Did you ever wonder what it would be like to really ride a 100 year old motorcycle?

[Mailman]

This is a pretty interesting video. It’s part of the Revzilla “ Daily Rider” video series. Zack, who is a very accomplished rider and racer, is rightfully intimidated when he try’s to commute to work in heavy Los Angeles traffic and freeways on a 100 year old Harley Davidson.
With a foot clutch, manual ignition advance, and brakes that are merely a suggestion, it’s fun to watch a modern guy try to wrap his brain around all that is required to ride this bike.

 

[Jim]

I watched that. The ol' bike did itself right proud in my opinion.

 

[Mailman]

I watched that. The ol' bike did itself right proud in my opinion.

Yeah, I couldn’t imagine taking that bike on L.A. freeways and city streets though!

Maybe once around a big deserted parking lot.

 

[Jan_P]

That motor has very tight play -- well refurbished almost as if it is to tight play
They usually rattles a lot more
I have seen a couple pre war Harleys over the years .One young man Arne had one a couple of years later model where I grew up
He was offered a lot of money for it in the early seventies $ 8 --9 k if I remember right
You can park it there on the driveway We go in ill write the check type of offers
And I know another one showing up at bike Nights .
But never heard one running as quiet as this

Have A friend with an early seventies 1200 with foot clutch and hand shift At the MOT test the inspector is supposed to take it for a short test ride
That can be a turn on the yard in first gear .. Poff Poff poff . Poff Poff poff and thats it

 

[John Regular]

Damn! that's brave. The oldest vehicle I have ever owned was a 1940s era Oliver HG42 tractor. The transmission and gas pedal are where they are supposed to be but the brakes and steering mechanism are two big handles on each side of you kind of like a skid steer but they don't control the tracks they just brake one side the other or both, that thing was fun to ride around on, still have it. Hey is there a thread on oldest vehicles you've ever owned?

 

[Kevin Werner]

Damn! that's brave. The oldest vehicle I have ever owned was a 1940s era Oliver HG42 tractor. The transmission and gas pedal are where they are supposed to be but the brakes and steering mechanism are two big handles on each side of you kind of like a skid steer but they don't control the tracks they just brake one side the other or both, that thing was fun to ride around on, still have it. Hey is there a thread on oldest vehicles you've ever owned?

I drove a 1929 Model AA Truck to school in high school. Stake bed body, 4 speed unsyncronised, dual rear reals, manual spark advance, adjust the mixture and the choke with the same knob, and 6 volt head lights (drive slow at night).

 

[TX650A Van Islander]

I did see that video posting and still need to watch it. I've become fascinated by old Harleys on account of whatching one of my favourite channels, "Wheels through Time", so much so, I find myself musing about buying an evolution engine era Road Glide... A 1930s-60s Harley is not in my budget.

Kevin, that is one fine truck you got to drive around. I've never owned a Model A, but if I did, it would be a truck for sure. I saw this one in Sidney, BC, on Dec. 20. I loved the patina of this truck. I wouldn't want it to be perfect.

 

[John Regular]

I had a 1955 Willy's pickup for a little while, It ran, was very scary to drive, not matching anything, heavily molesdified, Oh my god it was basically a bad chopper! PO had done mordifications to it so it would run worse like a leaf over axle lift which raised it about 11 inches in the back, the leaf pack alone was like seven. He had managed to squeeze a 327 into the engine compartment by cutting away the dash and other sheet metal but couldn't get the radiator in without removing the mech fan and replacing it it with an electric one half the size in front of the rad. Oh yeah and the driver side floor board had been cut up for some reason and it would give away a bit when you pressed the accelerator then would spring back toward your foot and send you slig-shotting down the road whenever you took off from a stop. Despite knowing this I took it up a small hill climb trying to impress someone and the wiring harness caught fire because it had not been secured and fell on the exhaust. Still ran, shitty but it ran

 

[Melnic]

No Freeways 100 years ago! Also, roads were mostly dirt!
Surprised he was able to go that fast.

 

[Melnic]

Just saw this post on fakebook

 

[jetmechmarty]

my favourite channels, "Wheels through Time",

That would make a great pilgrimage. All the way from the Northwest on a TX650A! Wheels Through Time is a museum like no other (it really is) and not to be missed if you’re able to get near enough to Maggie Valley. I asked Dale Walksler why he put it there. He said, “Because I knew you were coming!”

