Honda CBX1000

Is this it? Have I finally completed it ..I am not sure. I have struggled for months with the background for this bastard illustration, it has been a labour of love but at the same time very frustrating. Mitsubishi Zeros, rising sun flag, Mt Fuji have all been the suggestions but I have settled for a Phoenix from the flames theme for now. This motorcycle never ceases to impress, with that awesome looking motor dominating the bike it always turns heads. I hope I have done it justice.
To see more of my work click - HERE.

Mini Mouse

This machine was built by the creator of the Mad Max Goose bike...he lives just down the road from me. He has many exotic bikes to his credit. All of them very unusual. Have a close look at the middle of the handle bars.

In the beginning...there was...

The passion started very early. We where only 14 when we found our first motorcycle...in the creek with only the back wheel sticking out of the water. I think it was a stolen Jawa 250 that had been dumped once the motor had been taken. We pushed it to the top of the hill and took it in turns to pilot it down the hill...the thrill of it all. Safety came second. Life was simpler then.

Harley Davidson WLA - Extra.

The Thompson gun (Tommy gun) was popular in WW2 because of its high rate of fire, very effective in close combat. Mostly used by scouts, non commissioned officers, despatch riders, commandos and patrol leaders. In the Pacific theatre however it was considered too heavy and its low velocity .45 bullet could not penetrate small jungle trees.
to see more of my work click - HERE.

Hesketh the gentlemans tourer.

There where high hopes for the first British motorcycle in a long time but only about 250 Hesketh V1000 where ever built. The engine alone weighed in at 220lbs (100kgs) and unreliability plagued the first batch, however it remains a beautiful looking machine. Being so rare I always wondered if I would ever see a Hesketh in the flesh and low and behold a mate of a mate has one. He bought it from a museum and it is a very impressive machine.

To bad it was not a success and good on Lord Hesketh for having a go. In the end he just ran out of money. The rooster is the Hesketh logo.
Maybe the name or the concept of a British V twin will surface again one day. I hope so.
To see more of my work click HERE.

CBX1000, but something is missing...help please.

What a machine. Even now it looks amazing...but I am stuck for a background. Let me know what I should use as a background that will reflect the impact the CBX1000 Super Sport made on the motorcycle industry. It has taken about 3 weeks to get this far and I would like to get it finished soon. Should it be a tornado or an explosion or maybe Godzilla? What do you think? Please leave a suggestion.
To see more of my work click HERE.Sir Alan Cathcart wrestling the mighty CBX1000 at this years Motorcycle Bonanza at Broadford racetrack. I had a chat with Alan, nice bloke.

Santa Catalina Grand Prix

Inspirerd by the Isle of Man TT, the Catalina Grand Prix was very popular but only lasted between 1951 and 1958. More than 300 racers and 7000 fans came to Santa Catalina by barge doubling the islands population. It was not a popular event with locals as facilities on the island could not cope with the invasion. It was the first race in which a piano manufacturer Yamaha, entered a motorcycle. In most years of the Catalina Grand Prix BSA motorcycles where in the top five.
Ten laps of varying road conditions on the dangerous ten mile course put the emphasis on handling, therefore most of the bikes where scramblers. Currently most of Catalina is a nature reserve but there are plans to run the event again in 2010. It would be the coolest grand prix. Good luck.
To see more of my work please go to the gallery, click - HERE.

A FEW YEARS FROM NOW...

When the gangs take over the highways...we hope he is still out there. One of my favourite movies. It was such a thrill to find and meet the owner of the Goose's motorcycle at the Phillip Island Classic.
Goose contact me, I have finally finished your poster.
To see more of my work go to my gallery - click - HERE.

Norton Atlas Manx 750

To be in the presence of this machine when it is running is an awesome experience, one that leaves you wanting more. Thanks Ray for the lend of your bike for this project.
To see more of my work go to the gallery - HERE.

Triumph Trident

In 1968 the Triumph Trident and BSA Rocket 3 where the first modern era mass produced multi cylinder production motorcycles. In1975 and last version of the T160 sold 7,000 units. As attractive as the Triumph/BSA where and even with hurried up dates they could not compete with the sophistication and build quality of the Honda CB750. The British bikes suffered many mechanical problems that could not be overcome in time.

I enjoyed drawing the Trident and creating a winter setting that reflects the fading and eventual end of the British motorcycle industry. Long live Triumph.
To see more of my work click - HERE.

A real sweetie.

This bike was available in Europe in 250 and 350 versions as well as the 450. In 1971, Ducati released a variant for off-road use called the R/T and another street version called the Silver Shotgun. Unlike British manufacturers of the time, Italy’s Ducati was successful in re-inventing itself. It did this with a line of larger capacity V-twins, but first it went racing, on 500 cc Desmo GP bikes and the Ducati Imola 750 Desmo. In 1971 Paul Smart won the Imola 200 on the V-twin. - Wiki.
To see more of my art click - HERE.

Board in Art

A new force is about to reach out to the stars and make waves in the universe of the endless summer. The Gods of the foaming barrel will turn their heads and vie to posses and make sacred the light from this flame. From this moment on the sun will not seem so bright. Easfull death has now been made agony by the realisation that the next flicker from this fire will be missed. Fear should fill our hearts with the knowledge that so much of our lives luck must have been consumed with the chance of just existing in the world at the same time as this being. A super surfing nova is born. Be brave, look into the light...if you dare - HERE.

The Sexy Italian

"Mike the Bike " Hailwood paired with Jim Scraysbrook to race the Ducati 750SS in the 1977 Castrol Six Hour. They came sixth. The winners where Ken Blake and Joe Eastmore on a BMW R100S.

To see more of my paintings and high quality prints, click - HERE.

