Retro Moto Blog

Bultaco 250 TSS Vintage Roadracer 

We like the Retro Moto Blog for its excellent photos of vintage and classic motorcycles: Roadracers (like the Bultaco 250 TSS here), street bikes, dirt bikes, motorcrossers, and more. You'll also find coverage of vintage motorcycle shows and racing events. Check it out.

Photo credit: Retro Moto Blog, Bultaco 250 TSS 

Classified Moto Virago Cafe Racers & Customs

Classified Moto XV920 (Photo by Adam Ewing)

Classified Moto of Richmond, VA works wonderous transformations upon the likes of the Yamaha Virago, and other seemingly unlikely machines. I like the way they present themselves and their mission:

Classified Moto is a tiny workshop in Richmond, Virginia (USA) that specializes in affordable alt-moto customs and random creative expressions.

Classified Moto founder John Ryland has an interesting, inspiring story to tell, especially to those of us who have taken the hit in this crummy economy:

Change comes in all sizes. New pair of shoes — small change. New career/business/lease on life — extra large change.

One year ago last week, I got my walking papers from the ad agency where I worked for 11 years. It was like being punched in the face and knocked into the next room. Only the room was full of sweet motorcycles and some of the coolest people I’d never met.

What could have been a disaster of super-sized proportions, instead opened the door for Classified Moto, which might go down in history as the luckiest company on the planet.

From the day I got laid off and set out to make my living in the motosphere, I’ve had something to be psyched about on an almost daily basis — one of our bikes in a magazine, a killer road trip, an email from one of my heroes, a project wrapped. There’s a kind of constant gratification for us at Classified, and we’re trying our best to keep it going.

Interesting thing is, John says he wasn't really all that interested in motorcycle's until just a few years ago.

By the way, the Yamaha XV920 pictured here was created for director Sunny Zhao's experimental film, Reciprocity.

Check out their blog here. Also very interesting is the blog of founder John Ryland. And keep your eyes peeled for a Classified Moto feature at Cafe Racer TV Season 4.

UPDATE: Check out this Vimeo video that features the build of Classified Moto's famous lamp from recycled motorcycle parts.

Torc Rebel Star Helmet

Torc Rebel Star Open-Face Helmet

We love the retro look of this Torc Rebel Star helmet, a perfect complement to your all-American bobber. The Rebel Star is one helmet in Torc's Route 66 series.

The shell is lightweight ABS, with a removable, washable liner. It comes with a sun visor, too. 

Genuine Motorworks of Brooklyn, NY has it in stock for $100.

ACE Cycle-Car Morgan Three-Wheeler Reproduction

Morgan Reproduction from Liberty Motors

Here at Cool Stuff we have a real love for vintage/retro cars and bikes that have been reborn, brought back to life and to the marketplace with modern materials and technologies. For example, awhile back we featured Aniket Vardhan's Royal Enfield-based Musket V-Twin. So, we were knocked-out when we found the ACE Cycle-Car from Liberty Motors of Seattle, a reproduction of the classic 1930's Morgan "Super Sport" three-wheeler.
The original version of this Morgan "cycle-car" was designed and manufactured in the UK in the 1930's. It featured two steerable wheels in the front, and one driven wheel at the back. Power was provided a V-twin adapted from, for example, the JAP motorcycles. 

Original 1937 Morgan

Pete Larsen of sidecar manufacturer, Liberty Motors, originally wanted to import a Moto Guzzi based Morgan kit form Italy, but that didn't work out, so he took matters in hand and designed and constructed his own reproduction. The ACE, which stands for "American Cycle Endeavor," Morgan is powered by a Harley-Davidson Twin Cam B series motor, in either 88" or 103" displacement. The chassis is constructed from TIG-welded round tubing, and the transmission is a five-speed manual automotive unit with reverse, also. You can see the complete specifications here.

In most states, the ACE would be registered as a motorcycle, not a car, so it should cost less to register. The price tag at $48K is pretty steep, however. 

We will keep posting other examples of fine vehicles of the past that have been resurrected with modern tech.

Update: The Morgan Motor Company in the UK has brought the three-wheeler back to life, check out this piece at Jay Leno's Garage. 

        

Sucker Punch Sallys Bobbers

Sucker Punch Sallys "Love" Bobber

Sucker Punch Sallys got its start making bobbers and bobber bike kits back in 2002. Ten years later they are still going strong, even after the tragic death of founder Christian Clayton at the age of 40 a couple of years ago.

Their bikes range from really clean stripped down Old School bobbers like The Traditional to some with what I'd call a more contemporary flash, such as the "Love" model pictured. Yeah, there is a companion bike in a vivid red called "Hate" that features a leaf-spring front end.

Don't need a bike right now? They've also got a line-up of cool apparel (the founders were actually in the motorcycle apparel biz before the started SPS). 

Back Alley Bobbers

Back Alley Bobbers Honda Spirit 750

The folks at Back Alley Bobbers specialize in converting modern Metric Cruisers from Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki into Old School bobbers.

They currently offer nine build conversions for everything from 250cc Honda Rebels to the Yamaha V-Star 1100.

My personal favorites are those based on the Honda Spirit 750s.

Check 'em out, especially if you've got a Metric Cruiser that you're lookin' to customize. They are in Salt Lake City, but will ship anywhere in the world, they say.

Trophy Queen Automotive-Themed Retro Handbags

GTO Themed Handbag

 Jenny Tanner is a SoCal gal who designs and makes custom handbags, baby bags, and wallets with vintage/retro automotive and motorcycle themes for lovers of rockabilly and Kustom Kulture. She founded Trophy Queen in 2000. We love the themes and the materials, especially the metalflake stuff, like the silver and purple clutch bag shown below.

Jenny also designs and makes one-off custom handbags to order... she's got a pretty cool Evel Knievel-themed one in --- what else? --- red, white and blue shown on her website.

The two bags pictured here a just a small taste of her work... lots of cool stuff there with a tuck-n-roll look, diamond tuck, and other really great retro-cool look. 

 Jenny rides a 1946 Harley, and is working on getting her '34 Ford pickup truck on the road now.

Cool Metalflake Clutch Bag