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Blog: MotorMouth by Kris Palmer

Beautiful Bikes in Burnsville

Monday, January 19th, 2009

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On Saturday, I was lucky enough to get in on a vintage motorcycle enthusiasts outing to a private collection in Burnsville. WOW!

bikeslots.jpgThese are some of the most beautiful motorcycles I have ever seen. . . . wonderful examples from well-known marques like BSA, Triumph and Ariel, and then some rarer steeds, like a Brough Superior (the bike Lawrence of Arabia apparently rode), New Imperial, Rudge Ulster and a Vincent Black Knight.

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There were delights in all areas, from the craftsmanship on the engine componentry, to the daring sweeps and shapes of the exhaust pipes, to the artistry in the faces of speedometers, tachometers and other gauges.

visitors.jpgIn recent years, hopping on a few modern bikes had moved my mind in that direction, prompting dreams of sprinter speed, acrobat agility and the confidence of sure starts and stops, every time. Humbug! This collection of bikes yanked my mind right back into the past–way back.

speedo1.jpgThere must be a dozen bikes here that would make any classic motorcycle fan proud for life. The angles were not always ideal for a great photograph, but the subjects could not have been better. Rather than jabber on, I’ll let these iron horses speak for themselves.

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2 Responses to "Beautiful Bikes in Burnsville"

Dave Harnish says:

January 22nd, 2009 at 7:27 pm

Interesting. I am a 50’s guy and loved riding . Bought my first motorcycle in 1957. It was a 1946 Indian Scout. Paid $350 for it and it was in the shop most of the time but nice. Then i got a 56 Indian
Trailblazer. So nice. My friends had the BSA and Triumphs, and
Ariel square four. I loved the sound of the Triumph T110 or Bonneville with megaphones. They sounded as good or better than the harleys. My buddy in
Duluth owned a mc shop for mostly triumphs,bsa’s and indians. He raced and was so good. Ted
Archer.His kids ended up driving race cars. I also knew the Harley dealer and the dealer in west
duluth for Kawawsaki’s. I mean those were the good old days. Wish i would have known of the show. dave

Kris Palmer says:

January 25th, 2009 at 11:54 am

Sounds like you had some really neat bikes.

I just published a book, Survivor: The Unrestored Collector Car and am working on a follow-up, Survivor II: The Unrestored Collector Motorcycle. I’m looking at the manufacturers and models you mention. Beautiful machines!

If you live in the Twin Cities area, consider dropping by Diamonds Coffee Shop around 9 a.m. some Saturday morning. The Vintage Motorcycle guys meet there then. They’re a nice and knowledge crew and they’re always interested in other enthusiasts’ bikes and recollections. Bet they know the shop and some of the people you mention.

Please leave a comment

MotorMouth Kris Palmer, freelance auto writer and editor, blogs about vintage cars, the collectible auto scene and just about anything else that goes vroom.

Your favorite: classic car blog, antique car blog, muscle car blog, vintage car blog. Antique and classic cars for sale by owner.

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