The day after the Handbuilt show, Quinn showed me a great time. There was swimming in Barton Springs, shooting skeet, and an amazing dinner at Lamberts (thanks again Richie). The whole squad but me went out for more drinking after dinner. I decided to hang back with the dogs and get rest for the races the following day.

I woke Sunday feeling great. Can’t say the same for my hosts & other company but it wasn’t something coffee and breakfast tacos couldn’t help fix. We headed out to the Circuit of the Americas track south east of the city. It was a perfect day for watching a race albeit somewhat gusty. Sunny but not too hot. Quinn knew right where to go which was the field right by turn one. We posted up here just in time for the Moto2 race to start.

Full disclosure… these videos I am posting of each race are pretty bad but how do you even capture it with an iPhone?

The Moto2 race started off with a bunch of riders going down. Not near where we were but it was easy to keep up with the race thanks to the large screen in front of where we where seated. I was doing my best to take it all in and there was a lot to take in. I am not nor have I ever been big into racing but I am big into doing new things. The only bike races I have seen were the brief moments I caught at Mid Ohio. A few laps in and I was getting into it but soon enough the race was over. Quinn had checked the schedule and to our surprise MotoGP was up next. Moto3 would be closing the show. We stayed right where we were.

It wasn’t too long until the big bikes came out for a warm up lap. The crowd was a buzz in anticipation. A national anthem and a fighter jet flyover later the race was off. What a sound when the bikes come ripping by where you sit!  I really enjoyed watching the bikes hit upwards of 200mph then braking hard to make the first turn. I gotta say its insanely exhilarating to be there.  The bikes, the energy of the crowd, the helicopters flying by to shoot the race, all of it was wild. Twenty laps goes by faster than I would have liked. While I don’t see myself becoming obsessed with MotoGP, I can say I discovered a new appreciation by being there in person.

I am going to forgo trying to describe the ‘thrill of the race’ or getting any more literal than I already have. If you want that go read some Hunter Thompson. Otherwise just trust me and go next year. Fuck it, life is short.

After the MotoGP race we got up to explore all the other offerings. There was a ton of shit to see and do. All the big manufacturers that had bikes in the race had big setups with all their newest models to sit on or demo ride. Unfortunately, I dropped the ball and did not get to demo ride anything. The big retailers also had tents setup hocking their wares. On top of all that there was a whole carnival setup too. Rides and food galore. Pretty much a full days worth of fun shit to do.

We picked up some swag then walked to the fan zone where all the fun shit I described above was. While there, the Moto3 races started. I did not catch much of it as I was trying to find the Yamaha tent to sit on a T7 but I did get this clip:

Finally we got all the way to other side of the track where the manufacturers where. Honda had a little course setup for people to try out the new Navi & Monkey. The line was too long but I did come away wanting the new Trail125. That shit is PERFECT for where I live now as an around town & dirt road bike. We popped around to all the tents. Lots of great new bikes to check out.

After checking out all of what was to offer we were beat and ready to cool off in Quinns trucks AC. As we walked back to the truck I kept thinking of how much I want to come back and do this next year with the COTT guys. That and how much I want a T7 & Trail125.

Epilogue…

Heres some pics from that great Saturday between the Handbuilt show & the races

That brisket is fire. Go to Lamberts if you want some fancy af bbq.

I recently started a job with a home office in Austin Texas and, if you did not know, our good bud and COTT contributor, Quinn is now an Austinite.  My job is a WFH job but I decided to pay fealty and visit the office for a few days of work. I took advantage of my travel expenses being covered to spend time with Quinn as I haven’t seen his beautiful mug in way too long. I just so happened to pick the same week that the Handbuilt Show and MotoGP where in town. Wow. What a coincidence. Total happenstance. I definitely didn’t plan an office visit to coincide with show and race.

I lie… I totally did.

At the end of my final day at the office, Quinn came and got me. Thank fuck because, if you don’t know, ride-shares and rental car prices are fucking bonkers right now and my office is way the fuck in North Austin. His new GMC Sierra is both very Texas and very Quinn. I was stoked to be riding in pure Texan style. We headed  back to his place to take care of his pups. I got to see that big doofus Sam. Love that dog. Never will I forget him mulching a 3 year old at an eastern shore Maryland beach moto-trip. Good times. Anyways, once Quinns lovely lady made it home we went to fuel up on spicy Margs and tacos at a joint called De Nada. Feeling buzzed and fueled, we rolled to the show.

