LIFE Magazines with Motorcycle related Articles and Advertising

LIFE Magazines with Motorcycle - related content :
Covers, articles, photos, art, ads, more.

LIFE Magazine content presents an interesting view of motorcycling through the last 70 years
Check it out! - Motorcycles, Mini-bikes, Scooters, Motorcyclists, Motorcycle Racing, Motorcyle Cops, Sidecars, More.

Covers	All those related to motorcycles in any way.
Articles and other editorial content	Includes feature articles, news stories, lone photos, mention of motorcyclists, and such.
Advertisements	Includes non-product ads where they occur.

Collected here is the Motorcycle related content of LIFE magazine that we have found thus far.
Where an issue has motorcycle content in more than one category, it is listed in all applicable categories.
We've given many (but not all) of the names and such - if you need more information about something, please ask.
Each time we grade a new batch of magazines we find a couple more items and add them to this page.

To see if a magazine is in stock, go to the appropriate "year" page using the pull-down menus above.
To search this Motorcycle History page, use the "Edit-Find" feature in your browser tool bar.

Covers – Motorcycle related (View the Covers by rolling down this page - in chronological order on the right )
Life Magazine July 12, 1963 : Cover - Steve McQueen riding his motorcycle with his wife Neile.
Steve McQueen, "The Bad Boy's Breakout, photos by John Dominis.

Life Magazine August 14, 1970 : Summer Nomads - Motorcycle art, family traveling.
Special Summer travel Section includes : Caravans on the open road (cool photo of long line of Airstream trailers, more), Houseboats on the busy waters (includes houseboat the Janet II), Youth in Its Frustrated Festivals (Powder Ridge, skinny dippers, drugs, Dr. William Abruzzi) and Venturers abroad on trains (mostly in Europe, neat photo of scooter/motorcycle/bicycle = moped).

Life Magazine February 5, 1971 : Cover - World War II Cartoonist Bill Mauldin's Willie and Joe look at the New Army, photo of Fort Carson soldier John Geurts and his own chopper motorcycle (feature on Bill Mauldin's characters viewing the new army).

Articles and other editorial content – Motorcycle related
Life Magazine March 15, 1929 :
Motorcycle cartoon by G. B. Inwood.

Life Magazine September 20, 1937 :
Nice photo of starlet Jean Chatburn on an Indian motorcycle.

Life Magazine May 27, 1940 :
Photos of the British Army rescuing Belgium (temporarily) including neat photo of motorcycle with side car.

Life Magazine September 2, 1940 :
Neat photo (page and a half) of Wendell Wilkie in a parade, beginning his campaign, includes motorcycle outriders.

Life Magazine September 9, 1940 :
Photo of the crazy results of a motorcycle crash in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, rider Vernon Voltz.

Life Magazine May 26, 1941 :
Air ministry releases official account of the Battle of Britain – a book, includes muddy photo of jeeps and motorcycles with sidecars.

Life Magazine August 4, 1941 :
Photo essay – British women at war, including photos of women in various jobs such as the Dispatch rider on a motorcycle.

Life Magazine March 8, 1943 :
Super full page color Bell Aircraft ad - Airacobra over military motorcycle with sidecar.

Life Magazine August 23, 1943 :
Full page photo of Wendell Willkie riding his new tiny motor bike, 100 MPG.

Life Magazine June 26, 1944 :
Americans take over Rome, includes curious photo of what looks like a motorcycle pulling a large wagon full of about forty men.

Life Magazine December 17, 1945 :
Los Angeles fights rise in traffic accidents, includes nice photo of motorcycle cops.

Life Magazine July 21, 1947 :
Motorcyclists' convention terrorizes town, Hollister, California, looks like a Harley Davidson surrounded by empty beer bottles in photo.

Life Magazine August 11, 1947 :
Life goes Motorcycling, includes photos of "Tex" Taggart, Dorothy Robinson and Betty Robinson and others, Friendly Riders Club of Worcester, Massachusetts, Indian motorcycle.

Life Magazine December 1, 1947 :
Young cyclist, Donny Emory, motorcyclist at age 6 and Leif Ekberg at 4.

Life Magazine April 19, 1948 :
Reckless motorcyclists, the Daytona Beach races, 12th annual national championship motorcycle races, 2 dead and 30 injured, includes photo of Norman Teleford.

Life Magazine September 13, 1948 :
Hell Drivers - sports, stunt drivers, Joie Chitwood's Auto Daredevils, includes a flaming motorcycle jump.

