg's alter-ego, the Vigilante, is called into action as a gang of thugs led by the mysterious and unseen X-1 strive to steal the horses from their owners.The reason for that nefarious activity is that each horse was shod with shoes containing 20 "tears of blood", which are rare blood red pearls of which only 100 exist in the world. There is also said to be a 1000-year-old curse upon those unique and valuable pearls. The Vigilante and his sidekick Stuff eventually discover that X-1 is none other than Pierce. Pierce is eventually killed, and Hamil destroys the Tears of Blood, ending their evil curse."
The Art of Jason Glasser.
Motorcycle III, 2006, collage paper, spray paint, tile primer on primed glass, 15 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches (40 x 29.8 cm)Via: Leo Kesting Gallery
"Jason Glasser was one of the founder members of the cult indy rock band, Clem Snide, and has continually oscillated between making paintings, videos and rock music. His subjects include recurring hunters, cowboys and motorbikes, for example, often reverse painted on auto-glass. Glasser explores a love-hate relationship with what might be the father figure, or the symbol of authority, government, or even planetary oppression."
The Phantom Motorcycle of Oxford.
How to get ahead in the world-a nasty barbed wire fenceVia: Passing Lane Paranormal investigations
"According to an article written in the October 31, 1992 edition of the Hamilton Journal, "As the story goes, a young Oxford man was going to propose marriage to his girlfriend who lived just around the corner of Oxford-Milford on Earhart Road. He was riding to her house to propose marriage, missed the narrow sharp turn just before her house and was decapitated by a barbed wire fence, according to the tale.
The newspaper article continues, "Students conjure the ghost by finishing his journey. Then after flashing headlights three times while facing south on Oxford-Milford Road, students say, they see the headlight and the taillight of the motorcycle appear."
"The problem with the legend is that longtime residents have never heard of such an accident. William Falk, 70, was born and has always lived in the house where the girl in the legend supposedly lived. He knows nothing of the story of the girl and doesn't believe the lights are from a ghost... Falk has had problems with students coming to see the ghost - his house has been robbed three or four times, he said. Other Oxford-Milford residents like Joey Mackey say students are there every weekend."
There are many variations of this legend. Some say the motorcycle rider was decapitated by a barbed wire fence. Others say he hit an oncoming car or a tractor. One ridiculous version of the story claims that he hit a bicycle, probably confusing the phantom motorcycle with the legend of the bicycle rider of Buckley Road (see below).
Another variation of the legend claims that there was a serial rapist on the loose and late one night he approached a home on Earhart Road and knocked on a girl's door. Fearing for her safety, the girl called for her "beau" who was going to come to her rescue. According to the story, the would-be hero's speeding motorcycle crashed when he tried to make the sharp bend in the road.The Phantom Bicyclist of Buckley Road:
There is another urban legend sometimes confused with the phantom motorcycle story. Supposedly, Buckley Road, located just outside of Oxford, Ohio, is said to be haunted by a boy killed while riding his bicycle. Just like the phantom motorcyclist, the legend says this ghost can be summoned by parking on the road and flashing your car's headlights three times.
Sounds familiar, doesn't it?Buckley Road
More than likely, this is one more variation of the motorcycle legend. Details become fuzzy over the years and we end up with two separate but similar stories. That's what happens with urban legends. They eventually become distorted and take on new details until they become totally different urban legends."
Friday, January 30, 2009
Saturday morning cartoons: Motor Mouse and AutoCat.
(link)
Via: Toonopedia
"MGM's Tom & Jerry series was one of the biggest hits in the history of animated cartoons. Also one of the most frequently imitated — once the simple formula was established, it was no great feat for Famous Studios to put Herman & Katnip out on the market, and for Terrytoons to respond with Little Roquefort. In fact, the most prolific imitator was the Hanna-Barbera Studio itself, after the creators had struck out on their own. They did variants such as twin mice or placing the antagonists in a hillbilly setting, but basic the cat-versus-mouse framework was one of the staples they repeatedly used.
In Motormouse & Autocat, the variant was to place add car race competition, such as had been seen in Jay Ward's Tom Slick, the Japanese import Speed Racer or their own Wacky Races, to the mix. It debuted on September 6, 1969, as one of the back segments to Cattanooga Cats show. Sixteen episodes appeared as part of that show. The following year, the hour-long show was split into two half-hours, and this segment shared one of them with another of the Cattanooga back segments, It's the Wolf. This version began September 12, 1970."
Splinter faction.
