2015 Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show shines

This 1971 Triumph Bonneville looked the best of Britain.
Shown by Bill Mead of Fort Lauderdale.

British motorcycles shone brightest for me, as usual, at the 2015 Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show in Dania Beach, Florida Jan. 31, 2015.

Whether restored to better-than-new or left as filthy as they were when found, the Triumphs, Nortons and BSA motorcycles best captured the spirit of motorcycling, I thought.

But the Harley-Davidson Sportster was the featured class of the 2015 and there was plenty of American soul on hand to inspire as well.

A rider moves his Triumph into display position.

This year I went early, and was treated to the sounds of many of the motorcycles being ridden into display position. My verdict on vintage motorcycles of all brands: they "rattle" when they run. Reassuring, considering my 1999 Royal Enfield Bullet makes that same noise. It's part of the legacy.

Antique bicycle with modern looking swing arm suspension and shaft drive.

As always, at Dania Beach, there was much to learn. Antique bicycles are part of the show and I was amazed to see a 1890 Pierce bicycle sporting not only shaft drive, but swing arm rear suspension. How advanced! Still, there was room for improvement: it had no brakes I could see.

The Friends of the Dania Beach Library put on a patriotic display.

Yes, there was at least one Royal Enfield in the show — and I spotted a new Continental GT cruising the parking area — but more about that later.

More or less a motorcycle, 1971 Bond Bug delighted onlookers.
It was shown by Gaylord Wood of Fort Lauderdale.

Check out the joyful sound of this Harley-Davidson tricycle in police uniform rumbling into position in this short video: