May 30, 2012

Beacon Bike Lights {2}

I ran into my man Steve Tam the other day and he’s got a great new project I wanted to share…

They’re called Beacon Bike Lights which are effectively small, LED bicycle head/tail lights that are held on the bike using zip-ties rather than either of the two most common methods which are a) silicone straps that are quick release (a la Knog) which are convenient because you can take them off easily but are a ball-ache because thieves can take them off easily as well or b) permanent fixtures which are typically big, bulky and tacky.

For those of us that have spent a lot of time tinkering with bicycles, motorcycles, etc., we know that life is often held together with zip-ties making this an ideal solution. To be honest I’m surprised that no-one came up with the idea to bring something like this to market sooner!

Steve and his partner Taylor have most of their duckies in a row but are seeking funding via KICKSTARTER to get production moving. If you like the idea, want some for yourself and want to see these lights become a reality, follow this link and kick in some bucks!

By Category: Bicycles, Design / Art

May 30, 2012

I Really, Really Need A Sidecar {0}

via Gear Patrol

By Category: Dogs, Motorcycles

May 30, 2012

I Really Need A Sidecar {0}

By Category: Dogs, Motorcycles

May 25, 2012

Thangs & Stuff & Stuff & Thangs & Stuff… {2}

More

By Category: It's all love

May 25, 2012

Villa Vlas {0}

More here.

By Category: The Truth According To Matt Rennick

May 24, 2012

Field Notes {0}

By Category: Design / Art, Old Stuff

May 18, 2012

Went To Hell, Had A Drink {0}

More here.

By Category: History, Magic Mostly, Old Stuff

May 17, 2012

Into The Wild Blue Yonder {0}

Vintage Bomber Jackets

Many more here.

By Category: Design / Art, Grown Man Business, Old Stuff

May 14, 2012

Required Listening {0}

Hot Water Music - Exister

First record in 8 years – every bit as good as I’d hoped it would be and hearing what Chris & Chuck have to say about it, track by track, is pretty rad.

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The full album is streaming here – other stand-outs for me are Drag My Body, No End Left In Sight & The Traps.

High On Fire - de vermis mysteriis

The record doesn’t do a whole lot for me, to be honest, aside from a few tracks which are absolutely fucking brilliant! King Of Days falls under this category… This jam is absolutely huge!

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Fiestodon - Feist & Mastodon

Despite thinking that Metals, the newest Fiest record, is amazing – I was a little disappointed with the Feist side of this split, I really think she should have made it her own a little bit more and stayed away from the distorted guitars and whatnot. The Mastodon cover of A Commotion, on the other hand, is perfectly executed. It sounds like a Mastodon song but isn’t so far removed from the original.

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Torche - Harminocraft

This is one of those records that is both heavy and, for the most part, pretty “happy” sounding. The repetition of the tail end of this song and the way it builds has earned it some serious rotation.

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Tragedy - Darker Days Ahead

I really hate the way most record reviews are written but this review is spot on. “They’re the rare punk band whose command of atmosphere is just as strong as their gift for velocity, and their continued existence is a gift to all of us.”

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Monster Truck - The Brown EP

More CanCon! The vocals, sometimes, are a little too Cornell-like for my liking but there is way more than enough classic rock riffs for me to look past that. Legit rippers, for real.

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By Category: Music

May 11, 2012

Get Busy Livin’ {1}

I have lived a boring & predictable life – or at least that’s how I feel when I’m given the opportunity to imagine another.

Eric Valli Photographs

Eric Valli has been taking photos in far off lands since before I was born and continues to produce stunning work that allows us, from the relative comfort of our homes and office buildings, a glimpse into ways of living most of us will never know and without words the type of hardships that few of us can even comprehend.

Eric Valli Photographs

Even more interesting to me are the shots of folks in North America who have chosen a simpler way of living – instantly, the cynical piece of shit inside of me looks at a bunch of young, good looking white people in buckskin with horns hanging off their belts and thinks “how pretentious” but I don’t even know why that thought would even cross my mind… It’s certainly not fair.

Eric Valli Photographs

I’m going to draw certain conclusions about their motives that may or may not be accurate but as best I can guess they’ve decided that the way we’re living here sucks and they’ve chosen to exclude themselves.

In more ways than I can count, I’m pretty jealous.

By Category: Photography, Travel

May 7, 2012

Posh. So Posh. {2}

A month or so ago, in a rush to get off my street at night with my super obnoxious new & improved exhaust, I rode away from the curb as quickly as I could and before I knew it I was thrown from the bike and found myself picking it up off the ground. In an attempt to keep my bike somewhat safe from theft, I’d been using the steering lock and in my haste I rode away without unlocking it. I can’t believe, with all the technology available, that you can even put the bike in gear with the steering lock on… C’est la vie! Won’t do that again!

Vance & Hines Short Shots - Sportster 48

I got away with no injuries at all, I think I even landed on my feet, but the brand new pipes I’d put on were a little dinged up, the brake lever busted off and the grip was pretty well destroyed.

Vance & Hines Short Shots - Sportster 48

I don’t really like my things to be “too precious” in general so I didn’t really care but one thing I don’t like is looking ridiculous and one thing that’s for sure is that I looked totally ridiculous… I was wearing the helmet that I bought for Yvonne for our 1 year anniversary, complete with mirrored bubble visor.

Biltwell Hustler - Bubble Visor

Anyway, it gave me a good excuse to swap out the grips which I’d wanted to do for some time so I picked up these here Posh natural gum rubber grips that Flying Squirrel recently got in. Much better on all accounts.

Posh Japan Natural Gum Rubber Grips

I also figured, while I was at it, I’d hit the pipes with a high temperature matte black (BBQ) paint and, although not perfect, it helped and also gave me an opportunity to black out that chrome logo.

Vance & Hines Short Shots - Sportster 48

In looking at the photo after, I think I’ll hit it again just to even everything out but I’ll do it after giving it a proper cleaning first.

By Category: Motorcycles, XL1200X Forty Eight

May 2, 2012

Town Moto {5}

As most of you will already know, two of my dearest buds Andrew & Marika took possession of a building at Ossington & Argyle a few months ago and have spent pretty much every waking moment since then preparing for today – the opening of their new shop Town Moto.

Town Moto Motorcycle Toronto

They are “a small shop in downtown Toronto specializing in motorcycle gear for the urban rider.” They carry a full range of Helmets, jackets, gloves, boots and pretty everything you need to ride safely as well as a variety of soft-goods to make sure that you look cool doing it… let’s face it, none of us would ride motorcycles (at least not the ones we ride) if they didn’t look cool! Come on now…

Town Moto Motorcycle Toronto

Aside from a few bars, grips, etc. they aren’t carrying much in the way of moto parts but they do have a decent selection of tools, and supplies for basic motorcycle maintenance including copies of Modern Motorcycle Mechanics and a book about the fella that wrote it as well…

Town Moto Motorcycle Toronto

The paper that has adorned the window of 132 Ossington for months is officially off and the doors are open!

Town Moto Motorcycle Toronto

Congrats, buds, you’ve worked very hard for a very long time and you deserve all of the success that this venture is going to bring.

By Category: Clothing, It's all love, Motorcycles