Wednesday ride!

July 4, 2015, 9:29 am

≫ Next: Observed along a Norwegian rural road

≪ Previous: Oldtimer treff/ Scandinavian Indian meet at Mosten Mc club in Denmark, part II

$

0

0

Wednesday morning I looked at the calendar and found it was the first Wednesday of July.
Hey,that is the day of the month when bikes gather at this Cafe up in the valleys, weather was 100% and I needed just another ride before I closed the garage and leaving for work.
Called my mate Cay "Indianer" and he was ready for a spin too, on his 34 Chief bob job.
It is cool to see how the bike-scene have changed in just a couple of years. Some choppers parked since the eighties start to get back on the road, and the younger guys redo the classic Japanese bikes to neat cafe racers. OK, 90% ride original brand spanking new bikes, but I feel confident that those last ten percent will be growing.
On my way down the valley I could not resist riding my WL bobber hard, rode by some modern Harley custom bikes with fat rear tires and ape hangers struggling with the single lane roads and the multiple curves, oh my how embarrassing, outrun by an antique!

---

Observed along a Norwegian rural road

July 8, 2015, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: Pic`s from Yesterdaze - American Motorcycles Norway!

≪ Previous: Wednesday ride!

$

0

0

A story might start sad, but as long as it ends well in the end we easily forget the sorrow we had along to achieve our goal.

Another old HOG is back on the road, here observed on a rural county road in the southern parts of ol`Norway.

Pic`s from Yesterdaze - American Motorcycles Norway!

July 12, 2015, 8:38 pm

≫ Next: AMCA meet Davenport!

≪ Previous: Observed along a Norwegian rural road

$

0

0

Due time to share some more of them old motorcycle photos, enjoy.

All girls love a Henderson, you better get one too!

Sunday ride out, dinner made on the Primus stove and and then some coffee, life is good.

AMCA meet Davenport!

July 22, 2015, 2:38 pm

≫ Next: Gravel Endurance run

≪ Previous: Pic`s from Yesterdaze - American Motorcycles Norway!

$

0

0

Look forward to September, just paid for tickets across the pond to visit the Chief Blachawk AMCA meet in Davenport!!!

Gravel Endurance run

August 22, 2015, 3:16 pm

≫ Next: A-Bombers 2015, The ride

≪ Previous: AMCA meet Davenport!

$

0

0

A-Bombers 2015, The ride

September 25, 2015, 2:30 am

≫ Next: A-Bombers 2015, some of the good guys and girls.

≪ Previous: Gravel Endurance run

$

0

0

OK, things seems to have come out of hand with this blogging.
As I am currently back offshore and the rig seem to work as intended without to much problems, I will try to recapture some of the events where AMcN have been present.
This might not necessarily be in a chronological order, but still.

First out, two pics from our ride down to A-Bombers. I rode my Bessie from south Norway to Oslo where I teamed up with Patrick on his Matchless 500. The two of us rode further down to Østfold where we met Ronald and his friend on their 37 W 45"`s. After crossing the Swedish border Patrick (the foreigner) showed us some great small country roads to ride, at times so small that the Panhead had a problem catching up with the three smaller bikes.

Ronald and bikes.

The wild ones in Halden.

A-Bombers 2015, some of the good guys and girls.

September 25, 2015, 2:49 am

≫ Next: Out for a ride

≪ Previous: A-Bombers 2015, The ride

$

0

0

OK, OK, I know I have sneaked into a bunch of the pics, but that is because Øyunn took them all.

On our way to the hillclimb, cramped inside a roof chopped 50ìes sedan.

Audun and daughter (in pink dress) came by.

Terje learn to know the locals in Udevalla during our mechanical entertainment session.

OK, a few bike pics too!

Panhead from Copenhagen!

Mechanical entertainment in Udevalla.

Turbo powered HD 45", this was an insane bike!!

Fredrik`s -39 Knuck.

Out for a ride

September 25, 2015, 5:55 am

≫ Next: Harleysons gathering in Dinkelsbühl

≪ Previous: A-Bombers 2015, some of the good guys and girls.

