Motorcycles

[Pat Riot]

2 hours ago, Alpo said:

But her bike weighed 390 pounds. I don't see a 95 pound girl doing a push start on that.

You have obviously been around lazy or weak women all your life. 
I knew a girl that was 5’2” and under 100 pounds. She rode a Yamaha Venture touring bike the size of a Goldwing. She could push start that bike and she could push it into 1st floor motel rooms to keep her bike from getting stolen in Mexico. 

[Blackwater 53393]

Real motorcyclists who have any experience can do all sorts of things that people who don’t ride can’t fathom!

 

Schoolmarm could pick her Sportster up when it was knocked over, all by herself! She could also clobber the idiot that knocked it over with her helmet!!

 

Back in the days before I eliminated the kick starter on my old Harley in favor of a six speed transmission, she could crank it just as well as I could!

 

Those old 45 cu. in. flatheads were pretty easy to kick start.  You were more likely to sprain your knee because the kick lever jumped a gear in the ratchet and dropped through than having it kick back.  Tuning and proper starting sequence are the key.

[sassnetguy50]

 

[Pat Riot]

1 hour ago, sassnetguy50 said:

 

About 10 years ago I was offered the chance to win a Trials Bike similar to the one in your post. 
At the time I was out of shape and overweight by about 50 pounds. 
I looked at the parts counter kid and said “Do I look like I would have a reason to want a dirt bike with no seat?”

Without missing a beat he said “Well if you win this bike could help you get back in shape.”

I laughed and bought a ticket. Proceeds went to a local charity. 
I didn’t win. 

 

[Subdeacon Joe]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6-xPjVo8cK/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

 

.

[Subdeacon Joe]

The 1937 Mercier Motor Chenille, commissioned for the French Military
 

[Blackwater 53393]

16 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6-xPjVo8cK/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

 

.

Ain’t a motorcycle!  It’s cool, but it ain’t a motorcycle…

[Subdeacon Joe]

1 minute ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

Ain’t a motorcycle!  It’s cool, but it ain’t a motorcycle…

 

Yeah, but we don't have a Quadricycle thread. 

[Blackwater 53393]

9 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

Yeah, but we don't have a Quadricycle thread. 

Triumph made quadricycles too!!

 

 

They called them automobiles!   
 

 

 

Edited June 28 by Blackwater 53393

[Subdeacon Joe]

On 5/14/2024 at 5:35 AM, Subdeacon Joe said:

I have not tried to verify this. 

'

"

In 1913 the brothers [Abernathy] Louis [Bud] age 13, and Temple age 9, rode from Oklahoma to New York City on the Indian Motorcycle seen in the photo. This was not the Abernathy boys firs adventure.

In 1909 the two brothers, Louis “Bud” aged nine and Temple five, encountered a host of Old West obstacles, including wolves and wild rivers, when they rode more than 1,000 miles from Oklahoma to Santa Fe and back – ALONE!.

The following year (1910) the brothers set their sights on New York City, which they reached after a month of hard riding.

In the summer of 1911, they did the impossible. They rode nearly 4,000 miles, from New York to San Francisco, in only sixty-two days. Once again, the Abernathy Boys had made a historic ride without any adult assistance and accomplished an equestrian feat which has never been equaled."

 

 

Another photo, must be the 1909 trip.

 

[Eyesa Horg]

4 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

Another photo, must be the 1909 trip.

 

Amazing how far the tires are settled in the dirt, yet no tracks! 

Edited June 28 by Eyesa Horg

[Subdeacon Joe]

1 minute ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Amazing how far the tires are settled in the dirt, yet no tracks! 

 

Maybe it had been sitting there for a few days.

[Alpo]

Funny. I always thought equestrian had to do with riding horses - equus Caballo.

 

Not sure how riding a motorcycle qualifies as an equestrian feat.

[sassnetguy50]

1 hour ago, Alpo said:

Funny. I always thought equestrian had to do with riding horses - equus Caballo.

 

Not sure how riding a motorcycle qualifies as an equestrian feat.

On a steel horse I ride.

[Pat Riot]

[Pat Riot]

BSA motorcycle. Same couple on the same motorbike in 1955 and 2015.

