Trials riding is a sport where someone takes a specialized motorcycle and make it do things that shouldn't be possible. [more inside]
posted by quin on Nov 26, 2009 - 37 comments

Route from the 1969 Movie Easy Rider. Last April MrZip66 rode his motorcycle along the route Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper rode in Easy Rider. His blog entry has a map of the route and then-and-now photos. This week Slate's doing the same thing, except in a PT Cruiser (and flying over part of the route).
posted by kirkaracha on Nov 19, 2009 - 32 comments

On July 4, 1916, Gussie and Addie Van Buren set out from New York on two Indian Model F motorcycles. Though it was well before the creation of an interstate highway system, they reached San Francisco on September 2 and Southern California on September 8. [more inside]
posted by mudpuppie on Oct 23, 2009 - 17 comments

This week marks the 102nd Isle Of Man Tourist Trophy motorcycle races, run over the 60.7 km Snaefell Mountain Course. The inaugural TT had a fuel consumption component to the rules, which was abandoned for the 1909 event. 100 years on, zero carbon, clean emission comes to motorcyle road racings Mecca in the form of the TTXGP [more inside]
posted by Duke999R on Jun 9, 2009 - 11 comments

The best looking bikes on the web. Good background and links as well as mouth-watering images.
posted by From Bklyn on Mar 19, 2009 - 38 comments

Dancing Japanese Street Gangs - mov
posted by You Should See the Other Guy on Feb 20, 2009 - 12 comments

Did you grow up anticipating sports where death would be likely, if not certain? Almost certainly played by convicts, possibly with robot limbs? And which would be even more likely to have chainsaws and flamethrowers not usually found in the sports of today? Those We Left Behind’s look at Future-sports of the past, in videogames, movies and comics is for you!
posted by Artw on Sep 11, 2008 - 41 comments

Got some time to kill? Well then, maybe you should start exploring the exciting world of papercraft! To get you started, here's a link to 100 free paper models and toys. Once you're done there, you might want to start checking out card modeling, build some skyscraper models, animals and motorcycles and when you get really good, faces of real people such as these. There's even some creative paper modeling websites out there for the kids and people who like Pokemon and Nintendo. And if all those links still aren't enough to satiate your new found lust for papercraft, check out this papercraft search engine for even more designs.
posted by Effigy2000 on Jul 25, 2008 - 12 comments

The Unofficial Guide to the DMV ― This web site was created to provide easy-to-access information and resources for all your Department of Motor Vehicles needs for all 50 states. Details about driver’s licenses, driving records and ID cards, as well as vehicle registrations, title transfers, bills of sale and smog checks are available here. [more inside]
posted by netbros on May 11, 2008 - 12 comments

Evel is gone from the world Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel, Jr. (October 17, 1938 - November 30, 2007) was a motorcycle daredevil who has been a household name since the late 1960s, and arguably the most iconic motorbike stuntman of all time. Evel Knievel's highly publicized motorcycle jumps, including his attempt to jump over the Snake River Canyon, claim four of the top 20 most-watched Wide World of Sports events of all time. He enjoyed a lengthy career in this extreme sport despite suffering a series of major injuries during stunts.
posted by Tommy Gnosis on Nov 30, 2007 - 116 comments

Deadlicious is an English language blog from France focusing on weird and kitschy art of all kinds. Online since May, the last few weeks alone have featured vintage monster model kits, Nazi sex paperback covers, lots of crazy comics (including King Kong) and bizarre action magazines, Hammer vampire posters, old motorbike helmets, Japanese plastic toys, UFO zines from the 1950s and 60s, French art from 1910 depicting the year 2000, as well as some pictures of famed Mexican masked wrestler Santo I'd never seen before. Plus there's over 300 more features in the archives.
posted by stinkycheese on Oct 18, 2007 - 9 comments

40 years ago, the Vicious Cycles motorcycle club assaulted a construction worker before taking to the road. Fortunately, filmmakers Chuck Menville (father of voice artist Scott Menville) and Len Janson were on hand to film the gang's misdeeds. Menville and Janson's picture would ultimately become part of a trilogy, with Blaze Glory and Sargent Swell of the Mounties produced wit similar eye-catching style. Decades later, the filmmakers' work would be echoed in another tale of conflict, in addition to a product-themed homage to more recent hipster subculture.
posted by Smart Dalek on Mar 19, 2007 - 10 comments

