Girl with the dragon tattoo bike

[bucktownbilly]

just in case anyone is interested.  Haven't seen the movie yet but fine choice.  I see a bit of my 919 in there.  Love the tires.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/11/building-the-bikes-of-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-w/

[bomber]

I've not seen the movie, but I must admit I'm nonplussed by the custom scene's fascination with what would have been called beaters 40 years ago . . .. perhaps it is a reaction ot Orange County and Jesse James, et al, but the bikes hold no interest for me . . . ..

[CosmicCowboy]

+1

I did my time keeping old bikes running with duct tape, baling wire,  electrical tape and a packet of extra bolts and nuts for when shit fell off.

They're cool things about which to reminisce; I won't be regressing that far in my bike ownership experiences.

Same. I wanted to go cafe racer on my old CB350, but when I sat down and actually starting looking at the bike.....it was all nostalgia. So I sold it. Go twice what I payed for it 15 years ago.

[AzItLies]

that's some great stuff there buck.

have seen the original Swedish version of this movie  and it's damn impressive. really like the bike builders saying "let's keep it true to form", cuz there's no way she'd be riding some suped up sports bike.

looks to me to be the exact kind of bike she would have ridden.

it's a great movie... prepare to be a bit torn emotionally.

[Kootenanny]

I haven't seen the movie (either the Swedish one, or of course this new American one--which isn't out for a few days yet), but I read the trilogy, loved it.

In the book, as I recall, Lisbeth rode a smallish dual-sport type bike (although at one point she takes off on a bad guy's Harley, has a few issues with it at first--she's not used to the weight--but figures it out pretty quick).

Recently read a pre-release review of the film, the reviewer commented on the reworking of Led Zep's "Immigrant Song" used as the movie theme...seems somewhat apt...

I'll probably see the film (although films taken from novels never live up to the original work, especially when it's a dense novel like this).

[bucktownbilly]

that's some great stuff there buck.

have seen the original Swedish version of this movie  and it's damn impressive. really like the bike builders saying "let's keep it true to form", cuz there's no way she'd be riding some suped up sports bike.

looks to me to be the exact kind of bike she would have ridden.

it's a great movie... prepare to be a bit torn emotionally.

yep, when you are dirt poor you seek out what you can afford like she did.  I'm thinking the CB350 is a good call on her part because of the Honda reliability.  

Take a look at a CB919 and you'll see the resemblance.  Plus I have bar end mirrors too.  Napoleons, functional and great looks, love them.

[DogBoy]

I've not seen the movie, but I must admit I'm nonplussed by the custom scene's fascination with what would have been called beaters 40 years ago . . .. perhaps it is a reaction ot Orange County and Jesse James, et al, but the bikes hold no interest for me . . . ..

I will stay off your lawn.

[squeezer]

In the book, she rode a beat up Kawasaki 125. I don't recall the author being specific about year or model. It was just cheap transportation.

[bomber]

I will stay off your lawn.

rof -- thank you ;-}

[ridingfar]

I've not seen the movie, but I must admit I'm nonplussed by the custom scene's fascination with what would have been called beaters 40 years ago . . .. perhaps it is a reaction ot Orange County and Jesse James, et al, but the bikes hold no interest for me . . . ..

I don't get this...

It's not "The Custom Scene", it's an inexpensive bike to fit the characters role in a movie. And 40 years ago they were not beaters, they were were the most reliablle bikes available given the other choices were British and HD. Not as cool as Triumph, BSA, Norton or HD, but if you wanted one to ride and not work on, or replace worn, broken or fallen off parts then the little Jap bikes were your ticket. Seems like a logical fit for flick.

[mxvet57]

+1

I did my time keeping old bikes running with duct tape, baling wire,  electrical tape and a packet of extra bolts and nuts for when shit fell off.

Now we have JB weld.

[Kootenanny]

I will stay off your lawn.

 

[rgbeard]

I'm anxious to see how the movie turned out - the book was awesome!

[Orson]

I've not seen the movie, but I must admit I'm nonplussed by the custom scene's fascination with what would have been called beaters 40 years ago . . .. perhaps it is a reaction ot Orange County and Jesse James, et al, but the bikes hold no interest for me . . . ..

Didn't Motorcyclist magazine publish an article on this genre about a year ago?

I recall it was something about riding a motorcycle without being biker-ish. Some type of urban hip thang.

In my view, anything that injects motorcycles into the mainstream or popular culture is a plus.

The highwater mark was probably when Easy Rider came out. I don't recall anytime since then when motorcycling held such a prominent position in popular culture.

In the 1980s, when American riders dominated Grand Prix motorcycle racing, it didn't even make a blip on the radar back in the states.

[Bounce]

I'm anxious to see how the movie turned out - the book was awesome!

the original and it's sequel (The Girl Who Played With Fire) were very good.

[bucktownbilly]

In my view, anything that injects motorcycles into the mainstream or popular culture is a plus.

I'm always amazed at the huge difference between motorcycle culture here and in Europe.  Way of life there, after thought here.

[AzItLies]

the original and it's sequel (The Girl Who Played With Fire) were very good.

There's 3, the last is The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest.

They are all very good, once I saw the first one there was no stopping me getting the others. Like a good book you can't put down.

[94gixxerod]

If you have a Netflix account, you can stream all three of the original Swedish movies. My wife has read all three books and found that the movies are true to the novels, although with the usual cavets of each being different mediums.

[bomber]

Didn't Motorcyclist magazine publish an article on this genre about a year ago?

I recall it was something about riding a motorcycle without being biker-ish. Some type of urban hip thang.

In my view, anything that injects motorcycles into the mainstream or popular culture is a plus.

The highwater mark was probably when Easy Rider came out. I don't recall anytime since then when motorcycling held such a prominent position in popular culture.

In the 1980s, when American riders dominated Grand Prix motorcycle racing, it didn't even make a blip on the radar back in the states.

Yessir, and Cycle shows em from time to time . . . . . I agree that anything showing riding in a positive, or, at least, nuetral light is a plus . . . .

[Rogue]

Didn't Motorcyclist magazine publish an article on this genre about a year ago?

There is a magazine out there called Cafe Racer.  Most of the articles are about taking an old bike and fixing it up to Cafe Racer status but you get the drift.  It's a cool magazine and its chief editor used to write for Motorcyclist (big black guy I can't remember his name).

They often features bikes and Cafe Racer clubs in SoCal of course (that's their headquarters).  There are a few clubs here that are part of that niche scene.  They often dress the part of retro sportbikers/Cafe Racers.  

I think the idea of taking an old bike and fixing it up is cool.  Rat bikes are very cool to me.  Having said that, I have never done it before.  I've taken relatively newer bikes and fixed them up.