Alright, here’s the last (but not least) addition to the Bike-urious contributor stable, at least for now. Read on to learn more about Justin Wright, who has enjoyed an eclectic history of motorcycles:
Hello readers of Bike-urious.
Like many of you, I am passionately interested in motorcycle hunting and riding, unlike many of you my name is Justin Wright.
I will list a few points of my involvement with motorcycling, including pictures of my past bikes and then list 5 motorcycles that I admire and the reason for that admiration. By the end of this introduction I hope that you will have some idea of my thinking on motorcycles and motorcycle history. If I veer from a strictly motorcycle based introduction please forgive the diversion; my passion for motorcycles blends into my upbringing, and other non-combustible life experiences.
I was introduced to the Gasoline Cavalry at an early age, and to the fascinating man that would teach me to ride, Dave Williams.
Using a self written and illustrated guide book Dave took it upon himself to teach me the finer points of piloting a motorcycle. Lesson one was to understand the consequences of falling off. To Dave this was best demonstrated by arriving at my house- at an hour that would make coffee complain- pounding on the door and demanding that I meet him in the back alley. Blurry eyed and unsure if I still wished to join the Gasoline Calvary I presented myself in t-shirt and jeans. Dave proceeded to knock me to the ground, grabbing me by the heels with the force of a drunken bear, he hauled me on my rear down the gravel lane. Within 10 feet I had a rapid and thorough understanding of low speed crashes.
While picking gravel out of my elbows I stared at the pair of matching camouflage painted Honda XL 100’s in the back of Dave’s truck, from the handle bars neon pink flagging tape flapped gently in the morning breeze. I felt a jolt of adrenaline. “Hurts don’t it?” bellowed Dave. Still dazed and staring at the bikes I mumbled “Yes”. Dave turned towards the truck “Still want to ride?” My voice cut short as I took in the large red shape sewn directly to Dave’s rear, nearly covering cheek to cheek, a Stop Sign. Sensing my hesitation Dave glanced back over his shoulder “Lesson two,” I had joined the Gasoline Calvary.
In high school I took a job working night shifts at the sawmill to fund the purchase of a 1984 Honda CR125. Still trusting in the protective qualities of cotton t-shirts and acid wash jeans.
My first road bike was a 1976 Honda CB550, it had been made into a vintage race bike that I then put back on the street. I pushed it as much as I rode it.
This was a bike that had been built by Kurt Lang as an experiment. Based on a 1987 BMW R80RT, I ended up with the bike after emailing Kurt and asking if he had been influenced by Shinya Kimura. The answer was yes. A very fun bike, it would end up being a controversial post on the pages of BikeEXIF in 2012. Photo by Jason Lang
And that was my Moto Guzzi Ambassador on my wedding day 2 years ago, I don’t often walk motorcycles down sandy beaches in a suit and bow tie. Photo by Mandy-Lynn
As with many motorcycle enthusiasts I get the urge to change and try new machines regularly, after the Guzzi came a Ducati.
The power was fantastic, but I found that to get the mechanical thrill I sought I would have to do over 180km on public roads and so my current motorcycle is not a motorcycle at all but a road legal Sand Rail.
I keep looking for bikes everyday. Twice on days off, I can’t help it. Likely next summer I will sell the Sand Rail and get a motorcycle again. It keeps me searching and that is a big part of the fun for me.
5 motorcycles in history I admire:
1. Neander motorcycles in particular this 1929 P3 1
The pressed steel frame was an interesting innovation as well as the Cadmium (now Zinc) plating. This machine still looks modern to me.
2. Britten V1000
John Britten took on the major factories and won with this astounding machine. I still get chills looking at it. Motorcycling was lucky that John Britten chose to pursue his technological innovations within its borders.
3. Bimota V-Due
The bike that would nearly end Bimota. A brilliant technical exercise that promised blistering performance and handling. It failed, and even though Bimota recalled bikes and searched for an issue with its fueling system it was not enough so save Bimota from bankruptcy. For more on the V-due I highly recommend this excellent essay written by Jason Cormier at Oddbike.
4. Honda RC166
This bike is a jewel of engineering. 6 cylinders revving to nearly 20,000rpm and 150mph. I will stop there.
5. Can-am Sonic
It’s rare, has a thumping Rotax engine and was one of the last efforts to keep a Can-Am branded motorcycle on the dirt and roads. I know it is not the best vintage dual-sport bike out there but I still want one.