Launch style sidecar

An old snap of a launch type sidecar as was fashionable in the late twenties and through the thirties. Top marks if you can identify the make of bike or sidecar! Personally I have no idea..

Late twenties launch type sidecar.

Hells Angels '71

I can't remember how or when I got my hands on this magazine but it was a long time ago, it was already old when it came to me. I remember flicking through it as a teenager, it was an exciting window on a whole different world. A world that was completely alien, one I didn't feel any affinity for or want to join but that held a strange fascination.

Definitely a sensationalist rag written by 'citizens' for 'citizens', prurient, glorifying and disdaining all at the same time. The whole thing somehow reminds me of the bit in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas when the guy at the cop convention is describing the levels of hip of the marijuana user. The main lesson though is that if you have a chopped Panhead and can ride in California with long hair and beard in the wind then you can be pretty cool, if you are from Birmingham, ride a knackered old BSA with apehangers and wear a second world war German helmet then no, sorry, it doesn't work.

The cover is all California cool but inside...

Woah there fella. This isn't a look. Definitely
one to freak the squares though. Showing
class but at what a cost!

How it was for the UK. Transition and
crossover from Rockers to greasers / greebos.

South Africa. Apartheid era. Wearing
swastikas. Not cool. Really not cool.

Brilliant. Doesn't need a comment.

MZ TS150 brochure 1974

Here's the brochure for the DDRs finest from 1974, the MZ TS150. Never had an old MZ, or at least one that worked properly and was on the road. Folks speak highly of them, must give one a go some day... 

Dig the bike leathers / two stripe tracksuit cross over riding gear the chap is sporting.

MZ TS150 brochure page 1.

MZ TS150 brochure page 2.

Dapper chimp riding a bike

This well dressed chap featured in a series of postcards from the late forties / early fifties. Possibly of Dutch origin the series follows a storyboard based on motorcycle fettling, speed and a police stop.

It would be great to know more about this chimp, a bit of investigation has yielded an image of him also riding a bicycle so he was without doubt a talented fellow.

'The wife will never believe I had a puncture'. Sartorialist
chimpanzee with motorcycle.

'A future champion'. Love this image
of a talented chimp with motorbike.

Harris Matchless G80 brochure

These Harris Matchless G80s never used to appeal to me until I had a go on a Rotax-engined bike and realised what a sweet motor it is. Personally I shouldn't like to have one without an electric start and have to use a left hand kicker so the later model with the leccy boot and twin discs would be the one to go for. Transplant a 52 horse 604 motor from a CCM and you'd have a really fun bike. 

There's a good G80 write-up on Real Classic.

Harris Matchless G80 brochure page 1.

Harris Matchless G80 brochure page 2.

Douglas MkIV

Chap decided to be a bit different and spent his money on a MkIV Douglas. I wonder if he was happy with his purchase?

Posing with a MkIV Douglas.

1930 Raleigh Model 15 250cc

I'm sure there are folks out there who can correct me if I'm wrong but I reckon this dapper gent is the proud owner of a 250cc sv Raleigh Model 15 from 1930.

1930 Raleigh 250cc Model 15.