Motorcycle Monday

[roadking77]

2022-07-10_02-49-30 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-07-10_02-49-59 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-07-10_02-49-37 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-07-10_02-49-23 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-07-10_02-49-15 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

I posted this on another website, figured there were some guys here that like motorcycles (or maybe just old junk!) so I figured Id give it a go.

This is my 1938 CZ 250 sport. Built in Czechoslovakia. Most people think of CZ as a reputable dirt bike from the 60's. However they started production in the early 30's. The factory was owned by the Skoda Arms Works, and in 1938 they stopped motorcycle production to concentrate soley on arms manufacture. After the war they were merged with a competitor Jawa. Thereafter being called CZ/Jawa.

My bike was restored many years ago, and is correct. It has a pressed steel frame, which was cheap and easy to build. Girder spring front suspension and 'hard tail' springs under the seat rear suspension. It does run very good. I have yet to see another one of these in this country and doubt very much that there is another. I have seen 2 Jawa's of the same vintage (which are almost identical). There probably are not many in Europe as well. Unfortunately for me this is a case that rarity does not equal value though,  , LOL.

Hope you guys enjoy looking.

[Steve B]

That's pretty cool!

[kentucky yeti]

I think I'm in love!  I have (the remains of) my old 1966 Bridgestone- yes, the tire builders had a corner of their factory sectioned off and built motorcycles at one time.  It was intact until my brother-in-law took it out of the shop and ran over it with the tractor.  I kept the carcass but there is no repairing it.  Yours is a dream!

[76455sd]

Wow,  that’s really something.  I’ll bet it turns a lot of heads when you ride it.  Thanks for sharing.

[Jack]

Very nice Kerry, since when do we care about value? enjoyment is all of the value needed.

[5th T/A]

Beautiful Kerry, looks like it should be in a museum. I used to subscribe to a magazine called Motorcycle Classics, but the price got out of hand. Bikes like your CZ 250 would be on the cover with high quality pictures and always an interesting story. Do you take it to shows? If so, I bet you get a lot of attention having something so uncommon.

 Also great to hear you actually ride it!

[roadking77]

Thanks Guys. Yes I have seen a few Bridgestones Mike. Cool that you had one, sad for its fate. I used to get Motorcycle Classics too Larry. I have not had my bikes on the show circuit for quite a few years now. I had a lot of fun doing so though. At one time between my brother and myself (joint collection) we had over 2 dozen bikes. Mostly English and all European. I still have a few (hint, more pics to come!) and he has about 6 or 7 with him in Canada. His oldest is a 1913 Rudge and he races a 1935 Rudge in the VRMA.
At the risk of sounding too arrogant, I won so many trophies with the bikes that we stopped entering them, and put them as display only. We had some really nice bikes at one time. This little CZ really is not a 'show worthy' bike believe it or not. It has an older restoration and sticker pinstripes, but its still cool. It has been displayed in the AACA museum in Hershey and I had an open invitation to put bikes on display at the Gilmore in Mich. but that was too far to drive, and at the time I wasnt impressed with the way they were displaying bikes. I was going to put them on loan at the Classic Car Museum in St. Michaels MD, but never got around to it. I would love to do something with them as they have been collecting dust in my garage for the last 5 or 6 years.

[roadking77]

2022-07-25_08-30-19 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-07-25_08-30-08 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-07-25_08-30-00 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-07-25_08-29-53 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

1939 BSA Gold Star. The Gold Star was the premier motorcycle from BSA. They were hand built machines with special high compression motors. The first was a 1938 model, this is the second year edition which was improved on a bit. Built in very limited numbers, production stopped for the duration of the war. Some accounts I have seen say there are 2 in the US (which surprised me as one is in my garage ) and maybe a dozen in Europe. I dont know how many are left but I would surmise not many. The Gold Stars were built in a number of configurations, this particular bike was built as a scrambler/race bike. Even more rare is the fact that its completely numbers matching and all of the original parts are together. Figuring most bikes that were raced were thrashed about, motors blown up replaced etc. We think this bike may have been a leftover that was stored and never sold new.