Beautiful JAWA

At the recent Phillip Island Classic I met a lovely man call Lofty.
He is a JAWA specialist and the bikes that he has worked on are truly special. Here is his recently restored 1954 JAWA 500cc DOHC factory race bike.
Contact Lofty if you have a Jawa that needs some special attention,
he is the man.
lofty.pret@mweb.co.za

The MIGHTY JAP dominates the Phillip Island Classic 2010

Graeme (Wags) Wagland's JAP 880 - achieved four race wins and one DNF in the Unlimited Classic Races (1952-62). The 2nd race DNF was due to a loose carby cap which caused the throttle to stick on and give the rider Mark Shuppan a few interesting moments.

Theses achievements did not come without some grief though. The JAP has so much torque that the drive train is under enormous pressure and in practice the gearbox main shaft snapped and destroyed the gearbox.

The clutch also suffered and needed some attention from the brains trust. However Mark was still able to get the jump on many bikes by first letting out the slipping clutch gently before using the massive torque to hammer of the line.

The midnight oil was burnt till about four in the morning by a good humoured and clever team. A rebuilt gearbox and more pressure on the clutch springs did the trick. Success is rarely a solo act.

With these massive drum brakes Mark was able to out brake more modern motorcycles with disc brakes.
But Wags also reckons that "Mark has a huge set of Kahunas, and that helps".

On the team was Greg Summerton builder of JAP engines and brakes. Greg uses modern techniques and materials to produce a high quality and very powerful replica JAP engines. Greg will have a website soon but for now contact him by email - gregss@bigpond.com

Mighty Manx

The Norton Manx has been described as one of the most effective racing motorcycles of all time. The last Manx Nortons were sold in 1963. Even though Norton had pulled out of racing in 1954, the Manx had become the backbone of privateer racing and are highly sought after.
To see more of my work click - HERE.

Poor Bastard Award

This weeks PBA goes to the chap who owns this Honda something.
I found this one on the side of the Gippsland highway. What happened?
Computer melt down? Was it stolen and then set alight?
Did he run out of petrol in the middle of the night and then decided to check the petrol tank with a lit match? Who knows?

"Made like a Gun"

Top speed was almost 115 mph. From 1955 to 1970, Royal Enfields were painted red, and marketed in the USA as Indian Motorcycles.

To see more of my work or buy a limited edition print, click - HERE.

1969 BSA Rocket 3

The BSA Rocket Three/Triumph Trident was the first true modern superbike and the last major motorcycle developed by the original Triumph company.

It was to be sold under both the Triumph and BSA marques.

The Rocket3/Trident was the first-step development of Triumph motorcycles' plan to move on from the basic vertical twin. The engine was to give the 750 cc power required by the US market while avoiding the vibration associated with an increase in capacity of the existing parallel-twin design.

During its production run BSA fell into financial troubles, and over the course of the official seven year model run approximately 27,480 Rocket3/Tridents were produced. By comparison, around a quarter of a million Gold Wing motorcycles were manufactured during its first seven years. - Wiki.

To see more of my paintings click - HERE.http://www.classicmotorcycleposters.bigcartel.com/

Bullet Proof Suzuki GSX1100

Dave Hiscock winning the second New Zealand Six Hour production race on the GSX1100 in 1979.

Powerful, strong, torquey, and heavy the 120 bhp donk was popular with the drag racers of the time.
It was not uncommon to get 300 bhp with a turbo added.
To see more of my paintings click - HERE.

Ivan is not afraid to putting his machine through its paces at the recent Motorcycle Bonanza at Broardford.

In the Shadows

Vincent owners love to brag about all the innovations that are incorporated into their motorcycles.
Modern motorcycle manufacturers are just lately catching up with what Vincent did 50 years ago.
But that is also why a Vincent cost as much as a house way back then.
In 1955 Christchurch New Zealand Russell Wright Vincent - HRD 998 cc (60.9 cu in) 184.83 mph
To see more of my artwork click - HERE.

Yamaha XS650 - Those where the days.

What is it about the Yamaha XS650 that is so appealing? The handling was not that good; it was not that fast... It is not a classic British 650... But still, it is so popular. Is it just because it is beautiful? I used to drag them on my Titan, which was hard to beat once I got her into third gear and at the right revs. Changing up would slow me down though.Those where the days. To see more of my paintings click - HERE

The XS650 was popular with flat trackers to.

The first ride on the first bike.

The day after I became a legal rider, a Ford Galaxy driven by a drunk Sergeant Major coming home from the Sergeants’ Ball turned in front of me while I was playing boy racer, head on the tank, flat out down the Watsonia hill. I hit the rear panel with quite some force. The Suzy stayed put in the side of the car while I did my Evel Knievel impression. The world went into slow motion as I flew gracefully through the air. In one great swallow dive I traveled at least two house blocks and landed on my back sliding another house block, shaken but not stirred.

Luckily I had borrowed my father’s suede safari jacket, remember it was 1972, so not a scratch. Well, the jacket was OK but I had a large gash through my thigh which contained some pearl white paint from the Galaxy. It was totally the Sergeant’s fault, so the up shot of all this was that the Suzy would get a proper front end rebuild at the sergeant’s expense.
The Suzuki Titian 500 would be better than ever, so the whole episode was well worth it.

The Suzuki 500 was bought as a crashed wreck; some poor soul had bought the farm on this one. So with the help of Wim the Racer, we began the process of getting her back on the road. Parts were a plenty in those days and cheap if they came from the wreckers... Still the wait to get her back together was excruciating.

Riding tall in the saddle, the smokey Titan turned a boy into a man. 1972 was a big year for the artist. The dream had come true. I wonder where it is now, I would love it back.