Life Magazine June 20, 1949 :
Travel - the Rocky road to Rio, Paul Harder and Dick Walker motorcycle to Rio de Janeiro.

Life Magazine July 11, 1949 :
Cool full page photo of ranks and ranks of motorcycles, Los Angeles' motorcycle police force.

Life Magazine August 8, 1949 :
Motorcycles enter the mainstream in California, great photos of early cycles.

Life Magazine August 29, 1949 :
Boy photographer snaps motorcycle death, Alan Howe and John Kenyon (Sioux Falls).

Life Magazine June 12, 1950 :
The "Mr. First" rivalry between Omero Catan and George Horn, Brooklyn - Battery Tunnel, includes photo of motorcyclists Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian Conti who were the real firsts.

Life Magazine July 3, 1950 :
Photo of Motorcycle officer Herb Elvander being chased by a steer.

Life Magazine November 12, 1951 :
NYC Mayor Vincent Impellitteri visits Italy and Israel, includes photo of mini motorcycle he saw in Italy - looks like a scooter.

Life Magazine November 10, 1952 :
Close-up - Anti-communist funnyman, Giovannino Guareschi, includes photo of him on motorcycle in Italy.

Life Magazine April 20, 1953 :
Horrible photo (horrible for the horse) of crashed Paul Revere ride, next to motorcycle cop.

Life Magazine September 28, 1953 :
Photos of some of the cars and "The Brute" motorcycle in the Hot Rod Time Trials at the Bonneville salt flats, Utah - Leroy Homes, Harvey Haller, Don Waite and others.

Life Magazine October 26, 1953 :
Photo of a motorcycle crash in the Junior Manx Grand Prix road race on the Isle of Man, Ireland.

Life Magazine May 3, 1954 :
Runaway motorcycle slams into a Carolina crowd, Shriner motorcycle without rider.

Life Magazine July 5, 1954 :
Photos of bicycle safety school, looks like a motorcycle safety class, White Plains, New York (no motorcycles, just same set up).

Life Magazine January 17, 1955 :
Neat photo of Roine Loeow at Uppsala, Sweden doing a trick on his motorcycle as the front wheel assembly comes off!

Life Magazine September 26, 1955 :
Photo of motorcyclists wearing gas mask in Los Angeles smog.

Life Magazine October 10, 1955 :
Vaughn Monroe and Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots ballad.

Life Magazine October 24, 1955 :
Jack Muller is the Terror of Chicago's drivers, traffic cop, includes photo of him on his motorcycle.

Life Magazine March 24, 1958 :
Photo of Jesse Horelica crashing his motorcycle during a race.

Life Magazine March 30, 1959 :
Spring is here and U.S. campuses herald it with riots, argument over girls and a new fad - phone booth stuffing, article includes photo with big motorcycle with policeman, Ryerson Tech, St. Mary's (telephone booth best photo).

Life Magazine April 27, 1959 :
Neat large photo of very snowy motorcycle club scramble in Palmerton, Pennsylvania.

Life Magazine August 3, 1959 :
The crazy race from Paris to London, includes roller skates, jets, helicopters, motorcycles, more.

Life Magazine August 17, 1959 :
Anne Marie Rasmussen and Steven Rockefeller and their fairy tale romance, includes nice photo of them motorcycling.

Life Magazine September 28, 1959 :
Two page photo of massive motorcades with lots and lots of motorcycle policemen for Khrushchev.

Life Magazine April 18, 1960 :
Dr. Tom Dooley does medical work in North Vietnam, includes a nice photo of him with Charlotte Jones on a Scooter.

Life Magazine November 14, 1960 :
Photo of boxer dog Katie riding on motorcycle with owner Franklin Driscoll.

Life Magazine April 10, 1964 :
Funny photo of two policeman and police dog Karl, all riding on a single motorcycle in Nottingham.

Life Magazine April 23, 1965 :
Zingy lightweight motorcycles - some got 200 miles per gallon! - with excellent two page color illustration.

Life Magazine February 4, 1966 :
GREAT full page photo of Edward Barbee of Columbia, Missouri riding his motorcycle with broken leg in cast and crutches strapped to front, yes, he broke it while motorcycling.

Life Magazine August 25, 1967 :
Close-up of film-maker Bruce Brown, with a great photo of him jumping his BSA motorcycle.

Life Magazine 1968 Harvard Lampoon Parody Issue :
Quite a humorous parody series of photos of motorcycle crash, doctors removing organs (for transplant), throwing them to delivery van.

