Friday, July 31, 2009
The Animal Act.
A flea-driven bicycle and hearse from the Tivoli Gardens. Copenhagen, Denmark. (now closed)Via: Dark Roasted Blend
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Ride the Machine.
Flossie the robot was constructed by Castrol to be used in lubricant testing for just about any motorcycle. Flossie allows testers to monitor how lubricants function over time in a variety of situations, with Flossie the one constant, shifting and riding the bike perfectly each time. Flossie learns, all by herself, how to get a feel for each bike and how to ride it. Via: Posci
Arvil had a feeling.
In 1964 Arvil Porter felt if you had more Horse Power you could go faster. So he built a 400 HP Chevy race car motor with Hillborn fuel injectors running alcohol for fuel and put it on two wheels.
Via: Arvil Porter Projects
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
At your service: The Mazda DA.
The 1931 Mazda DA was the first three-wheeled vehicle in Japan to use a rear-axle differential gear and a linear transmission with a reverse gear. This model is remembered as the vehicle with which Mazda entered the automobile market. Via: SAE Japan
Celeritas.
Audrey KawasakiCurrently showing at SURU gallery to raise funds for Riders For Health and themed through the medium of motorcycling, and realized on the objects of road racing culture (a motorcycle, helmets and apparel). The show, entitled Celeritas ( Latin for Speed ), features helmets, apparel, and even a 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa, each painted by one of 14 trend-setting fine artists.
Via: If its Hip its Here
Mike Shinoda
Jim Lee
James JeaneBay: The Metro City Racer.
This cyberpunk styled bike was created for ( but never used) an upcoming independent film called "Metro City Racer" and built from a 1990 GSXR Frame, Buell Lightning Tail, and two VRod Rear Wheels, the bike is powered by a 11 Horsepower 240cc engine with a torque converter and can reach speeds up to 50 mph. This clever bit of design can be yours as the builder has no-reserve price with an opening bid of a mere $1.00
Ebay Item number: 300334029941
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Ride with me.
Constructed by Studio Creations, These two wearable Star Wars Speeder Bike outfits are in the vein of man-riding-horse style costumes. The bodies of the bikes are vacuumformed .125 guage (1/8 inch) styrene, with a 1/2 inch metal-tube subframe holding it together. The "riders" wore weightlifting belts under thier clothes to fasten the 47 pound costumes.
3 Blokes, 3 Bikes, 3 Deserts.
The 3 Blokes are riding Postie Bikes (small motorcycles used by Australia Post to deliver mail) from Sydney to Uluru across the Australian Outback traversing three desserts the Strezlecki, the Sturt Stony and the Simpson Dessert. The team will be riding in support of the charity Autism South Australia-of which they will be seeking sponsorship for.
3 Blokes, 3 Bike 3 DesertsThe 3 Blokes who are turning out to be 3 heroes
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tip Top.
a Tippco clockwork motor driven military motorcycle with a sidecar Tippco, Founded in 1912 and named after an early director/employee, Miss Tipp, its ultimate owner, Phillip Ullman, was forced to flee from Germany in 1933. He went to England, where he founded Mettoy, eventually returning to Germany and recovering his company following the war. Most of the Tippco Hitler era toys were destroyed after the war.
Via: dfw Elite Car Club Toy Museum
Yankee go home.
Dan Beard, Best known as one of the founding fathers of the Boy Scouts, but he was also a skilled illustrator. These charming panels are from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain.
Via: Golden Age Comic Book Stories
2x2x2
Built in 1990, the Australian Dryvtech 2x2x2 Experimental was a motorcycle designed and built by Ian Drysdale as a test bed for his ideas on 2 wheel drive and 2 wheel steering. Utilising hydraulic drive to both wheels, with hydraulically actuated hub-centre steering of both wheels and even adjustable ride-height.
A technical adventure rather than a serious production motorcycle prototype. Not everything tried on the Dryvtech 2x2x2 Experimental was an absolute success, but proved that a 2 wheel drive motorcycle is a valid concept. The bike was recently bought by a private collector and now resides in the Donington Motor Museum, UK.
See Also: Andy Sparrow's Bloodrunner bikes
Baybutts Bonaventure.
NCRS follower and photographer Richard Baybutt sent us these grand pictures from his recent 2 week trip to the French Alps on his trusty 1989 Honda cd250u, fully fitted out with gear and snowboard. Cheers Richard!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
At your service: an impressive package.
A Cushman Auto-Glide Package-Kar, Model 29, the first production chassis vehicle, 1939 Via: Nebraska History
36"
In 1969 laFrance Bressen of Galesburg, Michigan, built a motor driven monocycle with a 36-inch wheel powered by a 500 cc Motorcycle engine. Clever fella.
