Saturday, March 21, 2015

The Unveiling

I got involved only yesterday, Mike has been involved for weeks.  First it was won in an online auction, then purchased and paid for.  Crating, Customs Brokers, shipping a across the sea on a very big boat, overland trucking and finally ready at a loading dock in Minneapolis, this is not a simple Craig's acquisition.

I followed Mike to the Warehouse District, a good thing too.  He's (now) very comfortable with the area but it's an area relatively new to me, easy for me to get turned around down there and that normally isn't something I struggle with.


Not parking here was made very clear; I obviously wasn't qualified since I'd left my Green Caddy at home.




Yesterday afternoon, on our way to the Unveiling Location.


Today I was up to Minneapolis early, stopped in at Marty's (GoMoto) to take a couple of photos before the visitors arrived, had the tripod set up for videos, then hustled over to pick up the pizza, soda and other treats.  Folks started arriving just before noon.

There was a plan......and the plan was to cover up one of Marty's SYM bikes to hide and to purposely deceive as well as tease the arriving throngs as to why they were truly invited to The Event.  Mike had hinted that this might, just possibly be an unveiling of his road-ready Cushman that he'd bought last fall. The Cushman was not present and had no real role in today's gathering.

Here's the decoy......and it sort of worked, those who are in the know and who do know suspected some subterfuge.  Under the translucent cover a newer bike was present and it was quite obvious to anyone paying real attention but it still prompted questions and doubt.

Right in the middle of the showroom floor.......


The real surprise was hiding over here against the wall, very incognito. 


 As you can see, barely visible......


 Mike trying to explain what we weren't really there for,  Colleen absolutely unaware though it will soon be very clear.


The cute SYM 150 decoy was unwrapped with Mike assuring us all....."well this isn't why you're here, there's a crate over there against the wall...."  We moved it Center Stage and started unwrapping.






Erica grabbed a wrench and before long.....





A 1950 Terrot 100cc French motorcycle that served Constables in Paris and it RUNS!






See that white plastic knob left center between the lights??  Pull it up, all the way to the 2nd notch and both of these headlamps actually blink.


The rear light blinks too!





Of course a front brake to match the attainable speeds....










Someone said "Marty, get on and look like a French rider....."  I don't know, am not sure and have no real way of knowing but have to imagine that he's very near??


It was all really fun; everyone present helped to make it so.  Many thanks to Mike for the invitations, the yummies and to Marty for putting up with us all and for kindly making the warm, mid-March space available.

So Mike and Colleen have another bike from France (by way of the Netherlands).  He's now got this import thing down, is on a first name basis with the importer and Customs folks so if you need a French Connection, just let him know.

16 comments:

  1. Looks like a fun 'coming out' party. How fun ... to spend a wintery day with friends and great finds.

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    1. Mike knows how to throw a party. We had a few people ride over though none of them were afraid to say, "we don't live very far ........."

      It's dark and cool this morning, here's what the weather service is saying.... Otherwise...look a steady light snow to start falling between now and noon across southern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

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  2. To look French, Coop, your friend should add a beret, a distinct moustache and a baguette and a bottle of wine in the saddle bag.

    What a beautiful find the Terrot is. I have never seen one before. But I know that there are other early motorcycle brands (today most nonexistent through mergers, bankruptcy etc.) that had built beautiful bikes.

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    1. Some of those things were present for the Motobecane presentation last winter, when the 'surprise' machines whereabouts were known. This time it was hush hush without any origin clues.

      Like you, the Terrot was something I'd never heard of but I do have a book of old racing motorcycles and you are right, there are many brands long gone, especially so in Europe but true over here as well.

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  3. Another brand I've never heard of, but it looks like a great find. Is he going to restore it or leave it as is?

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    1. This one is getting tires......:)

      The Motobecane needed a bit more work, an update on that one hopefully soon.

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  4. Wow, what a cool find. I had never heard of the brand either. But it is really neat that it was a police bike and it runs.

    Yes, I can see why new tires are a must.

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    1. Mike seems to be heading towards a Police Bike Collection. It's a good thing he's so legally minded......but then he's got some history as an M.P.

      He/we are struggling a bit to find reasonable replacement tires. Lots of choices if he were outfitting a modern bike for Daytona...this one not so many.

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  5. Very nice! And it runs. Wonderful. Yes, those tires look shot. What a really nice find.

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    1. Keith, it truly is in very nice original shape. What makes it exciting to me is its history that we can only imagine. We all heard it expressed many times yesterday...."Hey it's older than I am..." Even if sitting quietly under a roof somewhere for the last 55 years, my feeble imagination can place the little bike in some exotic everyday situations in a very distant place for those first 10 years of life.

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  6. ..it was used in several running gun battles and apprehending villainous charters of ill repute ..... it also lead the parade for Charles de Gaulle ... ok, I made all of that up... :)

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  7. What a cool old bike! I think one day my collection must have a very vintage bike in it, I fell in love with a few last year at a bike show. Dreaming only at this point.

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    1. Well Dar, by the time you're ready, Mike will be very good at providing assistance. He's finding some that are looking for good homes.

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  8. ebay.... motorcycles "other makes " ..... runners... neat,, " different "... delivered to your local US Customs office... cost, shipping,...broker fees... less then $3900,oo ...:)

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