THE BIKE SHED MOTORCYCLE CLUB

Moved by the usual apathy, disorganisation, and general “we are all individuals” issues around being a motely crew of shed-bike, cafe racer, scrambler and street-tracker riders, a bunch of us decided to combine our infrequent blogs, blags and email banter into something that might be more coherent as a whole… a group blog/glog/mag thing.

If actually we had sheds (well, apparently Adam has got a shed, and Tim & Kev work in one), then we’d metaphorically be in them whenever we are out riding, tinkering or talking bikes…

…Sheds are where men (and a few hardy women) escape to leave behind the world and all it’s crap. To oogle over metal, oil and fuel, in perfect harmony – where what looks right, is right, and the freedom of two wheels is one of our greatest pleasures.

Follow us as the BSMC – Bike Shed Motorcycle Club – on FACEBOOK and TWITTER

Dutch is a relatively recent convert from the world of black and orange KTMs into being a Ducati Sport Classic owning cafe racer aficionado. He started blogging the odd rant under the title Full Tilt, while working half-heartedly in the media business and it’s metamorphosised into The Bike Shed.

Dutch at Brands Hatch

His missus, the Dutchess, represents the ladies and tries to stop Dutch spending all his spare cash on bike projects (but mainly so he can concentrate on tarting up her Ducati).   Here are their current bikes…

Follow Dutch here on The Bike Shed every day and on the BSMC Facebook page. Email him here.

Adam is one third of the team behind Untitled Motorcycles with Rex and Anita, building stripped-down, bad-ass street/scrambler Beemers out of a rough and ready garage, Victory Motorcycles, under the Arches in Camden Lock. He also blogs in between dodging the local knife-wielding Camden scrotes.

Adam, and Untitled Motorcycles:

Follow Adam & Untitled M/C on their blog Follow Untitled MC’s Facebook here and Victory’s FB here.

A few pics of (L-R); Tim, Adam, Hugo, Martin, Barry, Adam again and the Dutchess:

Tim & Kev make up Spirit of the Seventies, working out of an old pig-shed in Kent they are building some stunning “regenerated motorcycles” based on bikes from Yammie XS650s to Kwacka Zs, Triumphs to whatever. They are all beautiful. (The bikes, not the boys). Both stem from the creative industry so they have an eye for beauty in all it’s mechanical forms. They blog about the progress of their builds or sometimes just what their mates are up to.

Kev & Tim from Spirit of the Seventies and a few of their bikes:

Tim tears up the back roads of Kent.

Follow Spirit on their website and their blog

Barry used to be Art Director at Two Wheels Only and Visordown, and is now a grown-up creative in publishing, but to be fair he spends most of his time downloading pretty bike pics & videos to email out or post on his Motorcycle Deluxe blog, and making logos for the rest of us. Good work Barry.

Barry from Motorcycle Deluxe, on it.

Follow Barry on his blog or on the Motorcycle Deluxe facebook page

They don’t blog yet, but also behind this joint venture are Ben, Hugo, IanH and IanW, all successsful creatives across photography, design, advertising and film business, and all with a good taste in the things that really matter. Like bubble visors and Lewis Leathers.

Martin is pure petrol head and one of the few of us non-builders who works in the auto industry, with more than a little success in business and on track - but we won’t embarrass him here. Let’s just say he likes to go very fast.

So, if you want to join us to talk bikes, we’ll be down in the Shed. See you there or follow us on Facebook.

If you want to email us, maybe submit pics of your bike for a feature, to join us as a contributor, or just to say hello, email [email protected] or [email protected]

26 Comments

  1. chris barber
    15/01/2012

    Enjoying “the bike shed”…thanks

    Reply
    • Dutch
      16/01/2012

      Our pleasure. It’s all a bit quiet now that’s it’s winter in the UK – and we’re so new – but there’ll be plenty going on from Spring, as well as new partnerships, builders, events and other good stuff… By the way love you Desmo hog and the Imola 904. We’d love to feature both on the Shed?

      Reply
  2. Jim Mason
    18/05/2012

    Just found this site and want to say hope it goes from strength to strength. Some lovely bikes providing lots of inspiration. Cheers.

    Reply
    • Dutch
      21/05/2012

      Thanks Jim. We do our best to make it a little different from the rest.

      Reply
  3. Chris
    04/06/2012

    Great site, I love the dominator builds you guys have done, real neat!!

    Reply
  4. Ben
    05/09/2012

    Great website and some great pics, bikes and inspiration. Brilliant. Where are you guys based… the uk?

    Reply
    • Dutch
      05/09/2012

      Hey Ben

      Thanks. We’re all in and around London. Although Tim & Kev from Spirit are in Kent near Brands Hatch, while the rest of us are within a couple of miles of Islington. You can hear us up the Holloway Rd on a Thursday night off to the Landseer pub (when it’s warm and dry)

      Reply
      • Ben
        07/09/2012

        Sounds good. I absolutely love the classic style bike. Right now I’m getting around on a standard jap 600 but next year I plan on getting myself something a little sweeter. Would love to get my hands on a Ducati Sport Classic 1000s but they’re not too common. Searching for it is how I came across your website. That paul smart ducati is beauutiful! Lucky you :) The only thing that qualms my desire to own one is seeing all the other beautiful bikes on this webiste. Keep posting! :)

        Reply
        • Dutch
          19/09/2012

          Thanks Ben. Keep looking. Those SC1000s do crop up eventually

          Reply
        • Fid the Lid
          22/09/2012

          Hi Ben

          I should of kept my ZIB in 1979 anyway catch ya some time and maybe I can give you some tips on doing some handling mods for your Z sure its good anyway catch you on the road.