Life Magazine January 12, 1968 :
Ben Davidson - Oakland football star, includes photo of him on a motorcycle.

Life Magazine March 28, 1969 :
Movies - Arlo Guthrie's famous song, "Alice's Restaurant", becomes a film, includes photo of Alice Brock with Arlo Guthrie, photo of guys riding their motorcycles into a church (no longer a church), Ray Brock and other members of motorcycle club.
Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, includes many photos, one of sons on mini-bikes.

Life Magazine July 18, 1969 :
Full page photo of big motorcycle cop kneeling down to talk to driver in little car, license plate ZDJ 360 California.

Life Magazine September 19, 1969 :
Interesting editors' note on Melvin Maddocks and his interest in motorcycles, includes photo.
Veteran combat photographer Larry Burrows reports on the South Vietnamese mood after years of war, includes the famous photo of the woman wailing over her husband's remains, and a neat photo of lots of motorcycles in a parking lot, people making homes out of unused sewer pipes, American troops ambushed near Dakto, more.

Life Magazine September 26, 1969 :
Lana Turner, back to work in stormy new TV series - The Survivors, photos include seventh husband Ronald Dante with his motorcycle.
Full page color Honda motorcycle ad for the Mini trail bike, with full-sized man riding it.

Life Magazine May 8, 1970 :
Joan Didion writes a column pertaining to watching nine motorcycle movies in seven days.

Life Magazine June 19, 1970 :
Graduation 1970 - it never looked like this before, big feature article includes nice photo of Mitchell Toll and Marilyn Ackerman motorcycling away, still in their gowns

Life Magazine August 7, 1970 :
Joe Namath, football player, stars in movie, "C.C. and Company" includes great large color photo of him on a chopper motorcycle.

Life Magazine August 14, 1970 :
Special Summer travel Section includes : Caravans on the open road (cool photo of long line of Airstream trailers, more), Houseboats on the busy waters (includes houseboat the Janet II), Youth in Its Frustrated Festivals (Powder Ridge, skinny dippers, drugs, Dr. William Abruzzi) and Venturers abroad on trains (mostly in Europe, neat photo of scooter/motorcycle/bicycle = moped).

Life Magazine October 2, 1970 :
Saturday morning TV's "Lance Link, Secret Chimp", includes photo of chimps riding chopper motorcycles with training wheels.
Agostino 'o Paxxo, the Madman motorcyclist of Naples, Antonio Mellino.

Life Magazine January 8, 1971 :
Four-day work week, includes photos of Don Carr and Philip Lansdale; Jack Petersen, Jeff Boyersmith, Jim Dunn, Billy Burden, Joe Giba (includes midget race car), Tony Noce, Fred Houston, Connie Wilbur (includes photo of her and son on motorcycle), Wally Hoare.
Nice sunset silhouette photo of motorcyclist on the prairie near Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Life Magazine January 22, 1971 :
Minibike craze, little motorcycles with very small wheels, includes Jackie Morris, Steve Sisco, Jackie Meek.

Life Magazine July 9, 1971 :
Full page movie poster ad with motorcycle photo art for the movie "On Any Sunday."

Life Magazine September 3, 1971 :
Two page color photo of dusty motorcycle scene, 650 cyclists in 75 mile race in California Mojave Desert.

Life Magazine September 17, 1971 :
Sad pair of photo of Alessandro Floris attempting to stop the thieves stealing the payroll on a scooter, then being shot to death, Genoa.

Life Magazine October 8, 1971 :
Actress Judith Lowry, includes photo of her riding side-saddle on the back of her grandson's Honda motorcycle.

Life Magazine December 31, 1971 :
Small photo of Kerry Kleid, first licensed woman motorcycle racer.

Life Magazine March 24, 1972 :
Record motorcycle leap simultaneously by Gary Davis and Rex Blackwell over 21 cars.

Life Magazine July 7, 1972 :
Two page color photo, Fort Hood, Texas - combat motorcycles, sometimes armed with rockets!

Life Magazine Winter 1975 :
Evel Knievel jumps the snake river canyon on his motorcycle with a parachute.

Life Magazine July 1980 :
Super full page color photo of motorcyclist Bob Pounds riding with his dog in California, blue Honda, black and white dog.

Life Magazine March 1983 :
After Grace, Monaco's royal family recovers : an exclusive visit plus a talk with Prince Rainier, includes nice large photo of Prince Albert on a Garelli Rexoro motorcycle.
Nice full page color Yamaha Riva scooters ad.

Life Magazine October 1986 :
Full page color photo of 187 foot long Harly Davidson motorcycle hot air balloon, made for Malcolm Forbes.

