The reason for my limited participation in the past year

[Jerry van Dijk]

2013 was a bit of a sloooow year for me when it came to photography, the main reason being that I finally took the time to restore my vintage motorcycle! It has been sitting in my yard for several years, waiting to be nursed back to its former glory. I bought this bike in a terrible state when I was a student, when I needed cheap transport to get to my weekend job. It had been painted with regular paint and a brush and had two big holes in the exhaust. Also, the electric wiring looked like a bowl of spaghetti. I have been restoring it step by step, but last year I really made an effort to get the last things done. Only a few things left to fix, but it's up and running again!
I can now use it to get to my favorite photography locations around where I live, so I hope I can make up for the lost time in the coming year. Happy new year to everyone!

PS Does anyone know how to deal with the highlights from the chrome when taking pictures like this? Would a polarizer help?

[Christopher Miller]

Nice ride, Jerry! Great job restoring it.

[Diane Miller]

Nice bike!! Fun way to get around.

A polarizer won't help with specular reflections such as those off of shiny metal -- the only thing you can do is limit the sunlight by shooting on a cloudy day or in the shade. We expect these reflections to be bright, so trying to dull them down after the fact won't look right.

[Daniel Cadieux]

How cool! I actually like to see those bright reflections on polished chrome parts, I would not worry about those in this instance. Have a great and productive 2014!

[John Chardine]

Well done Jerry. Looks like a beauty. The way you avoid the "catchlights" is to photography in soft, shade light. That's what I do with my bikes.

I bet your Honda goes faster than my Sunbeam!

And remember what Gino Vanelli sung: "Black cars look better in the shade"

[Jerry van Dijk]

Thanks John. It may be faster, but it certainly doesn't look as good as the Sunbeam! Great job on the restauration, it looks pristine!

[John Chardine]

I don't know Jerry. The Honda 750 was a "looker" too. Here's a before image of the Sunbeam, as found by me in someones shed. Can't believe it was 11 years ago!

[Jerry van Dijk]

Wow, that must have been tons of work! Good to see that there are more people around that think it is worth the effort to keep all that nostalgia running!

[John Chardine]

16 months, every spare moment. I wasn't making many images back then!

I did not renew my pBase membership ages ago but the gallery documenting the resto is up (!) here:

http://www.pbase.com/chardinej/sunbeam_s8_restoration

Also see the Velocette here:

http://www.pbase.com/chardinej/velo_mss

[Sandy Witvoet]

Nice RIDES you guys! (Who would have thought.... "American Restorations" here on BPN!) WELL DONE!

(oh, and I kinda like a little sparkle on the chrome too...)

[Jerry van Dijk]

Thanks Sandy! My wife was quite surprised to see me post an image of a motorcycle here on BPN.....
Awesome work on both bikes John!

[Randy Stout]

Jerry:

Very cool! (Yours too John!)

The Honda 750 was truly a milestone motorcycle. Started a huge wave of Japanese transverse four cylinders machines. What year is this one? Because of your location, I suspect the color schemes varied compared to the US, but I would guess around 1975?

I remember the first time I took the tank off one to work on it, that big mass of engine revealed in all its glory. It seemed so massive at the time. Now they seem quite modestly sized.

Cheers

Randy

[Jerry van Dijk]

Thanks Randy!
The Honda 750 Four indeed was a milestone motorcycle. It was the first mass produced consumer motorcycle that could run faster than 200 km/hr and not fall apart. Also, it didn't leak oil like its English predecessors.
The exact age of this bike depends a bit on semantics: the frame, which officially gives this bike its age, is from 1976 (K6 model). The fuel tank, however, is from an earlier model (K2) but the engine is from a newer sports model (F model). This sort of made me free to choose to restore it in my favorite color, which in my case was Candy Gold, from the K2 model. I think the color schemes were similar throughout the world.
Overall, the bike is quite small, but the engine is indeed massive. The outer cylinders actually stick out of the frame so far, that they warm your legs on a cold day. Later on, Honda even produced a similar bike with six cylinders in a row, the CBX.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Wow guys... good stuff. You know I wouldn't mind having either one :) Nice work both of you, now get back out there and start shootin!

[Marina Scarr]

I can completely understand your reason, Jerry!!! My first bike was a Honda 100 dirt bike. There's nothing like the feel of the wind in your hair.

John, I am impressed by the before and after pics!! I had no idea.

[Jerry van Dijk]

Good advice Cheryl!