OTHER PEOPLE'S GARAGES #6

There are garages where motorcycles rest, waiting for a spot of attention from a devoted owner, or even better, a ride in the sun.  There are garages where motorcycles rot, sitting endlessly, slowly evaporating from inattention.  There are garages full of projects, waiting for the time which usually never comes, while small parts scatter like mice under the feet of distracted owners.

Some garages are palaces, some are shrines, some are nightmares.  And on rare occasions, you are led to a garage which is a haven, an evocation, rich with the possibility of adventure, where every motorcycle has a fine sheen of oil, and looks as if it has just been ridden.  And Every. Single. Motorcycle. Runs.

I was treated to just such garage today, a remarkable thing, whose keeper has for decades held a watchful eye for unrestored and original motorcycles.  Yes, there are a few shiny bikes here, but not many, and the gloss of new chrome in such company seems merely thin, the piping voice of a student in a room of pipe-smoking sages.

The magic of old paint and oxide and oiled steel is the promise of a Story - every dent, every flaw, every rough and rust-pitted wheel, all speak to decades of experience, places traveled, adventures of youth and speed, small tragedies, joyous bursting spring days on empty roads and a rising throttle, earnest hands oily and tending to the needs of the beast.

And the special effect of an unrestored machine is telescoping past all those years of use, neglect, sleep, and resurrection, to see straight back to the maker's finish as it left the factory; not an accurate copy but the real deal, no arguments...just take your education here sonny boy, this is how it was. 

And for such a man's efforts, his good sense to preserve a library in metal and oil and rubber, a place where the feel of the past can be learned as by braille, we are thankful.

OTHER PEOPLE'S GARAGES #6

There are garages where motorcycles rest, waiting for a spot of attention from a devoted owner, or even better, a ride in the sun.  There are garages where motorcycles rot, sitting endlessly, slowly evaporating from inattention.  There are garages full of projects, waiting for the time which usually never comes, while small parts scatter like mice under the feet of distracted owners.

Some garages are palaces, some are shrines, some are nightmares.  And on rare occasions, you are led to a garage which is a haven, an evocation, rich with the possibility of adventure, where every motorcycle has a fine sheen of oil, and looks as if it has just been ridden.  And Every. Single. Motorcycle. Runs.

I was treated to just such garage today, a remarkable thing, whose keeper has for decades held a watchful eye for unrestored and original motorcycles.  Yes, there are a few shiny bikes here, but not many, and the gloss of new chrome in such company seems merely thin, the piping voice of a student in a room of pipe-smoking sages.

The magic of old paint and oxide and oiled steel is the promise of a Story - every dent, every flaw, every rough and rust-pitted wheel, all speak to decades of experience, places traveled, adventures of youth and speed, small tragedies, joyous bursting spring days on empty roads and a rising throttle, earnest hands oily and tending to the needs of the beast.

And the special effect of an unrestored machine is telescoping past all those years of use, neglect, sleep, and resurrection, to see straight back to the maker's finish as it left the factory; not an accurate copy but the real deal, no arguments...just take your education here sonny boy, this is how it was. 

And for such a man's efforts, his good sense to preserve a library in metal and oil and rubber, a place where the feel of the past can be learned as by braille, we are thankful.

OTHER PEOPLE'S GARAGES #5

One doesn't think the heart of a big city like Paris is a place you'll find a stash crammed with old bikes, but they do exist.  I've seen one!  While I can't disclose the names or location, suffice it to say the owner of these machines is a proud man of modest means, a laborer, who happens in conjunction with his job to have the space, the time, and the inclination to restore a canny selection of old motorcycles.

I've included only one of his cavés, as I prefer never to show Everything in an enthusiast's collection - heaven forbid I should be responsible for an unexpected rash of envy or worse among my readers.  A well-surveilled elevator descends to the concrete bunker deep under a charming Parisian café, and a circuitous subterranean pathway (no I wasn't blindfolded - didn't need to be - totally lost!) led to a small workshop, one of several, which housed some very interesting Vintage machinery.

The red-and-black metal toolbox atop a flat tanker with dropped bars meant only one thing - Terrot!  And a sporting one at that; clambering over a 1960s BMW revealed an ohv Sports JAP engine, which meant an NSS model, top of the line at 500cc, super rare in this country of high taxes on larger machines, and basically the most desireable French roadster of the 20s.  What a find!

We pulled the 1927 Terrot out to gain access to the other machines, and photograph the NSS properly...well, terribly, as the light was poor, but at least it was there to photograph.  JAP supplied quite a few manufacturers in Europe with road and racing engines throughout the 'Teens and Twenties, and this 'dog ear' Sports 500cc engine with total-loss lubrication was one of the fastest engines one could purchase, short of a full-race motor.  Still slower than a Model 18 Norton or Sunbeam Model 9, but fast enough for a thrilling ride nonetheless, the Terrot likely topped out at 78-82mph, and the Druid front forks mean a firm ride with only 1.5" of travel and stiff springs.