I am showing this one in the Radnor Hunt Concours this Sept. It is in pretty decent shape, just a little sorting to get it right. It has been shown at Radnor before, at Keeneland Concours in KY, had an invite a couple of years ago for Amelia concours and most recently Greenwich concours. It has been on display at the AACA museum in Hershey as well as the Simeone in Philly.

Hope you enjoy looking.

[kentucky yeti]

That is very impressive!  Original parts after all these years and wars.

[5th T/A]

Amazing, I am seriously blown away by this BSA.

I can only imagine the challenges in finding any kind of parts. Even the basics like gaskets or brake shoes.

[roadking77]

Thanks for looking, and stayed tuned. Hint, I can keep this thread going for a few more mondays

[wheels78ta]

WoW....Those are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

[stros]

I don’t know much about motorcycles but those are 2 beautiful pieces of art!

[roadking77]

Thanks Guys,

[T/A Addict]

Very cool Kerry, Nice bikes.

[firebirdparts]

Those are fantastic!

[roadking77]

2018-04-26_08-53-03 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Obviously not a current pic, and the only one I currently have on the computer. This is a 1949 Triumph 3T. Bike has been restored. Its a 350cc with a 3 speed transmission. Bike runs as good as it looks. Its currently sitting in the back of my sons weight lifting room so I could not get it out easily to get some more pics. I am trying to keep things chronological.

These bikes were pretty much doomed from the start. They are a pre war design that was stalled. After the war small displacement motors were falling out of favor and the 500cc motorcycle became the standard. That left these little 350's kinda like a B..... stepchild. They made this model for 4 or 5 years. I have shown this bike extensively through the AMCA, and a few European and British bike shows only.  Its enjoying retirement now.

[5th T/A]

Another beautiful machine Kerry. I love the classic Triumph look; they still look great today. I sure hope you get to ride it occasionally.

When I was a young teen the Bonniville 650 was the hot bike of the day. The tank and crankcase not to different from your 350.

[roadking77]

The same vintage as mine was a 'Tiger'. They were the 500cc machines. Yes the old Triumphs were pretty good bikes. This is the only Triumph I have owned but an quite familiar with the bonne's and such. I had a good motorcycle friend from KY that had a complete series of the TT bikes, one from each year. I think there were 6 or 8. His were all beyond incredible. Sold them as a lot a few years for quite a sum!

[5th T/A]

It was a long time ago, I guess I am showing my ignorance. But in the late 60’s the Triumph’s were the hot bike, both in looks and performance.  I loved when Triumph recreated the old twins with the classic styling. I remember they even made the fuel injection system look like it was carbureted. Once Honda came out with the 750 four and the other Japanese manufacturers followed with their 4 cylinder bikes, that all changed. I do remember the Trident being pretty quick, I think it had a three cylinder engine.

[roadking77]

You are so right. Once the Japanese bikes hit the market, it spelled doom for everyone else. My first motorcycle was a Kawasaki 100, started riding that in 1973. My first street bike was a Kawasaki Mach III (widow maker). That bike was a terror. Unfortunately it is long gone, one of those I wish I had back.

[5th T/A]

I remember the Mach III very well. You crack the throttle at low RPM and power was nothing spectacular. Once you reached RPM where the power came in, HOLD ON FOR YOUR LIFE.!

[roadking77]

2022-08-08_08-56-41 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-08-08_08-57-06 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-08-08_08-56-58 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-08-08_08-56-50 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-08-08_08-56-41 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

2022-08-08_08-57-22 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Plunger shocks at rear

2022-08-08_08-57-15 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Ammeter in the headlight bucket.

[roadking77]

Keeping chronological, this is my 1952 Ariel VHA 500. 500 cc single jug. 3 speed trans. All of the brit bikes I have shift on the right side, brake on the left, throttle is on the right grip. Ariel is famous for their 'square 4'. This was a sporty version street bike. A bit fancy for the time. It had full suspension, plunger shocks in the rear, tube shocks on the front, AND springs on the seat! Clipped to the swing arm on the left side there is a long tube, that is the tire air pump. Most of the old bikes I have run across had these. On the right side is a triangular looking case, that is a tool kit not an oil tank.