$

0

0

Riding, that is what the vintage bike interest is all about to me.
If you do a good job during the restoration of an old bike, you can enjoy years of riding when your finally done.
Like my WL bobber, I have ridden that bike for 8-9 years now after completion. I have been as far south as Sancerre - France when at Linkert Attack in 2012, and I have had numerous rides in the mountains in Southern Norway.
Of course oils need to be replaced, breaker points too, and general service needs to be carried out, but other than that; no worries - go riding.
This summer have been crappy for the most, rain and wind from North. Then a good trip on the bike in great weather is even more valuable. Below is some photos from what I find being one of the best trips this summer, not that long a ride, just 250km`s in a day, still just GREAT!

In a canyon like this there is a limited time of the day with real sun light.

Looking across one of the larger inland lakes.

Spotted this old bridge across a river, it was really "alive" when I rode to the other side. Its steel construction was all riveted, real black smith work from days gone by. Discovered a gravel road I had never ridden before!

Another bridge across the same river further down in the valley. This one is crossing the river canyon just a few meters above an amazing waterfall. The center of the bridge is supported on an enormous rock that have got stuck in the canyon during the ice age.

A view of this cool bridge and the rock it is resting  to.

Below the bridge is the waterfall and more of this pretty rough canyon.

Another view of the big rock stuck in the river canyon.

Road behind the bridge. This is a truly amazing dead end gravel road, climbing steep up the hill with a bunch of serpentine curves. No rails, just a rock every now and then between yourself, the bike and the deep canyon.

Having finished the ride down this valley I got to an end of a fjord that is connected to the sea.

Due to algae this fjord have a very special green color, at certain times of the year water looks as if it is not real.

Now the temperature both in the air and in the sea water was perfect for a swim, and due to the amount of algae there was no burning jellyfishes who are a pester when swimming in the sea during summer.

Clothes off!

---

Harleysons gathering in Dinkelsbühl

September 25, 2015, 8:55 am

≫ Next: Davenport AMCA Chief Blackhawk meet 2015

≪ Previous: Out for a ride

$

0

0

Back in July Øyunn and I was invited by our friend Fritz @ Harleysons.de to join a Harleysons party and to visit the historic town Dinkelsbuhl during the "Childrens festival", or "Kinderzeche" as it is named in German.
The wekeend in Dinkelsbuhl was such a great time, many many thanks to Fritz who organized a fantastic experience for us.
Dinkelsbuhl, this medieval town that was saved from destruction during WWII is like a living museum where people actually live their every day lives.
Dinkelsbuhl is also where Fritz and his Harleysons accomplices Christoph offers classic german "bonbons" in their shop "Tante Emma".

Not far from the city wall is Fritz`s place and the location of the Harleysons club house. The Harleysons club house is like entering a time capsule, it is like stepping back to the thirties when Paul Weyres was a motorcycle race ace with his Harleys.

To be able to look through some of the historic race photos in Fritz collection is like a vitamin injection to me, to continue searching for old photos from the Scandinavian motorcycle race scene.

A hectic weekend with good friends, thanks to Fritz and Harleysons buddies for making this true.

The boss at the Frankfurt airport train station.

Dinkelsbuhl, a part of the city wall.

"Kinderzeche" in Dinkelsbuhl

Tante Emma, the Bonbon shop with a taste of Harley`s

Scenery from Dinkelsbuhl

Dinkelsbühl, Zum kleinen Obristen where we spent a night, super nice.

What amazing buildings to see

Friday night people gather in town to drink beer and dance.  

The dance.

Cristoph serves weissbier, good stuff.

Cheers!

The archives, Fritz, Paul, me and Norbert

Next HD to be restored?