Via: Red Max Monowheel
German?
A (incorrect, unless Germany secretly bought Norton-and we were never told about it in motorcycle geek school) card from the Topps: World on Wheels bubblegum card series circa 1953-1955
Via: Chuckman
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Inherit the wind.
Carl Haren, 58, of Duarte, poses with his 1912 Pierce motorbike at Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale Friday, July 17, 2009. Haren, who got the bike from his Uncle Gus Lambert, spent the last six years finding and manufacturing parts to get the rare motorbike running. Haren owns the bike with his brothers Dennis and Rick. Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz
Via: sgvtribune
Off to Slaytona.
A virtual thrill seeking rider makes his way towards the equally virtual Second Life bike gathering Sylatona. Via: faSHUNed Toad Hallucinations
Portraits: Robert Pirsig.
Author Robert Pirsig, with the bike he rode while writing his well known book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on-line." Now available online
Friday, July 24, 2009
The great Crotte sucker.
In France, the job security of a motocrotte rider must rival that of the undertaker. It is an ordinary motorcycle or motorscooter, with an oversized vacuum cleaner mounted on the pillion. The rider sweeps through the streets of the city, and when he sees a crotte s/he sucks it up the pipes. But what is a crotte, you ask? A crotte is a form of shoe decoration left on the street by inconsiderate dog owners.
Via: Junkopia
Pretty on Pillion.
City office worker, Miss Brampton, well laden with her Christmas parcels, sets off for home on the pillion of a motorbike. Via: Getty Images
Paper Dreams: Steve McKinley.
Steve McKinley lives in Athens, Ohio where he works primarily in paper mache' sculpture. Versed in a wide range of subjects with many new ideas presenting themselves everyday........ there is never a shortage of subject matter. The sculptures range in size from small table top pieces, to life size and even larger.
Paper-mâché, is a construction material that consists of pieces of paper, sometimes reinforced with textiles, stuck together using a wet paste (e.g., glue, starch, or wallpaper adhesive). The crafted object becomes solid when the paste dries.
Lucy Orta.
Orta Water - Mobile intervention unit, 2005Lucy Orta was trained as a fashion designer and began working as an artist in the beginning of the 1990’s to create what she called “architectures with soul”
In 1991 Orta established the Paris-based Studio-Orta, which operates as a research and development studio for artworks and limited editions by Lucy and Jorge Orta, and as an administrative bureau for their exhibitions, collaborations, and commissions. Studio-Orta’s team of curators, designers, architects, engineers, musicians, artisans, fabricators, production assistants and technicians employ a range of techniques from object making, couture, painting, printing, light projections, performances, public events and communications strategies to investigate crucial themes of the world today: the community and the social link, dwelling and habitat, nomadism and mobility, sustainable development, ecology and recycling.
Via: symposiumc6Orta Water - Urban intervention 2
The Furious Flycycle.
"The furious flycycle" by Jan Wahl. Getting the idea from a great inventor who has settled in his town, a young mechanical wizard invents a device that enables him to fly his bicycle on a rescue mission making him a local hero.Pict Via: nongpangbook
Early Tron 2 concept art shows us "fastest light cycle on the grid."
On Thursday during the Disney 3D panel at the San Diego Comic-Con, moderator Patton Oswalt conducted a q&a session after revealing the official title of the highly-anticipated sequel to the 1982 sci-fi action film starring Jeff Bridges: Tron: Legacy.
Picts Via: Tron-2-trailer
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Trout.
Millersville University's "Trout" electric motorcycle project. The team was successful in being one of the 21 teams out of 50 to qualify for the American Tour De Sol. In the spring of 2003 was the last semester any significant research was done on the "Trout" and the bike took its last ride to the local pub, ending its career where it began.
Big Mamma.
Singer "Mama" Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas sits her motorcycle with her daughter Owen.Via: Corbis
Gallery: Power Ranger Toys.
Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise, built around a children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes. Produced by Saban Entertainment (and later BVS Entertainment under Disney), the Power Rangers concept originated from the Japanese tokusatsu Super Sentai Series.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
First he learned to walk..
First he learned to walk. Then he moved on to riding a tricycle. Soon thereafter he conquered the bicycle. Now this man, having mastered the motorbike, is doing stunts on it. He was caught on Sunday showing off his skill in Arima". Photo: Wendy-Ann Duncan
Via: Trinidad Gaurdian
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
With this ring...
The jewelry from Belgian fashion designer Martin Margiela features some really interesting shapes. The rings, made of brass but silver-plated, incorporate daily items, like nails or in this case-bike chain.
Via: 3:01 am Via: Definitive Touch
Alan MacDonald.
