Out for a ride.

Its 

It is going towards winter, a few days from now we will set our clocks to winter time. Its time to start longing for spring, a ride out with good friends, feel the sun heat your face while your best friend is humming a four stroke song.

Oh, I am already dreaming.

Enjoy one picture from way back in time when a group of NMK friends takes a halt. There is obviously no fear of passing vehicles, bikes are just left in the road.

Trondhjemsridtet 1919

Be damned,
I have voluntarily put my name on the list of participants for next years Trondhjemsridtet. A 1170 km`s ride on mostly back roads and gravel, as back in 1919 when this rally was first held.

In 1919 a ride from our capitol Kristiania to Trondhjem and back was a unheard of challenge. I will start planning with the purpose in mind to complete this trip on my Henderson De-luxe, alternatively I have a Harley or two to use, but to ride a bike  from the twenties would bring back the spirit of my hero, Herman Oppen who rode his Hendersons in this event at several occasions.

Check out the official home page of the Trondhjemsridtet 1919!

Trondhjems rittet 1919 will ascend into Rondane, a national park, on a road that today is a national heritage. This road is one of 18 roads that have this title. They are all close to perfect motorcycle roads, narrow and with lots of winding curves.

Below is a picture taken by Herman Oppen from the saddle on his Henderson when touring Rondane back in 1922.

Halvor Lofthus & The great mountain rally in 1923

This is Halvor Lofthus crossing a snowdrift with his Henderson during practice for the great Norwegian mountain rally back in 1923. Those guys were brave men when crossing the Norwegian mountains, on roads still frequented mostly by horses.

On this trip Halvor Lofthus rode with his team mate and best friend Herman Oppen. When resting on a mountain meadow they were approached  by an old lady out to herd her sheeps. She had never seen a motorcycle before, in 1923!
Imagine that.

Halvor Lofthus and Herman Oppen both rode Husquarnas in various events and rallies, still their favorite bikes were the Henderson 4`s.

Crisp autumn air

Uffe have for a couple of years been a contributor to this blog.
Thanks mate!!
This pic is from one recent autumn trip where Uffe rode his VL along with two friends.

Check out the colors and the look of crisp autumn air. OK you cant see the air, still I would say I almost feel the presence of it in the picture.

A journey to the happy land!

A while back I came across in a Norwegian newspaper, dated 1923 - this very poetic Harley Davidson advert.
This is an early example of the factory`s need to change the Harley Davidson`s image from only being a work horse, to a tool for both work and joyful pleasure rides.

Below the actual clipping I have tried to translate the rather old fashioned language to modern english, hard but I`m quite pleased myself.

A travel to the happy land.

"The horse that is not afraid of long distances"

A fishing trip, a mountain hike - or forest hike, in our childhood this meant an entire vacation. Should a trip be something to brag about, it had to go to the wilderness. A long trip by train, a travel by steam ship, a never-ending travel by buggy and horse or a hike separated us from the happy land.

It is of course the Americans who have solved the problem for us with the long distances between ourselves and the happy land.

And the solution to the problem?, its name is: Harley Davidson.

Hunting grounds, fishing lakes, woodland`s, the mountains or the beaches of the coast have all come close.

A modern man cannot longer be impressed by distances. A day trip is now only to be considered as "just a little trip".

The Norwegian author Stein Riverton wrote in a novel; "A steam train eats its tracks". That is one good expression.

But the term fits better for a Harley Davidson.

It devours the road!

The largest and most modern factory in the world, produce the bikes that in the entire world have received first place in people's reputation. Everywhere you can and will travel, you can come on a Harley Davidson.

In the mountains, across rivers and on the rugged road - you can run with a Harley anywhere. Its powerful engine and its operational safety, which is brought up to technical perfection, makes sure you always and everywhere will feel safe.

The doctor in a hurry to reach a patient far off (perhaps with the midwife in the sidecar), a business man who travel from village to village, the hunter, a fisherman or a tourist who only travels to enjoy nature itself. They all enjoy the pleasure of a Harley Davidson.

This year`s Harley Davidson models as presented by the factory, with all the improvements their experience have given, Harley Davidson has further consolidated its position as the leading motorcycle manufacturer.

Your first trip with a Harley Davidson motorcycle, will explain to you why a Harley deserves such great popularity, and will make you understand why it sells in such great numbers.

An important issue with the 1923 models that everyone should note:

They are cheaper than their predecessors!

Harley Davidson is sold all across the country. Main sales representative for Norway:

Sørensen & Balchen, Kristiania

Windshield bag MK II

Puuhh!

Some projects start easily, then they comes to a halt of some reason and whow they might be really hard to get back on the track again.

Started early this summer in making another windshield bag for my friend Rob aka O4 motors who have helped me a lot with my Henderson. Then during the process I decided to change lock type, finally I found some cool for sale on e-bay. All of a sudden we write late September and nothing have happened to the bag.

Well not anymore, pushed myself together and got it done before leaving for work.

It`s fall!

It is fall, no doubt about that.
Have been less ol`hog riding the last couple of weeks than normal, should have been far more as the fall weather have been mostly cold and dry. Oh well, after all I have been quite frequently out and about on my secret life Beemer sidecar outfit, a practical mount when roads gets slippery due to leaves from the trees.
A week ago, wednesday it was the first Wednesday of the month. First Wednesday of the month is when a bunch of riders get together at a cafe up in the valley. Cranked to life the "not so dirty nine", had not done so in a long time, had to kick several times, hrmpfhh.
When hitting the road my first thoughts were; whow! there sure is a difference in power from the 48 FL compared to the sedate W . Then a while after when reaching a stretch where the road have loads of sharp bends, he he I didnt miss the dressed up FL at all. Riding the W on curved single lane roads is as close as I will ever get to dancing in a ballet, if you could see me inside the full face helmet you would for sure see the big smile on my face!

Reaching the cafe I found October is not a motorcycle month for most, only a handful of riders there, and no Harleys other than mine on the regular HD parking spot. For sure did those who not found time for a ride in the crisp autumn air miss a great one, even if a do admit I was pretty damned cold when finally reaching home after dark.

The guy in the picture is Maarten, he is actually older than my 39 W and still as fresh as a fish and enjoy riding his bikes.