1913 Harley Davidson-1 of 3 known

[SpyderBen]

If you like motorcycles, you will really enjoy this story.
http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=5734912

[BajaRon]

If you like motorcycles, you will really enjoy this story.
http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=5734912

Amazing! I'm surprised he's riding it down a gravel road like that though.

[spyder08]

That was amazing to watch. Thank you.

[NancysToy]

Amazing! I'm surprised he's riding it down a gravel road like that though.

They were built when dirt roads were the norm (beats the heck out of cobblestones). If your gonna ride 'em...ride 'em like they were supposed to be ridden! Parade laps are fine, but they aren't like hunkering down over the tank and driving hard into a corner.

[BajaRon]

They were built when dirt roads were the norm (beats the heck out of cobblestones). If your gonna ride 'em...ride 'em like they were supposed to be ridden! Parade laps are fine, but they aren't like hunkering down over the tank and driving hard into a corner.

I am all for nastalgia.. But you'd take a 100 year old, virtually 1 of a kind bike down a nasty old road like that! I'm not sure I could bring myself to do that.

And I'm assuming that rod he's pulling to change exhaust is a Snuff-or-Not setup?

[NancysToy]

I am all for nastalgia.. But you'd take a 100 year old, virtually 1 of a kind bike down a nasty old road like that! I'm not sure I could bring myself to do that.

And I'm assuming that rod he's pulling to change exhaust is a Snuff-or-Not setup?

I'd do it in a heartbeat! Just like I would (and have) put on my leathers and flogged my fifty year old, 1 of 148 made, Honda roadracer around a road course at 12,000 - 14,000 rpm...or when I took my 50 year old 1-of-5 known to exist, "Tokyo Rose" Honda on a 50 mile ride at Mid-Ohio.

Not sure about the exhaust setup there. I only worked on one of those exposed-valve V-twins in my life. Those century old relics are well beyond my pensioner's budget!

[BajaRon]

I'd do it in a heartbeat! Just like I would (and have) put on my leathers and flogged my fifty year old, 1 of 148 made, Honda roadracer around a road course at 12,000 - 14,000 rpm...or when I took my 50 year old 1-of-5 known to exist, "Tokyo Rose" Honda on a 50 mile ride at Mid-Ohio.

Not sure about the exhaust setup there. I only worked on one of those exposed-valve V-twins in my life. Those century old relics are well beyond my pensioner's budget!

I'd ride it but not like that. But since I don't have anything like it, it's just a non-player opinion.

So you think that was a compression release? I'd have to watch it again but I don't think that is what it was. Seemed to be just an exhaust bypass. Though I can't imagine why they would add that except that maybe you get some more HP with it open and it might run cooler too.

Pretty wild all the fuel petcocks. I get some of them but some were a mistery to me. I assume that the ones he was fiddling with are some kind of choke/enrichment process.

Kind of odd. But then they thought a bit differently in those days.

[boborgera]

And I'm assuming that rod he's pulling to change exhaust is a Snuff-or-Not setup?

I would say it's a manual heat riser.

[bullant12]

There are two Harley bikes in the local Harley dealer (Bumpus of Memphis) which I've been told they will start up sometime in 2013 to conmemorate the 100 years of H-D.

[Baytown]

I would say it's a manual heat riser.

Nope, it's a valve that bypasses the mufler for out of town use. Comming into town, you quieted the bike down, and opened it up out of town.
I own a 1922 Indian Powerplus, doesn't have this item, but I'm into OLD bikes.
That machine is a gem, and jeez I wish the Powerplus started that easily!
Ken

[Baytown]

Total loss lubrication systems back then. The split tank was half fuel/half oil. Even with oil in the sump for internal splash lubrication, the extra petcocks are for metering drip lubrication to other bearings. The plunger pumps more fresh oil to the engine. Have to give it a pump every few miles as you're riding it to keep up with the oil loss........

Total loss yes, oil tank location wrong.
The bike has an oil tank between the frame seat down tube and rear fender. Both sides of the main tanks were fuel.
Note the syringe style pump location and plumbing.
Ken

[Lamonster]

That thing was in great shape. I'm pretty sure Dale at Wheels Through Time has one of those at his place. I'll see if I can find the pics.

[LDFIREWORKS]

clip what a cool motorcycle