Norbert listen to a humming Wichita

Wichita, Fritz, Norbert, me and Paul

Fritz and Øyunn

Davenport AMCA Chief Blackhawk meet 2015

October 1, 2015, 9:35 pm

≫ Next: Davenport AMCA Chief Blackhawk meet 2015

≪ Previous: Harleysons gathering in Dinkelsbühl

$

0

0

Davenport 2015. I will try to sum up this great event with a minimum of words, though it will not be easy.
We arrived in Chicago as early as Tuesday, drove to Davenport and checked in to a so so hotel very close to the far east en of Locus st., the street which the Mississippi valley fairgrounds where the meet is held is found at the far west. Wednesday we learned to know Davenport, and in the afternoon we went to check out if there was some early action at the fairground.
Indeed it was, and we soon meet people we knew from earlier trips to the US. Now in those times of online lives on the www its kind of strange to talk to someone in another part of the world that know you had a ride on gravel roads the weekend before thanks to Facebook, blog or Instagram.
We did even buy our first parts Wednesday, not to bad.

Thursday, early out of bed. The hotel had advertised with continental breakfast, ehhh? We had a great breakfast along Locus instead, not continental but very good american breakfast.
think we hit the meet at 8 in the morning, loads of action and vendors must have arrived all through the night and even set up their vending spots.
Having used hours walking through just a tiny bit of the vending ground, we ran into John and Sheila, our Road Weasel friends out of Mich.
Cool, seems like we talked yesterday, even if back in 2011 in Wauseon.
John did let us have seats in his golf car, hey convenient to get around in the vending area by car while drinking beer. Umpteen stops later we had been through most of the vending area and had a pretty good knowledge of the location of both who and what.
Not so much parts bought, but a lot of talking.

Friday, another early morning out of bed, this time no continental at the hotel, we had learned.
Now when we thanks to John had been able to locate a bunch of vendors we spent the time looking and shopping until the races was due to start.
That is the time when we want to get to the pit area, that is where the fun and action takes place, my opinion.
To mingle with board track racers and hand shifters, talk to the riders and try to learn by listening to their experience, that is so cool.
unfortunately due to the track being a 1/4 mile rather than the usual 1/2 mile a lot of the board track riders didnt come this year, shame on those responsible for that mistake.
We did not get back to our hotel until late at night, worn out by the heat and the sun in the pit area, but HAPPY.

Saturday we found there was a lot of vendors that was tearing down their spots very early, and by afternoon the entire event was pretty drained. We did some good scores in buying some more parts before we went back to the hotel to get ourselves ready for a decent dinner at a Davenport restaurant.
Sunday, off to downtown Chicago to spend some time there, payback time for the motorcycle craze that Øyunn have to be a part off.
My reflections after this swap meet is that the prices for many bikes such as Knuckles and related parts have come to a point where the owners have to bring them back home because they dont sell.
The earlier parts for the IOE Harleys, I found there was a lot of parts and more decent prices.

Øyunn shoot such a bunch of great pictures, its hard to choose between them.
Enjoy a selection of her pictures below.

Good guys and gals:

Davenport AMCA Chief Blackhawk meet 2015

October 6, 2015, 5:54 pm

≫ Next: Davenport AMCA Chief Blackhawk meet 2015

≪ Previous: Davenport AMCA Chief Blackhawk meet 2015

$

0

0

A selection of bikes and scenes from the vending area:

Davenport AMCA Chief Blackhawk meet 2015

October 6, 2015, 6:47 pm

≫ Next: Davenport 2015

≪ Previous: Davenport AMCA Chief Blackhawk meet 2015

$

0

0

The races;

Davenport 2015

October 6, 2015, 6:51 pm

≫ Next: Pictures from Yesterdaze

≪ Previous: Davenport AMCA Chief Blackhawk meet 2015

$

0

0

The photographer;

Pictures from Yesterdaze

October 7, 2015, 5:13 pm

≫ Next: Pics from Yesterdaze

≪ Previous: Davenport 2015

$

0

0

This is a cool picture.

It show a very young Crown Prince Olav whom would later become a beloved king of Norway. The picture of HMK Olav and F-864 is most likely taken during one of his visits to a motorcycle sport related event. HMK Olav would become a keen motorcycle rider and owned his own Harley, this was a smaller Harley model O, or model Sport.

On the picture below HMK Olav pose next to his bike.

Back to HMK Olav and F-864, one can wonder if his white sailor pants where still white after sitting on the bike. My guess is, not so white.

It is a fair chance HMK Olav`s simulated ride on F-864 sparked his desire for a Harley of his own.

