Spring has sprung, and that means it's almost time for The Quail Motorcycle Gathering once again. This year will be the decennial, and the event will fall on Saturday, May 5th. As usual, it's presented by Geico Motorcycles on the idyllic grounds of the Quail Lodge and Golf Club in beautiful Carmel, California. Family-friendly fun, food and entertainment set the stage for classic machines from before the war to works of rolling art by none other than the Ness family. In fact, patriarch Arlen Ness is to be named the 2018 “Legend of the Sport” with his son Cory Ness and grandson Zach Ness in attendance, all with examples of why the Ness clan enjoys such a solid reputation as custom bike builders/artists. It's not entirely about them, though; in addition to its usual 10-category spread that includes machines from different bike-culture hubs such as the U.S., Italy and Japan as well as current competition models and antiques to name but a few. This year's themes will be cafè racers, electric motorcycles and, of course, more fabulous machines from the Arlen Ness private collection.
Continue reading for more on The Quail Motorcycle Gathering event.
Arlen Ness Reveals His Favorites
Arlen will treat us to some of his choicest pieces such as the art deco-inspired “SmoothNess,” an impossibly encapsulated ride that tests the limits of teardrop fairings and windtunnel-inspired design. I'm not exaggerating about the limits; I swear therès more sheet metal/plastic/whatever in the front fender than on many bikes, past or present. His Knucklehead-powered, '47 H-D EL “Untouchable” will make an appearance as well with its pre-WWII style frame tank, springer front end and, ahem, unconventional intake system. Cory is bringing his “Curvaceous-Ness,” and third-generation Ness builder Zach-- an apple that did not fall far from the tree-- will have a whole handful of specimens to include a Shovelhead Custom, an Indian Custom and a monster 145-inch chopper.
From Arlen: "I have lived in Northern California most of my life, so having our family, our business and our bikes featured at The Quail Motorcycle Gathering is like being honored in front of a hometown crowd. Back when I started building and riding custom bikes, if you rode a Harley or had long hair you were considered an outlaw. People didn't want you in town. It's been a pleasure watching how the culture has changed over the decades and being a part of it all. I can't wait to see the bikes on the field and to meet fans and fellow riders at The Quail Motorcycle Gathering."
Electric Bikes and Cafè Racers
As for the other main attractions, they really nailed it with two of my favorite topics: electric cycles and cafè racers. Attendees can expect to see a '66 Velocette MS, '67 Triton Cafè Racer and Triumph's popular '71 T 100 R “Daytona” as part of the cafè crowd. Very classic, very tasteful. The electrics also pay tribute to the past with a Corbin-Gentry X1 Electric-Powered “City Bike” and a 1975 Prototype Corbin-Gentry Electric Motorcycle X2, courtesy of legendary seat designer Mike Corbin.
“We select bikes that truly embody the spirit of motorcycling—from the eccentric and extravagant to the traditional and timeless,” said Gordon McCall, Director of Motorsports for The Peninsula Signature Events. “Each bike at The Quail Motorcycle Gathering will represent a historical aspect or future trend that has impacted the industry and left a legacy of inspiration regarding the way bikes will continue to be built and designed. We are proud to present these featured bikes for our 2018 show and are sure that our guests will appreciate the broad selection of bikes on display.”
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