Self-Portrait

Gawkers

Well, it's started...

I've been riding my Janus to break it in but hadn't parked the bike anywhere. Today I did -- and within minutes a crowd surrounded the bike. A few people drove past, turned around and returned to get a closer look. Geez!

The uniform reaction is: "Holy shit! What is that?!"

As the only kid on the block with one of these handmade beauties I need to brush up on my public speaking skills. :)

First Ride

Janus Halcyon 450: Got my new bike registered and on the road. Took it for a first ride today. Wow!

I discovered three remarkable things. (1) Gas-mileage: I'm getting 65 mpg which is about average for this bike. 65!! This gives the small gas-tank (2.1 gal.) a range of over 100 miles which is amply adequate for around-town rides. (2) The bike is so light! I feel like I can lift it up with two hands. Only 350 lbs. (3) Ride: peppy and nimble. Unlike bigger motorcycles this bike handles easily and can squeeze into a shoe-box. Will wait until after break-in to explore high speeds.

When you own multiple vehicles you want each to deliver a different experience. This one does; it's nothing like my other bikes. Great choice.

New Motorcycle!

My new motorcycle has finally arrived!

You may recall I ordered this bike back in March. It took a long time because the motorcycle was hand-made by a small company in Indiana (Janus Motorcycles). The company builds only 100 bikes a year and there's a waiting-list to get this new model (Halycon 450). There's high demand for these bikes despite their high price and rarity. I'm probably the only kid on Long Island to own one.

I love the bike's retro-style which harkens back beyond the usual 1950s to an earlier time. Its closest inspiration is the famous Brough Superior SS100, a British bike made in 1924. None of those old machines are in rideable condition today and the Janus has new technology. I have the best of both worlds -- vintage style with the safety of modern tech.

I also love that I was able to customize the bike to suit my individual preferences. For instance, the bike has a number-plate on the front fender which I customized with a message of personal significance. The plate reads "RH-104" which are my initials and the house-number of my childhood home. I fondly recall that house and its number is etched in my memory since, when I was a toddler, my mother forced me to repeat it endlessly in case I got lost. Thus, this is MY motorcycle, personalized in a pleasant way. 

See ya on the road!

My Birthday

Sixty-five years, passed in an eye-blink. Still hanging on to my wide-eyed enthusiasm for life's adventures.

New Camera!

Good friends pay attention and support your passions. 

One of my closest friends, Emma, just gave me an old film camera that belonged to her father. Made in 1977 the Minolta XG-A is a 35mm SLR with detachable lenses.

My first real camera was also a Minolta. I got it as a teenager and played with it for years. I learned how to develop and print film in a darkroom. It's been a half-century since I shot 35mm film and I'm excited to return to that format.

The camera from Emma is shown above; here's a photograph I took back in the 1970s of my first car (fish-eye lens).