Macfilos Weekender with John Shingleton
Len lives on my street a few houses away. He has a regularly changing collection of toys — cars and bikes — although this 2003 Harley 100th Anniversary Fat Boy is one of his long-term keepers. I don’t see that much of Len as he is often away, usually on a long ride, but I was driving past his place earlier this month when I saw him polishing the bike. So I went home and grabbed my Leica Q and got this very Len shot. I am also featured as a reflection in the tank
While I was photographing Len he showed me his latest toy — shown below. It’s an electric bike which he had assembled from two discarded cycles he found in a pile of rubbish awaiting collection by the council in a nearby street. One was an electric bike in a very sorry condition. The other was a conventional model, but also in a very sorry condition. From the two he assembled this one bike and all he had to buy were two new inner tubes and three new batteries. That was tthe expensive part. The electric bike originally had two batteries to give 24 volts. He has added a third battery so that it now runs on 36 volts and it really moves, although it has to be said that it is no lightweight.
I don’t usually do much monochrome nowadays but Harleys always look better in monochrome, I think.
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John (Singleton) the Q is good for monochrome – -your reflection in the "eye-shaped" tank reminds me of hundreds of glass fronted buildings that have registered my shots – – good way to remember what camera one was using at the time
I had a BSA Goldstar, last year in the Army ‘69, in Ethiopia, should have shipped it home, but sold it took cash and discharge overseas had a lovely 2 months in Greece, but in rear view mirror of time regret that I sold it.
Ah we probably regret selling everything but eventually there has to be a big clear out! The BSA Gold Star was a bit of a beast to start, as I remember.
Harley’s are not really my thing. I’m a Triumph man. But I can absolutely relate to Len and his toy. Motorcycling is utterly addictive and whilst I rarely ride my Sprint at the moment, I often yearn for the open road and long miles. Once the kids have grown up……
I can also relate to that, Jason. I spent my working life involved with motorcycles, right from the time I started work as a junior road tester and feature writer on "The Motor Cycle" magazine. During the next decades I rode just about every road bike that hit the market. I was fortunate in being able to borrow bikes and, sometimes, I got myself into the same pickle as I now do with too many cameras. I gave up about ten years ago and sold off my last BMW R1100RS, and have no plans to start again. From time to time Yamaha or another manufacturer will offer a bike for a weekend or a club run, but I always refuse because I know without a shadow of a doubt that if I start again I will be lost. Within minutes I’d be plotting to buy another bike and everything that goes with it.
Indeed, Mike.
I sold my motorcycles when my first child was born, but over the next decade I never really shook off the urge to get back on one. Two more kids arrived, but so too -ultimately – did another Triumph. I’m very circumspect when I ride it, but it’s who I am and I can’t bring myself to not have one in the garage.
I HAVE staved off the urge to buy an old Guzzi. Just. But one day, I’ll probably tick that box too.