Custom motorcycles aren't just for cruising. The art of small-run or one-off custom motorcycle construction isn't limited to choppers and cruisers. Racers and constructors like Dr. Rob Tuluie and Michael Czysz are a different breed. On or off-road, they keep the tradition of constructors like Vincent alive. Want to build your own? With a little help and some information, anything is possible.
posted by hackwolf on Feb 6, 2007 - 23 comments

There's a new motorcyle-like thingie called a Spyder... However, it's got three wheels, and looks WAY hot. Oh, did I mention that two of the wheels are in front? Here's the manufacturer's website (warning: some flash stuffs). I want one.
posted by Vamier on Feb 5, 2007 - 44 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

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

Radial engined motorcycles are insane, but not unprecedented.
posted by mr_crash_davis on May 12, 2006 - 24 comments

How close does a motorcyclist have to be before you see them? [link is qt video] As was recommended by the original poster, put down any beverage; this will probably startle you. (from livejournal's motorcyles community) [you bet there's more inside!]
posted by Eideteker on Feb 2, 2006 - 137 comments

A series of photos showing a multiple bike pile-up. [slow loading - no gore]
posted by tellurian on Oct 17, 2005 - 19 comments

Feel the need for speed? Dodge Tomahawk motorcycle. 0-60MPH in 2.5 seconds and top speed 300+ MPH. Maverick from Top Gun woulda loved one of these. (Flash intro with rather loud music)
posted by RonZ on Sep 14, 2005 - 50 comments

I never would have imagined we'd see silent, full-powered, electric motocross bikes, but they actually exist. Looks like they went for gas motor-like performance over range, but they'd probably be a blast if you had a small track near your house.
posted by mathowie on Aug 2, 2004 - 10 comments

Hey Crackhead: An engineer rants. Via random($foo).
posted by timeistight on Apr 25, 2004 - 34 comments

Janklow Gets 100 Days for Manslaughter
A career of willful and flagrant disregard for traffic laws and other people's safety that ended in the death of a motorcyclist.
Must be nice to be pals with the president. Although I'm sure that had nothing to do with his slap-on-the-wrist sentence. I was just saying that it must be nice to be pals with the president.
posted by fenriq on Jan 22, 2004 - 41 comments

PA helmets repealed from heads. At midnight tonight, Pennsylvania will become the sixth state since 1997 to repeal its mandatory motorcycle helmet law. Actually, there are a few qualifications. The guys who put this together are probably keen on PA's state store new Sunday hours, too.
posted by ringmaster on Sep 3, 2003 - 52 comments

In May 1999, Chris and Erin Ratay quit their jobs, sold their Upper West Side Manhattan apartment, and shipped their motorcycles to Morocco to begin a trip around the world. Now, four years, 50 countries, and 100,000 miles later, they're back home. They've kept a continuously updated web journal over the past four years, available here. Ignore the unfortunate font and JavaScript choices and read this couple's incredible story.
posted by grrarrgh00 on Aug 11, 2003 - 7 comments

While shaft-driven motorcycles have been around for nearly a hundred years (and in bicycles even longer), they've only recently been re-introduced to bicycles. Chainless.com is a company promoting a new shaft drive system for use in low-end bicycles (looks like mountain, road, and bmx are offered). Without chains, it's easier to repair, safer, and they claim it is more efficient, though gearing is limited to a few hubs that feature up to 7 internal gears. If it really is more efficient, how long until Lance Armstrong is sporting a shaft-driven Trek?
posted by mathowie on Jul 17, 2003 - 40 comments

The Dodge Tomahawk V-10 Motorcycle. It's a concept vehicle - a 500hp Viper V-10 engine strapped to two (fat) wheels. Certainly an eye-catcher. Press release here.
posted by kokogiak on Jan 6, 2003 - 64 comments

Honda has released their 2002 and 2003 motorcycles and upcoming models. For those of us into that type of thing. I think Honda should have some strong sellers here, hopefully regaining some market share in naked bike and sport tourers as well as the large cruiser segment.
posted by mich9139 on Sep 21, 2001 - 11 comments