We got overpriced drinks and bumped into people Quinn knows from his RSD and Cali time. We also bumped into Stevan from Revzilla, err I mean Comoto. It was rad to see him as he was one of the few big-wigs there that treated me like an equal. I found out that he used to live in Bellows Falls, VT which is right up the road from my new home town Brattleboro, VT. Small freaking world.

My drink eventually ran dry and I did not wanna re-up because of the stupid drink prices. $6 for a Lone Star? Come on!?! So it was time to get lost and look at some bikes.

The following pics are of some, definitely not all, of the bikes in the show. Some that caught my eye for all the right, wrong, and in between reasons.

Some of my favorites were:

• XR650R Flat Track
• XS650 Stingray
• Honasaki (Z1 in a CB frame. Why not HonDasaki though?)
• Mint Boat-tail SuperGlides (stock is the new custom, amirite?)

This was my first show seeing custom electric bikes. Not sure how I feel about that yet. Maybe I’m wrong but it seems its all body work. How do you make a big battery shine? Anyways, on to the bikes:

After the show we went and had a mini Philly squad reunion at a bar called Fraziers where our old friend, Heather, is the manger and bartender. It was great to drink and catchup with Richie, Garcia, and Persico. For a hot second it was like being back at Garage south in the summer of ’16 or ’17. After plenty of $2 Banquet mugs, it was time to slide back to Quinn’s and get some shut-eye for the rest of the weekends adventures await us!

We’re not going to camp this year.
We’re going to meet Sunday morning, and ride to the Norton show.

Sunday, April 24.
8:30am – Meet at Little Susie’s on Belgrade / Leigh.
Be already gassed up before arriving.
We’ll hang at Little Susies for a bit and drink a coffee.
Then on the road by 9:30am.

We’ll take straight highway to the Norton meet.
Prob hang at the meet for an hour or two. And then once we’ve taken it all in, we’ll head out.
I want to do a nice ride from the Norton meet up into the NJ countryside north of where the meet is.
Maybe a ride heading towards “Hillbilly Hall” or “Historic Rocky Hill Inn Tavern” and sit in the sun, drink a beer, or get a bite.
Then do a nice ride home and maybe end at Fishtown Tavern.

Anticipate the day will probably go from 8am until 4pm.
Bring your lady, or come solo. Whatever you wanna do.

We’ve gone to the Norton meet almost every year.
I could only find pics from these previous years.
You’re welcome I make this website not many people check anymore.
Pics from years below:

• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2013
• 2010

• We did not camp. Just went early in the morning.
• Looked like it was going to rain
• We said oh well let’s go anyway
• Slims street wear was good
• It barely sprinkled for 5 mins while at the show
• Looked at bikes for 30 mins
• The old guy with the first year rootbeer z1 told me he looked at my numbers on my z1 to see if they matched. Yea my shit is legit bro
• Went to Foto for brunch. Weather got awesome and sunny
• Did airport loop to stingers

Highlights:

• Catching air off some backroad hills
• 3 creek crossings
• Steve almost running out of gas
• Chopper Shit
• Someone who isn’t Steve stalling their bike in front of all the chopper bros
• Some girl saying “all of these bikes look like they were in a fire”
• Vans Galore
• Turbo NOS Harley

Oval track mayhem

Woods Enduro course

MX race with 90s boys

Jacket beer ride on river.

Foto club.

Woke up early this past Saturday and boogied out on the Sportster to the fairgrounds in Gratz, PA, just over the mountain. I was trying to take pictures of (no 59) Kletus’ van, but everyone kept getting in the way.

The Rush Cycles crew from Jersey was out running their Ironheads. If you’ve ever been to Strange Days, they’ve pieced together the giveaway bike each year. That’s Marty’s ’64 XLR—A rare factory race bike that came with a hot motor and lighter frame.

Also, Keith discussed the ins-n-outs of making cutoff long-johns for Summer.

