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Washington's on the tariff rampage Milwaukee's said to be heading east (or is that west?) It wasn't so long ago that US President Trump was vociferously singing the praises of Harley-Davidson and citing the firm as a great and enduring example of American manufacturing and enterprise. But those salad days are over. H-D is now threatening to shift a chunk of its motorcycle production overseas in an effort to mitigate the impact of the new US-Euro trade tariffs, and that's a slap in the face for poor old shoot-from-the-hip Donald. On Twitter he wrote: "I’ve been very good to Harley-Davidson. If they move [overseas], watch, it will be the beginning of the end — they surrendered, they quit!" The trade tariff row with the EU began when Trump threatened to slap a 25% levy on steel imports from the European Union, Mexico and Canada, plus a 10% tariff on aluminium imports. After much arguing, negotiation, sabre-rattling and delay, Trump carried through his threat, and the EU has since fired off a broadside imposing tariffs on a range of US imports. Unfortunately, Harley-Davidson, among other US firms, is caught squarely in the middle. This effectively increases the showroom price of all Harley-Davidsons sold in Europe—although the price hike may not immediately (if at all) affect the current stock on the showroom floor. Harley-Davidson has seen some very lean picking in recent times, and the Milwaukee, Wisconsin firm urgently needs to address this problem and keep its product price competitive. Specifically, the younger market (both in the US and in the very important European market) needed to keep MoCo in the black is simply not there; not in sufficient numbers, anyway. And that market is not likely to accept higher prices on the showroom sales tickets. Currently, Harley-Davidson produces bikes in Bawal, India; notably the Street 500 and the Street 750 models. But Sportsters, Dyna and other H-Ds are also assembled here as CKD (Complete Knock Down) kits for the Asian market in order to avoid Asian trade tariffs. This is a reasonably mature plant that's predicted by many financial analysts to be the likely manufacturing hub for other H-D motorcycles. Therefore, if the firm produces Europe-bound models at its Indian plant, it will avoid the 31% duty hike on US-built products. And for the EU market, that's around 40,000 bikes. Naturally, it takes time to shift/recreate the tooling, and more time to train the workers and get high quality bikes rolling off the assembly line. In the meantime, sales could be badly hit. To that end, H-D has been quoted as promising to subsidise the sale of European bikes which is likely to cost somewhere around $66 million/£50 million (based on an average subsidy-per-bike of $2,161/£1,650). Whether or not Harley-Davidson actually manufactures other models in India or "merely" assembles them from imported parts remains to be seen. H-D has, after all, recently opened a manufacturing/assembly plant in Thailand that's also tipped to be the new hub for Europe-bound bikes. And for many other analysts, that's a far more likely build location—and one or two H-D execs have corroborated that belief. Donald Trump reckons that any Harley-Davidsons produced overseas will be hit with massive taxes when they arrive on US soil. It's a boast that mimic's Trumps threat to the Ford Motor Company following Ford's plans to build cars in Mexico—and the threat underlines Trump's ignorance and political clumsiness, because bikes built overseas will stay overseas (unless privately imported). Moreover, it's not clear that DT even has the presidential powers to throw such taxes around on a whim. 
▲ It's not only Harley-Davidson that's feeling the pinch. All US-built motorcycles of over 500cc are subject to the new 31% EU import tariffs. Polaris, which owns Indian, currently has a little more bedrock beneath its factories. Or so it's claimed. But trade wars can last for years, and like all wars, there is usually a lot of collateral damage. Pictured is a 2015 Indian Scout, by the way. All eyes are squarely on the Trump/Harley-Davidson row, but Polaris Industries—which builds its Indian range of bikes entirely in the USA—is also subject to the EU tariffs. For the moment, Polaris is reasonably sanguine about the situation. But then it can afford to be. Its sales are holding up reasonably well, and it's still growing its market. Nevertheless, like H-D, Polaris is also facing higher import duties on the raw materials needed to manufacture its products. Beyond this, there's a minefield of incoming tariff rules and regulations from all over the world that almost nobody can possibly keep up with. Consequently, whatever the news is today, it'll be significantly changed or re-thought come tomorrow.  Perhaps the best that Harley-Davidson can do is to hide in the White House bushes for a few days and wait it out. Chances are that Donald Trump will have a new row to contend with. And as we've seen with North Korea's "Little Rocket Man", The Prez is a forgiving chap when he's had a moment to calm down a bit, and when his advisers have had an opportunity to redirect his ire.
Also see: Donald Trump's US trade war starts
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If this wasn't so sad, it would be laughable. Trump was amusing on reality TV, but he's not amusing anymore. Harley-Davidson should continue to run its business the way it sees fit. The company, like all American companies, would love to build its product entirely in the USA. Of course they would. But there are realities to be faced in a global world. This is what you get when you start a trade war. Trump should have thought this one through. But then, Trump can't think anything through. Hail to the chief.—SloMo
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Arnie's personal Hog fetches $38,400 Fonzie's bike sells for $179,200 The estimate was $30,000 - $50,000, and the hammer came down at $38,400. Convert that to sterling at today's rate (25/6/18) and the price is around £29,000. What makes this bike special/interesting is that it was once owned by Hollywood superstar and ex-California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The "Governator" bought the bike back in 1987, the FLSTC Softail originally ran with a stock 1340cc Evolution engine. But that was changed to a RevTech unit. The ignition cover was engraved/embossed with Arnie's initials, a fishtail silencer was added, and sidecar mounts are fitted. The army green livery was matched on a crash helmet. Said to be one or Schwarzenegger's personal bikes, he rode it around for a while (it's showing 15,560 on the clock), and we hear that it was used in 2000 in the Bon Jovi video for the song Say It Isn't So. 