The owner says his 1926 Rudge Special is more comfortable, and a bit faster with four valves (and four gears!). Still, the overall appeal of the Terrot is undeniable; stylish, rakish, looking fast while parked, it cuts quite a figure even today.

Removal of the French machine exposed this 1920 Sunbeam with JAP 996cc '8hp' v-twin engine.  While we associate the classic black and gold single-cylinder machine with 'Beams, they made several big v-twins in the 'Teens and early 20s, for the military during WW1, and civilians afterwards.  The big Sunbeam dwarfs the Terrot, and has a wheelbase longer than a 70s Ducati twin, longer than a Brough even.  It's a perfect sidecar machine, and of course, it came with a Sunbeam chair, which sits in the rafters, ready for the next Vintage event.

The owner says it functions extremely well with the chair attached, not surprising given the sheer size of the 'Beam, the long handlebars, and the deep torquey power of the JAP sv engine.  While the brakes are almost nonexistent, making Paris traffic impossible, the owner finds the whole outfit charming to ride and says it's a favorite.

I've never seen a 'Sunbeam' branded Jaeger 8-day clock before, nor a Cowie speedo with an odometer on the side - really nice, original, and rare instruments.

As mentioned, a '26 Rudge Special sits with a BMW R60/2,  next to a René Gillet v-twin of mid-30s make, also a big sidevalve, also meant to haul a big sidecar, in this case a rare Bernardin art deco chair, which has had its roof cut off, unfortunately.  For practical reasons I'm sure, like headroom for passengers! 

More Art Deco splendor on the tank and instruments (Jaeger again)

The owner is keen to take his machines out, so on my return to Paris, we'll take the Terrot, find a comparable British machine (Model 18?), and make a side-by-side road test - the second Vintage Motorcycle Shootout!  And, it would be nice to take the 'Beam out solo, to see what it will do, compared to the two singles which have graced my own garage.

OTHER PEOPLE'S GARAGES #5

One doesn't think the heart of a big city like Paris is a place you'll find a stash crammed with old bikes, but they do exist.  I've seen one!  While I can't disclose the names or location, suffice it to say the owner of these machines is a proud man of modest means, a laborer, who happens in conjunction with his job to have the space, the time, and the inclination to restore a canny selection of old motorcycles.

I've included only one of his cavés, as I prefer never to show Everything in an enthusiast's collection - heaven forbid I should be responsible for an unexpected rash of envy or worse among my readers.  A well-surveilled elevator descends to the concrete bunker deep under a charming Parisian café, and a circuitous subterranean pathway (no I wasn't blindfolded - didn't need to be - totally lost!) led to a small workshop, one of several, which housed some very interesting Vintage machinery.

The red-and-black metal toolbox atop a flat tanker with dropped bars meant only one thing - Terrot!  And a sporting one at that; clambering over a 1960s BMW revealed an ohv Sports JAP engine, which meant an NSS model, top of the line at 500cc, super rare in this country of high taxes on larger machines, and basically the most desireable French roadster of the 20s.  What a find!

We pulled the 1927 Terrot out to gain access to the other machines, and photograph the NSS properly...well, terribly, as the light was poor, but at least it was there to photograph.  JAP supplied quite a few manufacturers in Europe with road and racing engines throughout the 'Teens and Twenties, and this 'dog ear' Sports 500cc engine with total-loss lubrication was one of the fastest engines one could purchase, short of a full-race motor.  Still slower than a Model 18 Norton or Sunbeam Model 9, but fast enough for a thrilling ride nonetheless, the Terrot likely topped out at 78-82mph, and the Druid front forks mean a firm ride with only 1.5" of travel and stiff springs.

The owner says his 1926 Rudge Special is more comfortable, and a bit faster with four valves (and four gears!). Still, the overall appeal of the Terrot is undeniable; stylish, rakish, looking fast while parked, it cuts quite a figure even today.

Removal of the French machine exposed this 1920 Sunbeam with JAP 996cc '8hp' v-twin engine.  While we associate the classic black and gold single-cylinder machine with 'Beams, they made several big v-twins in the 'Teens and early 20s, for the military during WW1, and civilians afterwards.  The big Sunbeam dwarfs the Terrot, and has a wheelbase longer than a 70s Ducati twin, longer than a Brough even.  It's a perfect sidecar machine, and of course, it came with a Sunbeam chair, which sits in the rafters, ready for the next Vintage event.

