Pick of the Litter: 3

"This was my first bike," Johnny tells me. "It's my favorite out of all of these..."


Motorcycle hall of famer, Bud Ekins prepping for the Catalina Grand Prix.

Pick of the Litter: 2

Older than the hills and still looking good...


One of a few starts at the famous Catalina Grand Prix...

Pick of the Litter: 1

Happy New Year everyone! It truly is one of my goals/resolutions to stay on top of posting this year. Being busy is a likely excuse, one that begs a larger issue that if something is important to you you'll make time for it. I was lucky to have spent a very quiet New Year's Eve on a ranch with some close friends in a quaint cabin overlooking an orchard in Santa Barbara. What you will see in coming weeks are various images, both old and new, dedicated to the collection of a very passionate collector—who also happened to live on this ranch—and his litter of Triumph Tiger Cubs. He maintained that a lot of these were ridden in the local California desert and some even crossed the finish line at the legendary Catalina Grand Prix, a rare race held during the 50s and 60s on the small island off the coast of Los Angeles. The BSAs, AJSs and Triumphs were ubiquitous before Japanese bikes were introduced. To give context to these unique breed of heavy, powerful and swift motorcycles I will combine my small collection of Cubs collected over the last couple of days with various vintage shots of infamous races, racers and the culture surrounding a long lineage of Southern California desert racing.

Triumphant

First off, I have to apologize for the quality of this image. It was taken at night with my phone and doesn't do this custom Triumph justice. I know it's hard to tell under the dead of night, but this was one of the most detailed customs I've seen in months.

One Little Indian

The Indian is associated with being the first American motorcycle brand, along with being credited as the first company to introduce the V-twin. Consequently, it became the top-selling motorcycle world-wide. This particular bike, I was told, was one of the first "motor-cop" bikes belonging to the LAPD.

Rare Bird

Seeing a BSA on the street is a rare occurrence, but in the event that I do I'm reminded of how cool these British bikes look.

Green Machine

A message to the general public: Just because a motorcycle doesn't have a cage surrounding it doesn't give you permission to f*ck with our bikes. I can only imagine the reaction the owner of this Yamaha had after seeing that someone dumped a container of to-go salad on his/her seat.

Bike of the Week: It's Alive!

If you own a motorcycle it's common knowledge that the more you modify your bike the more likely you are to break down. To that end, I'm assuming this BSA/Triumph sees more time in the shop that it does on the street. Nonetheless, there's something charming about this "Frankenbike."

Line Up

For anyone considering iron assing it from Mexico to Canada almost entirely off road, the California-based District 37 site promotes an incredible ride. Under the guidance of Jerry Counts, an old enduro pro, and his cast of characters this is one of the most incredible go-at-your-own-pace rides I've been on. Here are 6 of the 14 bikes photographed before three chains were broken, four sets of foot pegs sheered off, one major concussion, a broken leg and dozens of other cuts, bruises and repairs. Needless to say, the KLR never made it and the DRZ was traded in for a KTM.

Black Beauty

Spotting this R90/6 in Los Angeles was like seeing your dream girl who smiles and makes eye contact with you just as you notice she's wearing a wedding ring. The only thing you can do is keep searching and hope that, like this BMW, you have the chance someday to make a girl like her yours.

Night Owl

In 2005 I dragged a fellow editor down to the Baja 1000 for a story I was working on. This inevitably resulted in chasing rainbows from the start in Ensenada, to the first road crossing at Ojos Negros and eventually to Honda's Hill Top Pit where I shot this as Robbie Bell sped to the finish. The 1000 is a lonesome race, a solo experience reliant on an air tight team. To pilot a XR650 close to 1000 miles through rocks, sand, silt and Mexico's natural obstacles is a true testament to a man's marriage to his machine.

Dream On

It's unfortunate that the rising price of vintage bikes has grown proportionately to the cost of fuel. There are some who might argue it's a good thing that there are more riders on the road. However, a lot of those people are looking for the exact same bike you are and the days of finding a nice little Honda Dream like this one for under a few grand are over. Happy hunting.

Bike of the Week: Taking Sides

Off and on for two years I drove by this garage in East LA and would occasionally see the most unique bikes sitting out front. Ironically, in early 2008 we moved our offices across the street. Since then, I've made friends with the owner, a simple guy who makes neon signs for a living and occasionally cooks food at a destination restaurant in downtown LA. His knowledge and passion for vintage bikes is reflected in these shots of his highly coveted AJ Stevens & Co. bike and side car.