Life Magazine September 1988 :
Short piece and photo of Annie Potts and Robert Hays with a custom Harley Davidson motorcycle, the new generation of stars prize two wheels - movie producers have begun to put a no-ride clause in their contracts.

Life Magazine December 1992 :
New anti-Semitism in Latvia, includes photo of Aizsargi with old sidecar motorcycle.

Life Magazine June 1994 :
Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell on his Harley motorcycle.

Life Magazine May 1995 :
Little photo of 84-year-old Vishnu Maya "Aama" riding on a motorcycle with Broughton Coburn (I beleive).

Advertisements – Motorcycle related
Though the product being advertised may not be the most interesting part of these ads, I've highlighted product names to help those seeking specific ads. I believe all scooter references are motor scooters, not the kind pushed with a foot.

Life Magazine April 19, 1937 :
Cute full page color Chesterfield cigarettes ad with woman on red scooter motorbike, male hiker.

Life Magazine May 20, 1940 :
Full page color Camel cigarettes ad with Jimmie Kelley champion Motor Cycle racer.

Life Magazine May 5, 1941 :
Great full page color Pontiac ad with Policeman on motorcycle.

Life Magazine September 22, 1941 :
Full page Paul Jones whiskey ad with camel and motorcycle cop.

Life Magazine March 9, 1942 :
Nice full page Woodbury soap ad with Betty Cordon and motorcycle.

Life Magazine March 16, 1942 :
Super fantastic full page color White Rock sparkling mineral water ad with nymph on motorcycle.

Life Magazine July 27, 1942 :
Full page "March of Time" radio show from New Delhi with really neat photo of a rank of Indians on cool old motorcycles.

Life Magazine September 7, 1942 :
Pretty risqué half page Blackstone Cigars ad with lady in teddy on scooter.

Life Magazine January 17, 1944 :
Full page color Camels cigarettes ad on back cover with military men on motorcycles, several photos - Iron Ponies, plus war plant worker Dorothy Canavor.

Life Magazine August 21, 1944 :
The coolest full page color Sky Chief gasoline ad with motorcycle cop.

Life Magazine June 17, 1946 :
Nice full page color Ford ad with red V-8 car and motorcycle.

Life Magazine September 23, 1946 :
Fun full page Ethyl gasoline ad with motorcycle cop "Which drivers would you ticket?"

Life Magazine May 10, 1948 :
Rather neat full page Camel cigarettes ad with cartoon art of Clem Murdaugh, Motorcycle Hill climbing champion.

Life Magazine May 31, 1948 :
VERY NEAT full page color ad for the 1948 Whizzer bike motor, looks like a motor meant to go on a bicycle to make a motorcycle of sorts.

Life Magazine March 9, 1953 :
Full page color Four Roses whiskey ad with the most lovely old motorcycle, big white sidewalls, yellow rims.

Life Magazine July 6, 1953 :
Humorous two page color General Motors ad featuring service station and motorcycle policeman writing up a newly married couple for having stuff dragging behind their car.

Life Magazine August 2, 1954 :
Neat half page Bayer Aspirin ad with racing motorcycle.

Life Magazine April 4, 1955 :
Half page America Fore Insurance Group ad with nice art of a motorcycle policeman.

Life Magazine September 15, 1958 :
Nice full page Robt. Burns Cigarillos ad with couple on scooter motorbike.

Life Magazine September 28, 1959 :
Nice full page Imperial whiskey ad with people on scooters.
Two page League of Honest Coffee Lovers ad with woman on scooter and man (knight) on a horse.

Life Magazine January 18, 1960 :
Cute full page ad for TV picture tube replacements, featuring a Vidiot on a scooter.

Life Magazine May 10, 1963 :
Nice full page color Honda ad with Honda 50 motorcycle scooter in redwood forest.

Life Magazine March 5, 1965 :
Full page Mutual of New York Insurance (MONY) ad with motorcycle cop Robert Adam, California.

Life Magazine July 16, 1965 :
Charming full page color Honda motorcycle ad with very small cycle, father and son, giraffes in the background.

Life Magazine July 23, 1965 :
Full page Suzuki motorcycle ad, Lawrence Schiller photo of cowboy using motorcycle to cut yearlings from a bison herd in Custer State Park, South Dakota.

Life Magazine May 13, 1966 :
Full page black and white Ducati motorcycle ad, for the connoisseur.

Life Magazine March 10, 1967 :
Super illustrated color ad for Triumph motorcycles.

