Possibly the most positive general thing I can say about this whole debacle was that the bikes were a lot more interesting than last year so I guess that’s a good thing. But, the high drama, and there was more of it than on a whole season of American Chopper (yes, I watch that religiously too like any motorcycle-related TV show) was just a bit too much without really getting...

  And that was just the reason to head off to the lovely Larz Anderson museum in Brookline, Massachusetts for the wonderful lawn show of European motorcycles on their beautiful 64-acre compound. The show featured every brand of European motorcycle you know about and a hell of a lot of others you had no idea about. The designs, configurations, and colors were stunning and could...

  During the Golden Gate Bridge’s 50th anniversary celebration in 1986, bridge officials invited Hap Jones to repeat that historic ride which he did along with several members of the San Francisco Motorcycle Club on vintage motorcycles. At the 50th Anniversary Celebration vehicular traffic was suspended and pedestrians were allowed on the roadway. There were so many people...

  The 69 Chopper featured here that Señor Cofano shot at the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show in Daytona is a prime example of what Darwin’s up to. It’s an ode to those simple and subtle chops of yesteryear based on a nickel-plated Racing Innovations’ Softail-style frame with geometry that makes for a fun to ride bike. More than ample power for the stripped-for-duty weight via the...

Nowadays the SOHC 650cc vertical twin is becoming prime fodder for the café crowd, so I thought it would only be fair to showcase a fine chop like Wayne Cothran’s of Wicked Willy Choppers in Taylorsville, North Carolina. Wayne left no stone unturned when he built this ground-up beauty that looks like a blast to ride and could be the belle of the ball at any show. With a...