Coming Out: Release Notes – Column
We bought another cupboard. But the thing is standing, and standing well. That was a good choice of my Love. The old cupboard had to be emptied and taken apart. He leaves under the motto 'function elsewhere'. Than…
Tags Ural
Life as in a reality show – column
Once, a long time ago… Then there was the ANWB magazine Promotor. In the early days, the promoter had a pleasant, uninhibited, somewhat alert approach. The construction of the PromotorMotor fitted in with this. That was a fixer-upper bought on the Vehikel, a sloppy XS650. I was allowed to do the renovation completely to my own taste.
The birth of a classic
When Honda started making 'mopeds', the British Builders raised an eyebrow in some annoyance: "Weird guys, those Japanese. But fortunately everyone sees that it is nothing and will become nothing."
Chang Jiang? Chang Yiang? whatever!
While searching on the Internet you will come across very little about OHVs under this historic brand. Ben van Helden's sites and ours stand out the most. And that's strange for such a big brand. On the other hand: the entire production - and that was a lot of units - was intended for the home market, for the government and civil servants.
Margin Life: A Chang OHV column
After a conversation with a Flemish colleague, he jovially patted me on the shoulder: “But white wadde you are? You are a real marginal!” A scribbler in the margin. I saw it as a compliment and used the title as a nickname. In a world that is becoming increasingly dazzling and in which € 600 is being asked for an MV 1.000.000 four-cylinder. Where modern motorcycles are enthusiastically presented as 'the ideal platform for your smartphone'? I'll drop out there. And to my comfort, I am not the only refugee from that world. First out of lack of money and later out of conviction, a few people and I, with a mild smile, chose to focus our love on classic underdogs.
Tricycles and dates - column
About a year ago I met a vague acquaintance. I remembered him as looking gloomy. Towards a relationship. “I thought I should get a dog to meet nice women. Then I looked after a friend's dog for two weeks while they were on holiday. That animal pissed in the house and killed a cat."
Love must be learned - column
Recently I saw a very neat 650 Yamaha XS1977 at a befriended advertiser. I dreamed away. Such an XS is one of the few motorcycles that I have ever bought new. That was after ending a courtship.
New, used, old, classic
Classic love can usually be traced back to your childhood, childhood dreams and nostalgia. The motorcycle of a family member, a neighbor or the motorcycle from a story from what was then the only Dutch motorcycle magazine: Het Weekblad Motor. That magazine was printed in black and white on newsprint. The 57th volume, issue 50 of December 11, 1970, cost 65 cents. And on the cover was a close up of the engine block of a Kawasaki 500 cc three-cylinder. Behind it was such a highly valued reader test under the heading '538.908 km with the 500 cc Kawasaki Mach III.
Sidecar riding is for all seasons
Sidecar combinations are the best combination of the disadvantages of cars and motorcycles. You cannot pass between traffic jams and you still get wet. But where just about everyone gets into a car carefree, there is a widely held caution with regard to tricycles.
Attention BMW drivers!
During a visit - by car, because the short distance from Dieren to Genemuiden on a classic sidecar with 23 Russian horsepower was too long a drive - to score some used parts from our Ural/Dnepr/M72 main supplier, the…
Summertime? Key time!
It has recently been concluded: If your kickstart ankle is broken, then you are blessed with a classic with a start button. And you finally have time to start another engine block. A nicer engine block. That all fits…
Retro. Can we do something with that?
Retro is modern. We're going back to then. In 1969, BMW announced to the world that 50 DIN hp was the absolute highest safe power for a road engine. The Honda CB750 Four delivered 67. After that things went fast. There was…
A classic as a daily transport column
My classic Ural has been upgraded from toy to daily transport. We are still looking for a suitcase set for a Guzzi V65C. But as a daily driver, the Ural naturally does what it is made for: It provides transport. And offers a lot of space for the messages.
Ural and the Corona Jitters, a column
Here in quiet Gelderland we have little inconvenience from it. But it doesn't go completely unnoticed... The Corona jitters. I made a short U-turn and stood right in front of the entrance to the pharmacy. Where the pharmacy is now, there used to be a bench. There is still an ATM in the hall. I wanted to withdraw some cash, took off my helmet and put it in the sidecar box, got off and walked to the door behind which I hoped to withdraw some money, in these strange times for a freelancer.
Column - brand love and relationship loyalty
I have known Marc for a long time. And for as long as I've known him he's been driving a BMW. When this came up some time ago, his sincere response was: “What else should I do?” After disappointing experiences with his last two modern BMWs, he has…
Ural. Better a Russian than a virus
The maximum speed only needs to be reduced a little. Then I can really drive too fast. Until now I have had to make do with a glowing red matrix sign: “You drive 84 km. That doesn't help…
From pride to old iron
Have you ever thought about what has disappeared? How many classic motorcycles were made and disappeared? There must be a lot of them. Old motorcycles disappear in a few ways: they gather dust in old sheds,…
Ural sidecar crosser, that's where the Russians come
I'm not really into competition machines. Whether on asphalt or off the beaten track. But sometimes there are exceptions. Then we are usually in the corner from top fantastic to feeding the underdog. Sun…
A sidecar as a dating service
Motorcyclists are often seen as threatening. People on classic motorcycles are seen less wrong, although ex-Randstad residents living in dike houses of left-wing signature but with sufficient money find it irresponsible in terms of the environment. But a classic sidecar combination? It becomes socially…
Addresses. Thanks to Gerrit
We recently placed a call for 'addresses' to be reported. Addresses where there are still people who do not supply cheap Chinese imitation choke levers (be careful: they break) or exhaust manifold sets (they do not fit). Addresses where they simply 'still have stuff' and know what they…