Good investment value? We don't know, and naturally time will tell. But someone's probably going to have a lot of fun showing this off and maybe even riding it. Pity it wasn't also signed by Arnie. The auction house which handled this, by the way, was Julien's Auctions which specialises in TV and movie memorabilia. The sale happened on 23rd June 2018 at Las Vegas, Nevada USA. Meanwhile, we note that the 1949 500cc Triumph TR5 Trophy used in the 1970s US TV series Happy Days and (occasionally) ridden by the dubious character Arthur Fonzarelli changed hands at the same auction for $179,200 (roughly £135,000). That's a lot more than we'd expect for a not very significant motorcycle that was rarely viewed in a dated (but still marginally enjoyable) American sitcom. And note that this bike has been kicking around the auction houses for a while looking for the right buyer (See Sump  September 2015 for details). Of the two motorcycle we'd probably pick the Trophy—but not at that price, and not necessarily because Fonzie once or twice parked his rear end on the rear end. Triumphs are major celebs in their own right. True? False? www.juliensauctions.com
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Well established kit car parts firm helps keep our bikes running Highly recommended—and we've haven't even been bribed We don't recommend many traders, but when we do, we bloody-well mean it. These guys, as their name suggests, are focussed on the car market; specifically kit cars and modified performance cars and suchlike (and we've got one or two of those). But there are plenty of products here that will suit motorcycle builders, so we're inviting you to peruse their website and/or online catalogue and commit whatever you can to memory. We've been using Car Builder Solutions (CBS) for years, and only very rarely has a product not matched our expectations—and most of that was probably because our expectations were unrealistically high. But overall, we've been buying good value gear from people who understand what they're flogging, and who can get the item or items to your door usually next day, or possibly the day after (depending on what time of the day you place your order). They don't have call-steering on their phone lines, so pretty much every time you dial in, you get a real person talking intelligent and coherent English (but yes, we have caught an answerphone once or twice). They build their own vehicles too, so they understand most of (if not all) the practical issues in the garage or shed. They've got a dizzying number of parts in the range (tens of thousands), and are constantly adding to the collection. And importantly, they will discontinue products if customer feedback suggests that the item in question is not up to standard (as opposed to continuing to flog suspect parts). 
And there's more. To ensure you get a good look at the products, many (or most) of the items are shown from various angles that you can rotate on screen courtesy of a little doo-dah or mouse. Additionally, the comprehensive CBS catalogue carries many fitting tips and workshop aids, and the firm also has a large presence on YouTube where they demonstrate how to do this or that. You can visit them down at Staplehurst, Kent. We were there once or twice many years ago, and they really do carry the stock they sell. You can buy selected tools from CBS pertinent to the products (wire strippers, pop rivet guns, hole saws, air tool connectors, tube straighteners, etc). Finally, the company attends kit car shows and similar, so you can collect face to face. For us, we've been happy to have items sent (courier or Royal Mail)—and there's a no-quibble returns policy. Put simply, it's hard to see how CBS could do anything better. This is easily the most sorted, the most efficient, the most knowledgeable, the most reliable, and the most comprehensive kit car/modified car parts firm we've EVER dealt with. And CBS helps keep our bikes rolling too. Marks out of ten? Ten. www.carbuildersolutions.com
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I agree, an excellent source of parts. The owner is also a builder of rather nice British bikes—Ian
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Guy Martin will be attending 18th August 2018 is the date This annual run-what-ya-brung extravaganza is back for its seventh outing, and we're doing what we can to help promote it. But we have to say that having examined the organiser's website, it doesn't look particularly exciting this year—and a lot less exciting than the poster immediately above makes it appear. The only celeb currently listed (as of 23rd June 2018) is Guy Martin, and because he's so hugely over-exposed in the biking media and on TV, etc, it's hard to get too excited one way or t'other. Not that we're celebrity groupies, you understand. But the presence of one or two interesting, vocal and colourful personalities (as opposed to the same old same old diehards) invariably adds a little extra excitement to a biking festival. That said, this event has in the past drawn out some pretty weird and wonderful (and dangerous) characters, so a certain amount of thrills and spills are probably more or less guaranteed. The gates open at 10am at the Arena Essex speedway oval, and you're invited along to strut your peculiar stuff and shift your atoms as fast as you possibly can (assuming entry hasn't closed). The organisers are hoping to keep this spectacle spectacular, so you're strongly encouraged to wear fancy dress and whatnot—but make sure you're also wearing appropriate safety gear. If you're showing too much skin, you won't get in. Here's how the organisers describe the event: "Irreverent racing is at the heart of DirtQuake. The action takes place on high-adrenaline, loose-surface oval circuits without the hassle, rules and costs usually associated with motorsport. DirtQuake is inclusive – giving riders, enthusiasts and even pro racers a unique chance to take on all comers."  We're also told that the event will once again be televised, so if the cameras love ya, this could be your fifteen minutes of fame. Actually, we should mention that the organiser is North One Television which also produces The Gadget Show and (oh wot a total surprise!) all of Guy Martin's TV progs.
Check the website for spectator ticket details. www.dirtquake.com
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H-D marks 115th anniversary with 10 replica bicycles. $4,200 each
Scotland follows London and will ban pavement parking (with exceptions)
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10th Brackley Festival of Motorcycling reminder. Sunday 12th August 2018
DVSA Enhanced Rider Scheme relaunched. Instructors wanted
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The date is 23rd - 25th August 2018 The place is Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa, CA 93940 So far, only four motorcycle lots are on the roll call, but we expect that to increase hugely over the next few weeks. The top items are the above 1915 61-cubic inch (1,000cc) Harley-Davidson Model 11K boardtrack racer (Lot R420), and the (further below) 1956 Mondial F2 (Lot 236). The H-D doesn't have a lot to say for itself, except that it's evidently in great condition (externally, anyway), has numerous (unspecified) high-performance parts fitted, has an ultra rare (but also unspecified) fork assembly, is said to be very correct right down to the "NOS Schrader tube valve stems", and received a winner's award at the 2017 Greenwich Concourse d' Elegance (Most Outstanding Motorcycle). The Model 11K is an F-head, air-cooled, 45-degree V-twin that knocks out around 12bhp (depending on whose numbers you believe). It weighs roughly 260lb (118kg) and is good for around 100mph—which, naturally, was a fabulous speed back in 1915, and is pretty impressive even today. Harley-Davidson was a little slow in arriving at the US racing start line. Indian and Excelsior were early entrants, but when Milwaukee finally came hunting trophies, it quickly put up some fierce and compelling competition and changed the shape and sound of the American motorcycle racing scene. This Model 11k was from the start intended as a pure racer, and it sold for $250. At Monterey, this motorcycle will be offered on a "Bill of Sale" meaning that it's not road legal. 
