Legend of the Motorcycle’s concours d’élégance
Legend of the Motorcycle enters its third year with an emphasis on the first word of its name -- the legendary riders who have ridden many of the bikes on display and the award-winning builders who have used those motorcycles as inspiration in the present day.
Taking place Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, Calif., the country’s premier concours d’élégance of motorcycling features 250 bikes that span the sport’s history, from its bicycle-frame beginnings in the late 1800s to mid-century cafe racers and the customs of today, such as Jesse James’ new Airstream sidecar bike.
MV Agusta and Norton are the featured marques for 2008. There will be 40 bikes from each manufacturer, including the ex-works MV Agusta that Giacomo Agostini raced on the Isle of Man and Reg Pridmore’s Norton racer.
In addition to the bikes, there will be two exhibits -- a collection of photos from Ewan McGregor’s recent Long Way Down tour and a display of Dainese racing suits that includes Agostini’s leathers and the cutting-edge biosuit the company co-created with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a future NASA mission to Mars.
The six-hour event is topped with a Bonhams & Butterfields auction of 200 items: half motorcycling memorabilia and half bikes, including a 1940 Indian Sports Scout owned by Steve McQueen, a 2004 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail owned by Evel Knievel and a 1967 Triumph TR6R Bud Ekins tribute bike.
-- Susan Carpenter
If you go:
What: Legend of the Motorcycle International Concours d’Elegance
When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Ritz-Carlton, 1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Cost: $50 before Thursday; $65 day of event
Info: www.lotm.com or (650) 712-7000
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