Dirty Hoppers

Is it a bobber, a chopper or a hopper? Who cares! This nippy little fkr brings a grin. Another bought unseen off evil bay!! Wanted a pre-unit but didn't know it was gonna have an alternator crank and a mag casing!! solution - total loss on the battery, good enough for MOT. 1952 rigid frame, 1957 engine with high lift cams, finned rocker valve covers, open clutch primary and amal monobloc carb with finned float chamber. Paint by Old School Customs. Borani 16" back wheel; Suzuki 21" front. Original 60s 7/8" Z bars from Disaster Dave (before dirty bobbers did em). White rubbers from Baron Speed Shop, shift knob from an a cupboard in Virginia, and original Baker car rear light. Metalflake seat from Justified Defiance. Me an me ol man had loads of fun doing this one. We called it the Mongrel.
Might change our URL to dirty hoppers!!

Oil City Confidential

I will watch the Dury flick but really lookin forward to the new Julian Temple rocumentary about the Canvey Island rockers Dr Feelgood. Some say pub rock, I say aggressive and raw RnB. You are either a boozer or a speedfreak. The band kicked Wilko out cos he was the latter. The rest is history! Is it a coincidence that these two movies a released almost together? Wilko for Prime Minister. Out on 5th Feb.

Lyric for the day

Bob Dylan said that Roscoe Holcomb haad an untamed sense of control

I got up this morning, with the blues all around my bed
I got up this morning, with the blues all around my bed
I had a dream last night, that the woman I love was dead

Well I went to the graveyard this morning, and I fell down on my knees
Well I went to the graveyard this morning, and I fell down on my knees
I asked that good old grave digger, to give back my woman if he please

Graveyard Blues

Linkert Attacks 2010

Lookin forward to this years Linkert Attacks! The 25th, 26th and 27th June at Jars, France.

Patina

Not to be imitated

Riding

First your mind is racing with all sorts of stuff. Clattering your brain. Then you settle down to a hum and go with the flow. Closest thing to meditation on the move the you can get.

Willie Dixon

The only word for this man is genius! 500 + songs many of them classics!
All I will say is "My Babe"

Havana Club

Bet you wish you get this in USA? You could - end the embargo Obama!!

Dirty Bobbers

Whatever you call a bobber if you are into old shit you've come to the right place!!

That was our motto (me and Scarlett) when we launched this forum just over a year ago.

Since then we have made and met some friends, had some fun, took the piss, admired talents, got sound advice and most of all found out that there are people all over into the same old shit as us...

We have 300 members, 12,500 posts in nearly 900 topics...here's to another good year!!

NLAMC

Jedd ans Wes (Four Aces) do some really cool stuff. I have ordered four jerseys from them now. A 'barn fresh' Indian which I think just means faded red which the missus insists is pink! An Indian fronted Daytona jersey. But the last couple I ordered have got me in the mood for the next riding season!! Dirty Bobbers on the back and my two fave marques (not forgetting Trump) on the front...ultra cool!! ha ha Bring it on!!

I want a 30's style club jersey next with a winged wheel chenille patch on the front.

Check out their blog http://nlamc.blogspot.com/ They do Jonny Caps, Chino sweaters, custom orders and chenile patches. Top marks!!

Lyric of the day

Some folks might sa-ay that I'm no good
That I wouldn't settle down if I could
But when that open ro-oad starts to callin' me
There's somethin' o'er the hill that I gotta see
Sometimes it's har-rd but you gotta understand
When the Lord made me, He made a Ra-amblin' Man.

Hank Williams - Ramblin Man

Hotrod Hayride 2010

I have been to two Hayride's now and wish I had been to more! This gathering has to be one of the best around and the continuing growth in great bikes attending just adds to it.

Great atmostphere, good music and every vehicle a winner!

Amongst the events I will go to this year this is the one I look forward to the most!

Do you believe in fate?

I am a rational thinker..I believe in no religion but at the same time superstitious about everything.

This bike came about by a whole stream of coincidences. It's the bike that means the most to me and my favourite to ride.

The VL, 74 introduced in 1930 is in my opinion underated and berated and history shows it's place in history was overshadowed by the introduction of the first HD 61 OHV.

The Motor Co was blighted with original teething problems but even beyond that it didn't meet rider expectations. Prolonged running at high speed the demon of overheating would rear its ugly head. Piston construction was improved later which ensured the survival of the 45 but it was too late for the VL and the introduction of the 61 OHV sealed it's fate. When the AMA introduced Class C racing in 33 it allowed the working man to race. Their road bikes were taken to events and the headlights, front and hinged back mudguard removed - VL 74, DL 45 amongst the indians of the time were the first bobbers.

The bikes production numbers continued to drop because of the great depression and these bikes are as rare as hen's teeth.

A new twist to my story of fate has emerged and I am struggling to decide which way to go! No it's not for sale.

Lyric for the day

What is this that I can see
With icy hands taking hold of me
I am death and none can excel
I'll open the doors to heaven and hell

Oh. death, oh, death, can 't you spare me over till another year?
Oh, death, oh, death, please spare me over till another year.