Meanwhile, the (immediately above) DOHC Mondial F2 is giving even less away. But we can tell you that it's from a private collection, is fitted with a factory 175cc racing engine, is a four-speeder, and is "extremely rare". Mondials were hugely successful on the Italian circuits during the 1950s. Fabio Taglioni (following in the footsteps of Alfredo Drusiani) is the man largely responsible for the development of these bikes.  No estimate for either the H-D or the Mondial has been posted. The other two lots currently listed are, respectively, Lot T26, a 1937 74-cubic inch (1,200cc) Indian Chief, and Lot T157, a 1959 650cc BSA Super Rocket.
More on this sale as and when. www.mecum.com
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▲ 1972 650cc Triumph TR6 TT replica. This motorcycle (Lot 212) was an insurance write-off (Category C, 2003). But you can never totally write off a Triumph. £5,000 - £6,000 is the estimate. Sounds like strong money, but that finned primary chaincase is already making us feel gooey... Plenty of lots on offer for the average biker We think there could be some great bargains here We've been checking out the forthcoming H&H sale to be held at the National Motorcycle Museum (NMM), and there's some stuff coming up that will suit a wide range of motorcycle riders—as opposed to motorcycle collectors.  The auction will happen on 26th July 2018, which is roughly one month from the posting of this news item. So far, 189 lots are on offer, the majority of them being pretty ordinary bikes of the kind you might find in the average garage. And that's the kind of stuff we like. Everyman (or everywoman) motorcycles.
We've screen-grabbed a few of them for your interest and edification. Lot numbers haven't yet been assigned, and H&H has (not for the first time) been a little mean with the descriptions. Here they are anyway:
▲ When it comes to Villiers powered two-strokes, you don't get a lot more stylish and stately than this 1939 250cc Francis Barnett Cruiser. Launched in 1933, the concept included the fitment of extensive body panels to keep the gentleman (or gentlelady) rider as clean as possible, and also perhaps to hide as much of the mechanics to help make motorcycle ownership more palatable. That's a cast aluminium exhaust expansion box at the front, incidentally. This example is part restored and needs a fresh spanner or two. All major parts are present. No estimate is (yet) posted. We like it plenty. How about you? 
▲ 1974 Triumph T150. £5,000 will start the bidding. H&H is anticipating around £10,000 - £12,000 for this Category C insurance loss in 1998 and 1999. The bike, we hear, was rebuilt with the help of Colin Wall of the National Motorcycle Museum. The carbs are new. It's in running order, but there's no mention of a current V5C. Ten years ago, few people wanted these "breadbin" and "ray gun" Triumphs. But typically, they're starting to look pretty good, and they make great classic tourers. It's Lot 176 
▲ 1971 Honda CD175 K3. Lot 185. The estimate is £1,500 - £2,500. Long term ownership. Matching numbers. Needs re-commissioning. There are half a dozen or more similar classic Hondas in the listing, and they look better with every season. Might be worth a punt if you've got a few bob spare and need a fresh shot of nostalgia. 
▲ 1953 MV Agusta Pullman. Lot 199. If you like attention, forget the E-Type and take this down the pub. The engine of this Mk1 is just 125cc, but when you've got pose, who needs power? Launched in 1953, this scooter-motorcycle hybrid was a success. MV Agusta flogged thousands, largely because the bike had presence, simplicity and quality engineering; a shrewd combination. The estimate is £4,500 - £5,000. Check below for a red (1953) example that was sold by Coys of Kensington in August 2016 [Note that we had earlier wrongly suggested that this bike was about to come up for sale on 30th June 2018. Apologies—Ed. The estimate was €7,500 - €9,500, but it looks like the MV didn't sell. However, an MV Agusta Super Pullman at the same sale sold for €8,249]. 
▲ 1963 Cotton Trials. No estimate and no reserve for Lot 53. If you have to wonder what's nice about this 197cc Villiers two stroke, it probably isn't for you. The bike was found in a stable, and it needs some fresh oats. But it's ideal for Pre-65 Trials and looks to be all there. Cool little mo'sickle, and there's another Cotton Trials in the sale if you lose out on this one. 
▲ 1924 247cc Levis 6-Port Super-Cooled. Levis was already producing a 4-Port Model Z and decided to up the ante with this new sporting contender. Said to be good for 60mph, Levis claimed this three speeder (Lot 96) punched above its weight and "compared favourably" with larger capacity two strokes. Levis was founded in 1911 and ended production in 1940. The firm isn't so widely known today. But in its time, it was a very serious player and competed successfully at various levels including the TT. The price of the 6-Port was around £37 plus whatever extras you favoured (speedometer, horn, lighting equipment, etc). This example (part of a deceased's estate and said to be completely restored) is expected sell for between £5,000 and £6,000. £2,500 will get the bidding started. 
▲ Levis Motorcycles were produced in Stechford, Birmingham by Butterfields Ltd. This was a highly innovative firm that fixed its colours firmly to the two-stroke mast and rightly deserved the self-appointed slogan, "The Master Two Stroke". However, there were also four-strokes in the range, including a 247cc sidevalve, a 346cc OHV single-port, a 346cc OHV twin port and a 498cc single. See: Levis Motorcycle set for comeback? 
