Minicane - The CBR250F1

There are lots of great things about the interweb. Free porn for example. Actually free porn and an endless supply of motorcycle info. Neither of which are actually needed - but both of which are ravenously consumed. The latest in this stream of digitus is the CBR250F1 Hurricane. Ever hear of it? We hadn't. Which is odd, given that we consider ourselves to be quite well versed in all things Honda Hurricane. She's an odd little beast - sporting Hurricane fender and wheels but exhibiting a distinctly first gen Ninja 600 vibe in the styling department. Perhaps the Minicane is the result of an illicit tryst between Honda and Kawi? An illegitimate offspring deemed too embarrassing and runt-like to release to the American public? Of course this is pure speculation on our part - but unless Honda comes on this blog to publicly deny our claims than we will consider their lack of response as tacit confirmation. Which brings up the other great thing about the internet....lies! it's all lies! 

Attention All Ninjas - Please Report to the Root Cellar

Best motorcycle commercial ever? Me thinks so. Click here if you aren't a scared little ninja.

On Any Sunday

Most people have a favorite ride. A road and a bike - maybe real, maybe imaginary. A route where they are at peace with themselves - where they are at peace with their life. It doesn't have to be a twisty two lane backroad. It doesn't have to be a slab of post-war interstate. It doesn't have to be a  knee dragging exploit on the local track. Or even a gnarled up section of single track. Some of the best rides can be found right outside the garage door. An average American neighborhood, a well worn Honda Trail 70, and the freedom of the open suburban road. Blasting through your hood on a warm Sunday evening as the light sets on another sun bleached weekend. Click it down into third the speedo reads all of 35mph - fast enough. Your favorite ride doesn't have to be complex, far, or daunting. It can be just a simple minibike adventure that peels back a decade or three from your life - reminding you why you got into motorcycling in the first place. 

Forever two wheels.

Lancia Stratos

We like fast things. Fast things with lots of lights. Fast things with lots of lights that are routinely beaten on public roads. And they have to be sexy. Preferably from the seventies. So immediately you start thinking - Icon is gonna post up some fantastic shots of 'all-natural' beauties. Perhaps some sandy blonds posed up on a beach with macramé bikinis and tousled locks. You can almost smell the coppertone and Acapulco gold.  But alas no. Though we have those photos we keep them for ourselves - for... um... reference purposes. Instead we offer up some shots that are almost as good. The Lancia Stratos - last of the RWD champions. Yellow rims, eight burners, louvered hood, massive fender flares, and a roof spoiler. It almost makes us forget all about corvettes.

Baby Come Back

Last Sunday, my daily driver, Cold Dead Fingers, gave up the ghost. With a dramatic display of Motul contrails she signaled an abrupt end to the heavy wristed abuse. Perhaps it was the twice daily hot lap commutes. Maybe it was the extended gravel yard drifting sessions.  Or possibly it was just because she is old ironhead. Whatever the reason I vowed to make things right with her. Fingers is gonna get the finest top end overhaul $300 will provide. Nothing's too good for this ol' gal.

Taking a peek inside jug #1...

... me thinks I've found the problem

More Corvette Dreaming

We all know that cars generally suck. Ok, they don't suck - but they certainly are nowhere near as cool as motorcycles. Except for the Corvette Stingray. They are totally cool as bikes. Witness the Stingray in all it's Grand Am glory.

Sweet

We can almost hear "Fox on the Run" blasting from the Magic Van's 6x9's. And we like it...a lot. We know it's fabricated photo. We know smokin' hot chicks don't just randomly hang out in the desert alongside custom vans and turbo panhead chops... but we don't care. Call us suckers but we're still buying what they're selling. 

Magic Pan + Magic Van = Magic Man 

We're the Dandy Highwaymen

Back when Captain Jack Sparrow was still narc'ing on highscool kids there was the original showman pirate - Adam Ant. After pillaging the English countryside, Adam went on to hawk Honda Aero's. Scooters were a new thing for the American masses back in mid 80's. And though we're not big scooter fans, the Honda scooter lineup and associated marketing push were quite impressive. And Adam Ant is still incredibly cool.

Your money or your life

A Good Hurricaning

Flogging the almighty CBR600F1 at various spots throughout the late 80's. Not exactly known for it's racetrack prowess, she still looked sexy as hell in the paddocks. If anybody has more Hurricane race photos drop us a line.

BTW, these photos came from theriderfiles.com. If you're into 80's racebikes check them out, tons of great old school race photos.

Honda 2025

Not sure of the story with these renderings - concept art for a multi-arena race platform in the year 2025? The triumphant return of the all powerful and ever dominating Honda Hurricane? Whatever the actual story - nice forms and colors are always welcome in our house. Pics from http://coolhqpix.blogspot.com/

Alphabets

At an undisclosed location the first generation 600's gather. An FZR, CBR, and a ZX. You'll note the lack of a midweight Suzuki in that esteemed group.  Most likely because the 600 Suzuki of that era, the venerable GSX Katana, sucked. It was odd how long it actually took Suzuki to make a decent 600cc sportbike. 

