Before It's News | Popular Lifestyle
49-MILES OF SAN FRANCISCO
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| Steve Brindmore and his Commando Triton, leaving our warehouse in the last industrial area of San Francisco |
Pete Young and the Yerba Buena chapter of the AMCA host the annual 49-Mile Ride on the last Sunday of October, which is open to all pre-1974 motorcycles, and is regularly swarmed with over 300 bikes of all makes and configurations. I was on the first 9 editions of the 49-Mile, but missed a few while abroad - it's always great fun to confound automotive traffic in SF, although a few times I reflected on the unfortunate 'New York Incident' while hordes of bikers maneuvered around cars; honks and fingers were occasionally exchanged, but no trouble ensued.
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| Chris Bonk and his original-paint 1951 MV Agusta 125cc two-stroke |
The polyglot nature of the bikes present is what makes this ride special; mopeds, scooters, pre-War, military, Choppers, Cafe Racers, Britbikes, Italian 70s hotrods, Japanese 60s two-strokes, literally everything under the sun. Everyone rides an old motorcycle, and that's good enough.
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| At the meeting point, the Bayview Boat Club (pointedly NOT a yacht club), a lovely ca.1978 Ducati 900SS |
I discussed the 'club scene' with one attendee, who's invested much time over the years in the BSA Owner's Club. He lamented that 95% of the bikes riding the 49-Mile Ride would not be welcome at a BSA Club ride, which I opined was an excellent way of ensuring the death of one-make and Vintage clubs. The most popular and vital vintage motorcycle scene worldwide, and the one which attracts younger riders, is the broad spectrum of Custom bikes - Cafe Racers, Bobbers, Choppers, Street Trackers, etc. Plenty of Custom riders have 'stock' vintage bikes too, but who wants to hang around with old farts who look sideways at their cool creations?
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| A pair of BSAs, distinctly different cousins; an A65 chopper, and a B44 Victor Special |
Enjoy this stop-motion tour of San Francisco, the photos are in order from the trip to my warehouse (Motopia) and back; I'll point out touristy hightlights for those far away!
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| Wonderfully ratty Harley Knucklehead |
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| A buyer's choice of redness; Benelli (Motobi), Puch Grand Prix, Moto Guzzi Falcone Tourismo |
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| An interesting pair of Bobbers; Knucklehead and Trophy |
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| Host club Yerba Buena M/C provided the legal release forms and prepared the food! |
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| Lots of Street Trackers, like this Triumph, and the Rickman behind |
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| Lovely old Matchless G80 |
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| Honda CB750 in front of a Chevrolet Impala, just like the one I grew up in! |
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| This young man has earned his imperious visage, riding a Simplex around the parking lot |
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| Most 'CB' Hondas are now accepted into the AMCA under the 35 year rule... |
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| We're off!! More Hondas, this time a rare (for the US) 'Black Bomber' CB450 in original paint |
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| Crossing the 3rd St drawbridge, right beside the Giants' baseball stadium downtown |
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| Beside the ballpark... |
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| Heading along the Embarcadero, towards the Bay Bridge |
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| This youngster was excited to see all the bikes ride by, and eager to be included by the SF Piers |
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| The old Fire Station on the Embarcadero |
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| The Ferry Building, which is now a shrine to fine foods |
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| From left: Coit Tower, an 'F' Line vintage streetcar, a lovely Sunbeam with wicker sidecar, and the Piers where the America's Cup sailing races were recently centered |
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| Max Schaaf of 4Q Conditioning and his custom Knucklehead |
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| Yes, SF has hills; this is the climb up Lombard St. |
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| Mid-Lombard St descent, down a one-way brick road. Not 'the crookedest street in SF', but picturesque |
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| Kim Young with daughter Sirisvati on the back, heading downhill towards Alcatraz |
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| A nice AJS Model 16 at the Marina |
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| A Whizzer, the smallest machine on the ride, near the Golden Gate Bridge |
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| A hot Puch Grand Prix and BSA A10 Road Rocket |
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| Mondial 175 and Yam SR500... |
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| The 900SS riding through the Presidio, towards Baker Beach and the Seacliff neighborhood |
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| The BSA Road Rocket passes before the Palace of the Legion of Honor, a replica of the one in Paris |
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| Paul Zell on his home-built NorVin, at the Cliff House |
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| Beside the Cliff House, with Ocean Beach beyond |
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| Rick Najera on his Knucklehead Bobber, in front of the Beach Chalet in Golden Gate Park |
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| Heading south on the Great Highway along Ocean Beach |
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| A Harley/Aermacchi Sprint SS350 |
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| A full-dress Moto Guzzi Ambassador in Golden Gate Park |
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| An ex-Military Indian Chief |
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| 'Indian' Rick deCost |
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| Guiding my Triumph Bonneville through familiar turf |
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| Charlie Taylor and his Matchless Model X beside Laguna Honda reservoir |
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| Atop Twin Peaks; a young lad is hooked! |
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| Pete and Kim Young looking over SF from Twin Peaks |
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| Blaise Descollanges on top of the world |
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| Lovely Zundapp K700 and Nimbus outfit |
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| Twin Peaks is ripe for a bit of scratching; no cars, nice bends |
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| Heading down Twin Peaks towards downtown |
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| The end of the day, back at the Bayview Boat Club, Steve Brindmore and Roland Batterscher |
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| ...and back to Bayview, and the after-party! |
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