random pictures: eating while road trippin'

random picture series

I have a bunch of pictures that I've never posted. Some from before I moved to NYC. Some from my cross country drive with Rufus. I'll be posting these over the next couple of days.

CB200 - next project potential

yeah, yeah, one bike at a time, I know. I still need to get that cross country shovel done. and with the amount of parts/work left its going to cost me the same amount as buying a CB200, buying raw materials and fabbing the parts. BUT, I can't help but dream about having one of these again, but as a great little city commuter bike.

I've already found a potential donor for around $800 that is located in north Jersey...

Here's a few photos of my 75 that I sold a few years ago:

loved those scrambler pipes

and here's a few for inspirational value:

lean, mean, light and breakneck moped speeds....that's what I'm talking about. and OK, maybe that Green one is a 350 with a 200 tank, but that 2nd one....the grey one, is 100% pure 200cc amazing.

I don't know what it is, but something about those center stands are just amazing. I need to search for one for the sporty.

in the mail

as much as I may complain about not getting the hook ups like I used to, some things are still status quo, and its always nice when there is a package of goodies that is waiting for you. Whether it be warranties with replacement batteries, OR brand new toys, these guys still manage to hook it up...

Kim's Sportster

A great little write up on Kim's newly finished Sportster over on the Chopcult website.

You really need to check this thing out. And while it really reminds me of another certain sportster that I know really well, I gotta say Kim's has all the details covered and dialed.

Maybe the bike that I'm thinking of was a bit of inspiration for certain aspects of his bike?? I'd like to think so. And then I'm hoping that at some point I can score some parts similar to what he has going on for this build for my bike...errrr....I mean the other one I was thinking of, haha!

The EMECO 111 Navy Chair

This weekend was a great one. We unpacked most of our stuff, got settled into the new apartment in Brooklyn, did a lot of walking, and made it out to Secaucus, NJ to the DWR Annex sale.......which only means one thing. FURNITURE SHOPPING!

We did get the score of all scores, the matching ottoman to our Eames Lounge Chair. It was amazing. Leigh asked the manager if they had one when we first got to the store. They did and he said how does 200 bucks sound. well, plus the additional 20% off! cha-ching! sold.

BUT my favoritest purchase of the day was 2 Emeco 111 Navy Chairs in white. I've always been a big fan of Emeco's original navy chair in aluminum. they will never go out of style and will withstand the test of time. I even have 2 knock offs of them in the stool format, But the 111 chair with its collaboration with Coca-Cola is just a great/cool concept.

From their website:

"When you recycle a plastic bottle, you're doing something good. When you recycle 111 of them, you're doing something great. Help your bottle become something extraordinary again.
Introducing the 111 Navy Chair™

About four years ago, in 2006, Coca-Cola came to us at Emeco with a proposal. Their recycling plant in Spartanburg South Carolina was brand new and processing thousands of plastic bottles a day and they were looking for ways to show the value of recycled plastic. Everywhere else in the world people recycle about 80% of their bottles while in the US we recycled only about 20%.

Coke asked us to make the classic Navy Chair out of a new, unproven formulation of rPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate- recycled plastic bottles). They introduced us to the scientists at BASF the international chemical innovator and together we developed proprietary mix made of about 60% and a special combination of pigment combined with glass fiber for strength.

In Coke-Speak, “The goal of the 111 Navy project was to alter consumer behavior by illustrating the value of rPET with beautifully designed and everyday products - ultimately encouraging more recycling.” "

Go check it out for yourself. And when you come over, you can feel free to rest your lazy ass on either one of these or one of our Bellini-based Alonzo chairs. our the trusty Eames Lounge chair....your call.

CB200t in Park Slope

I used to own one of these in red. Seeing this gold one made me miss it.

Prospectus Parkus

Daylight Savings out my office window

I'm still digging my office view...

people and places - photographers pt. 2

again here....I'm not going to put up pictures that the photographer in mention actually took, but pictures of the photographer.

Steven Stone, how to describe him? He's one of the most honest, committed, loyal, and stubborn people I've ever met. This is a guy who has risked his life one too many times for his love of motorcycles. Whether it was by his own doing or the occasional soccer mom or riding a bagger with way too much equipment and some bad bearings potentially in the neck, he has seen his fair share of the other side of the pavement. but he keeps going. he rides because he loves it. BUT more importantly, he shoots photos because he lives it.

I think that he and I first met via email as dumb as that sounds, it just clicked. we were able to talk shit and be friends with one another even with the world wide web's tangled way of removing all possible emotion from the conversations.

One of the first times that we actually hung out may have been at a classy bar in Vegas where he was telling me that he shoots photos for a living and that is what he WANTS to do. While it is not always fruitful, he lives and breathes taking pictures and has held true to that passion. and that through the thick and thin of it all, he'd rather struggle through it to let his art be seen than to just settle with a job that he doesn't love. I feel that most of us would LOVE to say that, but most can't.

Stone told me a while ago that his dream bike was an EVO FXR because it was the best handling HD ever made and because they were so ugly nobody would ever mess with his bike. Sure enough, a few months/year later, he found the right FXR and drove from Utah to Oregon to scoop it up and hasn't looked back. (even though I still love his sportster)

I've had a few beers by now so I'm rambling, but you need to see his photographs. Go to his website here and head over to the BOLTS website where he is a regular contributor. And while you're at it, waste more time at the Grim site for more moto mayhem that Steven and his friend Sean are always up to.

Just remember, if you ask for his opinion he will give it to you. And if you're not happy with it, he will gladly tell you to ignore his response and to not ask if you don't want the truth. and this is what I love about him. there is no bullshit. there is no sugar coating. it is what it is.

people and places - photographers pt. 1

as the west coast crew that I miss already at boylecomm, benchmark, and 70moto (chris may never update his blog, but his links list is great!) are getting all prepped for Slab City, I couldn't help but think about how great riding motorcycles and building bikes really is. Not only for the gearhead things, but for the people you meet and the places that you get to see.

I feel lucky that my wife fully gets that. Its not about me trying to be a badass on a harley. Its not about me proving how manly I am by the amount of grease under my finger nails. Honestly, 8 years ago, I never would have thought I would own a motorcycle other than maybe one day getting my dad's 74 CB350. Its about hitting the open road with as little as possible and sharing amazing times with friends.

I lifted the following pictures from Walter's pictures from Kickstart Cycle's post on Chopcult. But since I never really posted much on the Brooklyn Invitational I figured it was ok.

Josh Kurpius is definitely one of those people that it was great to meet. I believe he was out shooting some photos down south just before heading to NYC. He lives in Chicago and is on a blog that wastes a ton of my time, Kemosabe and the Lodge. Check out the blog and his website here. he shoots photos for a living, not because it makes him a ton of money, but because he loves it.

I'll never try to be a photographer, but after seeing his antics shooting on a bike, it has definitely made me take my camera on as many rides as possible.....if only to capture the people and places.

tomorrow or tonight I will post on one of my favorite people in the world, even though we don't get to spend enough time together.....mr. steven stone.

I drove 2,800 miles in 3 days and 22 hours

And all I got was to see my dog sit on some leaves in Prospect Park. But it still feels good. I'm tired. Rufus is tired. In the city that never sleeps...

Driving into the sunrise

Hit the road at 7. It was still dark out.

For Jake

2 things:
If you ever go on a road trip, try to go with Jake Hollywood BoltsAction Hobbs. He has the country's fast food and quickie marts on lock.

Second the QT rules. He introduced me to this a few years ago.

Backseat driver

Always judging....

Leaving Tulsa

After a quick refuel.