Fuel Blues

A sad sign of the times, I’m afraid. I came across this sign in a BP station this afternoon.
 

I used to work for ESSO about 20 years ago and this sort of thing used to crop up from time to time. Usually after someone on a motorcycle had filled up and then rode off without paying. 

Afterwards, a sign would go up. This particular one concerns folk who don't get off their bikes, usually riders of sports bikes which don't have a centre-stand but who still want to fill up to the top of their tank, which is easier done astride their bikes. Sometimes it asked all motorcyclists to pay before filling up. The message is the same: "We don't trust you not to steal our fuel".

I used to argue that such treatment was inherently unfair. No one would dare suggest doing anything similar to owners of white vans or Ford cars, both of whom could steal significantly more fuel under similar circumstances, but I was always told to shut up and do as head office ordered.

For anyone annoyed by this sort of heavy-handed treatment , I would point out that any shortages were always deducted from the wages of the poor sap sat behind the counter, someone who was usually on the minimum wage and could least afford to be so penalised.

If you have a problem, can I please ask that you don’t take it out on the staff. They are only doing as they’re told. If they give you the benefit of the doubt and some scumbag does a runner, they take home less money. Why would they risk it?

If you don’t like it, don't make a fuss just go elsewhere. That’s what I used to do, and I actually used to work for one of the companies concerned.

Pneumant Tyres R&D Dept.

I suppose that this is only really funny if you’ve ever owned an MZ with the original DDR tyres.

Feeling Free

This is Rollie Free. He’s riding a 1000cc Vincent Black Lightning on Bonneville Salt Flats in 1948.

He is doing 157 mph. He’s wearing swimming trunks, plimsolls and a bathing cap – for improved aerodynamics.

He’s obviously barking mad!

Stirling Castle

Whisky Trail

Police Bikes

A couple of police motorcycles that I came across while in Germany a good few years ago. Both are MZs, so I assume that at the time the police were buying machines based on patriotic fervour rather than comfort. 

The first is a Saxon 500R with a 500cc Rotax engine, the second is a Skorpion with a 660cc Yamaha engine. Both machines were fitted with special bodywork, police lights, panniers for the radio equipment etc. and a single saddle.

Having owned both machines, of the two options I’d reckon most officers would prefer to have the Skorpion. The vibration produced by the Rotax is probably just a little too harsh. Remember, these guys have to ride about on these bikes all day long.

Bat Bike

POETS Day

It’s a Friday kind of thing for when your work has been getting you down

"P*ss Off Early, Tomorrow's Saturday"

 

Motorsport Magazine (DDR)

Illustrierter Motorsport, DDR, 1959

Illustrierter Motorsport, DDR, 1963

Swinging Sixties

Esquire magazine cover, December 1966

(Via:)

Czech Boxer

Here's a machine that I'd never come across before.

It's a prototype 500cc Jawa Type 824 four stroke flat-twin. The project which started in about 1974 with a 350cc engine, and was later increassed to 500cc, never reached full production.

Russian Strokers

IZH Motorcycles are all 2-strokes and pretty much all 350cc. These have been imported to the UK under the names Cossack, Neval and, for a very short period, Kalasnikov.

 

IZH Jupiter 3

 Tough modern emission standards in Europe have killed these bikes as far as new imports go.

Mini Micro Car

Brütsch Mopetta (1956)

(Via:)

The Cavalry

In 1941 a recruiting image was used to identify a type of Canadian citizen that was needed to serve in Canada's Military. It depicted a mounted soldier, on a motorcycle, with the image of his ancestors surrounding him in the form of a ghostly mounted warrior Cavalryman. 

This image was entitled in French and English as: "Notre Armee A Besoin De Bons Canadiens/Our Army Is Looking For Good Canadians".

Close Encounter

(Via:)

Heavy Metal

You Have Been Warned

The 3 R's

Whiskey In The Jar

Just the One, Officer.

Too Kool

Four Four Time

After spotting the yellow beemer in the last post I had to stop once more to take a look at this lovely Honda 400/4 at the other end of the same carpark.

Okay, it wasn't in pristine show-winning condition, but I like to actually see older bikes being used. And going shopping on one is about as ordinary as you're likely to get.

Yellowbird

On the way home from work tonight I stopped off at the supermarket where I came across this old Boxer Twin in a fetching shade of yellow.

 

I particularly liked the colour-coordinated straps holding the Krauser panniers closed.

 

I'd never seen a BMW of this vintage in yellow, but a quick trawl through the interweb turned up this magazine cover of a similar machine. Although the colour isn't the original, perhaps yellow wasn't that unusual after all.

A Thing of Beauty

Katana with Bandit engine

(Via:)

Thinking Outside The Box

Want to keep this cold while you work in your shed/garage?

Well, what you need is one of these -  a Jet Engine (follow the link).

(Via:)

Skid Marx

I found this sign while trawling the interweb. 

It appears to be in Russian (I think), so I have no real idea what it's trying to portray, but from the picture alone it looks like some sort of safety/warning sign. Anyone up to offering a translation?

Risque Business

Message in a Bottle

Holidays in the Sun

This year’s trip to foreign shores on the bike is to Dijon in France for the Coupes Moto Légende, a combination rally, race meeting, bike show sort of thing.

The ferries and hotels are booked and paid for, the ticket to the actual event has just arrived (see photo), now all I have to do is fit a new rear tyre to the Triumph, get it serviced and I’m good to go.

In the words of Uncle Norman, who’s also going, “It’s all starting to feel a bit real now.”

Rare Breeds

MZ Saxon Country, 1000S and 1000SF

Picture taken at the MZRC National Rally 2010 held in Porlock, Somerset.