Today in motorcycle history, December 11, 1975

  






  


 

  The American millionaire/publisher/tycoon, Malcolm Forbes buys his first Munch motorcycle, a 1200TTS ‘Münch 4’ Mammut.

  Friedl Munch created the Mammut in 1966 when he fit an NSU 996cc, 55hp, overhead-cam, 4-cylinder automobile engine into his own tubular loop frame. The machine weighed a reasonable 480lbs, capable of a halfway decent (for the time) 115mph. 


  Totally unsatisfied, in 1968 Munch used an 1177cc, 88hp, NSU TTS car motor for his new beast, the Münch4 1200TTS. The new motor was prone to break the heavy-duty spokes on the rear wheel, so Munch developed a unique and much stronger cast magnesium 'turbine-style' rear wheel, while retaining a spoked wire wheel up front. That front wheel would be given a little extra stopping power by using a massive 10-inch diameter magnesium casting front brake. The fuel tank and side panels were made of hand-hammered aluminum, while the seat, headlight nacelle, wheels and brakes were magnesium. Despite the extensive use of lightweight materials, the Mammut weighed an elephantine 650lbs.

  American motorcycle entrepreneur Floyd Clymer invested in the Munch brand from 1968, marketing the bike in US as Clymer-Munch Mammoth IV with the slogan "Built up to a standard, not down to a price". Clymer died before any serious production began. There were only about 500 ever built.

  Malcolm Forbes owned two Munch motorcycles, one of which he allegedly gave to Elizabeth Taylor.  All I can think to ask is, why?

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, December 10, 1927

  



  

  Rhodesian motorcycle legend, William Raymond "Ray" Amm, is born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia.

  For the 1953 season Norton was developing a fully enclosed 350cc racing motorcycle on which the rider took his weight on his knees, rather than his feet, in order to get him lower and reduce frontal area. It was known as the "Norton Kneeler", and Ray Amm took to it with great enthusiasm; it would also be known as the "Silver Fish" because of its long slippery aluminium bodywork, but perhaps the best nickname was the "Amm Sandwich". 

 At Montlhery, a banked concrete track, south of Paris, Ray would record a new outright motorcycle record for the banked track, averaging 145mph, which for the mid-fifties was mind-boggling, hell, damn near heroic. At the time the fastest lap ever achieved on the French "Brooklands" was by a Grand Prix car at 147mph.

  On a dull, overcast November day in 1953, Ray Amm, squeezed into the Kneeler and covered 133.71 miles in a single hour on the same Montlhery concrete saucer. That would be impressive on a current race bike running on a modern, high grip speed bowl. In the damp and danger of Montlhery in early winter, and with only 36bhp, the achievement was incredible.

  The Norton Kneeler is one of the center pieces of the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, Bashley Cross Roads, New Milton,

Hampshire, BH25 5SZ

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, December 9, 1998

 

  

  

  Court Takes Custody Of Harley From Unfit Motorcycle Mama.

  After a week of having a 102 degree temperature I thought this piece from "The Onion" would be a good way to ease back into things.

  The Onion, 'NEWS IN BRIEF', December 9, 1998, Vol 34 Issue 19

  TAMPA, FL–Sheila Mimms lost custody of her 1996 Harley-Davidson FXDL Dyna Low Rider Monday, when a court ruled that the 38-year-old waitress is an unfit motorcycle mama. "Ms. Mimms has shown that she is incapable of caring for a young cycle," judge Leon Orem said. "It is the recommendation of this court that the hog be taken into the custody of the state until it can be placed in the care of a more suitable mama." 

  Among the Mimms transgressions cited: infrequent filter replacement, negligent outdoor storage of the bike and inadequate theft-proofing measures.





  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, November 30, 1990

  
  

  Sam and Al are at it again in 'Quantum Leap', Season 3, Episode 9 entitled "Rebel Without a Clue - September 1, 1958".               

  Our hero,Sam (Scott Bakula), finds himself in the body of Shane 'Funnybone' Thomas, a biker and member of The Cobras MC, circa 1958. Al (Dean Stockwell) tells him that he's there to prevent the murder of Becky, a young idealist who shows great potential as a writer. Sometime in the next 24 hours she will be stabbed, but Al doesn't know by who. Despite Sam's several attempts to convince her to leave she refuses to do so. She's inspired by Jack Kerouac's 'On The Road' and wants to experience life and all it has to offer. Sam decides there's only one person who can convince her otherwise - Jack Kerouac (Michael Bryan French) himself.

