Tokyo street spot shovelhead chop

Variety is the spice of life as they say so here's something a bit different from the norm on this blog.

Recently the vessel I've been working on has been based out of Japan: I don't get much time on shore but usually on arrival I get an overnight stay before being bussed off to my boat early morning the next day. It gives a few hours to have a wander around. This Harley Shovelhead chop seems to be in regular use and was spotted outside a noodle shop in Ota City, Tokyo. Tokyo driving is fairly relaxed and civilised by the standards of other capital cities across the world but never-the-less hats off for piloting this beast through the traffic.

In the UK the whole chopper scene is very separate from the vintage / classic bike movement, something I've always found strage given how cafe racers are welcomed and what are they really but custom bikes? In the end we're all just folks enjoying vintage machinery.

Tattoo shop shovel

Spotted outside the Hard Luck Tattoo parlour in Kingston upon Thames this shovelhead Harley chop. I guess the condition is what some might describe as 'rat'. It looks like it is in regular use though, despite the rust it's all in very functional condition and I'm not seeing how it could easily be wheeled in to shop at the end of the day. If it is a daily, then due credit to the pilot, a beast of a bike to be using in London traffic.

Wild eighties Brit trikes

And now for something completely different. A couple of snaps of trikes that look like they were taken in the late seventies. As with many customs, not my cup of tea but you've got to admire the creativity and ingenuity. Look how drab seventies Britain looks in photos! The first photo is of course taken at a custom show but the second demonstrates that cars of the era were mostly available either in shades of poo yellow or poo brown...