interesting bikes found randomly..

[KungFooBob]

Quite a contrast between the before an after pics...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255970547927

[Horse]

Retrospective: The history of Elf motorcycles

Rétrospective : L’histoire des motos Elf - Paddock GP (paddock-gp.com)
https://www.paddock-gp.com/retrospectiv ... motos-elf/

In nearly 75 years of Grand Prix, there have been many attempts to stand out. The France is not to be outdone when it comes to the most unusual experiments, and a slew of engineers from France have tried, successfully or not, to modify the design of a motorcycle. This is the case of André de Cortanze and Elf. A unique epic that smells of the 1980s.

De Cortanze was not short of work in the late 1970s. A graduate of INSA, then hired by Renault to develop F2 and F3, he is undoubtedly one of the most promising brains of his generation. He became project manager at the Régie in 1977, and focused on the newly designed turbocharged Formula 1, partly developed thanks to the expertise of the late Jean-Pierre Jabouille, who had just left us.

At the same time, Elf, a major French oil company, is very present in the world of motorsport, and features prominently on the body of the Renault RS-01. Elf does not neglect the motorcycle world, which leads to the birth of a common idea: Why not try to produce an innovative machine, and above all, competitive?

De Cortanze, passionate about two-wheelers, is on the spot, accompanied by the cartoonist Daniel Trema. He can only note the lack of innovation in the motorcycle world, compared to Formula 1 which had changed a lot since the 1950s. The fork and tubular frames were principles of another time, which, according to him, were largely outdated. In February 1978, a UFO appeared: the Elf X.




More pics on the linked site

[v8-powered]

Screenshot_20230218_111024_Instagram.jpg (551.17 KiB) Viewed 487 times

[Horse]

Arch 1s

20230218_134640.jpg (125.89 KiB) Viewed 462 times

[KungFooBob]

Arch motorcycles, founded by Gard Hollinger and the nicest man in Hollywood... Keanu Reeves.

[Horse]

DURUS X1

20230220_090734.jpg (173.22 KiB) Viewed 410 times

[MrLongbeard]

Heated seat for the winter commute



https://pipeburn.com/hd-sportster-883-t ... KitADxWGkY

[Horse]

Rather ironic that it's from 'pipeburn'

[Taipan]

Arch motorcycles, founded by Gard Hollinger and the nicest man in Hollywood... Keanu Reeves.

So nice he didn't have the heart to sack his designer, despite multiple failings!

[Skub]

Maybe better handling than the stock bike.....

[Mr Moofo]

Quite a contrast between the before an after pics...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255970547927

CRK body kits , I think
https://www.caferacerkits.co.uk/

Saw a stunning old Trophy at Brands Hatch, that looked nothing like an old slabby trophy - a bit like that above but with mandlebars.
And ridden very quickly

[Horse]

You probably have to be half mad to attempt a round-the-world motorcycle ride, but you have to be certifiably bonkers if you choose to do it on a 125cc Honda Monkey. But that’s exactly what YouTuber Alan Dowsett is undertaking.

“I have already put it through loads,” explains Alan. “I rode on the Strata Florida greenlane (Wales), I rode the Malle Mile, I rode it around the UK last November, so the next stage is the world.”

To get the diminutive steed ready for such a punishing trip, Alan reached out to his followers on social media, where he goes by the name of Helmet Head, to see if anyone was willing to upgrade it.

20230222_194926.jpg (247.23 KiB) Viewed 287 times

[mangocrazy]

I'd ensure there's an air gap between the silencer and the RH pannier. Anything at the bottom of that pannier is going to get cooked, especially in hot climates.

[Mussels]

I'm not entirely sure it qualifies as a motorbike but I like it.

[Horse]

That tarmac survives remarkably well under the blast of the engines.

[KungFooBob]

I've previous described the 650 Inty as bland, but I reckon this paint job almost makes up for the ride...

[Bustaspoke]

I've previous described the 650 Inty as bland, but I reckon this paint job almost makes up for the ride...

I like the Interceptor,one of my mates had one,he told me to take it out for a spin one afternoon.I was surprised how heavy it was as standard,but he did some mods to it & I enjoyed it.

[KungFooBob]

I've previous described the 650 Inty as bland, but I reckon this paint job almost makes up for the ride...

I like the Interceptor,one of my mates had one,he told me to take it out for a spin one afternoon.I was surprised how heavy it was as standard,but he did some mods to it & I enjoyed it.

I rode one back to back with my 500 Bullet EFI. It was like a proper motorcycle, it went, stopped and handled as well as stuff a couple of grand more expensive, I couldn't fault it.... except compared to my Bullet it was very bland.

[Bustaspoke]

I rode one back to back with my 500 Bullet EFI. It was like a proper motorcycle, it went, stopped and handled as well as stuff a couple of grand more expensive, I couldn't fault it.... except compared to my Bullet it was very bland.

My mate also had one of those WWII Paratrooper replica bikes,I think it was a 500 single,he really enjoyed it & kept telling me to have a ride on it but I wasn''t really interested.Just over a year ago along with his Panzer GS he chopped them all in for a late model GS.
With luck at some stage he might get something else that I'm interested in,but not at the moment.

[KungFooBob]

I rode one back to back with my 500 Bullet EFI. It was like a proper motorcycle, it went, stopped and handled as well as stuff a couple of grand more expensive, I couldn't fault it.... except compared to my Bullet it was very bland.

My mate also had one of those WWII Paratrooper replica bikes,I think it was a 500 single,he really enjoyed it & kept telling me to have a ride on it but I wasn''t really interested.Just over a year ago along with his Panzer GS he chopped them all in for a late model GS.
With luck at some stage he might get something else that I'm interested in,but not at the moment.

I've got the 500 single Enfield and a 1200GS LC... and a GSXR1100.

The Enfield probably gets ridden the most. It's the least effort/most fun.