2011 Road Trips

My good friend Gary France who is recently back from his epic journey across the USA www.garysusatour.blogspot.com has now planned a meticulous mini trip across Spain to his place in Sotogrande.

So this will be my second trip after Croatia in May and in these cold dark winter months something to really look forwards to.  We are going to take about 4 days to get down there staying in nice Paradores, then everyone else gets 5 days down there and a leisurely 4 day ride back - but I will blast back a day after arriving in a day and a half - still it will be fun!  Because of the speedy ride back I will probably go on my trusty Streetglide.

Bike No.7

I had thought this was going to be Bike No.8, but due to circumstances I have brought it forwards and Bike No.8 will be the BMW R80, which will surface around the end of the summer I expect.

Anyway Bike No. 7 has no name yet - but it used to be the famous Blower Bike built by my friend and collaborator Richard Taylor in 1995. It started as an old 1971 Harley (so no Tax), built with amazing detail and a legendary Harmon engine harnessed to 2 superchargers - it only ever did 600 miles before the owner blew it up.  The engine was replaced with a Rev Tech and the blowers left on but disabled and the crucial gears thrown away, and its been garaged pretty much ever since.

I bought what is left of the bike last summer, with the simple aim of making it a nice rideable period style Harley - the period being Arlen Ness's golden years of the 80's and 90's.  Its going to be a very simple job, with a brand new S&S 96" Shovelhead engine, some new beach bars, a nice 2 into 1 exhaust and a slick black paint job from Image Design Custom.  All I need to do now is decide what the look I want and get on with it.  I want it finished for my first big ride of the year which is the 2nd Harley Davidson HOG Rally in Croatia at the end of May 2011 which will be around 1500 miles each way - so a real test.

Here is what the bike looks like now:

Carole Nash Motorcycle Live 2010 - NEC, Birmingham

I was delighted the other day when Stu the editor of Back Street Heroes asked if he could take two of my bikes Hamlet, and Othello up to the Motorcycle Show at the NEC to display on the best of custom showcase.  The show runs from Sat 27th November to Sunday 5th of December, so if you get the chance get up there and check out all the bikes.  Here are a couple of shots of my bikes taken by Ted Parry who rode with me from Las Vegas to Dallas this October - Top Man!

BMW R80 Wheels

My new wheels are finished from Taylor Made wheels - they are 23" diameter and have been CNC'd to match the original spoke pattern of the original 1982 BMW Cast wheels - they are looking pretty damn sweet!
Now they can be added to my forks, the original engine and a hardtail frame built around them....

Bike EXIF

Absolutely delighted that Chris Hunter of Bike EXIF has profiled the new bike  - its a really great site and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.  Many of the readers are not Harley or indeed custom fans which can lead to some interesting debate in the comments section - but its all good stuff and everyone has the right to their opinion.

California Sunriders

Just thought I would do a quick thank you to California Sunriders for organising our amazing ride over 14 days and 2800 miles from Las Vegas to Dallas.  It was an unbelievable trip with a great group lead by Gary and supported by Gladys - the scenery and riding were all brilliant and followed by Tequila every night what could be better - a full break down is on my Road Trips Blog - but otherwise here are a few of my favourite pictures.

Caesar Racer Bike No.VI - Finished

Just had a great set of pictures done by my friend David Bartholomew of me and the new bike  - we shot it in a local wood as night was coming in using some independent flash units to highlight the bike - here are some shots and you can view the rest on http://www.davidbartholomew.co.uk/ian_solley/bike_shots.html

Austin to Dallas

Well here I am in a Holiday Inn in Dallas and the tour is now over  - the bikes are handed back and the mileage was 2805 - not bad for 14 days.  Today we just blasted up the Interstate (35) to Dallas about 200 miles - stopped at Waco but didnt meet any Branch Davidians, then came into Dealey Plaza to look at where JFK was shot - its very interesting looking at the trajectories from the 6th Floor window and also the infamous grassy knoll.

Tonight we have our goodbye dinner which will be strange but on the plus side Gary is coming to the UK in November and I have asked him to stay.......

San Antonio to Austin

Yesterday was the penultimate day of the tour and its really noticeable  - particularly after we have spent so long in the wide open spaces of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas - to start of in a big city is very strange.  Nonetheless as with all days it had some great moments.  We walked to the Alamo, and I was amazed to see that the streets of San Antonio used to be made from wooden blocks which were just paved over - see the picture of where its all come up.  The Alamo is a shrine and is treated with total reverence and thats understandable a pivotal moment in Texas history.  its now the third largest city in Texas and the scenic riverwalk lined with bars that runs through it is surprisingly nice.  Also see the great shot of someone pushing a stuffed Lion down the street.

From San Antonio, we took the freeway out to Greune and then followed the river for about 30 miles or so scenic twisty mies to our lunch spot - Gary's all time favourite Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood.  This place is just an immense limited offer (meat, meat and more meat) BBQ in the middle of nowhere - it was packed and the food was very good - and its all you can eat.

From there a hot ride into Austin the music capital of Texas.

Marathon to San Antonio

The sun dosent rise in this part of Texas until around 8:00 am, so we set off at 8:30 as usual riding head on East into the rising sun  - and it was cold.  We have 360 miles to do today which is a fair old distance so Gary set a good pace of about 85mph and after a few hours we had achieved some distance and arrived at our first stop - Judge Roy Beans courtroom and saloon, by which time the temp was nearly 90 degrees F.

From there we then went off to San Antonio - where we have now arrived in a weird Holiday Inn which is hosting a convention for Daughters of The Nile - they are all old women (100's of them) in turquoise two piece tops and long dresses which some psychedelic trims - which according to Wikipedia is some wives club for Shriners and Masons.

Anyway we are all off out to explore San Antonio.