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A fantastic Henk Van Kessel 50cc 2 stroke racer. Like a little piece of motorcycle jewelry.

I confess to lifting these pictures straight from this great ADV Rider thread. They are too good not to post. For those who don’t know much about the early days of Moto GP and the significance of the early 2 stroke small cc bikes I highly recommend a book called “Stealing Speed”. It’s a well researched story of industrial espionage, spy vs spy and the end of WWII and German rocket science all rolled into one.

And here is the man himself.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Henk van Kessel (born on June 25, 1946) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He won the 1974 F.I.M. 50 cc world championship. He won seven Grand Prix races during his lengthy career.
Nationality Dutch
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years 1972 – 1976, 1978 – 1986
First race 1972 50cc Swedish Grand Prix
Last race 1986 Baden-Württemberg Grand Prix
First win 1974 50cc French Grand Prix
Last win 1979 50cc Belgian Grand Prix
Team(s) Kreidler
Championships 50cc – 1974
Starts 87 Wins 7 Podiums 25 Poles 0 F. laps Points422

The odd couple…

A BMW and an RZ

I’ve attached a pic of my daily driver and my weekend affair.
The RZ is a sweet machine. Just got her from a friend in June. He was moving and knew how much I liked it.
The BMW was a $100 motorcycle that cleaned up pretty good.

Cheers,
Michael Manthey

Beautifully modified Yamaha RZ350

I have a stock version of this in my garage and I can tell you that there isn’t that much Yamaha left in this bike. I think it’s European. The name on the E-mail is Heiner Trapp who wrote:

Hello, one update and Streetlegal !

Respect!

I don’t watch them often but whenever I get the chance the trials guys always leave me humbled. A lot more great shots over on ADV rider

Beavertown-Trials-Practice-8-XL

Sorry folks, taking a break for a while.

The great universal vacuum cleaner is sucking me down a back hole lately and rather that let things suffer on here I’m just going to take a hiatus.

 

HOWEVER! This is temporary. So PLEASE DO Keep sending me whatever you have and I PROMISE  I’ll make it up to you with something of a post bomb when I return.

 

Till then hang tight, ride safely  and go enjoy the fall colors and roads.

Three fantastic Moto Guzzi Video’s from our regular commenter and aficionado William Ferry.

I’m just going to let Bill describe them… Fantastic Stuff!

This lovely thing is, in my view having studied them for years, the BEST all -round tasty.. I’ve ever seen. I would have it in a heartbeat.
[2] Also attached I hope, is a lovely little film taken at the Guzzi factory, at some gathering or other.. of a famous Guzzi technician and cafe owner.. [name escapes me.. the joys of getting older..].. he starts the bike, and the joy on his face and the rasp of the bike is a total wonder to behold. Lovely.
Now FGS let them thro’ and.. just enjoy them.
Regards
Bill
WF
CARLISLE UK

[3] I’ve added the last one as, a guzzi fan, you should see these things [ sorry, I’m not being pompous.. it’s a love affair and I love to show like minded people..]
Bill Lomas was my lifelong hero. And he knew it. We were friends for years and I loved him dearly. A great guy.. he had a wicked sense of humour and told terrible, outrageous stories. I miss him still. Ah well..
B

Oh my… The sound of this bike is just sublime..

this last one just make so happy that I live in the age of Youtube.

A nice 1972 Hodaka Super Rat. I love the “period” Polariods and color shots like this…

… from “back in the day”.  One of these days I’ll sort through my moms old pics and flood the page with Z50’s, Trail 70s and 90’s and some yellow Yamaha DT100 action. Sigh.. my first 2 stroke. Fantastic power (especially after a trail 70) but a weak transmission.

Outstanding write up on a fantastic classic MV Agusta reproduction !

CycleWorld Has the full story Here. I’m amazed at this level of respect for such a cool old bike.

Fun With 2 Stokes out of the UK!

Tony McGuire. writes in!

Hi, heres a few photos of some members bikes in our club the Yorkshire strokers’ classic 2stroke riders club, we pride ourselves on riding our bikes daily and not just have them in the garage looking all shiny as certain other classic bike clubs do! we all average 50 years old but when were out on the strokers we transform into teenagers and end up racing and wheelying everywhere, its so much fun!
best wishes from Yorkshire UK, Tony mcGuire.