Forty motorcycles – spanning more than a century of innovation and style – are on display at Gasoline Alley in Calgary's Heritage Park.
"Reflections in Chrome – A Motorcycle Retrospective" runs until April 24, featuring the classic bikes from the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group (CVMG), more specifically the Rocky Mountain and Central Alberta chapter.
"When I was a teenager my boyfriend had a motorcycle and then later I had my own for a time," said Alida Visbach, CEO and president of Heritage Park, explaining the lure of this first-time exhibit. "I think most people have a memory that relates to motorcycles. This is why I am so excited to see how many people from different walks of life will experience this immersive exhibit."
Indian, Suzuki, Triumph, Jawa, Hercules, Yamaha, Honda and Ducati are among the brands that will be featured.
1939 Francis-Barnett H41 Plover 122cc
Top Speed: 80 km/h
Advertised in the late 1930s as a pleasurable ride for a holiday, the economical, lightweight Francis-Barnett Plover could go more than 100 miles on a gallon of gas. Whether the rider could last that long on the spring-loaded seat is another topic. The tubular steel framed motorcycle was shipped partially dismantled in a single box for the owner to assemble. This Plover was parked years ago in a Saskatchewan farmyard and was only recently discovered by its current owner. Unrestored, this motorcycle is operational.
1956 Triumph TR6 Trophybird 650cc
Top speed: 160 km/h
In the epic chase scene in The Great Escape where Steve McQueen flees from German soldiers, he jumps a barbed wire fence only to slide into the next fence. He surrenders, but only after giving his 1961 Triumph TR6 – disguised as a German BMW R75 – a gentle pat, as if saying to a horse, “Job well done.” The Triumph TR6 was a powerful and agile machine and this beauty is one of only 1,678 produced in 1956. It has been expertly restored by a Triumph specialist, complete with an original price tag dangling from the handle bar.
1969 Honda CB750, 750cc
Top speed: 160 km/h
Glenn Turple is a legend in Alberta motorcycle community. The 89-year-old Reed Deer resident still rides a motorcycle to his 60-year-old shop, the oldest motorcycle dealership in North America. The Honda 750 on display has been his since day one. “I’ve ridden in every province and every state on one bike or another,” said Turple. Having clocked more than a million miles on a motorcycle, his favourite rides are still west of Red Deer on the roads less travelled.
1946 Indian Chief, 1200cc
Top speed: 136 kph
“My dad was helping a widow sort through her late husband’s garage and there it was, in boxes,” said Ron Pink, recalling his first encounter with his Indian Chief. “He called me and told me to bring my cheque book.” It took countless trips to swap meets to find missing parts but, after five years of effort on a frame-up restoration, the Indian Chief painted in authentic colours rolled down the driveway. Pink’s favourite ride is through southern British Columbia from Peachland to Oliver.
1972 Yamaha XS-2 “Chopper”, 650 cc
Top speed: 160 km/h
Choppers – with modified seats, custom handlebars, long front ends and frames – were made famous by Peter Fonda in the 1969 movie, Easy Rider. This 1972 Chopper was built at Kanes in Calgary with the “California Kit” styling and still wears the original paint job. Only two people have owned it. “I worked with the original owner and loved it back when he rode it but knew I could never afford it if it ever went up for sale,” said current owner Robin Hall. “He quit riding it and mothballed it for 30 years. A few years back he called and asked if I still wanted it. He basically handed over the keys and told me to take care of it.”
Early days
1905 Armac 408 cc
Top speed: 64 km/h
1912 Harley-Davidson 8 Q 494 cc
Top speed: 72 km/h
1921 Harley-Davidson W/WJ 584 cc
Top speed: 80 km/h
Some early motorcycle designs are on loan from the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, proof that there was reluctance to give up the peddle. The Armac had skinny bike tires and a tubular frame that doubled as the exhaust pipe. The 8-A was the first Harley-Davidson to be produced in significant numbers. The dependability, efficiency of the 8-A’s exhaust system and the colour scheme sparked its nickname, “The Silent Grey Fellow.” The green W/WJ was a tough motorcycle, winning endurance runs from British Columbia to Tijuana, Mexico, in 1919. It was the perfect entry-level bike; dependable, easy to start and smooth to run. Its popularity diminished when the faster Indian Scout hit the streets.
Ducati
1972 Ducati 750 GT 750cc
Top speed: 176 km/h
1986 Ducati F1B 748cc
Top speed: 203 km/h
Before Ducati was synonymous with speed, it was a successful manufacturer of radios, cameras and electric products. When Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his three sons, Adriano, Marcello, and Bruno Cavalieri Ducati, decided to get into motorcycles in the mid-1940s the first engine – called the “Cucciolo”, built to be attached to a bike – was fast. The company produced faster and sleeker motorcycle designs over the next few decades. By 1969, the first twin-cylinder racing and road bikes were produced. The 1972 Ducati 750 GT design was brilliant, winning the famous Imola 200 mile race. Winning on the track doesn’t sell street bikes, and when Japanese models flooded the market, the struggling company was sold. And sold. In 1985, the F1 series of street legal racer replicas were rolled out. They were fast, solid, quicker to build and obtainable by the public, putting Ducati back in the winners circle. Now owned by Audi, the latest street legal rocket, the Ducati 1098, can reach speeds of 271 km/h.
1935 Harley-Davidson RL 45, 750cc
Top speed: 118 km/h
Found in central Alberta nearly 20 years ago, this Harley-Davidson has been on a long road to restoration. Like many do-it-yourself projects, its owner had high hopes of dedicating the time and energy into it to have it back on highways. Eventually, an expert restorer was handed the job and within a year it was ready to roll. The colours, pin-striping and art deco detailing are exactly as it was in the 1930s. The leather seat is original.
1951 Vincent Black Shadow 998cc
Top speed: 200 km/h
Just like legendary classic cars, the Vincent Black Shadow gathers a crowd anywhere the sleek machine rolls. In the 10 years of production for the Vincent Black Shadow and Vincent Rapide, only 11,000 were produced. It lives large in legend and song. In 1948, to prove it was the fastest production motorcycle, Rollie Free stripped down to a speedo swimsuit, ripped off the seat and stretched out like Superman on the rear fender. Later, clinging to the handlebars he reached 240 km/h on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Songwriter Richard Thompson grew up admiring the rare bike and penned the classic song, Vincent 52. “Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme,” says James Adie to Red Molly before they eventually part ways. Him to a sad death, her on his Vincent 52. Classic love story.
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