This creative painting is the work of Alan MacDonald, born in Malawi, Central Africa; he studied fine art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, Scotland and at the Cyprus College of Art in Paphos, Cyprus.
MacDonald currently lives and works in Carnoustie, Scotland and has exhibits coming to the U.S. this year at the Stewart Gallery at the International Art Fair, Pasadena, Los Angeles and next year at Corcoran Gallery, Washington DC.
Via: Motorcycle.com
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Custer Rides Again.
Custer rides again, although he's atop a plastic motorcycle and in a McDonald's Happy Meal box. And that doesn't sit well with some in the Native American community.
Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer was killed in 1876 along the Little Big Horn River by Native Americans he aimed to destroy. But Hollywood brought him back to life as a character in the Ben Stiller comedy “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian,” which opened in theaters May 22. McDonald's included characters from the movie as toys in its kid-sized Happy Meals.
The fast food chain's decision to circulate the toy in Indian Country is akin to circulating a Hitler figure in Israel, according to Laurette Pourier, executive director for the Society for the Advancement of Native Interests-Today. “It's insensitive and disrespectful.”
Via: Rapid City Journal
Let there be sand: The Platune Sand-X Bike.
The Platune Sand-X Bike is supposed to be the safest, fastest, and most powerful ATV ever built. Designed to be the Ducati of off-roaders the ATV is built by European-based luxury vehicle design and tuning firm Platune and Sand-X, a Swiss company specializing in sand dune racers. Available only in an exclusive limited edition, the Platune Sand-X will be able to accelerate from 0-62 mph in as little as 2.8 seconds and achieve a top speed of 144 mph.
Via: Dub Daily
High Concept: Dechaves Garage E06.
Dechaves Garage E06 intends to satisfy the needs of the young, modern, and urban community. People with an open mind, who find themselves attracted by design, fashion and new technologies. In the design of this motorcycle the following points were sought after:
Avoid the classic image of city motorcycles. To do this, the creation has opted for clean and minimalist forms based on the new product design. That is easily customized. Adaptable to the image and personality of the user. Respecting the environment. Intuitive, agile and easy to drive. With a relaxed and comfortable driving position (inspired by ergonomic seating known as the kneeling chair or Scandinavian chair).
Friday, July 17, 2009
When is a motorcycle not a motorcycle ? The 4MC.
The 4MC(4 wheeled Motorcycle Concept) prototype vehicle by Nick Shotter. This 4 wheeled moto offers amazing rider feel and huge front-end stability up to 40-degree lean angles. You can ride like a regular bike that more the lean angle increases, the further apart the wheels move to increase the stability.
Via: Likecool
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Beastly.
E.J. Potter's V-8 Chevy Corvette fuel-injected Beast. Its claimed to have 40mph of wheelspin while travelling at 120mph. Direct drive chain from a big reduction-gear straight to the back wheel. He started it on power rollers, then pushed it on its roller-mounted jackstand to the line; he simply kicked the jackstand over-centre at the green light.
Via: Oldstox.
Tobias Bexten's Short Distance Solar Powered Rental Bike concept.
This design is done in reaction to some facts dug up by designer Bexten, exact parameters unknown: “at an average of only 1,2 people are traveling together in one car at the same time, and the quote “50 percent of all distances covere with a car are shorter than five kilometers, 90 percent of all distances covered are shorter than 9 kilometers.”
Via: Yanko design
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Family photos: Anthony Groucutt goes racing.
NCRS follower Daz kindly sent is these great period photos of his pop Anthony when he was racing in the early 60's... The manx Norton he had was second in the junior TT 1958 Dave Chadwick had raced it for Reg Derdon.
Singularity...
NCRS reader Jakub recently sent us links to his great Ben Wilson inspired monowheel design-we like. Thanks Jakub!
Gifts from above: The flying Flea.
Largely a copy of the German DKW RT98 motorcycle, the Model RE, as it was officially known, was enlisted for military service. In particular, its light weight meant it could be dropped by parachute in a tubular crate (above pict) Royal Enfield also produced. The nickname Flying Flea was a natural.
In theory, the "light weight" of the motorcycle also meant it could be lifted over obstacles like stone walls and fallen trees, making it a truly cross country machine. A soldier in action could lift the Flying Flea, if only barely. It weighed 125 pounds.
Via: Royal Enfield Motorcycles
Insert "Rock" cliché here.
Designed by Felix Götze from old German motorcycle parts, this motorcycle meets rocking horse is much burlier and cooler than any rocking horse currently sitting in a home nursery. What kid couldn’t appreciate sitting on a leather seat while “revving” his two-stroke engine.
Via: Design Crave
Our favorite hero..