          Reply
  5. Bic
    23/10/2012

    Dutch,

    Man, I just spent a good hour looking through the distinguished Gentleman’s club photos as posted through Facebook.

    I love this! Please get in touch with me about how I get involved. Still running the Superduke but itching to get a bike from my past. Thinking about a Kawasaki triple as this is the bike I used to be loyal to, had everything in my 20′s from the 250 through to the 750 but they now command the high prices.

    Next on my list is a Laverda Jota but even more special to me is the 500 Montjuic. I’m searching ebay. They are rare.

    But anyway, get in touch. Not sure how I do so but we share a lot of passions in common.

    Regards.

    Reply
  6. Hamish Lamont
    07/11/2012

    Awesome site guys! Really enjoying it.
    I’ve spent the last year documenting the rebuild of my ’89 Ducati SS, now a carbon Supermono bodied 944cc hotrod. Will send you all the info once done for consideration for you BSMC.
    Till then will enjoy the inspiration.
    Cheers
    Hamish (ex Britten MC Co)

    Reply
  7. Paul Best
    15/11/2012

    Hi Dutch , i meet you and the mrs on the gents ride and been browsing your site , as an owner of a few cafe bikes i would love to keep in the loop , would be bang up for some trackdays , ride outs , by the way fantastic finding you lot on the gents ride out day ( only found out on the day so felt a little under dressed ) , Keep it on 2 wheels ,Paul

    Reply
    • Dutch
      16/11/2012

      Hey Paul Feel free to take part in everything we do, and consider yourself part of the BSMC. The big stuff is always in our Calendar page on here and we will have more rides and hopefully a trackday next spring, while smaller events and pub meets (the Landseer in Islington or the Flask in Highgate are popular on a Thursday night) usually get mentioned on our facebook pages at http://www.facebook.com/BikeShedMotorcycleClub.

      Reply
  8. Paul Best
    17/12/2012

    HELLO DUTCH , HOPE YA WELL !
    WE MEET AT THE DG RIDE FEW MONTHS BACK . ANY WAY HERE,S ONE FOR YOUR DIARY . WE ARE GETTING A FEW LIKE MINDED PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR A MEET TO CHAT BIKES , DRINK COFFEE …. BLA BLA ON THE 24 TH MARCH 2013 AND WOULD LOVE TO CATCH UP AND CHECK OUT ANY CAFE , FLAT TRACK , BOBBER BODS THAT MIGHT FANCY A DAY OUT .
    WE VE ORGANISED AN EVENT ALONG WITH A CUSTUM BUILDER AND SPECIALIST WRAPPER AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS
    1-2 JOHNSONS WAY , PARK ROYAL TRADING ESTATE NW107PF ( OFF CORONATION RD ).
    FEW BIKES ON DISPLAY & PROMO GIRLS TO KEEP US HAPPY !

    LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU
    PAUL BEST

    Reply
    • Dutch
      05/02/2013

      Now in the diary Paul.

      Reply
  9. Rik
    05/02/2013

    Hi Dutch..

    love the site and its philosophy….breath of fresh (old) air.
    Been tinkering myself wıth the old airheads…….had an old 1980 R80 and got some bits from Ritmo Sereno.
    Now have a standard GT1000 …..am trying to resist the modify bug but I know it wont be long!!!

    Reply
    • Dutch
      05/02/2013

      Hey Rik. Thanks…

      Resistance is futile.
      Get modding. (For a start, you need a Spirit of the 70s GTR seat, or the monoseat from Star.Ace)

      Reply
  10. Timm
    08/02/2013

    Hey Dutch,

    Sorry to hear of your recent run in with the white-van-man. i hope all is ok, with the exception of writing off the bike. Did he stop or was he the typical London twat and take off?

    Reply
    • Dutch
      08/02/2013

      Thanks Timm. Luckily he stuck around and gave his details but there were so many witnesses he didn’t have much choice.

      Reply
  11. Angus
    05/05/2013

    Hi Dutch,

    Greeting to you and the team at BSMC from South Africa. Been following you guys on FB for a good while and have to agree with all the distinguished gents above that your site is one of the best!

    Just keep doing what you are doing, we loving it here. Hope to get to buy you a beer one day at the Landseer in Islington.

    Cheers for now,
    Angus

    Reply
    • Dutch
      05/05/2013

      Hey Angus, That’s very kind of you. If you’re in London this month come to our big event on May 18/19 – otherwise email to see next time we’re t the Landseer on a Thursday.

      Reply
  12. fingers
    10/05/2013

    Hi,
    I am a biker, photographer and blogger.
    I am coming to your event on Sat or Sun.
    Would it be worth coming on Friday to the press view to try and get some photos without too many people around the bikes?
    If so i would like to come then, could you let me know who to contact and liaise with.
    Thanks
    Fingers

    Reply
  13. Adrian White
    13/05/2013

    Guys, definitely coming over on Saturday; can’t wait in fact. What’s the latest on parking or do I have to endure the London Overground on a Saturday as well?!!

    Cheers

    Reply
    • Dutch
      14/05/2013

      We have “round the back” parking on New Inn Yard behind the venue, £3 donation (to Amnesty) and fully staffed.
      Check the updated parking info on all the events pages in the Calendar, header, features and facebook.

      Reply

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