After 10000 hours of hard work, more than 10 years from time to time in the garage and about 15000 Euros spent, the Snaefell was ready to ride! Ever wonder what the teleportation booth mishap result of a sportbike crossed with a sportscar would look like? François Knorreck spent an insane amount of time finding out and the results are, well, you decide whether you like it or not but you can't say the workmanship is anything but top notch.
posted by fenriq on Oct 12, 2009 - 42 comments

On Any Sunday is a 1971 film about motorcycling. Narrated by Bruce Brown (director of The Endless Summer, it features Mert Lawwill (who later developed a prosthetic for amputee riders), Malcolm Smith, and Steve McQueen, among others. It can be viewed in its entirety on Hulu. It was nominated for Best Documentary Feature in 1971, and reviewed by Roger Ebert in the same year.
posted by entropic on Sep 9, 2009 - 12 comments

Anke-Eve Goldman rode BMW and MV Augusta motorcycles... fast.
posted by Fiasco da Gama on Aug 24, 2009 - 19 comments

Max Corkill and his cat Rastus were a site to behold as they motorcycled through New Zealand with Rastus perched on the fuel tank, sporting his custom helmet. They were tragically killed in a collision nearly 11 years ago. A series of books about, and inspired by, Rastus can still be purchased (worth the click for the cute photo) although it isn't clear if the proceeds go to the charities for which Max & Rastus raised funds. More photos on their memorial MySpace. Another motorcycling kittah and further details.
posted by NailsTheCat on Dec 16, 2008 - 27 comments

People riding old bikes around dirt tracks. [more inside]
posted by Fiasco da Gama on May 28, 2008 - 6 comments

Fascinating account (w/ pix) of a motorcycle journey through Angola. Stumbled onto this from the Black Flag forums and have not been able to stop reading it.
posted by jcruelty on May 26, 2008 - 40 comments

The Isle of Man TT race is arguably the most dangerous race one can do on a superbike, as it has claimed the lives of over 220 racers over the last 100 years. still, that doesn't seem to prevent people from competing, year, after, year.
posted by Industrial PhD on Aug 21, 2007 - 18 comments

0 to 60 mph in less than a second. Drag strip record of 155 mph. And almost totally silent. Meet the battery-powered drag racer KillaCycle.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese on Jul 31, 2007 - 44 comments

Miniature motorcycles, made from watch parts. [via It's Knuttz]
posted by mediareport on Jun 28, 2007 - 17 comments

Fluffy motorcycle. From the excellent EnglishRussia blog.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese on Feb 11, 2007 - 22 comments

One day, a vintage motorcycle restorer gets an idea in his head to tackle a new project, restoring an old-timey "board-tracker" bike. In and of itself, that's not such a big deal; over the past century, vehicle restoration has become equal parts hobby, business, and spectator sport. The catch with this particular project, however, is that there are no existing examples of the bike he wants to rebuild, the last known extant part remaining is a corroded engine case, and there are only 5 known photographs - all of which happen to show just the right side of the bike. This is the story (so far) of Paul Brodie's Excelsior OHC. [via]
posted by the painkiller on Jan 26, 2007 - 14 comments

The Wall of Death. Celebrated in song and art, the act of riding a motorcycle on the vertical wall of the inside of a cylinder, was a popular carnival attraction, mid-century. Although on the wane since the 70's, there are still a few practitioners, some of whom have better websites than others.
posted by Devils Rancher on Dec 31, 2006 - 9 comments

It's amazing what you can get onto two wheels.
posted by flapjax at midnite on Nov 1, 2006 - 41 comments

A motorcycle for halloween
posted by boo_radley on Oct 31, 2006 - 30 comments

Not Another Middle East post. Dream of circling the globe on two wheels? Or three maybe? Don't think you are the first. Because you aren't. No, really, even a Jedi heroin addict has done it.
posted by YoBananaBoy on Sep 14, 2006 - 6 comments

Observed Trials is arguably the most skilful and spectacular of all motorcycle sports, but party due to the outdoor, occasionally remote locations of most competitions, remains very much out of the public eye. Historically it has been dominated by European riders and although the US had a world champion in 1979, international success has eluded American riders in recent years.Recently, trials has become somewhat fragmented with indoor events becoming increasingly popular with non-afficionado spectators and extreme (NSFW soundtrack) freeriding taking off, particuarly in France although to purists real trials only take place "in the wild".
posted by NeonSurge on Aug 22, 2006 - 13 comments

An Exclusive and Brutally Frank Report by JT Nesbitt, a New Orleans resident and the designer of the radically cool Confederate Motorcycles' B91 Wraith (pictured here), in the wake of the destruction of the company's factory during Hurricane Katrina. via
posted by fenriq on Jul 26, 2006 - 21 comments

