The 37th Annual Hansen Dam Ride 2016 Review

37th Annual Hansen Dam Ride 2016

37th Annual Hansen Dam Ride. This was only half of the shot!

The annual Hansen Dam ride for 2016 was an incredible turn out and a great way to end the 2016 year. This was the 2nd time that I have personally attended the annual "Hansen Dam Ride" and let me tell you, this year was the biggest turn out yet! I have never seen so many vintage Triumph motorcycles and Norton motorcycles in one spot at the same time. Everywhere you look there was a sea of Triumph and Norton motorcycles all around you. Of course there where a few BSA motorcycles, Vincent's, Matchless, AJS, and many others. As a business owner selling parts for vintage British motorcycles, it was really an honor to see all the vintage British motorcycles still on the road and still being cared for. It was great to finally meet some of my wonderful customers in person and to see there motorcycle's "up close and personal" for the first time. I also met many wonderful folks and heard some wonderful stories.

The annual Hansen Dam all British ride happens twice a year. The first ride of the year is in spring and is put on by the Southern California BSA Owners Club. The second (or last) ride of the year is put on by the Southern California Norton Owners Club. According to there website, the Hansen Dam ride by the Norton Owners Club is the largest event of the year. Now, I do attend and have attended many British motorcycle rides and shows here in southern California. I firmly believe that the Hansen Dam ride by the Norton Owners Club is the largest and most attended British motorcycle show and ride probably in all of Southern California. Most of the British motorcycles at the show where road ready, which means many rode there motorcycles to and from the ride. Not all where "trailer queens"!

Do you have to own a vintage British motorcycle to attend the Hansen Dam ride or be apart of a club? Absolutely not! In fact, many motorcycles at the Hansen Dam ride where not all British. I saw many vintage Honda motorcycles, modern Triumph motorcycles, European, and everything in between. You do not have to be apart of any club to join, spectate, or attend on the ride. To be honest, I do not belong to the Norton Owners club... but I was at one time apart of the BSA owners club.

This year I rode my 1969 BSA A65 Lightning 650 to the ride and my brother rode his new 2016 Triumph Thruxton R. My BSA A65 performed like a champ, it did not skip a beat! I wish I could have said that least year as my BSA carb slide seized and it cut my ride short unfortunately. I took the 14 freeway from Lancaster to Sylmar. The Hansen Dam all British ride departs from the park at 10:00 A.M. sharp, but I encourage folks to get there by 7:00 A.M. to get a good spot as the parking will get limited very quickly! The ride map changes every year I believe, with the recent fires, they had to change direction away from the hills. You do not have to have to go on the ride, in fact many folks including I ride to the show and simply make our own trail! On the way back my brother and I rode to Denny's off the 14 freeway off Sand Canyon. From there, we took San Francisquito canyon all the way to Lancaster.

I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope you can attend next year. Many enthusiasts came across the states just to attend to the annual Hansen Dam ride. Jay Leno is usually there showing off his motorcycles! Unfortunately, Jay did not attend this year. Stay tuned for the next Hansen Dam ride on November 2017!

  Hansen Dam Ride Motorcycle Photos 

*The photos below where taken by me using a Canon EOS 5D MKII camera. Motorcycles belong to there rightful owners. If you own any of the motorcycles below, please contact us and we will be happy to add your name.

1951 BSA A10 Goldenflash restored by "Jacks Vintage Cycle". Owner: Mr. Whitman

1969 BSA A50 Royal Star.

1964? 1965? Royal Enfield 750 Interceptor. Rare machine!

Custom Triumph Street Tracker.

Restored Norton single. Notice the original New York license plate?

A Gorgeous (restored) 1967 BSA A65 Lightning 650

Another view of the Norton "big single".

Triumph TR6C with the "Triumph of Burbank" license plate frame

Matchless 500 single. For Sale!