Saturday, 30 April 2011
STEALING SPEED
After reading our short story on Walter Kaaden, one of our readers recommended me to read this book. Thx anonymus.
Here is a short synopsis from Amazon.com:
This is the compelling story of how one of Japan's biggest motorcycle manufacturers stole a Nazi rocket scientist's engine secrets from behind the Iron Curtain to conquer the world. In 1961, with the Cold War at its height, East German motorcycle manufacturer MZ was using World War II rocket technology to win Grands Prix, only for rider Ernst Degner to defect and sell the secrets to Suzuki, while his wife and children were drugged and smuggled through the Berlin Wall. The following year Suzuki and Degner made history by winning the world title. Branded a traitor by the communists, Degner suffered horrific injuries in a fiery racing accident and died in mysterious circumstances.
About the Author
A former motorcycle racer and Isle of Man TT winner, Mat Oxley has been writing about bike racing for more than two decades and is the author of Haynes' acclaimed biographies of Valentino Rossi and Mick Doohan.
SCSP MARTIN CAFÉ RACER/SANTIAGO CHOPPERS
SCSP Martin Cafe Racer | Santiago Choppers. Watch this fantastic video. Click on the pic for the vid:
Friday, 29 April 2011
JAWA TIMELINE
Foundation of JAWA company and JMT alliance
On the 23rd of January 1878, Frantisek Janecek was born in Klaster nad Dedinou in former Czechoslovakia.
He studied mechanics at the technical school in Prague and continued with his studies at the college of Berlin. He then returned to Prague, where he started to work for Kolben in Vysocany (one of the biggest companies in Bohemia). At the age of 23, he was entrusted with the management of a new factory in Holland
At the age of 31, he started to work independently and opened his own mechanical workshop in Prague. After a short active duty at the Italian front during World War I, he went back to the drawing board and soon he obtained about sixty patents. The most well known invention of that time was Janecek's hand grenade.
After the decline of the armament industry in 1929, Janecek decided to start the production of motorcycles immediately. There was no time to develop an engine of his own. Although he didn't have any experience with motorcycles, he was familiar with production techniques
Janecek chose between the Austrian double piston two-stroke motor of Puch, the Berlin two-stroke of Schliha, and the new Wanderer 500 cc. Janecek chose the Wanderer.
Because of the collapse of the German motor industry, Wanderer had already decided to stop the production. This is because they didn't think it would be profitable to directly compete with BMW. The name JAWA came from the first two letters of Janecek and Wanderer.
Similarity is foundation JMT Alliance in 2005. All companies Motoscoot, Jawa and TMEC are partners starting cooperation to be able continue in development and produce high quality modern products.
We hope it will be same milestone like 1929 when Janeček takes over Wanderer.
On the 23rd of January 1878, Frantisek Janecek was born in Klaster nad Dedinou in former Czechoslovakia.
He studied mechanics at the technical school in Prague and continued with his studies at the college of Berlin. He then returned to Prague, where he started to work for Kolben in Vysocany (one of the biggest companies in Bohemia). At the age of 23, he was entrusted with the management of a new factory in Holland
At the age of 31, he started to work independently and opened his own mechanical workshop in Prague. After a short active duty at the Italian front during World War I, he went back to the drawing board and soon he obtained about sixty patents. The most well known invention of that time was Janecek's hand grenade.
After the decline of the armament industry in 1929, Janecek decided to start the production of motorcycles immediately. There was no time to develop an engine of his own. Although he didn't have any experience with motorcycles, he was familiar with production techniques
Janecek chose between the Austrian double piston two-stroke motor of Puch, the Berlin two-stroke of Schliha, and the new Wanderer 500 cc. Janecek chose the Wanderer.
Because of the collapse of the German motor industry, Wanderer had already decided to stop the production. This is because they didn't think it would be profitable to directly compete with BMW. The name JAWA came from the first two letters of Janecek and Wanderer.
Similarity is foundation JMT Alliance in 2005. All companies Motoscoot, Jawa and TMEC are partners starting cooperation to be able continue in development and produce high quality modern products.
We hope it will be same milestone like 1929 when Janeček takes over Wanderer.
FN 4 FOUR
FN (Fabrique Nationale de Herstal) was a Belgian company established in 1899 to make arms and ammunition, and from 1901 to 1967 was also a motorcycle manufacturer. FN manufactured the world's first four cylinder motorcycle, was famous for the use of shaft drive in all models from 1903 to 1923, achieved success in sprint and long distance motorcycle racing, and after 1945, also in motocross.
DUESENBERG MOTORCYCLE 1902
Before earning legendary status in Indy car racing and creating the mighty Duesenberg Model J motorcar in 1928, Fred Duesenberg created a motorcycle in 1902 that featured a unique rotary valve. Only one was produced before his attention turned to the new automotive industry.
Thursday, 28 April 2011
CAMPER MOTORCYCLES
That's all I could find
from different sources including: http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/11/07/vintage-motorcycle-camper-trailer/
1959 MOTO GUZZI FALCONE 500CC CUSTOM
Dick Company & Von Dutch Custom Moto Guzzi Falcone - Featured at the 1971 Cycle World Show
