Thursday, March 24, 2011

Retro Rewind

Its Thursday so we are taking another trip down memory lane. This week are going WAY back.... back to 1917. This is a Harley-Davidson 1000 cc HT 1916. There is not much info on the internet about it (everyone just has Harley's history but nothing specific about the bike. So here are cool facts we do know.


*Built in 1917
*Has Been Fully Restored To The Original Harley Colours
*Was Army Green
*First Motorcycle Used In Combat (WWI)
*It Runs!
*Almost 100 years old (93 To Be Exact)
*Check Out The Tires, They Say NSD (Non Skid) Rather Than Traditional Tread
*Very, Very Rare
*Bob Was Lucky Enough To Recieve This Bike As Collateral, The Customer Never Came Back.

If you know a cool story about a 1917. Or have a great moto memory let us know! Want us to spotlight your favorite bike in our collection? Let us know we love requests!!

Its March Motorcycle Mania...
Come Check Out This Bike And Find Your First Motorcycle.
Get Great Gear At Great Deals
So You Can Grab Your Life By The Throttle!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Face Of Beaverton Motorcycles

Today we are chatting with
Aaron Krashel. We love Aaron for his great sense of humour and his amazing knowledge of all things motocross. Aaron is always happy to help people figure out what they need and have an incredible moto story or two. Thanks for being such a great part of the team, Aaron!
What do you do here?
Parts Guy, Just A Parts Guy  
Whats your favorite thing about working here?
 Helping Customers Support Their Habit. 
 What do you ride?
 Motocross. I asked Aaron to specify...
He replied "ALL MOTOCROSS. There are too many to name."
(That is the kind of moto love, we love!)
What is your favorite moto memory?
Every Time I Ride Is A Great Memory
1 thing we should know about you?
 I Like My Hair!
1 thing you would tell our riders?
Have A Nice Day.
Stop in soon (Tell AARON HELLO) and......
Grab Your Life By the Throttle!

Friday, March 18, 2011

a cool email

I recieved this email today. Thought it was so cool that I would pass it along. Hope you all enjoy it as much I did!

SOME AMAZING AND ODD MOTORCYCLES
Brough Superior motorcycles were made in Nottingham, England from 1919 until 1940 and were known as the

‘Rolls Royce of motorcycles’. They were very expensive. This model dates from 1931. T. E. Lawrence, better known

As Lawrence of Arabia, owned several of these machines and died from his injuries after crashing one in 1935.














Another beautiful bike is this Imme (Germany), with a single side suspension.











The Megola motorcycle was produced in Munich in the 1920’s. Some 2000 were built, but only 10 fully working



Examples are still in existence, one of which is in the Guggenheim Museum in New York.










In 1935, the Killinger and Freund motorcycle was an attempt to make an improved version of the Megola,



But the advent of World War II put an end to any further development.






Some sources point out that "in 1940, when Indian's skirted fenders first appeared, it seems the aerodynamic


Shape of Killinger &Freund bikes influenced the Indian designers.









This streamlined torpedo is the French-made Majestic from 1929.




Speaking of "Custom War Bikes", here are some that were built for World War II.








This is a 1936 BMW Schneekrad.




Another front-wheel tracked motorcycle prototype from 1937.









Modern all-terrain tracked version is proposed by Hyanide &Baal.








The Moto Guzzi 500 cc V8 race bike was seen on the world’s high-speed racetracks from 1955 to 1957.







The hubless wheel was invented by Franco Sbarro, who incorporated it into the Sbarro Osmos car in 1989.



He also built at least two motorcycles employing the hubless technology.





Modern version of the hubless wheel can be seen in the recent concept bikes for Harley Davidson.



Many of us remember the lightcycles from the 1982 movie Tron. The long awaited sequel, Tron Legacy, features



This splendid looking specimen and you can buy one. Only $55,000!



Swordfish concept chopper.







This custom built motorcycle, called Iceman II, was made by Walz Hardcore Choppers of Germany for Formula



One world champion Kimi Raikonnen. This is bad ass!











Imagine seeing this coming up behind you in your rear view mirror (below left).


On the right is this rounded green beauty, seen at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.








Rat bikes are usually defined as motorcycles that are old and in a poor state of repair but are still roadworthy.


Survival bikes sometimes resemble rat bikes and the two are often confused, although survival bikes are usually


Modified in much the same way that cars are customized. Here are some great examples of both of these types


Of machines.


Not sure what kind of a view you’d get of the road ahead on this one (below left).


On the right you can see a really inventive fuel tank.




On the left image below is The Survival Bike from some sort of Zombie Apocalypse...



Whereas the owners of the bike (below right) decided to actually attach the coffin as a sidecar.




We featured what we had speculated might be the world’s largest motorcycle in Magnificent Motorcycles Part One



But the biggest one on the planet may actually be this one.




This bike is pretty big too and apparently this machine, called the Gunbus, is perfectly capable of being taken


Out on the road.




