Project Badger

I stumbled upon this cool project. It's based on a 500cc Royal Enfield and has a rat, cafe racer style.

Lior

Facebook

Hello everyone, it's such a lovely day outside and I just wanted to let you know that our official facebook page is now open! Holy shit!
Yes I know, it's kinda hard to keep in all that excitement - still, feel free (and obligated) to connect through it and stay tuned for all of our awesome updates!

Arie

Old Indian Never Die

Indians? In the holy land? The mere combination of this three words in one sentence sounds completely far fetched. So when I heard about a gathering of this legends here in Israel, I had to be there. 

Ok, A little bit of history first. The Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company was founded in 1901 at Springfield, Massachusetts. It was active 'till 1953 where it went bankrupt and from 1999 the brand came back to life (that's another story…). 

Well, you must be asking yourself "how the hell did this motorcycles arrived to this newly formed state, which has no motor culture to speak of, not to mention motorcycles or any vehicles at all?". 

In 1948, 12 Indian Chief 348 motorcycles were donated to "Tel Hashomer" hospital. Later on, the motorcycles where passed to the possesion of the president's guard, after that - the military police and finally to the Israely Air Force pilots. Since than, most of the motorcycles had disappeared and to this date only five survived (at least in a good shape). 

Back to the present. I told Arie about this gathering and there was no chance that we're gonna miss it. 

When we got there we saw them. The Indians… Ooh the Indians. I better let the pictures talk…

Lior

Old Indian Never Die ;)

This one is a military model which hasn't been restored.

1955 Norton 19S

Now this one is not what is seems. It's a chinese copy of a BMW.

They sure are!

Messerschmitt. Somewhat odd vehicle.

1950 Chrysler Windsor

The Crew

Arie

I was born almost exactly 24 years ago. I guess you could say I’m a complete classics junkie – I love everything from classic motorcycles to classic clothes, cars, fridges and phones.

My riding days started with a lovely scooter, the first real thing I bought with my own money. It was great fun and a great discovery - until I crashed it one time more than it could handle. Trying to look for a sane-prized, medium size bike on that sad excuse for a motorcycle market we have in this country I came upon the Royal Enfield – and I’m there since. And no I haven’t been to India. Yet.

Lior

Always had a passion for motorcycles, but took it to the next level only recently after a journey to India. There I discovered the "new yet old" Royal Enfield motorcycles. Two magical weeks in Goa was all that was needed to set the fire. Returned home and couldn't help it. I got one. Riding is definitly an addictive drug.

Intro

The Vintage Motorcyclist is a unique project in its own way. One bright, hot sunny day we,  the future crew of TVM, sat down and decided that we need to make a difference. We wanted  to explore  the “Israeli motorcycling culture”, make a stand and say “what the hell, we exist!”.

In short, we wished  to write a motorcycling blog like everyone else does, and honestly, you can’t blame us. But it just so happens that the moto culture we so proudly claimed to be a part of, the “Israeli moto culture” is not something you can have a look at and then write about. It is elusive at best, if not nearly non-existent. To find it, let alone understand it, you must turn every stone, ride every mile and meet every person – it is a spiritual journey in its own way, and on this holy (or unholy?) path The Vintage Motorcyclist and its fabled crew will be thrilled to take you.