Blog — Category_Dutch's Blog

DGR London 2018

It's hard to believe that the first London Distinguished Gentleman's Ride was back in 2012, and that this is our seventh ride. The first London ride group met behind the Dirty Burger in Kentish Town, and had just 77 riders - which seemed huge back then. I've been privileged enough to be the London host and leader rider at every event so far, but as time goes on, that's become the easiest part. A hoard of marshals and volunteers now manage the route and mark every corner, while the Movember crew take care of the start/finish venues and all the...

Sunday Scramble - Highlights

On Any Sunday, well, last Sunday - as it happens - The Bike Shed and Off The Kerb hosted around 40 riders; Bike Shed crew, BSMC members and Bike Shed regulars on a proper Sunday Scramble, you know, that old-school dirt-bike thing we all did as kids on our DT175s, PE250s, TS125Xs and other trail bikes that looked a bit like their motocross counterpart - if you squinted a lot. The idea behind the Bike Shed Scramble was to take old and new "scramblers" onto the dirt, for some fun in the sand, mud and gravel, complete with a river...

Riding the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701

We’ve been eyeing-up Husqvarna’s oddly-named Vitpilen 701 since the concept bike was first unveiled at EICMA in 2014. Based around an engine and chassis shared by the latest crop of 690cc KTMs and Husky’s own 701 Supermoto, a street-racer based on that much-loved powerplant and chassis could only be a good thing. The only question back then, was; would this bold retro-futuristic Kiska design stay true to the concept by the time the bike got around to production. Concept in 2014 below... (CLICK ON ANY/ALL IMAGES FOR BETTER RESOLUTION POP-UP) Reality in 2018 - Below. The odd Swedish moniker is...

Dutch's Triumph Bonneville by Down & Out

I'm so happy with this bike I'm actually jealous of myself. OK, that makes no real sense, but I think it's because I'm still struggling to believe it's mine and that I'm allowed to ride it every day. Not only does this bike feel too new and too smart to be my property, it's almost too perfect to throw a leg over. It's been a long time since I had anything brand new and I'm nervous about that inevitable first scratch on the tank. In fact I'm on the verge of understanding why some custom bike owners spend more time...