Photos of 2014 Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show

This 1960 Royal Enfield Fury was the star of the show for me.

A rare 1960 Fury was the lone vintage Royal Enfield I spotted on display at the 2014 Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show Saturday.

It may be the shiniest Royal Enfield I've ever seen. I certainly hadn't expected to see a Fury at all. The Fury was a factory high performance single, built by Royal Enfield in very small numbers.

1960 Royal Enfield Fury; note accessory horizontal oil cooler.

Unfortunately I didn't get to talk to the owner, Jim Thomas of Stuart, Fla. But I could see for myself that this motorcycle was special in its own right. It had an accessory oil cooler up high between the valve covers.

Trike powered by permanent tailgater.

Luckily Mike Gulliford of Fort Lauderdale was on hand to explain how he created "TriClops," a 1971 Honda fork pushed by the front end of a 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier. Riding it must be like having someone tailgating constantly. The Chevy's front-wheel-drive Iron Duke four-cylinder provides the power. Mike said he built his machine in less than 100 days — not counting the time it took to apply the flawless paint.

Rusty, dusty, with bald tires and cockeyed headlamp, 1951 Norton was too cool.

Far from flawless (and deliberately so) was the 1951 Norton 500 presented by Daniel Nogueira of Boynton Beach, which set a new standard for "ride 'em like you find 'em." Right down to the bald tires, and a tail light held on by peeling tape. The headlight was cocked out of line, a delightful touch.

Just perfect: 1950 Matchless G9 Clubman preserved by a former dealer.

Perfection, if you wanted it, was not far away, in the form of a 1950 Matchless G9 Clubman shown by Mark Sepulveda of Hialeah. Found in the basement of a former dealer, his motorcycle looks new. He believes he is the first person to have ever opened the factory tool kit — the plastic encasing the tools disintegrated at his touch.

So, you dare to look upon a Brough Superior?

Lording it over lesser machines on all sides were Brough Superiors shown by Jack Wells of Lake City. There is no mistaking a Brough Superior. No modesty at all: have you ever noticed how many times the Brough Superior name appears on one of these? Owners probably don't mind.

Peaked headlamp on Brough Superior because... well, because.

The spectacular (in its day) 1973 Triumph Hurricane shown by Everett Heskett of Zanesville, Ohio, suggested what might have been if the British motorcycle industry had carried on.

1973 Triumph Hurricane triple looked toward the future.

Nearby, the 1958 Triumph "TR12" custom by Metalflake Herb of Hobe Sound, Fla., suggested what else might have been: a Triumph four, courtesy of two twins mashed together with the left motor turning in reverse of normal.

...or would you rather ride a Triumph four? Two TR6s mashed together.

Miami's Royal Enfield dealer House of Thunder represented the modern days of the brand with a tent enclosing several bikes, including two of the firm's own flamboyant customs.

Royal Enfield dealer provided this eye-catching custom.

The show was well stocked with ancient Henderson fours, including the poster child, the 1930 KJ of Dave Clemons of Davie. It was impossible to walk past one of these machines without noticing head-scratching details.

Hendersons gave more attention to the speedo drive than to the brakes.

I was fascinated with the elaborate speedometer drive on the Henderson shown by Don Hart of Napanee, Ontario. Then there was the array of levers and switches clustered on the 1925 Henderson of Don Schweinler, of Key Largo.

Henderson pilot had levers, dials, buttons and switches.

Apparently, the rider of a Henderson had many ways to control his experience. A pity that a front brake was not one of them.

Cafe racers were the featured type at this year's event and there was much to admire among them. But I couldn't help being distracted by the racing seat on a 1966 Ducati Monza 250 shown by Gregory Poole of Indialantic. Two pieces of thin, exposed foam. A woman passing by couldn't help pressing it with her fingers.

Not the mount for a long ride: 1966 Ducati Monza 250 cafe racer.

Is it absolutely necessary that a cafe racer be a torture chamber for the rider? No. The Royal Enfield Continental GT I rode in London looks the part but remained a distinctly comfortable conveyance.

If vintage motorcycle shows demonstrate anything it is that it is possible to learn from the past.

Triumph Rocket Three gets a polish at booth of Wes Scott Cycles.