A BIT OF EVERYTHING
Retro by Royal Enfield
The Enfield Cycle Company was established as early as 1893, and the company produced pedal bicycles, lawnmowers, guns and, not least, motorcycles. The first motorcycle badged Royal Enfield came in 1901 under the slogan "Made like a gun".
Harlem Motorcycles
If you are staying in France, specifically in Nice, I recommend that you stop by Harlem Motorcycles.
AMCAR/ReFuel; also for the motorcycle movement
AMCAR/Refuel has acquired a significant position in the motoring community, and that is a good thing. We need a professional organization that negotiates good discount agreements, whether it is about insurance or spare parts. Perhaps even more important is the dialogue with the authorities.
Knucklehead vs Evolution, or the original vs the retro
With 122 years of continuous motorcycle production, Harley sits at the top as the world's oldest motorcycle manufacturer. What started in a small wooden shed in Milwaukee in 1903 has evolved into one of the world's most famous brands. Some Harley models have been more significant than others, and we've looked at one of these and the retro version.
Shovelhead 1200 FXE
Custom and chopper culture originated in America, and the cult is often associated with Harley-Davidson and biker culture. The iconic brand with roots in Milwaukee has created both fear and admiration as they thunder down the country road, rebuilt according to all the rules of the art.
Ground contact; about front forks and shock absorbers
The road to today's adjustable front forks and shock absorbers has literally been both hard and demanding for rider and machine, and the first motorized two-wheelers were relatively simple pedal bicycles with an auxiliary motor attached.
Amcars Fuel Fest and a bunch of classics
Amcar's 50th anniversary celebration "Fuel Fest" at Nova Spektrum on Saturday, June 14th was a success, and of course there was room for motorcycles during the anniversary party, and not just cars.
Rockers vs Mods
Rockers and Mods originated in England in the 1960s. The two groups had different social affiliations and rode quite different motorcycles.
Honda cavalcade; a brief look back
When Honda created its first in-house produced motorcycle, the Dream 98 cc in 1949, it was the start of an unparalleled industrial adventure. Over the years, the brand has created a number of trendsetters, and was an early adopter of 4-stroke engines in its mopeds and motorcycles. Here's a look back at some of the classics from Honda .
Wednesday mc at Tyrigrava 14 May
The motorcycle season is in full swing, and true to Wednesday tradition, Tyrigrava was filled with motorcycles this evening. A bunch of classics had found their way into the square, and here are some of the machines that brought back memories from the past.
The spring muster at NOVA Spektrum in Lillstrøm
The huggable Christian Fidje made the trip to Lillestrøm on his Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1987 model. A great and classic superbike that has gradually become a rare sight.
The Clubhouse Festival
Roger Søtter (left) from Dogs & Saints MC is responsible for the hits, and he has Marcel Lelienhöf from Unforgiven MC on his team.
Wednesday MC at Tyrigrava
After a visit to Tyrigrava on Wednesday evening, there was no longer any doubt; spring is here, and so are the bikers. The barracks were full, hundreds of motorcycles and the smell of coffee, waffles and hamburgers, just the way we like it at "Grava".
SPRING MARKET May 3
The spring market at Ekeberg on Saturday, May 3rd, was a great experience, and the plain at Ekeberg was well filled with stalls, private luxury car parking and, not least, brand clubs for both 2- and 4-wheelers.
Z1OCN Rally; a look back
The Z1OCN Rally is one of the annual highlights for Kawasaki enthusiasts, and although the event is named after the classic Z1-900, there is a bit of everything to see of classic Kawasaki models at the event. In 2019, the event took place at Motangen near Blaker, and here is a little look back in anticipation of the 33rd international Z1OCN Rally which will take place at Sageneset Feriesenter the weekend of 27.6-29.6.2025.
Horex
Horex is one of those rare motorcycle manufacturers. The brand was established by Fritz Kleemann in Germany in 1923. Unlike other motorcycle manufacturers, Horex bought its engines from other suppliers in the start-up phase. However, by the 1930s, the company had sufficient capital and technology and developed its own engines.
Sidecar special
Motorcycles with sidecars were widespread both in the interwar period, and in the years after World War II and until the 1960s. The equipment was efficient, far cheaper than cars, and cars were not generally available here in Norway until 1960. When car sales were exempted from restrictions, this was the beginning of the end for the popularity of sidecars as commercial vehicles, but fortunately they did not disappear completely. I myself have ridden a sidecar bike (the Honda in the picture above) for more than 25 years, and it was both fun and practical, especially during the period as a father of small children. Then all you had to do was place the little ones in the sidecar and go on trips and meetings. There was no reason to put your interest in motorcycles on the shelf, quite the opposite.
