My favorite Harley is the mid thirties 61c.i. Overhead valve E or EL models offering sporty 1000cc of engine in a beautiful machine. Engineering detail which epitomized the technology of its day.
The very distinctive valve covers give the bike its unofficial name looking like a clenched knuckle.
A period article extols the virtues of the good oil supply used to cool these power thirsty engines.
We had a day out to Milwaukee… Finally went to the Harley Davison Museum.
I static test rode a Fat Boy: comfy saddle and fairly slick operation. The wind-blown effect was an (appropriately orange) fan.
Early grey fellows commenced a yearly procession of models. Basically bicycles with engines in ’em!
A wall of engines: flathead, knuckle, pan, evo… Even the BMW-like flat twin for desert warfare. The rorting sounds could be conjured at the press on an interaction screen.
One view was a complete motorcycle…
Another its component parts…
Beautiful examples of all golden age bikes.
And an illuminated wall of tanks of the ages.
A worthwhile destination when visiting Wisconsins Brew City.
Memorial Day Weekend: when we remember those who died so the free can be. Countrywide events include motorcycle gatherings and ride-outs. It’s mostly the Hog crowds and their shiny tasseled Harley Davidsons. Leather vested with middle age tattoos and members of some group or other. Here’s the flyer for a Souther event “Not recommended for children”.
Got Air?
The two major American motorcycle makers have bikes going back well into the last Century.
Here is an original condition 1915 Indian from Springfield MA. Just needs a few essentials for a go at the Coast-to-Coast Cannonball Run.
In another corner sitting idly and in more complete condition is a late 30’s/early 40’s Harley Davidson Knucklehead. My favourite Milwaukee Moto.
Again both are located in Pickers Store …. Photos by Dean Rennie.
This is Zora. We took her in nearly a year ago from the streets. She was very loud out in minus 20’s. Well. 12 months on she’s well and truly ensconced into our home, and kind of in charge too. Greyhound Geordie keeps to his corner of the house and Charley-cat minds his own business too.
She’d suit a loud moto too!
Back in the fifties and sixties this was the case! The agile powerful motos from the motherland came and conquered. On road, track and trail they chewed ’em up and spat ’em out in the dust behind. What tea party? Get the kettle on!
A new Thruxton in racing red sits aside a blazing blue sixties repli-Thruxton. Eeny meeny miney mo!
The best V-Twin Harley Davidson made: from the thirties… The Knucklehead just looks the business for the original Route 66.
A motorcyclists Norton indeed: big tank, short pipes, rear sets and a belt primary drive. This one hailed from Ontario Canada. I like it!
One of my favorite aspects of motorcycling is looking at the pure lines of the chassis, engine, wheels, tank, seat and other components that make it go and stop.
Just look at this Parilla: its tight form creates a swallow-like appearance of swiftness. The arched rear sub frame echoed on the tanks pinstripe. The little motor resting perfectly in its cradle. Even the ebony bum-stop perch reflects the Matt black exhaust pipe. Symmetry in motion.
Honda clocks: coordinated information. Instead of two separate ‘meters a single one with optimistic speedo stretched over a vertical odometer. Beside it the tach repeats a sweep of revs alongside its neighboring needle.
Indian Head: a Chiefs front fender with starkly contrasting whitewall sides and black rim adorned with the backlit stern featured ornament.
The other Colonial iron, here a sweetly pinstriped tank surrounds the clocks firebird-like. Die gripped gear lever hints at this moto’s age. A late 30’s Knucklehead.
Modern tin: the polished alloy big racetank is always a thing to admire. Especially when it sits securely atop a stout twin engine of Triumph fame. The brown leather seat cover adds the custom touch.
On this day in 1859 the first major publication defining evolutionary biology was introduced to the public. It was met with some derision with many theologically based opponents not likingj the idea we had evolved from some tree swinging simian. Charles Darwin was the author using scientifically acquired data from his HMS Beagle trip around the globe.