"This "Holz motorrad" has been around the interweb a while. All we know that its powered by a old 25 HP Honda motor, but still no name for the artist." Via: makezine
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Fernihough's streamlined Brough Superior.
11th March 1938: Eric Fernihough on his new streamlined Brough Superior motorcycle, at Brooklands, where he hopes to regain the world speed record.(Photo by David Savill/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Art of Ross Lovegrove.
Lovegrove's remarkable life size carbon fibre scuplure ‘ridon’
Born 1958, cardiff, wales. Ross Lovegrove graduated from manchester polytechnic with
1st class BA hons industrial design in 1980. master of design of royal college of art, london, 1983. in the early 80’s he worked as a designer for frog design in west germany on projects such as walkmans for sony, computers for apple computers, later moved to paris as a consultant to knoll international, becoming author of the highly successful alessandri office system and invited to join the atelier de nimes along with jean nouvel and philippe starck, consulting to amongst others louis vuitton, hermes and dupont.
Returning to london in 1986 he has completed projects for amongst others airbus industries, kartell, ceccotti, cappellini, idee, moroso, luceplan, driade, peugeot, apple computers, issey miyake, vitra, olympus cameras, yamagiwa corporation, tag heuer, hackman, alias, herman miller, japan airlines and toyo ito architects, japan.
Winner of numerous international awards his work has been extensively published and exhibited internationally including the museum of modern art in new york, the guggenheim museum new york, axis centre japan, pompidou centre, paris and the design museum london -
where in 1993 he curated the first permanent collection.lovegrove was awarded the world technology award by time magazine and CNN in november 2005.
Flickr: Inherit the wind.
Prop driven Trike powered by an H-D evo with a 62" propeller with belt reduction. Owner / Builder Tom Morrissey.
Via: srsinctm's photostream
There is no place like Home.
Another historic Jem Via: The Vintagent
"The Rudge Caravan was introduced for the 1927 model range, further exploring uncharted territory for touring motorcycles. A complete outfit was offered, with Rudge 500cc ohv motorcycle and 'Semi-Sports' sidecar, plus the trailer, for £136.50. The Caravan itself was 7'3" (2.23m) long 4'10" (1.5m) wide, and 4'7" (1.4m) high. Inside were two small beds, a table, storage lockers, etc. Weight of the caravan was 285lbs, about the same as the solo motorcycle. It was recommended that cooking and washing occur outside of the trailer - cooking especially due to fire danger. A commercial version of the trailer was available, and were in use as late as 1944 delivering milk by the Coventry Co-op."When parked, the owner's manual recommeded the outfit's tow-bar to be 'lashed to the nearest hedge, and the rear corners fitted with ropes and pegged down'
Via: Collection DX"Based off of art from the color manga anthology ROBOT, the Tomei Kei Skit Scooter is a beautiful 1/9 scale figure and vehicle. The figure can be removed from the scooter, and the winter kimono can be removed to reveal a cooler summer outfit."
The amazing Randy.
Early Chopper builder Randy Smith proves his strength and the lightness of his creation.Via: Nostalgia on wheels
Bird on a wire.
Actress and Supermodel Lauren Hutton having a bit of wire-guided bike fun.An avid motorcycle enthusiast, hutton made headlines in October 2000, when at the age of 55 she was involved in a serious motorcycle accident, while on a 100-mile ride near Las Vegas to celebrate a planned motorcycle exhibit at the Hermitage-Guggenheim museum. Losing control on a curve, she skidded about 100 feet and then went airborne, ultimately suffering multiple leg and arm fractures, broken ribs, a punctured lung, cuts, and bruises. Hutton subsequently traveled down a long road of physical rehabilitation and recovered.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
LJK Setright, Browning, and the 1980 CBX
By LJK Setright February 1980. Via: The cbxclub
"Browning would have seen the place of the CB900F in the scheme of things, and I think that I can too. It is a very fine motorcycle indeed, one of the very best; but it is not the best. It has only a couple of cylinders fewer than the CBX, only a few horsepower less, is only a few mph slower, takes only a little longer to reach whatever speed you fancy, steers and stops almost as well, is nearly as well furnished, and is not quite so costly either to buy or to run. Ninety-five per cent is enough of a good thing for most people; but let me see now, 95% of 95% of 95%...seven times over, it comes out at seventy per cent. No, it is not that much inferior to the CBX, surely, but if the nearness appeals in the showroom, the shortfalls appear on the road.Not a bikie-poet Robert Browning
There are so many similarities in detail between these two Hondas that we could hardly fail to consider the 900 a sort of bourgeois CBX. Brakes, valvegear, handlebars, even those three-way adjustable rear suspension units have been common to both since we first saw them in Europe, though the U.S. version of the CBX was not so trimly barred nor as adjustably damped--perhaps for the same reason as the CB900F was never intended for the U.S. market at all.The 1980 CBX
You will remember the subaltern who, asked the place of cavalry in war, described its function as "lending tone to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl". The CBX does the same for motorcycling, with that effortless superiority which is the mark of the true aristocrat. Alas, a man is often ill at ease with a silver spoon if he was not born with one in his mouth, and it is not difficult to identify among motorcyclists that same resentful rejection of the best because of lack of familiarity with the best. It is a kind of craven lack of confidence, as though a mortal man were offered Aphrodite but, daunted by the prospect, ran back home to the girl next door. Only thus can I account for the failure of the motorcycling world to snap up every CBX made, while they hunt down the CB900F remorselessly.