Photos of the outcome of a motorcycle merging with a car @ 155 miles per hour.
posted by jonson on Dec 6, 2005 - 110 comments

Goldwing Retriever
A Swedish company named Coming Through has developed a Honda GL1800 powered motorcycle mounted towing rig that lets the bike weave through traffic, arrive at the broken down car quickly, unfold the towing rig and then haul a car of up to 5500 pounds away before the traditional towtruck can even get there!
Here's a photo gallery and videos of the system in action. via
posted by fenriq on Aug 25, 2005 - 35 comments

2005 Ironbutt Rally Begins Ninety motorcyclists will be criss-crossing North America for the next 10 days, riding thousands of miles and visiting obscure spots of every description. Robert Higdon's reports are an entertaining way to find out what's happening to whom. Previous years' reports are interesting too.
Some people have competed on totally inappropriate machines.
You probably can't get invited to run in the Rally, but you could ride one of your own.
posted by spacewrench on Aug 23, 2005 - 11 comments

UK-based Intelligent Energy intends to put the world's first fuel cell-powered motorbike on sale next year. At 0-50 in 12 seconds and US$6000, it's not a lot of bang for the buck. And there aren't a lot of hydrogen filling stations yet (they're working on that). But it's kind of cool looking, and you can drink the exhaust, so it's got that going for it, which is nice. Interview and details via the Boston Globe.
posted by schoolgirl report on Jul 26, 2005 - 23 comments

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Motorbike Unveiled (BBC link, no reg. req.)
The Emissions Neutral Vehicle (ENV), has a top speed of 50mph (80km/h), a range of at least 100 miles (160km) and can run continuously for four hours before the fuel cell needs recharging.
What's more, the bike's "exhaust" is water vapor and is so clean that its drinkable.
Concerns are that the bike is too quiet and plans have been made to add a motor sound to the bike so as to not startle pedestrians. Though I must admit to kind of liking the idea of "stealth mode" motorcycling.
A sort of follow up to this post.
posted by fenriq on Mar 16, 2005 - 57 comments

The Dolmette. It's a motorcycle, see. But it's not a normal motorcycle, 'cause it's powered by 24 chain saw engines.
posted by mr_crash_davis on Oct 20, 2004 - 11 comments

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Photos Pictures from Robert Pirsig's original 1968 trip, part of a gallery of photo albums inspired by the trip, including 360° panoramas. [via WikiPedia]
posted by kirkaracha on Jul 15, 2004 - 13 comments

l33t on wheels Guy takes 'mobile computing' to a new level. via Blue's News. Also, a wave to the TLD owner, he's a friend.
posted by WolfDaddy on Jul 12, 2004 - 10 comments

Is Elena another Kaycee? (Scroll down to posts by "dizzy') Someone who claims to have knowledge of the Chernobyl Dead Zone posted to a number of motorcycle forums claiming that Elena coloured the truth quite a bit with her highly publicized Chernobyl motorcycle trip. [More inside]
posted by SpecialK on May 15, 2004 - 43 comments

Motorcycle Jumps for Scantily Clad Women [flash - potentially NSFW]
posted by psychotic_venom on Apr 22, 2004 - 21 comments

Motorcycling through Pripyat and the Chernobyl Dead Zone: A Photojournal of Elena and her Kawasaki ZZR 1100 travelling in the desolate area around Chernobyl and Pripyat.
posted by pandaharma on Mar 4, 2004 - 45 comments

BigToe, the Biggest Motorcycle Ever
Built by a Swedish engineer, this monster bike has six foot tractor tires (though he probably calls them tyres, eh?) and a 5.3 liter V12 Jaguar engine powering it!
posted by fenriq on Jan 9, 2004 - 20 comments

Hog Heaven - the Library of Congress celebrates 100 years of the Harley-Davidson in an excellent online exhibit of photos, articles, ads and links. Also, visit HD's anniversary site to learn about upcoming events and celebrations. (via Portage)
posted by madamjujujive on Apr 19, 2003 - 20 comments

His Blood Warriors: Motorcycle Ministry of lower Alabama. Members wear colors based on outlaw bikers and the directions of God. "Where will the road you're on take you?" [warning: popups ahoy!]
posted by kirkaracha on Aug 22, 2002 - 4 comments

48 States in 6 Days - Charity Ride A motorcyclist is trying to set a new record, and raise a little money for charity at the same time. Averaging 1,200 miles on a motorcycle for 5 1/2 days doesn't sound incredibly enjoyable to me.
posted by 7sharp11 on Jun 13, 2001 - 2 comments