The Forest Race; a look back
Norsk Veteran Motorsykkel Club , or NVMC as we often call it, has been bringing together veteran motorcyclists for over 50 years. The club was founded in 1974, and every summer members from all over the country gather for what is the club's annual highlight, the "Forest Race". Here is a little look back from the 2015 Skogsløpet, in anticipation of this year's Skogsløpet which will take place at Selbu camping 27-29 June, under the auspices of the Stjørdal Veteran Motorcycle Club.
Indian Summer Meet; a look back
Norsk Indian Klubb is growing, and at a time when several veteran clubs are experiencing stagnation or decline in membership, the Indians are on the rise. They are visible in the "Eplehagen" at the two annual parts markets in Ekeberg, have their own website (www.indianklubb.no), and not least their own member magazine with the striking title "Røyksignaler". Last but not least, the club is known for its international Indian meetings, and the annual Indian Summer Meet. This year's Summer Meet will take place August 14-17 at Hunderfossen. In anticipation of spring, summer and Indian Summer Meet 2025, I offer a little look back from a previous Indian Summer Meet, specifically from Fagernes in 2021.
The Triples at Tyrigrava
A Wednesday evening at Tyrigrava is for many motorcycle enthusiasts in the Oslo region the highlight of the week. Coffee and waffles, cold cola, informal tire kicking, the occasional burn-out, and last but not least machines from A to Z in terms of makes and models make the evening the experience of the week. I will never forget a Wednesday evening a few years ago, before the place was renovated. Why? Yes, because a swarm of Kawasaki triples took over "Grava" in a wonderful haze of blue smoke. After all, these furious and hyper-fast 2-strokes turned the motorcycle community on its head in the 70s, and certainly brought back memories for many at the meeting place this summer evening.
Mc-Messen; a look back
This year's MC Fair, which was supposed to be held in Lillestrøm, was cancelled, as is well known, and many were understandably disappointed. For many, this fair is the highlight of the winter while waiting for the spring sun to warm the asphalt and the MC season to return. The last time the fair was cancelled was in 2022 when Covid closed its doors. This time, it was the finances that were not enough. The industry refers to the "bottom line" for 2024, a year that is said to have been tough financially. They did not find it prudent to hold the event, but promise that we can look forward to the MC Fair in 2026. The wait is long enough, so a look back at classics from previous fairs, which you can see here, is an ever-so-small band-aid on the wound. We never tire of seeing polished classics.
The Dane's Atlanta
Norwegian motorcycle production is modest, and is often associated with Tempo . However, there have been several manufacturers, and one of these was Atlanta. Production was short-lived, but exclusive considering that Atlanta used something as iconic as an engine from JAP.
The Rockers at Ryes
Urban MC cafes are a favorite meeting place for many motorcyclists. One of the most legendary is undoubtedly "The Ace Cafe" in London. The place has been the meeting point for MC enthusiasts for a lifetime, and attracts MC people from London and the surrounding area. I have been there myself, and it cannot be described but must be experienced. What about our own capital Oslo? What can it offer MC people? The cafe "Ryes" was once located on "Løkka", and had the atmosphere and location. Urban environment, in the middle of the capital, and on Grunerløkka itself. Then one day it was gone, and the inside of the windows were covered with gray paper. Closed...over and out! However, I will not forget one of the last big MC events there on a June Saturday in 2016, when the Rockers took over the place, and dominated the street scene with their cafe racers. It was magical, and almost a little unreal. Here's a little look back at what for me was the Norwegian alternative to "The Ace Cafe", while it lasted......
"Battle of the twins and a gas station"
Some people choose the Nurburgring, I have my own “ring”. It goes from Oslo and out the E6 to Klemetsrud, on to outer Enebakk, past the YX in Flateby, then in the direction of Lillestrøm and finally back to Oslo. The “ring” is quite long and just the right amount of hilly, and along the way there was time for some reflections on the function of the gas station before and now. Was everything better before?
Honda -Hansen's CB750 Police
Police motorcycles with all the “police options” that work and that are in civilian ownership, yes, it is a rare sight on Norwegian roads. Knut Hugo Hansen, also known as “ Honda -Hansen” among Honda enthusiasts, is the exception. With his Honda CB750 Police, rough riders can probably be scared when he appears in the gossip mirror. At least until they see that it is not of a recent vintage and that Knut Hugo is not wearing a uniform. If we turn back time to the 1970s, however, several people were surprised when the Honda appeared in the rearview mirror with siren and blue lights.