The owner says it functions extremely well with the chair attached, not surprising given the sheer size of the 'Beam, the long handlebars, and the deep torquey power of the JAP sv engine.  While the brakes are almost nonexistent, making Paris traffic impossible, the owner finds the whole outfit charming to ride and says it's a favorite.

I've never seen a 'Sunbeam' branded Jaeger 8-day clock before, nor a Cowie speedo with an odometer on the side - really nice, original, and rare instruments.

As mentioned, a '26 Rudge Special sits with a BMW R60/2,  next to a René Gillet v-twin of mid-30s make, also a big sidevalve, also meant to haul a big sidecar, in this case a rare Bernardin art deco chair, which has had its roof cut off, unfortunately.  For practical reasons I'm sure, like headroom for passengers! 

More Art Deco splendor on the tank and instruments (Jaeger again)

The owner is keen to take his machines out, so on my return to Paris, we'll take the Terrot, find a comparable British machine (Model 18?), and make a side-by-side road test - the second Vintage Motorcycle Shootout!  And, it would be nice to take the 'Beam out solo, to see what it will do, compared to the two singles which have graced my own garage.

OTHER PEOPLE'S GARAGES #4

While technically not a garage per se, John Goldman's warehouse-cum-architectural office houses an incredible collection of Italian lightweight motorcycles, a testament to what a few years of focus on a specific target will yield.  An architect by day, with a specialty in contemporary church design, the rest of his life (and his home!) is filled with his passion for rare racing and road machinery.

John's passion is F.B. (Fratelli Boselli) Mondial  machines, and while seeking an example of every machine made by this upstart little company, he has come up with several unique ex-Works racing bikes, which rank with NSU's works 'Fox' racers as probably the most beautiful motorcycles ever made.

Mondial made its reputation in 1948 by building a 125cc dohc racer, which began winning races and setting world speed records straight off the drawing board.  As most 125cc motorcycles and racers were single-cylinder two-stroke machines, the twin-cam Mondials completely outclassed the competition.

With the introduction of the World Championship racing series in 1949, Mondials won every single GP race in 1949, 50, and 51, securing three titles in easy succession.  It took that long for rivals like MV Agusta, Morini, and Benelli to design and develop their own multi-cam and multi-cylinder exotica for the small capacity racing classes, after which things were not so easy for the tiny FB Mondial factory.  Changes in design staff (that initial engine was designed by Drusiani) and stiff competition meant a second place in the 1952 World Championship, with MV Agusta winning.  The #77 Mondial in these photos is believed the 1951 World Championship bike, ridden by Carlo Ubbiali, who was the winningest rider ever in the 125cc and 250cc championships, with 9 World Titles, all on MV Agustas, barring this solitary Mondial 125.

It took another 5 years before Mondial was back on top of the podium, with a new engine designed by Drusiani, who had left to work on his own machine - the Moto Comet - but returned after that venture failed.  The 1957 season saw first place in both the 125cc and 250cc World Championships, and the machine pictured with the 'Dustbin' fairing is one of the 1957 ex-Works 125cc dohc machines, ridden either by Sammy Miller or Cecil Sandford to 4th or 6th place, respectively, in that year's GP World Championship.  This machine is coming up for auction at the Bonhams sale at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering on May 8th.  It is believed to be the only correctly restored 1957 Works Mondial in existence, and I'll write another post about this amazing motorcycle.

Mondials aren't John's only obsession, and his Moto Rumis have been featured in my previous post from the MotoConcorso Italiano.  The street model Turismo Velocita with the chrome tank is a one-year-only first year production machine, and extremely rare.  Rarer still beside it is a 'Gobetto' racer, perhaps the only original and correct and running example in the world.  

A look at the timing side of the Gobetto motor shows an oil line to the magneto chain!  And one wonders why old race bikes are covered in black paste after a hard race...  Note also the unique cloverleaf pattern bolt heads on the engine plates; this design is unique to Rumi, and is a precursor to the 'torx' bolts now common in the auto industry.  Motorcycle engineers usually had novel ideas roving in many directions....

The library is a study of beauty, and John is selling two of these machines so he can access his books again!  The 1952 Moto Guzzi 250cc Airone, and the 1954 Mondial 160cc Sport Lusso will both come under the hammer at the Bonhams auction in a few weeks' time, and will be slightly more affordable than the 'Dustbin' GP bike!  Both very fine restorations.

While the downstairs of his loft is half-devoted to his architectural office, John's mezzanine is his home, and of course houses yet more Mondials, even in his bedroom.  My favorite is this late 60s original-paint 50cc two-stroke hotrod, with Gieger-esque tank and total-overkill Campagnolo mechanical disc brake.  Cooler than cool.

Thanks for sharing John!