One night I was watching a PBS show where this Cuban American girl went to Cuba to show viewers the beauty of the countryside and the poverty the people lived in at the same time. Where she went the "Big Man" of the town had a well kept Black 55 model Cadillac he traveled around town in. Most of the cars there were old American Iron from the 40's and 50's. (but they keep it running)

But what caught my eye was when she showed the Cuban teens who wanted motorcycles so badly and photos or information about them they could lay their hands on. They showed some really wild rides the kiddies had made called "Riquimbili". Dangerous suicice machines wasn't the word for it as plastic soda bottles were the standard for fuel tanks. The motors came from Soviet Tanks (they were small auxiliary motors) and adapted to old bicycles. But the guys they showed riding them appeared to enjoy a state of serenity uncommon to the average Cuban teen. It reminded me of when I was about eight years old and saw my first motorized bike and the life long intrigue it instilled in me. I've owned my share of motorcycles both small 50 cc Honda's and big bikes....but the dream of owning a motorized bicycle from my youth still still lingers within.

I found this link to a Cuban suicide machine where a couple are shown. What is interesting to me is the flair for design in even the most primative conditions.

Street Use: Cuban Motor Bike

Here's a clip from the "Havana Journal" which talks about:

Riquimbilis - Cubans build homemade motorcycles for transportation - Cuba Culture News - Havana Journal

Somehow when I read it I'm reminded of when I was a kid here in the good ol USA. When boys fantacised about putting a motor of anykind on their bicycle to move to the next rite of passage.....owning a motorbike. Then somehow Anthony Hopkins movie, "The Worlds Fastest Indian" comes to mind.

Appearantly the links won't post ???

Any thoughts to share ?