The CB900F is the king of the superbikes, but the CBX is the hyperbike (and the KZ1300 is merely a megabike, which is not nearly as clever), unique and without peer. Don't tell me that its engine is too wide: It is no wider than the legs of a rider, so it adds nothing to the frontal area, and personally I would rather have my legs shielded by a cylinder apiece than exposed to every blow (whether wind or wallop) that might come their way. Anyway, the four-cylinder engine, needing to have its masses hung on the ends of its crankshaft, is practically as wide down at the levels where ground clearance begins to matter. And no four, not even a flat four, can be as good as an inline six; it cannot be as smooth, as flexible, as easy on the transmission and the rider, as muscular or as musical as the six, all other things being equal--and here they are not equal, for the four is, albeit less powerful, more highly stressed than the six however you like to measure it. From pressures to piston speed, from conrod angularity to ring flutter, the CBX engine takes life remarkably easy, leaving the 900 to toil with the sons of Martha. Yet the CBX engine is as responsive as a racer, the nicest cycle motor to ever reach the street.Most certainly a bikie: LJK Setright, Motoring journalist, musician, scholar of Judaism and smoker.
As for the cycle, there are niceties missing from the CB900F that need to be there before it can face up to the aristocrat. Some pains were taken to lighten the inevitably hefty CBX, and they pay dividends: a hollow wheel spindle is not only lighter, it is a better wheelspindle than a solid one. Light-alloy parts, if not made quite as light as their materials might allow, can be stiffer than steel ones.
On paper, I am not in much doubt. On the road, I am in none. The CBX feels better and goes better, and the difference is greater than the difference in price, so the costlier bike is actually the better bargain. There are umpteen details to show why, but a ride does it all. I would have thought the 900 fantastic if I had not ridden the 1047 first; and when I rode the 900, somebody on a 1047 made me sad. A bunch of us were trying the 900 in Germany, but Honda had brought along a brace of sixes ("to lend tone to what otherwise would be a vulgar brawl," no doubt?) and a pair of German riders who set off on them after us caught us just as we were getting wound up on the Autobahn. Had I been alone on the four I would have taken the blame, for though I may be clever I am certainly not quick; but the chaps with whom I was keeping company are most emphatically quick--yet the CBX duo left us for dead, flat-out in the pouring rain and driving wind, with great cross-gusts angling off all the trucks and across all the bridges along the hectically busy road. It was a fair comparison of like for like, for the CBX bikes were (like the CB900F) manufactured to European specification, with proper dampers and riding position and brake pads and so forth. And yet in Germany, too, Honda is selling the 900F in thousands, the CBX in handfuls.The high that proved too high,
the heroic for earth too hard,
The passion that left the ground
to lose itself in the sky,
Are music sent up to God
by the lover and the bard;
Enough that he heard it once;
we shall hear it by-and-by.
I told you that Browning would have understood."
Monday, January 26, 2009
Know your Swedish Racing Motorcycles: The Monark Crescent.
Via: Ozebook
Monark built its first motorcycle in 1913 however the name wasn't used until 1927. It's first machines used Blackburne engines. In 1936 production switched to light-weight 98cc Ilo engine machines. During World War 2 Husqvarna 500cc engined 4 strokes were made for the army. Post-war Ilo 500cc to 250cc motorcycles were produced in quantity.
A Monark Albin engined 500cc 4 stroke single won the 1959 World MX crown. In 1960 Monark switched to Sachs and Morini engined 50cc to 175cc 2 stroke machines. In the 70's the factory toyed with road racing with the elegant Monark Crescent (shown here).
In 1975 production of motorcycles stopped.
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