National motorcycle museum visit.

 

 You are not supposed to go behind ropes to get a closer look at the displays……but you can’t stop thru enthusiasts…. I won`t bring them to a zoo…..

 

 

 

 

Velocette Thruxtons and ass cracks (well, nearly)…..goes together like a hand in glove….

 

“How to get your knee down on a motorcycle”….You got that totally wrong Gunnar.

Hedemora TT 1949.

 

This is Norwegian Kjell Bakke leading “Hedemoraloppet”, Sweden, 1949. He led the 350 cc race on a Velocette KTT until the engine blew up. Earlier the season he had won “Juneloppet” and finished fourth in “Stockholmsloppet” on the Velocette.



Wag the fishtail

 

The sound of thunder outside, Gunnar arriving on he`s Veloecette Thruxton.

 

 

 

Strike a pose…Fast man with a fast machine.

 

Not many miles since rebuilt.

.

 

“It will start on first kick”……..bollocks….famous last words. Eight kicks it was…

 

Pretty girls always smile when they get a ride on a Velo.

Naughty Lady in the mail

I got this Velocette badge in mail today. I must have a secret admirer….The Velocette “Naughty lady” is one of my favorite females…



As rare as hen's teeth..........

That is an expression I have heard many times asking for parts for old motorcycles……I don`t know much about poultry but I know a thing or two about Velocettes.  The Velo is not that rare but it is the first time I have seen a set of hen`s teeth……

 

 

 

 

 I spotted this Velocette Venom in Åhus, Sweden, when we rode the “Skåne rundt” rally.

The first Velocette ride.

It is a big day today, after working on this Velocette  Thruxton for fifteen years Gunnar was ready to start and hopefully test the bike. My brother Dag and I were invited to help and share the important moment.

Here it is, on the custom made Velo stand.

Add some petrol, don`t sniff it.

It is always nice to watch other people doing all the work.

The important last minute adjustment.

The Thruxton is a tricky machine to start, so long time Thruxton owner Dag got the honor.

It started, the oil was circulating and it sounded great. It is time to get it out.

It`s thumbs up, so give it to the owner.

“And first gear is up?”

You can easily break the speed limit in first gear…….and nobody noticed the lack of registration and helmet….

 An ear to ear grin……

It`s party time!



A very happy man!

And the number on the nicely restored speedometer………A coincident? I don`t think so….

Gunnars garage....

Weathervane

Times goes…Two years ago Gunnar turned fifty. That is something that can`t be ignored by his friends.

He had a big party which included live band and a “build a car and race it competition”. Some of us had wounds for weeks after that session, but that’s another story…

Special friends need special gifts….so we custom ordered a velocette fishtail silencer weathervane.

The gift had three purposes:

1.       Every time Gunnar sees the weathervane it will remain him that the Velo is still not ready….

2.       The neighbors will believe that her lives an angler with bade sense for form and shape.

3.       If another Velocette rider finds himself in the sleepy town of Horten he will find friends..

Why am I writing about this two years after he got it? It took him two years to get the weathervane up…..and it is not straight…Also looks like he will be needing a Billy goat to keep the grass on the roof short.

  A good thing is that the Velo are getting worked on. He got the point.

Black magic on the road

They were talking about snow on the weather forecast on the radio today. October is usually the last month of riding here. So we decided to go for a ride this Saturday afternoon.  Good bikes and good scenery….

They are both black with gold, both bikes are considered old……But the “beam” are nearly forty years older than the “Velo”. 

Here are some obvious differences:

Brakes and the lack of them……

Gearing……Three by hand and four by foot.

The riders view:

Black magic.

My brother and i went for a ride on the black bikes last night…….



One kick Velocette,

My brother Dag was firing up the Velocette today.

It`s not easy to tickle a Thruxton, you need a long screw driver.

Yes, only one kick. I am impressed....