-
A Trike Tribute by Dain Gingerelli
30 Oct 2008 by Snakebit Sam in Blog, Riding Reviews / 8 Comments
It was with great interest that I opened my copy of the December issue of IronWorks to Dain Gingerelli’s “Yikes, Trikes” feature. It took me back in time to when I’d open up my Big Bike, Super Cycle, Street Chopper magazine to look for coverage of the big motorcycle shows or rallies. I always liked the fact that there would always be a three wheeler pictured that looked like Ed “Big Daddy” Roth had designed it.Sure you can paint and chrome custom motorcycles but with a trike you could go crazy. That extra wheel meant that you could build a box or canopy over the passenger seat and sometimes even the rider. Of course this meant even more room for paint and chrome. Best of all Harley trikes were readily available. The G Model (GE if it had electric start) had been produced for 36 years and it’s 45 ci motor for 44 years.
My first Harley, actually my first motorcycle, was a 1958 G Model with the big box on the back. It wouldn’t run fast but I could haul more beer than anyone else.
After looking at the pictures of the custom trikes in those magazines I made the mistake of chopping that meter maid wagon. The two major factors that doomed the project were my lack of mechanical skills and not having the money to pay someone else to do it. As you can see in the picture it resulted in a very amateurish looking vehicle.Thanks Dain for sharing those old photos of the 70′s Trike era in the December IronWorks. I do remember some of them. Plus this means that I don’t have to go to my storage shed and root through boxes to find my old copies of those magazines. Yes I do have them. If you still like trikes or want a trip down nostalgia lane you can see this article in the December issue of IronWorks magazine. If you don’t subscribe, and why not?, the issue will be on the newsstands November 11th.
8 Comments
Joseph Mielke
I have a VW trike trike project looming in the garage at home. I see an Ed Roth type outcome for it. Maybe it is time.
Peace
Joe
30 Oct 2008 03:10 pm
Scat
Wayyyyy cool Snakebite!!!!!
30 Oct 2008 04:10 pm
Snakebit Sam
The black and white photos are from the Billy Bob Archive, the colored ones are Snakebit’s Archive. The left one from is from 1972 the right from September 2008. While looking at the feature I turned on the stereo and listened to some Grand Funk, BTO and Doobies. Just to enhance the mood.
30 Oct 2008 05:10 pm
RoadRat537
On the road for forty days,
Last night in little rock put me in a haze.
Only 35 years ago. Wait, you said September of 1972? They were still Grand Funk Railroad, were they not?
All the stories coming back to me,
From my friends and the people that I don’t want to see.
The things you say I know just couldn’t be true,
At least not until I hear them from you.
Good one Sam.
30 Oct 2008 07:10 pm
Snakebit Sam
RoadRat
Those were the days, 8 tracks and Album Oriented Rock.
“I said a-hey there baby do you want to make the scene?
Awww, well come on over baby, step into my time machine”
Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYTu7tDQDr4
” Got to make a new world, ought to make the old one right.
I can see him in the morning, I can see him in the stars at night”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2aLx8R0JT8
31 Oct 2008 07:10 am
Mike
Excellent article Dain. Read it last night.
31 Oct 2008 08:10 am
MMagorski
I haven’t read the magazine yet, but I can appreciate the era. Glad to see old memories surface.
31 Oct 2008 11:10 am
ScooterPink
Trikes just are not my style. When I’m old and need training wheels, maybe. No offense.
31 Oct 2008 01:10 pm
Leave a Comment