Mamma Tried Bike Show

Still trying to tide over into riding season . . .
This Saturday was the Mamma Tried Bike Show, held across the river from the Harley Davidson museum in Milwaukee.  It was a low-key event held indoors (thankfully) in an old warehouse building that was pretty neat in itself.  It reminded me of Aerostich's old candy factory in Duluth, MN.  It was just a good old walk around tire kicking show with the make and owner written on pine boards leaned against the front tires of each bike.  Lot's of Milwaukee Iron, of course, in interesting states of time and condition, from post-WWII, through the death-trap chopper days into the semi-present.  Plenty of other bikes to look at, too.  Most were unique and interesting.  There was more beer than bikes and everyone seemed to know each other (not me).  It was a cordial and friendly time.

A few select photos to get an idea:

Custom Triumph with what looks like an aircraft magneto ignition

Nice engine case on another Triumph

Ice-racing studded tires

Custom Honda Dream

The most adjustable lever I've ever seen

"Custom" steering stop

Marking it's spot

Nice Harley old timer.  I got the feeling this was on load from the museum because it was just perfect

The Harley old timer's exposed valve train

I liked the profile of this simple Harley.  Sorry for the trashcan in the background.

Post-WWII Harley with an interesting linkage

And just in case . . .

The people were as interesting as the bikes

Bike Show 2014

Here's a mid-winter installment for those who have blasted me for not adding anything to this blog.  I didn't know you cared!

It was off to the International Motorcycle Show in Chicago this weekend.  Every year in February, riders who live in the upper mid-west have gotten pretty tired of looking at our same old bikes in the garage. Covered in salt dust and sucking sustenance from chilled Battery Tenders, they remind us of warmer seasons ahead - months ahead.   Enter the Bike Show.  It's a pain to drive to, there are tolls and parking fees, but piling, giddy with anticipation, into a car full of other two-wheel-starved souls has morphed into a stepping stone to the riding season.

Terry P. and his son-in-law, Zack led the forward charge in the Ridgeline, with me and Sabas G. providing covering fire.  Susan H. and Cindy G. womanned (can't say "manned" here) our retreat.  The biggest news wasn't the new bikes and having the women rejoin us (although that was really at the top of the list), but rather that no one spent any money!  Well, there's Zack's ear plugs.  But since this was his first time at the show maybe it doesn't count.  It is pretty hard to leave there with wallet intact, but those of us wise in the way of the Bike Show kept our money securely fastened down.  We'll see how Zack fares next year.

Some photo highlights:

Cindy gets sticker shock. 

Good thing the AED was even more shocking.

Terry considers some heavy iron.

Then reconsiders with something he can throw 

in the back seat of the Ridgeline.

JR is off to Tanzania.

It's a mental thing. 

Cindy knows this one just won't go fast enough.

But this one WILL!

The SV is back!

Susan skipped right over Tanzania and headed to Italy.

Then she realized she could put two cases of Labatt's 

and a whole cheese wheel under the seat.

In the "Totally Unridable Customs" category 

was this Steampunk jewel.

With the best ignition switch I've ever seen on a bike.

And the last photo is for JT, who 

couldn't make it this year. We missed you!