[Warden Callaway]

OK Road Warriors,  not knowing nothing about motorcycles, I have a question.  We fell in behind a cycle the other day that had ridiculous tall ape hanger handlebars.  His hand were above his head.  Looked like high surrender in SASS start position.  What possible reason or any advantage to the outrageous tall handlebars? 

[Blackwater 53393]

16 minutes ago, Warden Callaway said:

OK Road Warriors,  not knowing nothing about motorcycles, I have a question.  We fell in behind a cycle the other day that had ridiculous tall ape hanger handlebars.  His hand were above his head.  Looked like high surrender in SASS start position.  What possible reason or any advantage to the outrageous tall handlebars? 

 

NOPE!!  Ain’t gonna answer that!!  My opinion and experience would have me offending someone.  I’ll just say I wouldn’t do it!!

[sassnetguy50]

1 hour ago, Warden Callaway said:

OK Road Warriors,  not knowing nothing about motorcycles, I have a question.  We fell in behind a cycle the other day that had ridiculous tall ape hanger handlebars.  His hand were above his head.  Looked like high surrender in SASS start position.  What possible reason or any advantage to the outrageous tall handlebars? 

They're called ape hangers. The only advantage I know of is airing out your armpits.  Some states have laws against them.

Edited July 12 by sassnetguy50

[Texas Joker]

Parachute re enactor

 

Custom look.  Up to the height of your shoulders takes some strain off the joint for long rides.  Anything above that us for personal preference 

Edited July 12 by Texas Joker

[Redleg Reilly, SASS #46372]

Misguided attempt to look "cool." Totally worthless otherwise.

[Marshal Dan Troop 70448]

Had a lot of bikes in my younger years, Me and wife rented a Harley in Germany and toured for almost 2 months. But my favorite bike and one I would tear apart and rebuilt every year, (because I enjoyed getting into it), was my Kawasaki 500. Had it up to 135 MPH one time. Sold it for more then what I paid new 10 years later and was my last bike.

[Blackwater 53393]

I’ve had the same old Harley for thirty-five years now.  For the first ten years, it was my only transportation for all intents and purposes.  
 

We had a car or a truck that was Schoolmarm’s ride, and I had a couple of other bikes over the years, but until the fall of 2004 I rode that Harley nearly everywhere I went.

 

We bought Schoolmarm’s Sportster on Valentine’s Day in 2000 and I bought my Buell White Lightning in December of that same year.  It was a ‘98 model, made before H.D. detuned them and put the rev limiter on ‘em.

 

The old Harley began life as a ‘79 Low Rider.  It’s been rebuilt and remodeled to where nowadays when someone asks me what model it is I just say “MINE”!

 

 

[Subdeacon Joe]

1925 Indian Scout 600cc 2 cyl sv - V-twin motorcycle

After WW I the Indian factory decided it was time to market a somewhat lighter model than the 1000cc Powerplus.

The new model was labelled “Scout” and it created a sensation when brought out in 1920.

The strong points of the new design were easy handling, lightness, ample power for the 1920s roads and unbeatable reliability.

The new middleweight was also appealing to the prospective motorcyclists who were put off by the usual heavyweight big twins.

The Scout features a semi-unit construction power plant with a 3 –speed transmission bolted on to it.

Primary drive is by a set of helical gears that are enclosed in a cast aluminium cover and run in an oil bath.

The clutch is foot-controlled.

There a quite a few new features for the 1925 season: removable cylinder heads, larger valves, improved clutch with greater plate area and a different type of saddle suspension to insure greater riding comfort and lower riding position.

For better engine breathing wider valve cam profiles are utilised.

The 1925 brochure contains a power chart that shows a 20% power increase for the 1925 Scout as compared to the 1924 model: max power is now 13 HP3500 rpm.

 

 

[Rip Snorter]

Y'all might find this interesting.  https://janusmotorcycles.com/

[Pat Riot]

On 7/12/2024 at 8:23 AM, Warden Callaway said:

OK Road Warriors,  not knowing nothing about motorcycles, I have a question.  We fell in behind a cycle the other day that had ridiculous tall ape hanger handlebars.  His hand were above his head.  Looked like high surrender in SASS start position.  What possible reason or any advantage to the outrageous tall handlebars? 