• Woke up early, checked out Adams KZ head he picked up from machine shop.
• Rode the IT to the coffee shop Andrew Brooks used to work at. Hung for a while.
• Met at LC to leave for camping. Great to hang and people watch.
• Dilly burger was amazing.
• Dcar didn’t loose anything on 95.
• Andrew Watson and his buddy had rad bmw’s
• Camp fire was great.
• Great laughs
• Guys did weird things in Rodrigo’s tent
• Whiskey was great
• I slept like a baby
• All of Saturday was amazing

Then Sunday morning came

• It was freezing
• It was misting and sprinkling
• The ride home on 95 was one of the coldest miserable hours I’ve spent on a mc
• I got home and took an hour hot shower to raise my body temp
• It was all worth it though

Overall – 20 great hours. 1 shitty hour.

Well her she is.  My 1988 BMW r100gspd (i.e. 80gspd replica). I started digging into her last November, and now hundreds of hours later, she is ready to roll! Beside the Paris Dakar make over, the bike has some serious mechanical upgrades.  Most notably the transmission was rebuilt (including adding a circlip to 5th gear). The OEM driveshalf was switched out to the Emerald Island Co’s serviceable / rebuildable unit.  The front brake was switched out with a Harrison Billet 6 with stainless steel lines.  New TCK80s were mounted and all electric connectors were cleaned and greased.  I also switched over the heated grips from my r80rt.  Lastly the taillight was upgraded to an ultra bright LED version + a lot of heat shrink cable work to tidy up the lines. Lots more info and post to come! But here is a taste for now! #bmw #bmwr100gs #r80gs #r80gspd #r100gspd #r100gs

A post shared by Andrew David Watson (@andrewdavidwatson) on Apr 16, 2018 at 5:25am PDT

Slept in the woods with the #harleydavidson #sportster

A post shared by Devyn Haas (@isolastic_superride) on Apr 16, 2018 at 11:01am PDT

7 a.m. Rain. 40 degrees. One hour to philly.

A post shared by @ graveyardbars on Apr 15, 2018 at 9:31am PDT

Washington Crossing, just east of New Hope PA, Sunday – April 15th at 10am.
Below black/white pictures are from 2010.

Rain backup plan:

• If its legit planned to start raining Sat night or Sunday before noon, this is the new plan
• Still meet Saturday, same time
• We’ll ride to New Hope area, get Dilly Burger, ride around… get beers, then come back Saturday at some point.

Here’s our plan if you want to join us:

• Saturday
• meet at La Colombe on Frankford ave
• MEET at 3pm – drink a coffee
• LEAVING and on road at 3:30 with or without you
• Get gas BEFORE coming to la colombe
• camping at a secret spot just past New Hope
• dinner, Dilly burgers on way to campsite
• bring your own Whiskey and plan to keep it out of sight if park ranger shows up
• wake up Sunday, do a short ride, before heading to Norton meet
• hang out at Norton meet for a bit, then head back to city
• Back in city by 2pm Sunday.

Saw one just like Nate’s but with Lester wheels. Black is rare according to Adams nation wide search for the best, yet cheapest kz1000 available.

Then saw a couple 2nd years like how I’m gonna have mine painted. They’re both apparently stock paint and def don’t match so who knows what’s right?

Nobody wants a shaft drive. Less wheel power.

#icecoldbeer #cb550

A photo posted by Cast & Salvage (@castandsalvage) on Oct 7, 2016 at 4:41am PDT

Hangin with the boys. #chinonthetank #motolife #professionalpassenger

A photo posted by Lainey Johnson (@bejlove) on Oct 6, 2016 at 7:32pm PDT

Slots filled up fast. I’ll keep taking names but can’t guarantee we’ll get to you after the 6th or 7th person in line. BUT come hangout regardless.

Where: Cast & Salvage
Date: Tuesday, June 21st
Time: 8pm-10
$20 donation helps support C&S

1. Nate
2. Brad
3. Tall Alex
4. Quinn
5. Kenny
6. Masucci
7. Andrew
8. Brian G
9.
10.
11.
12.

Lettering is be semi-permanent and does not damage the oem paint.

Here are some examples and past lettering Jessie has done.

I was so siked when Adam told me he wanted #getserious on the tank of his #yamaha #dt175. @castandsalvage #handlettering #enduro #motorcycle

A photo posted by JESSIE JAY (@jessiejaytlp) on Feb 22, 2014 at 2:22pm PST

Some #handlettering I did at @castandsalvage in the fall.

A photo posted by JESSIE JAY (@jessiejaytlp) on Feb 26, 2014 at 3:08pm PST