Weird, wonderful Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show

1970 Triumph Trident with Judson supercharger was an unexpected sight.

The 2020 Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show was a delight for anyone interested in old-timey motorcycles. But one of the joys of these vintage events is coming across a motorcycle new to you — something you never knew existed.

The supercharged 1969/1970 Triumph Trident T150 shown by Mike Ennis of Plantation, Fla. was one of these. The belt drive of the custom Judson supercharger was the first thing to strike the eye. The rear "slick" tire was the next indication of this bike's purpose in existence.

Rag stuffed in inlet suggests how much fuel mixture supercharger packs in.

But remarkable too was that it has only 21 miles, has not been started or run since 1970, and spent 1970-2006 on display at a motorcycle dealer in Illinois, according to the placard displayed alongside the motorcycle.

Supercharged Trident gets a boost gauge. Note sticker on speedo.

The boost gauge in the instrument cluster was an addition. Even more amazing was the 50-year-old warning sticker on the 150-mph speedometer regarding use of the trip odometer. "Do not pull trip shaft down. Rotate only to re-set — snap fit," it warns. The first owner would have removed this sticker.

Triumph Rocket III is not pretty, but it's pretty amazing.

No claim of responsibility was made for a different three-cylinder Triumph parked nearby, a more modern but richly "patinaed" Rocket III. From the skull on the gas tank opening to the skunk skin on the seat, to the barbed wire wrapped around an exhaust down tube, it was an exercise in how to make an over-blown monster motorcycle even more outrageous.

Spiked fender, barbed wire on lamps.

It was too modern to compete for an award in this vintage motorcycle show, but was on the show grounds — and where else would you see such a thing?

Shiny rocket ships from the Burn Up Company dare you to ride.

The same applies to two shiny rocket ships shown by the Burn Up Company of West Palm Beach, Fla. They're real — and have done 70 mph on the expressway, a staff member told viewers.

Burn-1 Skycycle looks more ready for the sky than the road.

"I got in and couldn't get out," one tall man commented of the cockpit of the Burn-1 Skycycle three-wheeler. The unnamed two wheeler next to it offered no cockpit; sitting on it would be like riding astride a bomb.

Sleek Skycycle.

Seemingly more practical was the 1981 Honda Motocompo scooter on display at the show (sorry, I forgot to collect the owner's name). Its clever design prompted viewers to try to guess how this motorized suitcase folds up for transport. I especially liked the "Up" arrow that directed it should be set on its side.

Not sleek is this 1981 Honda Motocompo.

Four "carrying points" are marked on the plastic body, suggesting it would take two people to lift it (it weighs 100 pounds). Its 49cc two-stroke motor and single-speed running gear would limit its usefulness.

Note the "Up" arrow and "Carrying Point" on Honda suitcase scooter.

Motocompo is small; you might be better off on the Honda 50 step-through behind it.

Dog too big for a sidecar? How about a side platform?