What bike started your love for HD
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,626
Likes: 98
From: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
I'll never forget the first Harley I saw up close and personal. It was way back in 1960. I was 13 and had an older sister who was 16. Guys were always sniffing around and I quickly got used to the cool cars pulling into our driveway. 55, 56 and 57 Chevys mostly. Either the 265 or 283, some with Fuel Injection but most had multi-carbs. They all made a distinct sound I grew used to and loved to hear.
But one day I heard a sound that was very different. I was in the garage and turned around a watched this blue and white Harley pull up our driveway. I had never seen so much chrome in all my life. The bug had bitten me.
Never saw him again though. Hmmm, I'll have to ask her about it the next time we talk.
But one day I heard a sound that was very different. I was in the garage and turned around a watched this blue and white Harley pull up our driveway. I had never seen so much chrome in all my life. The bug had bitten me.
Never saw him again though. Hmmm, I'll have to ask her about it the next time we talk.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 575
Likes: 4
From: SouthWestern Ontario
This is a scanned/cropped photo of my old 45 which was my first Harley. Thats what you could get for $400 in '69. Not nearly as quick as the more desirable British bikes of the day but a whole lot cheaper and you had enough left over to get some aviator sunglasses but not proper motor clothes.
Sure did love that bike!
Sure did love that bike!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,519
Likes: 0
From: Nomad
This is a scanned/cropped photo of my old 45 which was my first Harley. Thats what you could get for $400 in '69. Not nearly as quick as the more desirable British bikes of the day but a whole lot cheaper and you had enough left over to get some aviator sunglasses but not proper motor clothes.
Sure did love that bike!
Sure did love that bike!
any other pics?
Big twin in WL frame is still on my "bucket list" of projects ...
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 575
Likes: 4
From: SouthWestern Ontario
This is a scanned/cropped photo of my old 45 which was my first Harley. Thats what you could get for $400 in '69. Not nearly as quick as the more desirable British bikes of the day but a whole lot cheaper and you had enough left over to get some aviator sunglasses but not proper motor clothes.
Sure did love that bike and the love for Harleys in general was instilled in me from then on!
Sure did love that bike and the love for Harleys in general was instilled in me from then on!
Last edited by Recycled; Oct 3, 2011 at 11:14 PM. Reason: tried to add comment but F'd up Sorry for double post
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 575
Likes: 4
From: SouthWestern Ontario
I got a few more that I cropped also. Thats a front wheel & brake assembly from a 305 Honda. The rear had a car tire. Worked out great. These pics were taken before I spent a small fortune customizing it, then I moved on to a '62 panhead but I wish I still had the 45. Heck, I wish I still had them all!
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 7
From: MN
In the mid-60s, a friend's older brother had an old Harley from the 40s with the big *** seat and fenders. I think it was a flathead, but I'm not sure. It had baby blue paint and sounded great. At the time, I thought this was the greatest family in the world...a big family, all boys, and they had Cushmans, Doodlebugs, a Vespa, the Harley, and Whizzers...plus bicycles that had been converted to moto-bikes with plans you could order from comic books. My folks told me to stay away from them (wrong side of the tracks, etc.) Yeah right!
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: So cal
T2..... And I've ridden sport bikes and once I got on a Harley I was hooked. The big v twin sound....and then I rented an ultra classic with the wife, that closed the deal on wanting a touring bike!
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,519
Likes: 0
From: Nomad
I got a few more that I cropped also. Thats a front wheel & brake assembly from a 305 Honda. The rear had a car tire. Worked out great. These pics were taken before I spent a small fortune customizing it, then I moved on to a '62 panhead but I wish I still had the 45. Heck, I wish I still had them all!
To me, that was the golden era of choppers and I'd give anything for a little flathead barhopper like that.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,106
Likes: 51,387
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Knew a guy in KC who had one like that & had the reverse 3 speed in it , used to get all kinds of weird looks when he's pull it face down in a ditch and park then use reverse to back out . Would be a real blast in San Fran. running some of the bars up there .