Want to travel in style? Why not try this Harley Davidson Limousine trike?






Finally, here’s a selection of concept motorcycles, which may or may not see the light of day at some point in



The future. Here’s the Akira...








FuturA was designed by Mario Malagrino of the Florence Design Academy (left).


Romanian 3D artist Adrian Baluta created this cool bike called Darklight (right).


Above image, bottom row: the Suzuki Biplane... And the Victory Vision 800 concept bike produced by Victory.



William Woods designed the Fallout concept motorcycle in 2009 (below left).


The Wrath concept (below right) by Alexander Barnard is dubbed a ‘future modern retro chopper’ for the year 2083.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Emergecny Preparedness Additions

With the recent events in Japan and the evacuation of the Oregon coast; I thought that we would take a moment and list a few of the items we carry that may be a good addition to your emergency preparedness kits.
Beaverton Motorcycles recommends that all families have an plan of action and a kit of food and supplies to help in case the worst happens. For more information about emergency preparedness check out http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/epc.pdf

*A GENERATOR- a generator is perfect for power on the go or in case the power goes down. We offer a variety of sizes to fit whatever your needs are. They start small and can power a whole house.

*TITLE SERVICES- Beaverton Motorcycles strongly recommends that you title everything you ride (your boat, your bike, your atv, your side by side, your dirt bike, your scooter). Even if you don't need it. Your insurance will usually need a title if you claim damage. This is true of emergency preparedness and theft preparedness. Its easier to track, sell and replace if you have the proper paperwork.

*COLD WEATHER GEAR- We offer everything from hoodies and tear proof jeans to battery heated jackets. Its always smart to prepare for an emergency in any weather condition.

*BLUE TOOTH & HELMET TO HELMET COMMUNICATORS- Communication is important in any situation. Our bluetooth communicators offer easy ways to talk on the road or at home. They have a great distance band for talking to the rider next to you or even 10 miles away.

*LOCKS- We offer locks big and small, padded, chained, keys and more. If you want it secured we can help. They come in a variety of prices points and sizes to keep your valuables safe.

*GAS CANS- good for more than gas, store water, beer, flour or whatever else your family may need. They come in 2 sizes and lots of colours. They are easy to pour and store.

*TIE DOWNS- Secure it safely; in your truck or your garage or even your bookcase to the wall. They come in a variety of colours and types to make your living space and moving of your belongings are secure as you need.

*SECURE AND WATERPROOF BAGS- These bags come in many types from ATV add ons to backpacks and gear bags. Most lock and many are even weatherproof. Keep your valuables away from the elements and locked up tight.

*BATTERY TENDER- if you are leaving your battery unattended for a long period of time we recommend a battery tender to make sure its starts the first time you need it. They come in standard and weatherproof models.

*VIDEOS- if you are are going to to be evacuated, bored, stuck inside or need a pick me up a video is always a good way to keep your mind occupied. Entertainment is an important part of any emergency kit.

While these are things no one wants to think about it is important to keep in mind what you have and what you need to do in case the worst was to happen. If you have any questions about how Beaverton Motorcycles can help with your emergency kit please come in and ask any of our helpful staff. We wish health and safety for all of our friends and family.

Our thoughts and hearts go out to everyone and every family in Japan especially those connected with Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. This is a hard time for all and we support you.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

RETRO REWIND



A rare gem! Our 1964 CB 125 Super Sport is super rare! How rare? Wikipedia doesnt even have stats on it!!! Why? Well it was never imported to America for starters. So how can I blog about a bike that has no info? Well when there are no words you....put it in pictures...


The only stat I have is that it has an OHC Twin cyclinder.


Due to technical difficulties a photo of our CB will be posted later tonight. So check back in!


Scouring the internet I found a few old ads for the CB 125 SS. If you have any memories of the CB 125; we would love to hear them. Enjoy a taste of the "good old days".


Its never to late!!
Come in and Grab Your Life By The Throttle!!!
Don't Forget 4:30 March 12th
SUPERCROSS AWESOMENESS!!!!

The BIGGEST Secret....

Wanna know our biggest doorprize secret?
Watch and find out...

Do You Know What It Is?
Saturday March 12th 4:30
Come Find Out!!!!
GRAB YOUR LIFE BY THE THROTTLE!!!!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Surprise 2- Gettin' Big!!!

Faces Of Beaverton Motorcycles

Our weekly installment of Faces of Beaverton Motorcycles spotlights an old friend- Kevin Jansen!!! In his own words "Has finally come back home". Our favorite "bro" took time out to answer a few questions. KJ is loved by all and we are so happy to have him working with us again!!! Come down and welcome him back!
What do you do here?
I am the new Sales Manager!
Whats your favorite thing about working here?
Being around motorcycles, a sport I LOVE!!!
What do you ride?
VFR 800 Street
CRF 450R Moto
What is your favorite moto memory?
Getting 12th one moto at the 1982 125 Washougal National.
1 thing we should know about you?
 Love to have fun, life is short!
1 thing you would tell our riders?
Ride Hard. Never Give Up.
Stop in soon (Tell KJ HELLO) and......
Grab Your Life By the Throttle!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

DYNO-myte!