Any ideas where/when this was taken?  I'm guessing Wisconsin/Spring '90 . 

Another Satisfied Customer

Dear Dumbasses,

Here is an chance to learn from a mistake.  I suppose I am not the first one to email but every time I see that stupid ad with the DMH leather jacket guy wearing the fitted cap and smoking the filterless tobacco product and what's that in the glass?  3 fingers of some yuppie ass bourbon or scotch, my damn blood boils.  After he finishes that what will his BAC be then?  Let's hit the road! No pun intended.  I can appreciate how you hit all the demographics: white guy in leather jacket tough, but wearing a hat to hide the bald spot. Skull and death reference for the rebel yute's, throw in some gambling and smoking and drinking and you got it all covered.  Dumbasses.  Line up the big money marketing guy or gal who thought that stupid shit up and make them go for a ride with middle age, smoke breath, drinking guy. Hands down one of the stupidest ads I have ever seen.  Bring back the hot chicks. Keep the old white guy but please take out the death and smoking and drinking.  Don't fire anyone, but for sure line em up and say " you know, if we weren't so cool, you would be totally fired.". Because they should be totally fired.  Dumbasses.  You ought to print a full out retraction for every 15 yr old kid who sees that stupid ass ad and thinks " yeah, I'ma get me a bald spot and some bourbon and then I be cool too!"  Dumbasses.  I woulda used my real name but what's with the address requirement? You gonna bring me some booze and smokes? 

- Joe

This is the ad our lovely viewer is referring too. For clarification the 215lbs model would have a BAC of around .03% after polishing off that 1.5 oz  of 'yuppie' bourbon, well below the normal .08% intoxication standard. All of  which might be relevant if we showed, or even implied, he was operating a motor vehicle - which we don't. 

For the record...no bald spot (But the model's dome does resemble a wet chocolate lab)

Also,  we've never really considered our usual choice in hooch to be 'yuppie' - cost effective, pennywise, dare we say frugal... but never yuppie

And finally - Smoking and drinking doesn't actually 'get it all covered' - in retrospect we should have included live handgun rounds and loose women to the composition - then you'd have something to really be upset about. Anyways, thanks for the email Joe - it's been fun. Cheers.

Frantic Scratchings

I'm often asked about my design 'methodology' - Where the ideas comes from and how those ideas get turned into actual products. It's not an easy question to answer. Mostly the ideas come from my life experiences - my likes and dislikes. They come from traveling around the US and the world - observing & experiencing. They come from a myriad of dreams, both good and bad. And most importantly - they come only when they want. They won't be forced or mandated or scheduled. So I've learned that when the ideas start flowing one must be willing to forsake everything else and submit. The result are pages like this - frantic scratchings - an effort to capture as much as possible before the faucet is turned off. -Kurt 

Urban Reminiscing

The year was 1985 - I had just turned fifteen and coerced my parents into letting me get a moped license. When you're fifteen years old and living in surburban USA, ownership of a moped is akin to getting patched in as a 1%'er - an adolescent outlaw. Sure, they'll only do 30mph - but mechanized freedom has never been defined by a top speed.  The king of mopeds during the early 80's was the Honda Urban Express. Far more refined than it's competition, the Suzuki FA50 or the Yamaha QT50, the Urban Express was as close to a real bike as a fifteen year old could get. With stripped off fenders, mirrors, and signals I ruled the 15 mile radius around my parents house.  It withstood a ton of abuse, both on and off-road, and continued to run even after my misguided performance mods (drilled holes through the head pipe for increased flow). I even wired in a cigarette lighter to fire up my Lucky filters because in the 80's kids were still encouraged to smoke. In 1986 Honda would introduced the Spree, a cool moped in it's own right but it would never match the Urban Express for 50cc streetfighter style. Great bike, great memories. -Kurt

Tall wheels, tall risers, tall style

Last of the 500 Interceptors

High on the list of bikes I'd like to acquire is this beauty - the 1986 VF500F Interceptor. When other kids were hanging up posters of Kathy Ireland or Motley Crue in their bedrooms I was posting up Honda sales brochures. Not that I didn't care for Ms. Ireland or the Crue, I just found the 500 Interceptor a bit more compelling. Red seat, red front end, jaunty chin spoiler - a truly refined and sexy motorcycle. I'd like to pick up a slightly knackered specimen and build a 500cc tribute to the Royal City Cycle VF750F. Anybody have a 500 they'd like to donate to the cause? I'll trade you a '89 Fizzer600. 


Update Oct 21st, 2010 - The Magnificent Bastard VF1000R 

Magazine ad from 1986 - puckless knee dragging and crazy red boots

Scale model of a VF750F race bike - somebody has far too much time skill on their hands

The gold painted Comstars are a budget way to get the Astralite look

The real deal - very tasty

Kerry, Icon's illustrator powerhouse and proud VF700F owner, explores the lean angle potential of twelve year old Bridgestones

Is that an Icon Skull roadracing suit? Hmmm....