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More from the Vintage Motorcycle Show

Like I was saying in the previous post, the Vintage Motorcycle Show with the WWII Aircraft was a hell of a combination. It’s nice to get out and meet some new folks with the same interest in vintage motorcycles that you have. Pictured below are six members from Phantom Canyon Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America that made it to the Vintage Motorcycle Show last Sunday.

Pictured left to right: Jack and Pat (that’s Jack’s 48 Pan), Bob, Kim, John and Sue.

Jack’s bike took second in the Vintage Class. This is a beautiful 48 Pan ground-up bobber build by Jack. He probably would’ve beaten me out if he would have thrown this bike in the Custom Class were I took first with my 49 Pan.

Bob rode in on his 49 Pan.

And his brother John showed his 51 Pan.

John’s wife Sue rode in on this nice 1969 Sportster.

Bob’s wife took third place in the Custom Class with a salvaged bike out of Arizona that Bob worked over and I didn’t get a picture of.
This Ural took third in the Vintage Class.

There was another Ural that showed in the parking lot, and I was waiting for Charlie6 to show up on his, but I think he was up in the mountains enjoying cooler air.
That’s it for now, stay tuned for my B-24 ride/fly trophy report from the

Vintage Motorcycle Show

Harley Davidson was gearing up for the war effort in 1942. There were few 42 models manufactured for civilian use before a total freeze was put on non-essential war production.

Out of this production year only 142 WL’s were manufactured. The WL, a 45 twin with high compression had a retail price of $350.00.

This rare 1942 WL reader’s ride comes from Jay, out of western NY. Jay tells me this bike came out of Texas and he bought it in Ohio. Jay’s an old school 50’s kind of guy and loves motorcycles and cars that are bobbed or rodded from the 40’s and 50’s.

Be sure to check out the last photo, a reader’s ride bonus.

The 42 WL Engine.

And the bonus, Jays 1928 Ford Roadster.

A big thanks to Jay for sharing his 42 WL and the 28 roadster. Stay tuned for Jay’s Panhead and Sporty pic’s.
As always, thanks for stopping by and ride safe,

Its 1920 the road is rutted packed dirt, gravel or in the big towns, paving bricks. Your motorcycle has no rear suspension. You feel every little bump and rut from the rear wheel through the frame and seat to your kidneys. Thank god you have on your riding belt, later to be called the kidney belt.

Photograph courtesy of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company Archives. Copyright H-D.

What makes kidney belts so historically interesting is that they were one of the first articles of riding wear that were adapted specifically for motorcycle riding, and they were also among the first articles to be personalized by the rider. Archival photos as early as about 1920, show motorcycle riders wearing kidney belts with personalized studs depicting the rider’s initials and other designs. Other historical photos over the decades show club riders and rally attendees in their favorite riding belts, both “stock” and highly personalized. Numerous belts in the Archives’ collections are as unique and imaginative as motorcycle riders themselves with highlights such as reflectors, hand tooling on the leather and even handles for the rear seat rider.

Harley-Davidson began offering belts to riders in the accessories catalog as early as 1927. The “Brown Cowhide Leather Belt” was offered as a “Grade B” for $3, or, if you wanted to splurge, the “Grade A” was available for $4. In later years, Harley-Davidson offered leather riding belts complete with studs, gems, conchos, pockets and the Bar & Shield logo. Alternatives to the typical flat leather construction were a woven leather configuration for flexibility.

On the right is a picture of my uncle sporting his personalized kidney belt. I can remember finding this up-stairs at grandma’s house when I was about ten. I thought my uncle may have been a wrestler, I had seen these things on the TV. The back side of the kidney belt had his initials in chrome studs.

Here is a picture of Bessie Stringfield sporting her kidney belt. It was said at the age of 19 Bessie began tossing a penny onto a map and then rode to wherever it landed.

Bessie Stringfield picture courtesy of The Selvedge Yard.

With the arrival of rear shocks in the late 50’s the punishment of the road had been tamed. Today the motocross riders are about the only ones to sport the modern kidney belt.

Some of this info is from an article by Bill Jackson, Senior Archivist for Harley Davidson.

You can click on any photo to see a larger image, enjoy.

In 1972 Harley introduced the 1000cc Iron Head Sportster, replacing the 900cc. To accomplish this, for some reason they cast the cylinders using a wall thickness of 3/32. This is why the 1972, E73’s can’t be bored more than .030 over. The bolt hole patterns are also unique for 1972 and early 73 cylinders. For what I have seen and read, the cylinders and heads for 72-E73 Sportster are not compatible with any other years.

Also new in 72 was the Bendix/Zenith carb. The Sportster had the Tillotson diaphragm carb since 1966.

1973 brought on mandatory turn signals and 35mm Kayaba forks with single disc front brakes for more stopping power. Late 73 1000cc cylinders and heads did not change until the introduction of the Evo engine in 1986.

1972 production numbers;
XLH (7,500)
XLCH (10,650)

1973 production numbers;
XLH (9,875)
XLCH (10,825)

The 1972 XLCH is owned by Peter, he has quite a collection of old Harleys. You can check him out here.