The Connecticut Annual Fall Motorcycle Swap Meet and Bike Show took place this weekend at the Stafford Motor Speedway. Clear skies and sixty-degree weather drew a lot of vendors and a huge crowd. The beauty of going to motorcycle swap meets is digging in a $5 box and pulling out a $50 part. If you want something shiny, you’re probably in the wrong place. Anything else, and you’ll probably find it at a swap meet. As usual, I took a bunch of pictures and respected the privacy of those tattooed long-beards and their prospects. They could very well be the most photogenic people I’ve ever seen, but I’ll never know.

Just outside the gait was this vintage beaut made by Indian:

With the holiday season closing in, Santa’s younger crowd had to be drooling over these mini bikes. Here’s a Toyoco, sold by K-Mart in the 1970s. Asking price now is $400.

Three circa 1973 Honda Trail CT 70…these are just beautiful!

1970 Honda QA-50 2-speed automatic, runs good but smokes

Even this 1955 Cushman Eagle, for $2,600, would make a fine gift.

For $1,800, this 1968 BSA 441 Victor Special can be yours!

Now here’s putting a roll cart and four milk crates to good use.

Perennial favorites are the patch ladies.

Check out The Slipper Lady’s boots.

Vintage black leather kidney belt with studs and jewels

Belts for the rest of us.

Here’s a 1932 VL, 95% complete and 95% restored. Asking price, $10,900

How would you like to take a ride on this 2009 Ural Gear-Up 750 with camouflage paint scheme?

V.T. Cycles from Poland, Maine was there with the Ural sidecar (above) and this Royal Enfield Bullet Electra X. Beautiful bike.

Used parts galore!

1972 Harley-Davidson 45 for $5,500

1972 Suzuki T500, $1,800:

1979 Yamaha SR500, $1,800:

A herd of Triumphs:

1967 Heald Super Bronc, asking price $800. The owner took it for a lap around the swap meet. It appeared to run pretty good!

Tiger Cub races at Stafford Motor Speedway on Monday nights, 5 to 7 year-round, fun and cheap, ready to race, $17. A lot of Tiger Cub racers started racing at 5 years old.

The owner of this 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA Model did a number of laps around the swap meet.

All Out War Cycles was a popular hangout for guys looking for the hottest-selling items.

Here’s a Pope in need of a 1915 HD tranny.

This colorful show bike caught my eye:

This custom Street Glide is beautiful too. Check out the frenched-in turn signals.

I think this is a circa 1970 Honda Trail CT90:

Twin anniversary edition Electa-Glides

Live music by Ron Jones. That man can sing!

This lady was a wee bit wobbly on her Sportster. It was her first time on a bike in 11 years.

Upcoming swap meets:

• Top of the Heap Motorcycle Swap Meet & Bike Show, December 5, 2009 at Mass Mutual Center, Springfield, MA, 10 am to 4 pm. Enter your bike in the Top of the Heap Bike Show. Win cash and trophies, $500 to best of show. Live music with Ron Jones. Tattoo contest. Spectators $10, children under 12 free; dealers $65-100.
• Connecticut’s Annual Spring Motorcycle Swap Meet, March 28, 2010 at Stafford Speedway, 7 am to 4 pm, rain or shine. Music by Ron Jones. Antique/Custom Bike Show. Spectators $7, vendors $25