Italian Stallion

When it comes to road bikes, no one does it like the Italians. Since the 50s, Ducati has been making some of the finest motorcycles on the market; in fact, they were the first to manufacture the quickest 250cc back in the 60s. This heritage, along with good looks, has garnered this niche brand not only prime pole positions on the track, but also in the minds of their loyal consumers. This vintage Scrambler is one of Ducati's many Italian Stallions.

Rally's On!

Considered to be the most physically demanding sport other than soccer, long distance off-road racing is only for the brave. If the world-famous Dakar Rally was indeed a "normal" sport, it'd be a combination of the World Cup, the Tour de France and ultimate fighting all rolled into one. While I can't confirm that this rally bike spotted at the Laguna Seca Moto GP belonged to a professional, it certainly looked race ready.

Stretching It

There are very few custom bike builders who get it right. My good friend Ian over at Falcon is one of them and he hand-built this custom Triumph "Bullet" for Jason Lee. From the cloth wiring, to the carefully stitched saddle and thoughtful attention to every-other-detail, this is, as J himself says, the "perfect motorcycle."

Shameless Self-Promotion

In terms of dual-sport options, it's my humble opinion that KTM has the best bikes. Why they discontinued production of the 640ADV in 2007, one of two stellar dual-sport models, is still a mystery. Regardless, I purchased a new one in 2006. It was half the price of the current 990 (and the then carbureted 950). The 640 is light, nimble and had the largest tank capacity of any dual sport bike at the time. Aside from the single-cylinder vibration, it's the ideal 20% road / 70% off-road dual-sport bike.

Little Buddy

This one conjures up the memory of the joke: Fat girls are like mopeds. They're fun to ride, but you don't want your friends to see you on them. Honda was notorious for making bikes like the Trail 90 and small CC commuter bikes like this little guy that are a blast to ride, yet won't compromise your reputation.

Modern Rebel

This image I took of my friend Bob sitting atop professional skateboarder Heath Kirchart's Nightster exemplifies a goal Harley Davidson has been working on for quite some time, encouraging the younger generation to ride their bikes. Stripped down, lowered and classic, Heath's Nightster is the polar opposite of the common image associated with the Harley brand.

Mad Max

This completely modified, almost unrecognizable as such, BMW Dakar belonged to a friend of mine. Bone stock, this bike was laughable to serious adventure riders. After retoooling just about everything that could be upgradable, the final result was akin to something you'd see out of Mad Max. The silencer was even drilled out giving it a voice that complemented its equally threatening exterior.

Tour de Force

Sleek and reliable, the classic BMW R series is the ultimate vintage touring bike. Like this one I came across in Amsterdam, they almost always look best a little worse for wear. BMW engineering at its finest.

Off & On

America's Clean Air Act has regulated certain out of the box dirt bikes to specific "riding" seasons. Most off-road bikes are issued a red sticker limiting the months a rider can use his/her bike, seeing as most motorcycles are gross polluters. The response to this, and the accessibility to trail networks, has resulted in an explosion in popularity of dual-sport riding. The problem is, converting a "dirt bike" to "dual sport status" is a pain (especially in California) and often impossible. As a result, bike manufacturers have been slow to make out of the box alternatives that perform as well as race bikes. I was reminded of the disconnect between the options available to the rest of world vs. America when I spotted this Honda Africa Twin in Melbourne.

The World Over

Far most the most ubiquitous bike I see on my travels are the 70s Honda CBs. This perfectly preserved 350 belonged to a girl in Melbourne, Australia. She parked it right on the sidewalk and ran into a shop while I snapped a quick shot.

Alive We Ride

Sitting side saddle with the throttle locked at 80mph I shot this on a ride traveling from Denver to Chicago. Jeffy's simple Harley embodies sentiments that many riders share, a love for the road, travel and the solitary experience of man and machine.

Easy Rider

After overseeing a recent photo shoot of Dennis Hopper, I wandered into the garage of Mr. Easy Rider himself to find a KTM Super Duke and this Indian. The tires on all the bikes were flat and Mr. Hopper's publicist indicated that he no longer rides. Regardless, the man is a legend and the legacy of one of the best motorcycle films ever made will live on long after he's gone.

Old Faithful

I spotted this 1949 Indian for sale on a side street in Manhattan's Meatpacking district. It sat alone with empty saddlebags next to a garage that clearly didn't belong to its owner. If she could speak I could only imagine the stories she would tell.

Husky Fella

I ran across this beautifully restored Husqvarna hanging in a store window in Soho, New York. It was just begging to be ridden across the California desert or in the vintage motocross series.