▲1951 Vincent Comet Series C. There's no estimate listed for this 499cc single, and there's no start price either (Lot 24). The engine, we hear, looks correct, but the bike has been re-framed. Does that matter to you? If not, this could be a first viable step on the Vincent ladder. V5 plus green logbook. Will require re-commissioning. Overall, we think there might be some great bargains to be had, not least for newer riders hoping to get on the classic bike ladder. Or is that treadmill? Prices are fairly flat—if not depressed—at the moment. The sale starts at 1pm. Consequently, with 189 lots on the list, there are likely to be some fast hammer falls. Get the idea? The venue for the sale is: National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull, West Midlands B92 0EJ. There will be viewing on the same day, from 9am. The buyers premium is 15% (including VAT @ 20%). Admission to the sale is free, but for five pounds you can buy a pocket guide.
www.handh.co.uk Also check out: 1971 Norton Hi-Rider at this sale UPDATE: Lot 212, Triumph TR6 yellow £4,162 Lot 124, 1939 Francis Barnett Cruiser, sold for £3,262Lot 176, 1974 Triumph Trident 150, not sold Lot 185, 1971 Honda CD175 K3, sold for £2,025 Lot 199, 1953 MV Agusta Pullman, not sold Lot 53, 1963 Cotton Trials, sold for £1,125 Lot 96, 1924 Levis Six-Port, sold for £8,212 Lot 24, 1951 Series C Rapide £15,187
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MP for Christchurch, Dorset says "knickers!" The lynch mob is gathering for ex-transport minister Poor old Christopher Chope, Conservative MP for Christchurch, Dorset. An ex-transport minister, we many years ago interviewed Chope at his Marsham Street, London office and found him to be perfectly affable and civilised, but clearly a time-serving minister with as much interest in transport (least of all motorcycles) as we have in football. Which is none. However, to most of the politically-minded females of the UK, and a fair proportion of men, Chope's name is pure mud, and it gets muddier by the day. He's currently featuring on either page one, two or three of the major newspapers, and the TV and radio news networks have also been spreading the nasty gossip. In case you've been in the garage too long, here's the underlying story. A woman named Gina Martin was at a concert in Hyde Park in 2017 and discovered that two men had taken a photograph up her skirt. She snatched the camera and reported the incident to the cops, but they decided that they had no powers to deal with it. She was wearing underwear, after all, so the offence of "outraging public decency" couldn't be used. The picture simply wasn't "graphic" enough. As a result, Gina Martin launched a campaign to have a new law introduced, and Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse and Tory justice minister Lucy Frazer obliged. It was Hobhouse who got a new private member's bill rolling (as opposed to a government sponsored bill), and that was called The Voyeurism (Offences) Bill. The first reading was on 6th March 2018. This is a purely introductory moment to let MPs know that the bill is on the agenda. The second reading was on 15th June 2018. Note that these private member's bills (or backbench bills) usually have very little time to be discussed. Most of the house usually isn't present, some of the MPs are probably asleep, one or two might have died on the benches, and there are other grievances and heartfelt issues competing for airplay and attention. On this occasion it was expected that the bill would go through "on the nod". In other words, to hell with a debate, just wave it through to the next stage. But to stop a bill, it requires a single MP to shout "object", and this is what happened. Christopher Chope MP took a political pistol from his pocket and killed the bill dead, and most of the rest of the UK is now looking to string him up. 
▲ From this angle, we're not sure which girl is Gina Martin (we need to check our upskirt phone—not funny, Ed), but we think it's the girl on the right. Or the left. Either way, this is the shot posted on the Care2Petitions website. Yes, "upskirting" is an issue that needs to be addressed (pun intended), but not at the expense of hasty legislation. Note the cunningly censored background faces in the pic. 
▲ ... and this is modest Gina as pictured posing in The Telegraph. And clearly you can look, but don't go too low (so no squatting, pervs. This is a family magazine). Why the hell would anyone want to stop a bill that stops the "pervs" from invading a woman's privacy? That's the current battle cry. But we can think of a couple of reasons, one of which is simply that it's rarely, if ever, wise to wave new bills through "on the nod". Chope might have serious psychological issues going on upstairs, and/or he might also be a "perv" and protecting his mates, and/or he might simply have a perverse sense of humour, and/or he might have other reasons. But he certainly claims that his objection is that he thinks the bill should have a full and proper debate and not be waved through a busy and potentially dangerous legislative junction. In Scotland, it's already against the law to take upskirt snapshots without permission. See the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 for details. And largely because the Scots have enacted such a law, there's a long queue of people down south who want parity (and this begs the question of why Scotland should have got the law ahead of the rest of the UK given that we're all in the union, but let's not go there right now). The point is, The Voyeurism (Offences) Bill will now have to be re-introduced as a second reading, and that can be murdered again by another "object!", not necessarily from Chope. In the meantime, the forces of Hobhouse Good can go to work against the forces of Chopeian Evil and try and convince him to repent and recant. And to help matters along, the majority of (if not all) the UK newspapers are soundly on-message. It's vilification day. The social medianauts are hard at it damning this bloke to hell and back. He's received hate mail, has had his lead jerked by (some) friends and colleagues, had been the butt (no pun intended) or numerous jokes and cartoons, and he's had knickers strung across his constituency door. Currently, he's probably not going out of his house even with a hat and dark glasses, but he's clinging stubbornly to his views. One member of the usual lynch mob has written online: "This is your country's democracy at work, people! Hundreds of MPs fight tooth and nail to get your vote overturned. One minor MP wakes up from lying asleep on an empty House of Commons and shouts "I object to a sexual offence being outlawed!" and it happens. Another wailed: "This man is a disgrace - how can anyone not support a bill that preserves the dignity of the women of the UK. He should resign immediately." Etc. 
▲ There was a time when women happily stood on air vents and told the waiting photographers to watch the birdie. Now we're reduced to smartphones and strategically placed selfie sticks. It's a sad world... But imagine the situation if a backbench MP introduced a bill to curb noisy motorcycle exhausts, or introduced a bill mandating leg-protectors for motorcyclists, both of which (on the face of it, from some perspectives) sound reasonable enough. Noise can be a nuisance, after all. And saving people's legs is a worthy cause. In this instance, how many bikers would want that bill to go through "on the nod"? And how many would want someone like Chope to yell "object!" and help force a proper debate—that, okay, may or may not ever happen. Private member's bills, after all, very rarely make it through to law. As we understand it, Chope isn't necessarily against an upskirting law. He's simply using his parliamentary privilege to block a hasty piece of knee-jerk backbench thinking. For instance, what if you (more innocently) photograph a woman lying down and are treated to a slightly wider angle? Should that result in an arrest? What if you're a photojournalist covering a drunk women story and get an eyeful of whatever? What if the bill also looks down bras ("downblousing") as well as upskirts? And how much upskirt is upskirt? Would the law include a Scotman's kilt? Would this new law include loose-fitting shorts? Would a downblousing law include CCTV operators? And why not extend the law to making it illegal to photograph someone's fatness? Or skinnyness? Or face? Or whatever? Where does it start? And where does it end? In short, how do you frame any or all of this to prevent an abuse of whatever new powers the coppers get? It ain't as simple as the lynch mob believes. Actually, the lynch mob isn't even thinking that far ahead. It just wants a head in a noose, and in this case it's Chope's—and then they can go after all the "pervs". Some would yell, "Get real, girls. If you don't want a camera up your kilt, don't wear a kilt." But the girls, like public figures in general, clearly want full control of their publicity, meaning that the pervs will just have to learn to point and squirt only at what's immediately on display, and only from whatever vantage point is demanded by the lady in the frame.