Our first V-log was so successful that we are bringing you episode 2. I am interviewing Paul Faber the Service Manager about our Dyno. Check out the video to see what the dyno is and what it can do for you! Come back in the next few weeks to see as we test out the Dyno on ATVs, crusiers and sport bikes. Our Dyno can make your ride DYNO-myte!!!


Come in soon and
Grab Your Life By The Throttle!!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Video+ Blog= our First V-Log

Ever wonder who puts up all these witty posts? Well watch the video below to find out a little bit more about social media! And stay tuned as more videos are uploaded.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Retro Rewind

Each week we will be trying to highlight one of the motorcycles in our vintage collection in a segment we call the Retro Rewind. Bob’s vintage collection is a treasure that spans the years and generations. We know that many of these bikes hold memories for each of our customers and we want to hear all about them. Feel free to post stories about how these bikes have effected your life. Each memory is special and we want to know all about them. For us each bike has a story and each story helps all of us to reconnect with those (glory)days gone by.

Our first Retro Rewind is the
1969 Z50 Mini Trail.



It seemed an appropriate first blog since this was the first bike for many of our customers. A mini trail was the first mini bike produced en masse. Before the Z50 all mini bikes had the equivalent of a lawn mower engine. Honda paved the way for new riders and those that just wanted to rip it up with a bike that was small, fun and ran forever. It sold for only $200!!! What a steal!

Z50AK1 Mini Trail 50 was manufactured from 1969-1970. It was released March 1, 1969. It came in three colours candy red, bright yellow and candy blue. It featured Black grips and black plastic levers and a battery was standard equipment in the K1 only. The handle bars also folded down for easy transport.

The engine was a 49cc 3 speed with a semi automatic centrifugal clutch. This means that you just had to shift up and down with your foot and didn't need to use a clutch, making it a perfect first bike.
A mini trail pioneered many things along with being the first truly friendly kid bike (allowing for family motorcycling). It also was street legal with its headlight so one could argue that it was the first dual sport for all ages.

The Specs-
*  108 pounds dry / 115 pounds wet (heavy for such a little bike)
*  Top speed of 25 mph
*  Could reach 5000 rpm
*  Approximately 500,000 were produced
*  Production of the Z50 line ran until 1999

One thing you may not know is that the Mini Trail was first designed to be an amusement park ride. The amazing popularity spurred Honda to refine and release the first version in Europe in 1967.

We have two in our collection candy red and candy blue. The blue was purchased from a customer who came in looking to upgrade. Both bikes have been in Bob's collection for over 10 years. They were lovingly restored and we would LOVE for you to come check them out and share your story.

Did you first grab your life by the throttle on a Mini Trail? What memories does it hold for you? Let us know. Its not just a machine, it’s a love and a lifestyle.

Come see us soon and
Grab Your Life By The Throttle!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Faces Of Beaverton Motorcycles

Happy Wednesday! As we start to serve you better on facebook, twitter, youtube and of course blogger we thought that you might want to get to know our staff a little better. They are heart of Beaverton Motorcycles and we want you to know and love them as much as we do! Each week we will spotlighting some of the faces familiar and not so familiar that help make Beaverton Motorcycles the best place for all your powersport needs.


I asked each of the employees to fill out six questions about themselves. And snapped a photo. This week we are looking at the first face of Beaverton Motorcycles- Beth! Often the first person you meet when stopping in the store; shes always sunny! Beth is better known as our receptionist and is funny, nice and easy to talk to. She will help you find where you need to go (bathrooms are just after the vending machine to the left), get you registered for your off road permits ($10.50 and your vin) your boat permits and anything else you need or just a great place to chat about your last ride.


What do you do here?
I talk on the phone to 300-500 people daily. Im the receptionist, the accounts payable gal, I'll transfer your boat title and sell you an OHV sticker.

Whats your favorite thing about working here?
I love talking to new riders! When that 40 something woman comes in and shares with me that her kids are grown and out the house and she's buying her own first bike! The best!

What do you ride?
I used to ride a Metropolitan 50, a ninja 250, a yamaha 1100 with ape hangers, loud pipes and floor boards. Pretty sweet!! If I can reach the ground, I'll ride it!

What is your favorite moto memory?
The 1st time I was on a motorcycle. I was 6 and I was hooked! I also got my 1st spanking, but it was worth it!!!

1 thing we should know about you?
I am the happiest when I am riding. The sun behind me keeping me warm.

1 thing you would tell our riders?
If you want to ride don't let anyone stop you. Life is short so have your fun! Be safe, make good decisions and wear your gear!!

Stop in soon so you can......
Grab Your Life By the Throttle!