Yep, those are “Ape Hangers” and pretty much worthless for anything except as follows:

1. Looks - some think it looks cool. 
2. I got nothing else…

 

I did ride a friend’s old ‘46 Knucklehead that had ape hangers for about 7 miles. We traded bikes one day. My right hand went numb at about 5 1/2 miles. My left numbed out at 6 miles. I stopped at the 7 mile mark and got my bike back. 
My friend laughed but said his hands and arms went numb all the time. I told him he should ask his doctor about how bad that is for you. 
A couple of weeks later he had some shoulder height bars on his bike. 

[Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485]

l

Look at the handle bars in this picture, see how long they are? Some were even longer. When the G.I.s came back from the war many bought motorcycles and customized them. Taking bars like this, putting them on straight up, then bending the ends down is where "ape hangers" came from.

[Rip Snorter]

I don't care if you are muscled like Arnold, when S***t happens on a bike, physics are against you with Ape hangers.  I will go with what some called Cowboy Eddie bars.  What they were called in a different place and another time, same galaxy. 

A car turned in front of friend's bike with his girlfriend on the back.  I got the call.  He had bent his regular handlebars 45° forward on impact.  He was pretty messed up but generally recovered.   She was lightly injured in comparison.  There was a reporter there who was like a dam' vulture.  He kept getting in the way and running his mouth.  I finally told him I'd arrest him, handcuff him to a tree and charge him with interfering.  Took a little grief from the shift Captain, but he was a near legendary figure on the department and understood.

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

1944 Indian brochure (WWII still in progress):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 16 by Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L

[Pat Riot]

[Rip Snorter]

16 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

Obviously a cloaking device before its time!

[Subdeacon Joe]

 

[Subdeacon Joe]

In 1929, Vivian Bales rode her 1929 Harley Davidson for 78 days and 5,000 miles across the country. She told the papers her motorcycle was a “key to the whole United States. She was the first motorcycle cover girl and was known for several long distance motorcycle rides around the US, (before most of the roads were paved) in the 1920s and 1930s.

 

[Pat Riot]

6 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

In 1929, Vivian Bales rode her 1929 Harley Davidson for 78 days and 5,000 miles across the country. She told the papers her motorcycle was a “key to the whole United States. She was the first motorcycle cover girl and was known for several long distance motorcycle rides around the US, (before most of the roads were paved) in the 1920s and 1930s.

 

Notice the tread on her tires. It appears she needed new ones. Which leads me to also think and wonder how often she had to deal with flat tires.

I am impressed with this woman. That would be no easy feat back then. 

[Subdeacon Joe]

A Cabinet Card of a fireman with a motorcycle from around 1900 is a fascinating glimpse into the past, highlighting the early integration of motorcycles into public service roles. This period was marked by the transition from horse-drawn vehicles to motorized transportation, and motorcycles were beginning to find their place in various fields, including emergency services.

The fireman in the photograph, likely dressed in his uniform complete with helmet and other gear, would be posing proudly with his motorcycle. This image captures a moment when fire departments were experimenting with new technology to improve their response times and efficiency. Motorcycles, with their ability to navigate through traffic and narrow streets more easily than larger vehicles, were ideal for urban environments and quick deployment.

The motorcycle itself, possibly from early manufacturers like Indian or Harley-Davidson, would be a relatively simple but robust machine, reflecting the engineering capabilities of the time. Its presence in the photograph underscores the fire department's commitment to adopting innovative solutions to enhance public safety.

This Cabinet Card, a popular photographic format of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, would be mounted on thick cardboard, indicating that it was likely a formal portrait meant to document the fireman's role and the department's modernization efforts. The setting and attire provide a rich context for understanding the early days of motorized emergency response vehicles.

To further explore the significance and context of this photograph, one might consider examining any inscriptions or marks on the card for clues about its origin. Local historical societies, fire department archives, or museums might also have additional information or similar images, offering a deeper insight into this fascinating piece of history.

Overall, this Cabinet Card not only showcases a fireman with a motorcycle but also captures the spirit of innovation and progress at the turn of the century, reflecting the broader technological and social changes of the era.