The moral? We need to think long and hard before any new law is introduced. There are always unwanted and unintended consequences, and those left field maverick voices from Christchurch and elsewhere are sometimes exactly what we need to keep some perspective on a complicated issue. Update: Chope has since been quoted by the Bournemouth Echo as saying that upskirting is "vulgar, humiliating and unacceptable." He's further said that he didn't even know what upskirting was until the bill tried to muscle through the second reading without due scrutiny.
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▲ Ram Jam City was recorded in 2000 and featured mostly demo tracks from the early years. Not Danny Kirwan's best stuff, but an interesting collection for the more hardcore fan. Fleetwood Mac's troubled other guitarist died on 10th June Peter Green era band member was 68 If you're a Fleetwood Mac fan, and if you're of a certain age, the chances are you're an early Fleetwood Mac fan. We're talking about the classic line up of Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Jeremy Spencer and of course Danny Kirwan who has died aged 68. Fleetwood Mac was formed in 1967 by Green who enlisted Fleetwood and McVie and then Spencer. But the underlying tale of exactly how the band came about varies slightly depending on who you listen to. However, few are denying that Kirwan came along two years later (1969) and helped transform a great four piece combo into an even better five.  Kirwan's instrument was lead guitar (Gibson Les Paul) which initially threatened to cause some musical imbalance in the band by diluting the hard, bluesy, raw sound favoured by the founding four. But in the event, Kirwan's sensitive touch, original compositions and thoughtful arrangements honed an already cutting edge. And if you're a particular fan of Jigsaw Puzzle Blues (which was the flip side of Albatross—and a re-arrangement of an old 1930s clarinet ditty) you'll understand exactly what we mean.
While we're talking about Albatross, those soulful and searing guitar harmonies are as much Kirwan as Green, and that's also Kirwan playing the solo on Oh Well (Part 1). The twin guitar sound of Green and Kirwan (which in some ways anticipated Irish rockers Thin Lizzy) helped carry the band through the next couple of years, but the not unusual frictions were soon developing between members.  Peter Green left the group in 1970, and John McVie's wife Christine signed up and played keyboards.
But the game was already up as far as the classic bluesy Fleetwood Mac era was concerned. The group would soon be dominated by the more poppy influences of Stevie Nicks and Lyndsey Buckingham. Danny Kirwan left the band in 1972. Actually, he was sacked, largely because of the aforementioned friction which left him almost completed isolated on a personal level and which allegedly resulted in regular and highly inconvenient outbursts of temper. We don't really want to go any further into the gossip, suffice to say that it was time for Kirwan and Mac to go their separate ways. Kirwan briefly forged a low-key solo career. His style was ... well, a little confused at times, his music being generally populated by short bursts of interesting ideas and suggestions that didn't always develop into compelling tunes. He both played guitar and sang, but his voice simply didn't have that edge or emotional command necessary to elevate him into the first league. Which isn't to say that his solo stuff is bad, but it's a long way from the wonderful of-the-moment racket that made the late 1960s Fleetwood Mac so great. His album Second Chapter was released in 1975. Midnight in San Juan was released in 1976. And his final album, Hello There Big Boy was pressed in 1979. After that, a sad decline followed that saw Danny Kirwan battling mental health issues and concomitant social problems. He left the music scene entirely, and beyond that point not a lot is known about him or his life. He did marry in 1971, but it was short-lived. And he fathered one son. In 1998 Kirwan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (with regard to his Fleetwood Mac era), and there was some talk about a reunion, which never happened.  If you want a song to sum up the sound, mood and style of Danny Kirwan's contribution to Fleetwood Mac, try his bluesy/psychedelic song Dragonfly released in 1971. It was the band's first single following the departure of Peter Green, and it was a commercial failure. Nevertheless, we think it's an underrated 2 minutes and 54 seconds that's a suitable monument for a great guitar player, a gifted songwriter, and a very troubled personality.
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Long time classic Triumph dealer has called it a (long) day The future of the London Motorcycle Museum is in question In the late 1970s a bunch of us used to ride out to Reg Allen Motorcycles in Hanwell, West London to check the merchandise, to talk Triumph, and maybe to even buy something. Can't remember that we ever spent much, and as such we probably weren't very popular. Proprietor Bill Crosby kept his peepers on us throughout, no doubt half expecting us to try and nick something. But we never did, and it's doubtful that it even occurred to us. We simply weren't those kind of guys. Well those days are long gone, and Reg Allen's time as a viable business is rapidly coming to an end. The news has just come in that the shop will be closing permanently, and naturally it marks the end of an era for a lot of people, not least Bill Crosby and family. 