Well, we aren’t evolved from chimps… The apes, monkeys and homo sapiens are all evolved from a common mammal; way, way back in the past. The timescale is inconceivable by reply most: millions of years – that’s thousands of TIMES longer than the few thousand years of recorded history. Motorcycles? Well all current motos can hark back to the simple Daimler engine on a velocipede. Some heading along an lkkroute of cruiser fee twins, others sharply defined sports bikes. Yet more well set up for the long road or simple for city commuting. But a modern high performance Triumph Daytona isn’t ‘evolved’ from a twentieth century 2013 Harley Davidson Road King..
Oddly enough one of the newer motors in a Harley is called an Evolution… Still half a century behind modern bikes Evolution. That’s practically thousands of millennia in evolutionary terms!
Happy Evolution Day.
Half a Century ago today two shots rang out from a building across an open space in Dallas towards the presidential motorcade. They hit their target and history’s path was realigned drastically. Jack, the King and his Queen Jackie were taking America into a new and inspired future. Adventures of a growing democratic superpower. The sky had no limit.
…but Oswald put paid to that destiny. Even though the open top Lincoln was surrounded by Secret Service and a Harley riding escort the commanding view gained from the sixth floor aerie in the Texas Book Depository opened a huge chink in that armor and the crosshairs won.
The motorcycles were typically American: Harley Davidson.
The motos were 1963 FL Duo Glide police models. (Duo Glide means it had BOTH front AND rear suspension). As we know conspiracy theories abound; but I think Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone and wanted to be a piece of history. An interesting alternate history novel could be written where Kennedy wasn’t shot, and a decades long strong America under Jack, Bobby, and later son John ran the show…
The Peter Gabriel song Family Snapshot tells of would be assassin Arthur Bremer and his attempted shooting of presidential candidate George Wallace in 1972; though its lyrics reflect events in Dallas a decade earlier.
…They’re coming ’round the corner with the bikers at the front
I’m wiping the sweat from my eyes
-It’s a matter of time
-It’s a matter of will
And the governor’s car is not far behind
He’s not the one I’ve got in mind
‘Cos there he is-the man of the hour, standing in the limousine
“I don’t really hate you
-I don’t care what you do
We were made for each other
-Me and you
I want to be somebody
-You were like that too
If you don’t get given you learn to take
And I will take you.”
Holding my breath
Release the catch
And I let the bullet fly…
The drive across Wisconsin yesterday allowed many chances to see riders cruise along while the local scenery passed by. Here’s a pair on their Harley speeding along on I-90 east of La Crosse.
A fluid exercise in ink line brushwork. A sweep here, curl there and swooping execution of a classic motorcycle scene in monochromatic depth. Boy meets girl, boy shows off motorcycle to girl. Boy and girl plan trip across Dorset to the next teashop…
Dave Grohl: screaming frontman to Foo Fighters and once drummer to grunge band Nirvana as well as latter day percussionist to Them Crooked Vultures. He enjoys two-wheels too; though I must make a departure from Brit Iron for a post, he love the potato-potato drumming beat of a Harley.
One notable two-wheeler was seen last evening at the Auto Show: a custom Harley Davidson propped up next to an all black ’69 GTO. The engine was a shiny piece of art and the cycle work a careful balance of cleanliness and line. For example the rear drum brake was hydraulically activated with the line running within the frame tubes, a suicide gear lever under the left thigh and omitted front brake as well as the throttle lines inside the handlebars created the perfect minimal handlebars. p.s. this moto is actually an award winning custom chopper by Gas Monkey Garage which is televised for The Discovery Channel’s Fast ‘n’Loud show.
The black car? A slick ripplin’ black highway speedster.
Here’s a stock photo of FRED, in the desert… The rose color looks canny under a bright sun with a scrub landscape behind it and blacktop stretching into the distance.
Rufus T. Firefly: “I’m in a hurry! To the House of Representatives! Ride like fury! If you run out of gas, get ethyl. If Ethel runs out, get Mabel! Now step on it!”
The Freedonia ruler in ‘Duck Soup’ along with the small kingdoms agent provocateurs Pinky and Chicolini use a ’26 Harley Davidson JS outfit to get about from escapade to escapade. These three are of course Groucho, Chico and Harpo – as well as straight man Zeppo. The silent one taking the reins of this ride.
“Hello, I must be going, I cannot stay,
I came to say, I must be going.
I’m glad I came, but just the same,
I must be going.”
geordiebiker.com 