The 80s icon Suzuki GSX750ES
At the beginning of 1980, quite radical changes were made in motorcycle design. The soft and teardrop-shaped lines of the 1970s were replaced by more angular, rectangular and straight lines. Fairings as standard equipment became common this decade, and engine technology was constantly taking new steps on the development front. I have been "up close" to the history behind Suzuki GSX750ES, a bike that is as typical of the 1980s as it is possible to imagine, but which is today a rare sight in the Norwegian motorcycle flora.
I have tested the classic Suzuki Cavalcade 1400 LXE
I've taken a closer look at Suzuki's alternative in the touring segment from the optimistic 80s, the classic Suzuki Cavalcade 1400LXE, and test-drove the touring giant that is now well established in the ranks of veterans.
Classic motorcycles & scooters in Norway
- This year's Christmas present for all classic enthusiasts. NOK 398
"The idea of having my own shop had been swirling around in my head"
Kenneth Laurendz smiles and pulls away a little when I ask how he got the idea for Deathtrap-Custom AS, the shop he runs in Ski, a few miles south of Oslo. "I had worked for a few years at Harley-Davidson in Oslo, and gradually the idea of starting my own business started to come to mind," he says, leaning back on the sofa. I stand in the middle of the room, surrounded by "parts and accessories" as they are called in the trade, and notice that there are more than enough parts here to build an entire chopper. Frames, wheels, engines, handlebars, gearboxes, brakes, handlebars and levers. I could still do it from A to Z, as the company's own website attests. You'll find most of it here.
Bremen Classic Motor Show
The Bremen Classic Motorshow is definitely worth a visit if you are interested in 2- and 4-wheelers in classic packaging. This is one of the largest events of its kind in Europe. I was there 2 years ago, and I can really recommend spending the weekend of January 31st to February 2nd 2025 at the exhibition halls in Bremen. Here is a small selection of what was on display in 2023. More information about the event can be found here: www.classicmotorshow.de
International BSA meeting in Fredrikstad
The 2024 International BSA Meeting was organized by the Norwegian BSA Club in Fredrikstad in August. Over 200 BSA enthusiasts from many European countries gathered there to celebrate the brand that in 1954 was the world's leading motorcycle manufacturer. BSA which was based in Birmingham went bankrupt in 1973, an industrial adventure was over. Now, however, the brand is back with the retro classic Gold Star, which is pleasing to old and new enthusiasts. Here is a small selection of the machinery that was gathered for a whole week in the plank town in August for a very well-run event, with group tours and a rich selection of cultural activities.
Oslo Motor Show
"The eye of the needle should be tight when a motorcycle is to be exhibited at the Oslo Motor Show," says Bjørn Henning Larsen, leaning lightly against a spectacular Excelsior from 1916.
Yamaha YZF-R1: An upcoming classic
Time passes, and so does development. Motorcycles I remember as relatively new often suddenly turn out to be much older than my memory suggests. It's strange to think that Yamaha YZF-R1 is now approaching veteran status, and thus entering "good company" with models like Tempo and BSA . However, the R1 was already released in 1998, and in 2028 the first vintage will reach the magical 30-year mark.. With the R1, or YZF-R1 as the superbike's full model name is known, Yamaha positioned itself right at the forefront of the fastest motorcycles. Now let's not forget Yamaha's first superbike, the FZR1000, which challenged Suzuki's GSX-R1100 in 1987. Thus, there is a lineage from 1987, which in many ways extends right up to 1998, when the first R1 model went on sale.
The Mosten Mc
Mosten MC is located just outside the small town of Allingåbro, in the middle of Jutland. The club, which was founded in 1982, has become nothing less than an institution for those with classic and veteran motorcycles. The club mainly organizes 3 meetings during the season, two of which are pure MC meetings for veterans and classics.
Norsk Indian Klubb
Interest in Indian motorcycles, which at one time were the toughest competitors to Harley-Davidson , was increasing among owners of old "Indians" throughout the 2000s. The time was therefore ripe to gather the "tribe", and with the enthusiasm and commitment of enthusiasts, Norsk Indian Klubb was established in November 2003. From being a handful of enthusiasts, the club has grown steadily, and today has over 166 members. The club today brings together Indian owners from all over the country, and arranges, among other things, the annual " Indian Summer Meet" every year in August. In addition, the club is represented with its own stand at the Ekeberg market every spring and autumn.