Reg Allen Motorcycles was established before WW2. In 1958, Reg Allen wanted out, and Bill Crosby wanted in. So he bought the name and business, and two years later he purchased the shop premises too. For many years Crosby bought and sold a range of British bikes, and in 1977 he became an official Triumph dealership and Triumph spares stockist. Quickly he built a fairly good reputation and developed a strong customer base. He wasn't the only Triumph spares shop in that part of the world. Roebuck Motorcycles in Pinner was another very useful place to go. And there was also Harwoods at Richmond. But Reg Allen's had a huge stock and carried plenty of custom goodies and suchlike. His establishment, with a corner position close to a main road, was a minor mecca. When the Meriden Workers Co-operative (Triumph Engineering Co Ltd) finally closed in 1983 (having seized control from Norton Villiers Triumph in 1977), Bill Crosby travelled to Meriden and bought vans loads of parts and also managed to grab some interesting prototypes that he displayed in his premises. At the time, he expressed a lot of doubt that John Bloor would ever rebuild Triumph and start volume production. But Bloor did, and unfortunately for Bill Crosby he was subsequently sidelined as a dealer. As a result, he kept trading in Meriden Triumph spares, and soldiered on handling motorcycle rebuilds and general repairs. In 1985 he took on a Norton Rotary dealership, which wasn't a success. In 2000 he took on Royal Enfield, and in 2006 he became an AJS dealer (Chinese built AJSs). ▲ Bill Crosby at the London Motorcycle Museum astride a Triumph T120. The museum also houses what's claimed to be the last Meriden Bonneville, a 1929 OHC Triumph prototype, various Triumph TRW prototypes, the P1 Triumph Trident prototype, various prototype OHC Triumph Triples, and a Slippery Sam Triumph Trident replica. Visit before it's too late. Or is it already too late?
While this was ongoing, Bill Crosby was also investing a lot of time, money and energy into the London Motorcycle Museum that he founded in 1997 (officially opening in 1999). Based in Greenford, Middlesex, the museum has become something of a second home for many motorcyclists in West London, and further afield. For many years, Ealing Council offered a 100% rates subsidy, but this was recently withdrawn. Moreover, we're told that the council back-dated a demand for rates payment. There have been other problems and intrigues regarding Ealing Council which Bill Crosby, supported by his wife and sons, has been relentlessly tackling. In late 2016, Crosby publicly sought support for the museum in terms of financial gifts/donations. However, business trading pressures have continued, notably from rival dealers with "flashy showrooms". Meanwhile, classic bike riders are, as Crosby points out, simply not laying down many miles anymore, so the service and repair side of Reg Allen has in recent times not been very profitable—and it has to be said that Bill Crosby is now in his 80s and doesn't have the energy that has carried him so far and for so long. 
We don't yet have details of exactly when the doors will close. But as we understand it, Reg Allen will continue to sell stock online for as long as it reasonably can. So check out what's on offer. But keep in mind that Bill Crosby won't be giving away anything. He's still hoping to keep the museum viable, and he'll welcome any donation you care to make. www.reg-allen-london.co.uk (link disabled, so cut and paste) See also: Sump Reg Allen Motorcycles feature See also: Sump London Motorcycle Museum story, Jan 2016
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Fonzie's Triumph to sell (yet again) 23.6.18. See Sump Sept 2015 for more
£350,000 competition launched for "decisive" police roadside breathalyser
IOM Steam Packet reports 6% drop in 2018 TT visitor bikes (13,236)
Suzuki is offering £500 discount on GSX-R125 & GSX-S125. Ends 30/6/18
Land Rover shifts all Discovery production to Slovakia. UK jobs to go
Banbury Run reminder for this weekend (17/6/18). See Sump events page
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Hungary is the venue A four day ride will take place, but booking is closed The 2018 World Motorcycle Rally is scheduled for 21st - 24th June 2018, and this year the venue is Hungary. Organised by FIVA (Federation Internationale Vehicules Ancien), the four day ride will be centred between the cities of Budapest, Eger, and Cegléd. Under FIVA rules, there are seven categories of bikes—this year dating from 1904 to 1980—and because Hungary is the venue, it's expected that a fair number of Hungarian designed and manufactured machines will be in attendance (Pannonia, Csepel, and Danśvia). All riders are required to have FIVA ID cards or proof of their motorcycle's age/eligibility. The¸ landscape is mostly flat, but there is some high country further down the road. So take note. The organisers recommend bikes of at least 150cc, and provision will be made to transport luggage between the designated hotels and spas. Each day will see rides of 150km to 200kms, or thereabouts. 
The arrivals reception will happen at the Aqua World Resort in Budapest on 21st June 2018. And take note that if the organisers don't like the look of you or your bike (poor condition, lack of insurance and/or inappropriate riding gear) they reserve the right to beat you up or something and refuse you access (but there's nothing to stop you riding along in maverick fashion—not that we'd ever encourage such behaviour, you understand). However, the official application for entry expired in March 2018, so the event is pretty much signed and sealed. Or is it? The "participant's fee" is €480 for a single room, and €380 (each) for a double room. The price includes various perks, drinks, connections, etc. It's late in the day, but if this sounds like something you might want to get involved in, we suggest you contact the organiser poste haste and see if there's some space/latitude.
For more on this event, check the link below—but note that we've disabled it. Why? Because we suspect the link will quickly date, and we don't want a dead one on our hands if we can avoid it. So cut and paste. www.fivaworldmotorcyclerally2018.hu (Disabled link: see text)
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▲ Left to right, Dennis Waterman, Glynn Edwards, and George Cole in Minder. This comedy-drama was one of the best-loved and most enduring British TV productions ever. It's not timeless, but as a history lesson on London life in the 70s and 80s, you can't get much better. Co-star of the Minder TV series has died He was aged 87 Most people will remember him as Dave Harris, the long suffering barman in the hit British TV series Minder. But more dedicated British movie fans will see his shadow all the way back to films such as The Hi-Jackers (1963), Zulu (1964), Smokescreen (1964), The Ipcress File (1965), and Get Carter (1971). In fact, Glynn Edwards who has died aged 87 appeared in 24 movies and 17 TV productions. That's hardly a record, but many of these shows were very memorable and include Z-Cars, The Human Jungle, Steptoe and Son, The Avengers and The Professionals. And because most of us have seen the re-runs so many times, Edwards' face and demeanour is etched upon our collective consciousness. So okay, it's doubtful that the majority of TV viewers and movie goers could put a name to that face. He was generally simply that bloke who was in that show the other day, etc. But onscreen, his nature and style was usually (but not always, see further below) genial and patient, and he never tried to upstage or eclipse the other professionals with whom he worked. 