Dock Boggs - Oh Death aka Converstaions with Death

The Wall Of Death

My first real bike experience that inspired me was seeing the Wall Of Death at Dreamland in margate when I was kid. The noise, the smell, the moving platform, The Danger! I loved it. From then on the Indian motorcycle was the stuff of dreams.
Years later I saw the Wall again at the Kent Custom - again..Indians!! wow
As I got into the whole, 'don't buy a maintenance free, reliable two wheeler - build one with your dad from a box of bits' part of my life although Triumphs were my thing I still hankered for an Indian. I did get one, a bobber 741. I love it but the skelatal Scout was still the stuff of dreams. After telling a mate of this he said he knew of someone who maybe selling two Scout projects, one of them was a Wall bike. Man I badgered him continuously til he finally done the deal for.
I had them. Two Scouts, 1926 and 1925. Both needed complete re-builds and loads of bits replaced or found.
Anyway the road is half travelled..I bought them, catalogued the parts, read as much as I could on the model, decided the engine stuff was for experts. One day I will get the confidence to have a go myself but for these it had to be farmed out. Also I had been admiring Benny from Boneshaker's work and thought..."wouldn't it be ace to have a custom 'cutdown' Scout?" Benny was mad enough to agree to it and has probably regretted it ever since! As I always say - good things come to those who wait and this 'cutdown' is certainly gonna be worth waiting for!
As far as the Wall bike goes, it is stripped, tank and frame are off for blasting and repair. Front wheel built, rear having repairs on the hub. Engine parts sourced and all bits packed off to Steve at Roadstar who is gonna put this engine together. Me and the old man are gonna build this one.
These two Scouts are gonna be stuff of legend!!

BLACK TRUCK

Sometime's you think buying an ol vehicle and doing it up can be a load of fun!! It is and it aint!! My GMC 1 Ton Panel (yep 1 ton big daddy-rare as rockin orse do dah) was a whole load of ups and downs!! Bought on ebay, plan was to service it, rattle can drive...ha ha
Every bit uncovered on the thing was shite, you need this you need that, blah blah blah.
In the end I went the full hog and restored it from ground up with the help of Roy and Simon from (not sure what they call themselves now!). Simon stepped in cos Roy's original partner done a runner and left everyone high and dry. He took £8,000 off me for parts for the truck. Never ordered nothing.....had to swallow that!! it was hard. There is always people in the world gonna rip you off but there are genuine people also...doing bikes over the last decade I have met some real gentlemen, honest geezers whose love of bikes comes before the cash they make. Hats off, hopefully you know who you are cos I still come back (time and time again!)
Anyway, when you toil to do up a vehicle it means more in the end...I would never part with Big D (unless and steel bodied chopped coupe...not really!)

Gimme a Pigfoot

I don't care
I feel just like I wanna clown
Give the piano player a drink because he's bringin' me down
He's got rhythm, yeah!
When he stomps his feet, he sends me right off to sleep
Check all your razors and your guns
We gonna be rasslin' when the wagon comes
I wanna pigfoot and a bottle of beer
Send me 'cause I don't care
Slay me 'cause I don't care

Jookin

it's a great feelin blowing the harp

Jooks of Kent spawned in 04. A gutbucket punk assed blues / rawk n roll trio, with guitar, harp n drum set. Old time spirit, sometimes new strings! From filth-drenched electricity-powered amplified guitar hoedowns, wit plenty o'spit in the old mouth harmonica, to unplugged accoustic sick slide and washboard, with real bathtub reverb. If it's guitar driven, harmonica drenched, foot-stompin punk trash blues rock n roll you're after, than this is it!!

Stompin' live shows, The Jooks of Kent have played with such genius as Gin Palace, Vince Ray, Kris Dollimore, the Urban Voodoo Machine, The Jim Jones Revue, Scott H Biram, Mudlow, The Black Diamond Heavies, Rob K & Uncle Butcher, Bob Log III, Honkeyfinger and D-66, plus the final NTSOBC Spitz Festival of Blues supporting Seasick Steve.

Up coming live shows include 13th Feb at the Stay Sick Clun at Nicoles, Birmingham and 6th Mar at the Gypsy Hotel at the Bardens Boudoir, London

Indian Bobber

Some things in life you just can't get enough of and my Indian is one of em. Built by Calvin at Phoenix. A homage to the late 40's/50's bobbers.
Engine re-build by Neil Grieve, former Motolux mechanic. Mikuni carb conversion. Rear subframe triangle lengthened and lowered and sport scout style frame brace added. 16" rear, 18" front. Original Motolamp headlight with 65year old US lense. Original 'Stewart' Chicago speedo. Original bakelite steering damper. Sport Scout footboards, one off sport scout sectioned rear fender, sparto rear light, Sport Scout jiffy stand, racer style rear brake pedal, jennings one armed bandit Indian head shift knob, 1940 Indian teardrop tank badges, Replica Indian Big Base Scout straight through racing pipes, Indian 101 tool box and Phoenix replica battery carrier.
The backfire always raises a smile!

Pigfoot N Beer

Everyone else has a blog so fuck it, here's mine!! First image had to be iconic....King Biscuit Time!

It took me a long time, to find out my mistakes
Took me a long time, to find out my mistakes,
it sho'h did man
But I bet you my bottom dollar, I'm not fattenin' no more frogs for snakes

I found out my downfall, back in nineteen and thirty,
I started checkin'
I found out my downfall, from nineteen and thirty
I'm tellin' all of my friends, I'm not fattenin' no more frogs for snakes

All right now

Yeah it is nineteen and fifty-seven, I've got to correct all of my mistakes
Whoa man, nineteen and fifty-seven, I've got to correct all of my mistakes
I'm tellin' my friends includin' my wife and everybody else,
not fattenin' no more frogs for snakes