Liu, 27, lost both arms at the age of seven after an electric shock. When he was 10, his parents sent him to a local circus to learn skills, and from then on, he trained himself to ride a motorcycle without arms.
Police officer Xhang Jie said: "I spotted from a distance that the motorbike had three adults on but we were all stunned by what we saw when we got closer."
Liu admitted that he had been riding his adapted motorcycle for 10 years without arms - and he didn’t even have a license.
He said the circus where he worked had closed down three years ago and he and two other disabled circus workers had been performing on the streets ever since.
Police decided against fining him because he didn't have any money but issued him a serious warning. Liu promised them he would not ride motorbikes again.
Via: Neatorama
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Rahul Design's "Zee"
Rahul Design's ‘Zee’ concept Bike designed for year 2015… with hubless wheels gives out of this world looks to it… Front swing arm suspension gives an unique identity to this bike… "This is single seater bike designed for those who like power with aggression."
James Corbett.
Australian artist James Corbett uses parts from cars to create his sculptures, Nothing is bent into shape; the original integrity of each part is maintained.
The origin of the species.
German, Gottlieb Daimler invented the first gas-engined motorcycle in 1885, which was an engine attached to a wooden bike. That marked the moment in history when the dual development of a viable gas-powered engine and the modern bicycle collided. Gottlieb Daimler used a new engine invented by engineer, Nicolaus August Otto. Otto invented the first "Four-Stroke Internal-Combustion Engine" in 1876. He called it the "Otto Cycle Engine" As soon as he completed his engine, Daimler (a former Otto employee) built it into a motorcycle.
Via: Zianet
H.P.Müller rests.
H.P.Müller rests, while Ludwig Malchus on a NSU sport max and Ernst Hiller on Matchless G45 poise for the ready. Via: Classic Motorrad
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Mary Joyce.
Mary Joyce's Speeding Subject, is a collection of paintings, small and large, based on sketches the artist drew while riding on the back of a motorcycle. Via: Vue Weekly
Props..
Anzani were a well-known maker of aircraft engines, so putting a tractor propellor on an adapted bicycle was presumably a logical move for them. This machine may have been intended for racing or as a promotion for Anzani engines, as surely no could have thought this was a practical vehicle for use in busy streets...Via: The Self Site
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Andro Wekua.
Andro Wekua. My Bike and Your Swamp (Yesterday) I, 2008
L x W x H: 225 x 100 x 157 cm
PU-Rubber and foam, aluminum, wood, steel, wax, artificial hair, cotton, wax paint
The sculpture was first shown in the exhibition by the same title at De Hallen Haarlem, NL (September 13 to November 11, 2008). A second version then travelled to Camden Arts Centre London (December 5, 2008 to February 8, 2009). Photos: Courtesy Galerie Peter Kilchmann.
Andro Wekua was born in Georgia. He is work encompasses painting, drawing, installation, sculpture and film, depicting figurative and pattern-based imagery. Wekua’s installations often include models of children, based on Wekua’s childhood self, which are further represented in his works on paper.
On a wing and a....
"The Skybike was an experimental prototype microlight that integrated a Yamaha YZ80 motorcross motorbike into the trike unit which could be detached and used independently within a couple of minutes. The motorcycle had its own engine independent of the microlight engine and the pilot sat on the motorcycle seat but used his feet to steer the handle bars on the ground. The application was military following interest from the British Army. It is believed that a second prototype was also designed which had a single engine to power both the bike and aircraft propulsion. The Skybike was test flown up to 5500 feet."
Via: Microlight.org
Friday, July 10, 2009
Very Expensive Thrills: The Super Tanker Chopper.
Super Tanker Chopper "Little Buddy"From Very Expensive Thrills" National Lampoon, August 1977
(click to enlarge)
Super Tanker Chopper Golden Kick Stand and Dock...(click to enlarge)
"Here we see Mr Wonderful and his crew..."
(click to enlarge)
Art by the brilliant Stan Mott.
Picts via: Stan Mott and the CYCLOPS
Lair of the white woods.
"There’s just about nothing greener than a bicycle. And here’s a particularly nice example: a custom, single-speed city bike with handpainted frame. if the nature motif doesn’t make you want to ride outdoors, not much will."
Via: Green Remix
Scott Pommier.
Scott Pommier’s interest in photography began when he started using his mother’s semi-automatic SLR to take pictures of his friends skateboarding. Since then, he has shot covers for every major skateboarding publication and now divides his time between his position as a senior photographer for SBC Skateboard magazine, a variety of editorial and commercial jobs, a book project to be completed next year, and spending more hours either behind the wheel or in front of the computer than he ever imagined possible.
Read the Feature Shoot interview of Pommier here.