▲ Crooked Glynn Edwards astride a Royal Enfield in the Hi-Jackers (1963). This is a great little British B-movie with Anthony Booth (Tony Blair's late father-in-law) starring as a ripped-off truck driver looking for answers. For balance, Edwards later played a motorcycle policeman in Bless This House, the 1970s TV sit-com starring Sid James and Diana Coupland. Born in Penang, Malaya, his father worked on a rubber plantation. Following his mother's death when Edwards very young, he returned to England and was raised by his grandparents in Southsea, Hampshire (his father died soon after). As an amateur actor, he took various small roles and gigs in minor productions, then spent some time in Trinidad, Jamaica working (among other things) as a sugar farmer. Presently he returned to the UK and eventually joined the legendary Joan Littlewood Theatre Workshop where he honed his talents and steadily found work onstage in productions such as The Quare Fellow, The Hostage, and Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be. 
▲ Some reckon that Get Carter (1971) was the greatest ever British gangster movie—if so, The Long Good Friday (1980) comes dangerously close. Here, Glynn Edwards (as Albert) is about to get sliced by Jack Carter (Michael Caine). Great acting, but nasty stuff. We liked Edwards for the aforementioned genial character parts he usually took. But he was versatile, and more than a few times he played sinister types who happily murdered our expectations and surprised us with the depth of their nastiness. He married three times (the first being to the late actress Yootha Joyce), and more or less retired after the Minder TV show—which ran from 1979 to 1994 and gave us 114 episodes across 10 series (plus a later re-made short series for Shane Richie). Glynn Edwards appeared in slightly less than 100 of those episodes, usually seen serving drinks from behind the bar at the Winchester Club and forlornly trying to get Arthur Daley (George Cole) to settle his tab. Edwards was aged 65 when the series ended. Most of Glynn Edwards' later years were spent living in Spain with his third wife. But more recently he returned to the UK and lived quietly enjoying walks and trips around the country, much of it in and around Edinburgh, Scotland. He's always popping up somewhere on TV, so we can't say that we'll really have a chance to miss him. And for an actor, that's a pretty decent legacy. Never completely gone. And never quite forgotten.
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Yep, nice chap that Glynn Edwards. As Mr Pelham, he was the only one to give Reginald Perrin [The Fall and Rise of Reggie Perrin - Ed] the time of day when he was down on his luck. You will remember that Reggie did a stint on Pelham's pig farm prior to opening his Grot Shop empire. Superb mag. All power to the Sump. —Roj, Sheffield
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▲ 1931 Ford Model A Race Car. Lot 283. This vehicle has seen some track action. But reading between the lines, it might not be as original as you'd like. That said, it's a cool looking toy, and Bonhams has posted an (unlikely) estimate of just £2,200 - £3,500. [Update: Sold for £18,238] "World's largest Ford museum collection" to sell Everything must go at no reserve It's essentially a sale of early Fords, but there are a fair number of motorcycles in the mix, so stay tuned for the next few paragraphs. We're counting over 200 cars and around 50 bikes, all of which are being offered with no reserve. 
If you're out of the loop, the Den Hartogh Museum in Hillegom, near Amsterdam has for 21 years been building and maintaining a vast collection of early Fords such as the Model A, Model B and Model C. Dozens of types of vehicles are represented from delivery vans, to ice cream vans, to fire engines, to runabouts, tourers, pick-ups, speedsters and similar. The museum has long been a mecca for aficionados who will mourn the break up of this fantastic group. Piet den Hartogh founded the museum. He bought his first Ford in 1956. The legend is that he was inspired by the Fords that were used by his father who began a transport business with horse drawn carriages and barges. 
▲ Circa-1943 Harley-Davidson WLA. Lot 1. This 750cc flathead requires re-commissioning and, like the 1931 Ford Model A above, requires close inspection by prospective buyers. NL registration docs. Current status unknown. £7,900 - £11,000 (or thereabouts) according to Bonhams. [Sold for £16,211] 
▲ 1928 BMW R52. Lot 4. "An older restoration which has deteriorated since, the frame and engine numbers of this machine appear to be within the range for the year." Make of that what you will... [Sold for £27,357] 
▲ No documents or keys, and the engine turns over. The estimate is £9,700 - £14,000 which suggests that Bonhams just doesn't know how to price this bike. The more you look at the lots, you wonder just how choosy this museum has been regarding exhibits in terms of originality. Keep that in mind. 
▲ Lot 13, 1936 600cc OHC Ariel Square Four. This 4F/6 model is, we think, the prettiest of the Squariels. Ariel's Jack Sangster was so impressed that he hired Turner more or less on the spot. That was in 1928. This bike needs more than fettling, we suspect. But it looks all there. Bonhams' estimate? £12,000 - £16,000. No docs. [Sold for £15,198] In the 1990s, Piet's wife encouraged her husband to develop a museum, and that continued for the next 21 years or so. However, Piet died in 2011, and with his departure died some of the momentum. Three years later the family, with daughter Greske in the driving seat, thinned the collection and sold around 50 vehicles. But now the time has come to close the museum permanently and disperse the rest of the vehicles. Said to be the largest Ford museum in the world (certainly of its type), the range and quality is hugely impressive. We've been sat here at Sump picking our favourites and slavering over the estimates which look low enough to be somewhere between dangerously shrewd and thoroughly dishonest. 
▲ 1931 Ford Model AA. Lot 120. This one ton dumper truck is estimated at £11,000 - £13,000. But we suspect that if anyone buys it at that money, it will quickly appear on eBay at two or three times that price. [Sold for £22,291] The sale will happen on 23rd June 2018, and if you feel like a good cry, we suggest you skedaddle over to Amsterdam and watch this fantastic collection get hammered. That said, on the positive side it will also mean that ultimately a lot more people actually get to see (and perhaps hear) these machines do what they're supposed to do. www.bonhams.com
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£29 for a set of seven Imperial or metric Rounded nuts and bolts can drive you crazy. But these Grip-Tite sockets came to our rescue the other day and quickly removed a bunch of fasteners that were hard to get at and seemingly impossible to shift. For details, check the following link which will take you to our Classic Bike Workshop section or hit the link at the bottom of this news item. If you've got any useful feedback on these doo-dahs, pass it along. We don't know the firm that supplied these tools, incidentally, and we always tell it as we find it. Put simply, these Grip-Tites are simply gripping. grip-tite-sockets.htm
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The US has slapped tariffs on steel and aluminium imports The EU has responded tit-for-rat-a-tat-tat-tat The diplomacy has failed. The big economic guns are being locked and loaded. The generals have been summoned. And the long-feared trade war between the United States of America and Europe, Canada, Mexico, Brazil et al has started. As a direct consequence of the newly announced US steel and aluminium import tariffs, numerous top American commercial brands have been targeted for special retaliatory treatment. Meaning EU import tariffs. These brands include Jack Daniels and Jim Beam whiskey, Levis-Strauss jeans, Nike sportswear, and Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles. They're part of a list that currently runs to 10 pages. The underlying story is simple enough. For many years, the 164 members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have been relatively happily trading goods and services, all bound by common rules and practices with a sophisticated dispute resolution structure in place. This imperfect organisation has, it's generally agreed, been a positive mechanism and has done more good than harm. 