 

[46th Georgia]

I drove a 1929 Model AA Truck to school in high school. Stake bed body, 4 speed unsyncronised, dual rear reals, manual spark advance, adjust the mixture and the choke with the same knob, and 6 volt head lights (drive slow at night).View attachment 341604

You forgot to mention the joy of mechanical brakes. If you want to get really confused, try driving a Model T.

 

[jetmechmarty]

For me, that vid was worthwhile entertainment. Very cool.

 

[motormike]

Mine is almost a century ... 96 ... and after several years it's a runner.... As a 500cc unit it's happy at 35-40... brakes are happy at 25 mph.... avoid manhole covers and railroads tracks.... Only ridden to local events... lakes..... but I plan on longer rides... perhaps trailer it to Slimy Crud... there's a 30-35 ride involved...

 

[Jan_P]

Makes one wonder has evolution really happened
Keep it simple
1000 cc --just about right
3 gears spaced -- --just about right
Not so powerful --who needs it --- it moves OK --just about right
Handling good can let go of the handlebars -- --just about right
Seat height and stance -- --just about right

OK this one was mechanically in Extremely good shape
But minor tweaks .Lubrication Brakes perhaps Suspension ignition maybe .. --- .Its there Ready 100 years ago

At least for entertainment rides ... Put Smiles on The Face Which is a big part of it at least up North

 

[Kevin Werner]

Kevin, that is one fine truck you got to drive around. I've never owned a Model A, but if I did, it would be a truck for sure. I saw this one in Sidney, BC, on Dec. 20. I loved the patina of this truck. I wouldn't want it to be perfect.

Dad bought that ~1970. (Not that one pictured) Dad was not mechanically inclined. Myself and a friend stripped the body to bare metal with electric 1/3 sheet sanders and painted it (brushes) with "Black Truck Paint" I replaced the leaking head gasket, cleaning up the surfaces with afore mentioned electric sander and probably a crescent wrench. I was 13 or 14 at the time.. The stake body got red paint and dad built new fences with 2x4 and 2x6 lumber. When the folks were out for the night neighborhood kids of all ages would clamber up into the back stake bed as I drove around the neighbor hood. Did I say I was 13 or 14 at the time? The truck had a swiftness that a 6.11:1 axle ratio will offer to 40 hp but top speed was somewhere around 40mph. The 4 speed was non syncronized. 1st was granny, 2nd or 3rd were OK for starting out from a stop It took a pretty firm push on the brake pedal to slow it down, brakes were rod and linkage accuated. When I got my license my Highschool auto shop teacher mentioned I might "slow down" in the parking lot at school, what with mechanical brakes and all". 20 years later @Ben1 had the same shop teacher.

 

[TX650A Van Islander]

That would make a great pilgrimage. All the way from the Northwest on a TX650A! Wheels Through Time is a museum like no other (it really is) and not to be missed if you’re able to get near enough to Maggie Valley. I asked Dale Walksler why he put it there. He said, “Because I knew you were coming!”

It would indeed. I think I would need at least 3 weeks to do it. There would be so many cool places to visit along the way. It is 2835 miles - 44 hours of driving per
Google maps so at least 55 hours of riding one way on a 51 year old vibration machine!
That is really great you got to talk to Dale Walksler. He would have been a fascinating guy to meet. His son Matt does him proud by all accounts I've read in the video comments.

 

[jetmechmarty]

It would indeed. I think I would need at least 3 weeks to do it. There would be so many cool places to visit along the way. It is 2835 miles - 44 hours of driving per
Google maps so at least 55 hours of riding one way on a 51 year old vibration machine!
That is really great you got to talk to Dale Walksler. He would have been a fascinating guy to meet. His son Matt does him proud by all accounts I've read in the video comments.

An old guy on an old bike can do it. You just have to have the time. 200-300 miles per day. Sometimes less. There’s much to see along the way!

 

[46th Georgia]

An old guy on an old bike can do it. You just have to have the time. 200-300 miles per day. Sometimes less. There’s much to see along the way!

Absolutely! Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the Castrol R.

 

[cycleranger]

Is knowing what it's like to ride two fifty year old bikes the same?

My father had a 1940 Ford pickup with a flathead V8.
The distributor was a ridiculous dual-rotor dual-cap affair.
I suppose sketchy aftermarket parts didn't help but I can see why the hot rodders chucked them for a Chevy distributor back in the day.
The starter Bendix assembly was pretty crude too.
I worked on that truck quite a bit. More than once I was wondering how we fought an entire world war with that technology..