Life Magazine April 21, 1967 :
Another point in motorcycling history, the Harley Davidson M-65 motorcycle, half page color ad.

Life Magazine May 12, 1967 :
Two page color ad for the Honda Trail 90 motorcycle. Interesting back page photo of man high jumping, angle of photo just shows his feet and hips, no head or arms.

Life Magazine July 7, 1967 :
Two page color ad for Honda motorcycles, Trail 90, Honda 50, Sport 50, and Rally.

Life Magazine July 28, 1967 :
Very nice color ad for the Honda trail 90 motorcycle, shows hip woman and nerdy boyfriend.
Half page Harley-Davidson motorcycle ad featuring the Rapido 125 (some view this as a low point in Harley motors history).

Life Magazine May 9, 1969 :
Full page color Honda motorcycle ad for the Mini Trail.

Life Magazine April 24, 1970 :
Cool two page color Honda motorcycle ad for the mini trail bikes.

Life Magazine April 9, 1971 :
Full page color Suzuki ad with motorcycle and sunset shore scene.

Life Magazine April 23, 1971 :
Full page color Suzuki motorcycle ad with a blue 125 street legal on a dirt trail.
Full page color Honda mini motorcycles ad.

Life Magazine June 25, 1971 :
Lovely two page color Honda mini motorcycles ad with family riding through fall colors on a nice dirt road.

Life Magazine April 21, 1972 :
Two page Honda ad with full page color photo of father, son, SL-70 motorcycle.

Life Magazine May 26, 1972 :
Two page color Honda ad with lots of different Honda motorcycles and mini-bikes.

Life Magazine July 14, 1972 :
Nice full page Honda motorcycle ad, they are now showing helmets more regularly.

Life Magazine August 4, 1972 :
Nice colorful two page Yamaha ad with lots of photos of different motorcycles and different uses.

Life Magazine December 1, 1972 :
Neat full page Honda motorcycle ad with giant Christmas stocking.

Life Magazine December 1978 :
Neat full page color Honda ad with 4 different motorcycles or minibikes, a three-wheelers, and two scooter type bikes.

Life Magazine December 1979 :
Two page color Suzuki motorcycle ad features many different children's motorcycles.

Life Magazine March 1980 :
Two page color Honda ad with CB125S, CM400E, and 194 cc TwinStar motorcycles and the exhortation to always wear a helmet and eye protection.

Life Magazine May 1980 :
Quite nice full page color Honda Express ad with part art, part photo - 100 mpg, air conditioning, home economics, choice seating.

Life Magazine June 1980 :
Full page color Suzuki ad with the cutest little motorcycle and a huge St. Bernard dog, JR-50.

Life Magazine December 1980 :
Two page color Suzuki motorcycle ad for little motorcycles.

Life Magazine March 1981 :
Two page color Suzuki motorcycle ad with the GS-450L and the GS-450E.

Life Magazine April 1981 :
Full page color Suzuki motorcycle ad with GS-250T and mother taking her son on a ride.

Life magazine January 1982 :
Nice four page color Honda motorcycle ad, including two page fold-out color of the Honda CX500 Turbo in white, grey, red, and black.

Life Magazine February 1982 :
Excellent two page color Honda ad with the Nighthawk 750 motorcycle in a night scene in front of Rosie's cafe.

Life Magazine April 1982 :
Two page color Honda ad with 250 Custom motorcycle in black and red.

Life Magazine June 1983 :
Nice full page Honda ad with various motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters, all with prices.
Two page color Camel cigarettes ad with neat old motorcycle.

Life Magazine September 1984 :
Pretty neat full page color Camel cigarettes ad with the manly man on an old motorcycle in a rugged wilderness scene.

Life Magazine July 1985 :
Two page color Sterling cigarettes ad with mid-air dirt bike in silhouette.

Life Magazine May 1986 :
A happy full page color movie poster ad for "Sweet Liberty" with Alan Alda and a motorcycle.

Life Magazine July 1986 :
Well done full page color Honda ad with Elite scooter and Jim McMahon, Chicago Transit Authority.

Life Magazine May 1988 :
Two page color Honda ad with Gold Wing motorcycle, Dean and Diane Thompson.
Two page Honda ad with XR motorcycles, Don and Sean Phillipson.
Two page color Honda ad with NX motorcycles, Mark Drake and girlfriend Pamela.

Life Magazine Spring 1989 :
Rather striking two page color Honda Pacific Coast motorcycle ad, almost no words, plus three more pages of nice Honda motorcylce ads.