Thanks for looking, I have one more 'old' bike, a 1967 BSA Lightning, but its buried deep under PILES of 'crap'. Im not sure I have the oomph to dig it out and photograph.

[Jack]

Thanks for posting Kerry. That looks great.

[5th T/A]

That Ariel is beautiful. I love it when you can see all the mechanicals on a bike, all the parts nicely finished and on display.

Where do you store them? With your building abilities you could build your own little museum/man cave!

[roadking77]

I had planned on turning my old shop area into just that Larry. Its about the size of an oversized one car garage. But then we set it up as a weight room for my son. SO, they just languish around the edge of the garage. I have an open invitation to display them at a small museum on the Eastern Shore of MD, I just havent gotten around to getting them there. I figured sitting there for people to enjoy is better than just sitting in my garage.

[5th T/A]

Kerry, that’s an admirable thing to do, putting them on display so the public can enjoy them!

[roadking77]

2022-09-29_08-17-24 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-09-29_08-17-32 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2022-09-29_08-17-43 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

I was invited to participate in the Radnor Hunt Concours de Elegance a few weeks ago. This is a smaller scale Concours level show just outside of Philly. I think there is something like 100 cars invited and 50 or so motorcycles.
Although I did not win best of show (m/c category) I did win a first place for my class with the 1939 Gold Star.

[FormTA]

Congrats! Cool bike

[5th T/A]

Kerry, congratulations on winning 1st Place in class. I love when the bikes mechanicals are in plain sight and beautifully polished. I consider this rolling art!

[roadking77]

Thanks!

[Jack]

I see you included a pic of the judges but not the proud owner. Those look great congrats keep on collecting those trophy's.

[roadking77]

Not sure with this bike Jack, I have an old friend I ran into that was also showing his bikes here. He wants to buy mine in the worst way. Hasnt stopped calling! If we can agree on a fair price it may headed off to its next owner.

[roadking77]

2023-02-18_12-27-36 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

I know its not Monday but I was cleaning out some stuff and came across these pics. 1923 Norton flat tank factory built brooklands race bike.

2023-02-18_12-27-49 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Pic of me on it about 10 yrs ago in W Va. at a road rally. I won that race against an early Indian.
2023-02-18_12-27-57 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Good shot of the Brooklands exhaust. These were very specific to the Brooklands race track in England.
2023-02-18_12-28-08 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Heres a shot of my brother on the 1912 Rudge Multi at the same rally.

[5th T/A]

Love those Sepia tone photos!

Like looking back into time with the helmet, goggles and boots. 

[firebirdparts]

Well, it's monday now.  So you're covered.

[roadking77]

 
This was at a large M/C event in Morgantown a few years ago. These were taken by a pro photographer. He was snapping pics all over the place. At the end of the day he was one of those guys that went up to all of the riders wanting to sell his goods. I was a bit hesitant but when he sent the package to me they were actually quite good. Every print he made had both colour and the sepia toned.

[5th T/A]

It's not Monday and these are not Kerry's bikes. I hope Kerry will forgive me for posting this here.

The National Motorcycle Museum is located in Anamosa, IA. It was founded by the founder of J&P Cycles, who passed away a few years ago. If you are into bikes and happen to be within a hundred miles of Anamosa, it's worth the trip. They have a very large collections covering everything from the early days moving forward. Sadly, the museum will be closing down on September 5th. Possibly because it is a little off the beaten path and reduced visitors during the pandemic. So if you are interested it's now or never.

Website, https://nationalmcmuseum.org/plan-a-visit/

Before I retired J&P was one of my accounts, their headquarters/store is about a quarter mile from the museum.

These pictures were from my last visit in 2017.
IMG_2378 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

IMG_2379 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

IMG_2380 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

IMG_2384 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

[roadking77]

Larry and all, please feel free to post!

Thanks for the pics. I too saw that the museum will be closing and auctioning off all or most of the bikes. I have never been to that one and was on my bucket list for awhile. We are actually planning a trip to the midwest but for the fall, so I am afraid it will be too late.