Pentagon Representative
Thanks for the WLA photos for reference, and I'm glad you had a great trip to Australia. You represent our country well - Long Live the USA !
Lend / Lease WLAs
Since about 80,000 Harley-Davidson WLAs were manufactured between 1941 and 1952, they are found in almost every country of the world. This photo shows a group of bikes destined for Greece. My brother was just in Australia on business and saw a WLA proudly displayed in museum. The British and Soviet government used WLAs extensively during the war. The 1950-1952 WLAs were manufactured for the Korean War and military police. The Lend-Lease program basically had the US Gov't giving motorcycles to other countries (for cash and other services). The Greeks must have sent a ship full of gyros for this shipment!
Mini Bikes !
No matter what age you are - 5 to 95 . . . if you like motorcycles - you like mini bikes. The top photo is from Brat of Japan. The lower photo(Super Brute) is from Mason City, Iowa. The "Brute" is the only motorcycle I really liked at the MC Show. Not much there - but the Super Brute was worth the price of admission (I got in Free !)
XR-1200 Modified
I agree with Chopper Dave - this is how Harley should have done it. A modern day cafe racer style with fiberglass seat section and fairing. The cafe bar-and-shield on the tank adds the finishing touch. Nice job whoever did it - and a mopar nut ta boot !
Great Horned Owl
Every night around 9:30-10:30pm . . . and then in the morning about 6am - we hear this hooty hoot, hooty hoot . . . then a cap cap cap cap. I searched the net and found a website that had the calls of owls. What we have in our neighborhood are Great Horned Owls. I believe a pair of them - possibly more? They've never been here before. I looked out the other morning - and it looked like a small boy sitting in the tree in the backyard. Then he took off in flight. The branch he was on bowed - and bent as he flew away. A big sucker. When they hoot - you can hear it though the entire neighborhood - kinda neat - kinda spooky. They eat rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, bats, birds, chickens(they walk right in the chicken coop and grab 'em) fish, ducks, crows and small dogs and cats ! (Look Out Morty !) The owl might be sorry trying to tangle with Morty. The Great Horned Owl has 500 lbs of crushing power in it's talons. Whoa. Since I like all animals, it's neat to have them around.
1922 JD
A couple more pics of the JD for "Old Timer" - Hope they help? This motorcycle was displayed last weekend at the Donnie Smith Show in St. Paul, MN. Wish it was mine !
Donnie Smith Show
Nice weather, cool bikes, not a lot of people, not many old parts, a few deals, long drive, good ice cream, had a little fun - that about sums it up. Can you believe I restrained myself from buying another t-shirt? A good mix of old and new iron. We didn't even see Donnie Smith (he must be too important to be at his own show all the time)??? The best bike(if I could have any one) was probably a 1922 Harley-Davidson JD Model (fuel tank pictured)
Hux gets some paint . . . .
'Bout a month back, a bro from Rochester giv me his lid. Wanted some paint. Jazz'd it up a bit - you dig? Now he ain't square no mo. He be kool now. Git it on - Ride Free - Live to Ride - Ride to Live - Drink Guinness !
WLA Engine Installation
It's always a great feeling when the time comes to install your newly rebuilt mill into the frame. You get all the proper fasteners ready. You clear a path from the bench to the motorcycle. You grab the cylinders, and hold the engine against your chest. It's heavy. 45s are rather light. Knuckles are heavy. Sportsters are the heaviest (especially ironheads) You gently set the engine in place - line up all the holes. Get it straight with the trans, snug up the back, check the front with a feeler gauge (shim if necessary), snug up the front . . . . away we go. Now sit back and crack a cold one and stare at your work. It's a beautiful thing !Ironhead Digger
This neat little ironhead Sportster chopper was spotted at the Sturgis 1/2 mile. A bit dusty - it looked the part. This bike had a cool Paughco-style tank with nice paint and leather work. Chopper fender, customized frame, cool pipes, springer . . . "Can you dig it?" I'm diggin' it - you dig?
Speedway
Pictured is Bruce Penhall, former professional speedway champion. Speedway bikes run on alcohol and make tons of horsepower - in a light chassis - these things are brutal. Crossed up and sliding, they make quick work of 1/4 or 3/8 mile indoor tracks and coliseums. Penhall cleaned up in the USA, then went to Europe and kicked ass. Then he was on C.H.I.P.S. with John and Ponch for a few episodes. Speedway is still hot - especially in So. Cal. But, it's hard to read the sponsers on the rear wheel when they're racing.
Tiny & Wally
Two friends at Davenport just before goin' in to see the flat-track. Bromie let us park at his swap booth and he'd watch the bikes. We sat in the stands with Noot, Dave T, DA, Cyn, Miller & Co., Wezie and Frost. We watched Bake race - he kicked ass and got 2nd behind that fucking Jawa. It was fun. I plan on doing it again this year. If you never been to the Chief Blackhawk Chapter AMCA Swap Meet and Races in Davenport, Iowa over Labor Day weekend . . . get your plane ticket or gas up your scoot and go check it out. Camping at the event. Spring has sprung !
V-Max
I saw a commercial finally for the new Yamaha V-Max. They had one on display at Sturgis . . . and Cycle City in Rochester has one in the window. I think the new ones are kinda ugly - too gawdy. Our little town has like 10 registered V-Max motorcycles running around town (for only 7,000 people - that's a lot) They should get together and start a club. The V-Max above apparantly wasn't fast enough - needed nitrous oxide (and a now a new back tire).Photo: Courtesy of Noot's Custom Cycles archives
1972 Sportster
When Harley-Davidson introduced the Sportster for 1972, it now had a 1000cc engine. Same stroke of 3 13/16, just a little bigger bore and slightly redesigned heads. A lot of guys went and bought one or traded their older "900" bikes. However, the '72 just didn't have the power for some reason. The clutch was now a wet system. Just not the same.Well, Noot went and got himself one, tweaked it a little with some porting and carb work, played with the gearing - and the thing ran low 13s. Not too bad. 1973 saw a disc brake up front and the 1000 Sporty was here to stay. Check the custom manual bike lift and sissy bar - must be getting ready for Indy or Sturgis??? (Note: Noot sold this particular bike to a family friend in Clear Lake - and I worked on it and got the thing running again last year)
Spares
Ask anyone that runs "old iron" and they'll tell you they got spares. I'm talkin' extra sets of contact breaker points, spark plugs (I like Autolight 4316s), masterlinks, tubes, cables, gears, bushings, etc, etc, etc. You've just got to have some extra parts if you need them, since the local HD shop probably don't carry it. Since you have to buy the stuff when you see it - and not necessarily when you need it - you forget what you have in stock. So, I like to go look at all my spares in the basement - and get a "mental inventory." Hmmmmm - I see I'm running low on 4.00-18 metal center valve tubes . . .
Las Vegas early days . . .
A scene from the early days of Vegas. The days before 10% unemployment, foreclosures and the population boom. Las Vegas was featured on CBS Good Morning on Sunday. It featured the showgirls of Folies Bergere at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino and their story about the show ending after 50 some years. The Las Vegas economy may be slow - but, it'll be back. People like to have fun. It's in their nature. Just the like group of friends above. Choppers, friends and good times. Have a great week everybody !
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