▲ The man of steel (and aluminium) in action. He's got one eye on the US rustbelt, and arguably both eyes closed when it comes to the intricacies of world trade and the implications of tariffs. Modern global politics reads increasingly like a comic book. Thrills await with every turn of the page... However, US President Donald Trump came into presidential office on a campaign ticket that included rectifying what he views as unfair practices regarding the dumping of steel and other metals into the American market, and he's finally had to put up or shut up—and Trump (love him or loathe him) is anything but a quiet man. Consequently, on 31st May 2018 a momentous deadline passed. Specifically, the EU—plus various other countries—were given an ultimatum by Trump demanding that they capitulate and accept US import tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium. Earlier this year (2018), the EU stated unequivocally that it refused to accept unconditional surrender. It's "blackmail" said French President Emmanuel Macron. British Prime Minister Theresa May merely called the tariff's "unjustified". So Trump told the Eurocrats and the British government to go stand in a corner and discuss it for a while longer, and then surrender. That didn't happen, and so the shooting has started. In recent years, American steel has been hit hard, largely as a result of Chinese steel producers (subsidised by the Chinese government) that have been dumping steel onto world markets. To combat this, in 2016 Barack Obama slapped tariffs on the Chinese. These tariffs, however, have had very limited effect, largely because China is way down the list of nations that sell steel to the Yanks, and because China is cash rich and fairly resilient at present. So Trump has taken the fight elsewhere and is now squabbling with his friends rather than his enemies. The EU claims that the USA is acting illegally. The terms of WTO membership are pretty clear. If you agree to zero tariffs on given products or produce or services, you're naturally expected to stick by your promises. And the USA agreed to zero rating on the various metals in dispute. Additionally, the WTO rules forbid a nation from discriminating against specific member states—which is exactly what Trump has done. He's (carefully?) selected a few targets, and he's let 'em have it. Boom, boom, boom. However, the "get out clause"—or, in this instance, the Trump card—is that a member state can pretty much do what it likes and abandon WTO restrictions when and where matters of national security are involved. And that can be anything. Or nothing. So EU reprisal tariffs are about to be slapped on the aforementioned Yankee brands (in particular), and on a range of metals, foodstuffs and so on. And meanwhile, the diplomats are trying to thrash out a compromise and/or a face-saving surrender. As a direct result of Trump's actions, the Dow Jones index reacted sharply losing 500 points within hours, albeit stabilising slightly at the end of the day's play. The EU calculates around €2.8bn worth of trade is at stake here, so the Eurocrats are desperately trying to bulwark their financial shores. 
Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles are the brands that will probably mostly interest Sumpsters, and for the immediate future there shouldn't be any price rises. The current season's stock has already been purchased and is on the European mainland. But come the autumn when the new deliveries arrive, it seems highly probable that a price hike is going to hit dealers and consumers alike. Harley-Davidson sales have been struggling lately, whereas Indian (owned by Polaris Industries) is doing much better—but by no means can it afford to be complacent. It could all be bad news for UK dealers. But then again, the fear of rising prices could also conceivably stimulate sales as buyers rush to get ahead of the tariffs. Fact is, in the fog of war, there probably aren't many folk who really know what the hell is going to happen, never mind how to deal with it. War has its own dynamic. And note that a looming trade war is, of course, not just about motorcycles. The impact could hit car manufacturing in the UK which is struggling to recover its composure following a recent collapse in sales, and it could/will hit aviation, general engineering and British steel making as world suppliers look to offload their product onto cheaper markets outside of the USA. In this global economy, the complex connectivity of the various industries is likely to throw up all kinds of unforeseen consequences. 
▲ It was just a couple of months ago that Donald Trump was showing his support for Harley-Davidson (although, note, we Photoshopped the H-D logo onto his cap). But now, he's hardly likely to be in Milwaukee's good books. See Sump Classic Bike News January 2018 So who's right? Well that depends on where you stand. If you live and work in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Alabama, Michigan or Illinois, Trump is right. He's looking after his national interests which is what he's supposed to do—assuming that a trade war is the best way to advance that cause. But if you live on this side of the pond, you're more likely to agree with the EC and Whitehall, both of which have condemned Trump's maverick move. Here at Sump, we're just watching to see what happens—and as with the Great War, it could "all be over by Christmas". Only, the impact of globalisation clearly still has a lot of energy and erratic momentum, and we suspect that here in the West, things will steadily ratchet down (which technically speaking isn't actually possible) to a succession of new lows. And then there's the question of how the new tariffs might hit Triumph—which, along with other European producers of 500cc-plus motorcycles, has long been threatened with extra heavy import hikes following the EU's refusal to accept US hormone adulterated beef. It's war, ladies and gentlemen. And like all wars, it could get very bitter and very messy.
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Hi Sump. Great mag. Daily read. Love the graphics. I wasn't a Trump supporter, and I certainly didn't vote for Hillary either. But something needs to be done about the mess that globalisation has got us into. Free trade is vital for good international relations and general commerce. But free things usually come at a price. Our spineless politicians have for years let the US economy slide. Now Trump is trying to crack the whip and force an overdue debate. It could be messy, as you say in your piece. But it's messy now. Keep up the good work. —Greg Sanders, Ohio
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