Pics from Yesterdaze

October 7, 2015, 5:23 pm

≫ Next: Pictures from Yesterdaze

≪ Previous: Pictures from Yesterdaze

$

0

0

Picture above show a brand new Reading Standard from year 1919 in front of the Haller, Kopland & Co shop in Olso.
What neat machines those Reading Standards where.

---

Pictures from Yesterdaze

October 7, 2015, 6:31 pm

≫ Next: Pictures from Yesterdaze

≪ Previous: Pics from Yesterdaze

$

0

0

I have now other info on this photo other than its taken during one of the Fanø beach races in Denmark. They were held from 1919 to 1923. This is a for me unknown Scandinavian 8 valve Harley. Anyone got any idea of what year of manufacture this one might be?

The cool young rider with a screw driver in his boot is for sure no wimp. Imagine flat out with them exhaust ports roaring just below your ears!

Pictures from Yesterdaze

October 28, 2015, 2:52 am

≫ Next: Beck grips

≪ Previous: Pictures from Yesterdaze

$

0

0

This is a great capture, girlfriend and an Indian, roadside stop for a coffee and something to eat, I already miss summer.

Beck grips

November 16, 2015, 7:30 pm

≫ Next: Reading Standard

≪ Previous: Pictures from Yesterdaze

$

0

0

Beck grips, I love them Beck grips made for the Harley handlebars.
Why do I love them?
They are stylish and are made in many colors, simple in their design still stylish, and they are good to ride with too.

Beck Distributing Corp. was founded as early as in 1914 by a young  Irving Beck at age 20, whom realized the need of accessories and spare parts for motorcycles that not necessarily came from the motorcycle manufacturer themselves.

Irving was lucky enough to get a huge contract of supplying sidecars to the US Army during WWI. Sidecars that he imported from Australia.

When the war was over Irving started making catalogs of repair parts and accessories for the rapidly growing motorcycle market in the US. The Beck headquarters was located in Harlem NY in a eight story building who soon was filled with goods, much of it he imported from European countries,
After the WWII the US economy was blooming, and Beck started supplying spare parts and accessories to European made sports cars in addition to the motorcycle parts.

Beck would merge with a huge brake shoe maker in the late sixties, and as a company they exist even today though with a different name.

Harlem NY

Fifties Beck add from "The American Motorcyclist Magazine"

Annual Beck cataloge

Grips, grips, grips

Today there are great quality Beck reproduction grips available at reasonable prices.

Reading Standard

November 17, 2015, 6:31 pm

≫ Next: It is winter, I better get going with the wrenching.

≪ Previous: Beck grips

$

0

0

Just found this cool printer block showing a Reading Standard from 1917. I thought first the creator of this mirror image had forgotten the horn. This was until I learned from Richard those particular models had the horn integrated in the head lamp!!
How cool is that 98 years ago.

It is winter, I better get going with the wrenching.

December 3, 2015, 2:54 pm

≫ Next: Cutdown update.

≪ Previous: Reading Standard

$

0

0

It is that time of the year again, winter.

This is when your bike is to get all the "little""this and that" repairs, modifications are to be done, either for fashion or for more practical use.

Problem is, winter is not that long after all, and you are to take the bike all apart, order parts from all over the world and get it all back and ready for early spring!!

Better not rest in front of the telly-tube.

Before I

Before II

Had to make a clutch hub puller.

Lets hope all them parts end up as a complete handlebar, Flanders 8" from FaberCycle, what great parts they make, thanks Ronald for getting me one.

Will I be brave enough to cut them Beck grips in half?

Trying out the Flanders w. Hellings & Stelling risers on the WL.

Engine out.

Gearbox need to be totally dismantled, there are several issues in need of care.

Clutchub puller now modified to pull off gearbox sprocket, and a puller for the shifter drum shaft that is always stuck in the case.

Empty box.

Had to make some more tools to insert a new output shaft seal. That black one is very important in order to save the seal when installing the gear from inside the case.

That tool was a bit tricky to make, in order to be able to lock that new original clutch hub nut. My bike had an ordinary hex nut when I disassembled.

Phew, end of the day, and gearbox is now on its way back to a new life.