  One of the club brothers, 'Mad Dog', is played by Mark Boone Junior who convincingly played Bobby Munson in the smash hit comedy/drama 'Sons of Anarchy'. 

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, November 24, 1970

  

  Suzuki licenses the Wankel engine and spends the next 3 years scratching their heads, wondering what the hell to do with this.. this...this rotary thing.

  Suzuki engineers finally develop a single-rotor, water-cooled, 62hp, 497cc engine. Styling of the new machine was put in the hands of Giorgietto Guigiaro, the Italian automotive stylist (e.g. Maserati Spyder, Ferrari GG50) and advocate of the 'wedge' trend in cars. Guigiaro's touch extends only to the cylindrical taillight and special instrument 'binnacle' for the RE5 (a cylindrical case with novel sliding cover, meant to echo the futuristic rotary engine) the rest of the bike looked nearly the same as Suzuki's GT750 'Water Buffalo'.


  The modest power output of the engine, combined with the 550lb wet weight, meant performance wasn't exciting, with a top speed of 110mph it's no better than the two-stroke T500 series it was meant to displace, and far more complex, heavy, and expensive. Much to Suzuki's chagrin, the release of the RE5 coincided with the Oil Crisis of '73, and customers suddenly became wary of the rotary's reputation for piss-poor fuel economy. This combined with bikers distrust of anything too new, meant sales of the RE5 were far lower than needed to recoup their investment. With millions at stake in the project, Suzuki was determined to carry on production. Blaming Giugiaro's binnacle, in 1975 the styling was more conventional, but sales didn't improve, and by 1976 Suzuki had to swallow their losses, and cease production. Less than 7,000 were actually built.

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, November 23, 2013

  

  

  'Motorcycle Live 2013' the new bike show extravaganza at The NEC (National Exhibition Centre), Birmingham, (UK) kicks off.

  Every major manufacturer across the globe will be present showcasing their latest 2014 models. The show launches in the UK for the first time with over 150 exhibitors and retail stands offering kit-bikes, accessories, leathers, plastics, rubber, whatever motorcycle-related fetish...oops, wrong show...whatever motorcycle-related products and/or services you need.


  One of the much anticipated dealers this year was the UK debut of the new Indian V-twins. The world-famous American marque was relaunched the previous summer by the snowmobile giant Polaris, who also owns Victory motorcycles.


  There were three models on display: the Chief 'Classic', a traditional bagger/cruiser; the Chief 'Vintage', which has a windshield and soft, removable saddlebags; and the 'Chieftain', which has a half-fairing with adjustable windshield and your normal fiberglass saddlebags.


  All the Indian's are powered by the 'Thunderstroke 111' motor, an air-cooled V-twin that gets its name from its cubic inch capacity, which translates to 1,811cc. Indian/Polaris is trying hard to produce a bike that's reminiscent of the Springfield Chief, it's your money, you be the judge. 

  One cool feature of the Birmingham show was a stand where rug-rats as young as two could get their first taste of two-wheels on the "Kiddimoto Children’s Fun Track", while those bigger kids, aged five and up, could experience a powered two-wheeler in the safe surroundings of Honda's "My First License". 

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, November 20, 1997

  


   

  Peter and Kay Forwood embark on the third leg of their remarkable ride around the globe.

  Hitting the road for this leg (November 20, 1997-May 16, 1998) that inlcludes stops in Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Monaco, France, Andorra, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Jersey, Guernsey, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria.


  This was an unbelievable fifteen year ride throughout the world! Peter and Kay Forwood started in Australia on February 3, 1996 and finished in October of 2011. In October of  2008 their Harley-Davidson became the first and only vehicle to have been ridden in all the 193 internationally recognized countries of the world that existed at that time. Since then they have continued travelling, visiting places previously missed or returning to places they had a good laugh in. Their bike was purchased new in 1994 and has over 380,000 miles on it. By August, 2009 the bike's original engine required a major rebuild after completing 335,590 miles. It was then replaced with a new engine so the Forwood duo could continue travelling. 

  Their Harley has visited 193 internationally recognized countries and over 414 countries, states, territories, isolated parcels, atolls and disputed territories as identified in the 'Most Travelled Persons' list. This is more than any other vehicle, hence the claim "The World's Most Travelled Motorcycle".








  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk