American Motorcycles Norway

The Glostrup races in 1924

2012-01-27T13:05:00.001-08:00

This is the whole picture from where I lent a part to the previous post on Jac. Hansen. Captured in Glostrup Denmark in 1924 we see the handicap match between participating nations in the race; Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. This spesific match was mentioned as the most important and thrilling of all races this weekend by the local newspaper Ekstra Bladet.

Shown in the picture are from left to right;

Norwegian motorcycle race ace Macke Nicolaysen on Jac. Hansen`s Harley A-2345. Why did Macke chose to ride Jac`s bike rather than his own, A-1503?
I do not know but Jac's bike was most likely faster, after all Jac. did beat Macke in the tourist class race where he crossed the finnish line as second whilst Macke where third. Then on the other hand, why did Macke borrow Jac`s Harley, rather than Herman Oppens Henderson C-1118. After all, Oppen won the tourist class race on his De-luxe. My personal opinion is you need to be familiar with the Henderson to be able to use the potential, Macke neither rode nor raced four`s, not as far as I have found.

Why did not Jac. or Oppen compete in this more prestigeous race? After all they did a first and second in a previous race. I recon this is due to the fact Macke where the senior amongst the three Norwegian riders, he had been at the Fanø races in 1919 as well as he raced at the Glostrup track in 1923.

Number two from left is Swede, "master" Erik Westerberg on a Harley. Erik rides a Harley with a racing keystone frame and a two-cam engine. Erik have not brought his best bike to this event, as we know he had several bikes and owned two eight valve Harley racing motorbikes in his active race career.

Number three from left is Dane, Chr. Walther on an Indian bigvalve racer. He is frequently mentioned in the book written on the Fanø beach races. Chr. Walther was one of the best Danish riders at the time.

Finally number four is German Albert Schuster. His bike is a German made Wanderer OHV 8 valve 750cc racing bike. Albert won the German "Bäderrennen" in the 750 class races in both 1923 & 1924 on this Wanderer.

As said before, this particular race was classed as a "handicap" race. Whilst Walthers & Westerberg both had to start from the starting line, Schuster got 10 sec. and Macke a 5 sec. advance from start. The Danish newspaper EkstraBladet claimed this race to be considered as the highlight of the weekend.
We can only imagine how it felt to be present at the the track when we know the races at Glostrup were totalizator races ala today's horse racing, including beers and booze for the spectators and big money in circulation as there were fierce betting prior to every race. Numbers of spectators at this event exceeded 5000 heads.

It is exciting to know that the odds prior to the race claimed Chr. Walters would win, Westerberg as two, Macke as three and Schuster as fourth to cross the finnish line.

When we know the final result showed Schuster became No. 1, Walther # 2, Westerberg # 3 and finally our own hero Macke fourth, it`s likely to believe some regretted their losses whilst a few have celebrated their profits.

Below is a pic taken in the last moments before start where the drivers get ready. Googles must be no dew, the helmet firmly secured and nerves must be kept under control in order to react quickly at the start signal.
You will see from this photo the drivers location from track center is different than in the photo above, Erik, Macke, Chr. Walthers and Schuster.

You learn while you walk in history's footsteps

2012-01-26T23:02:00.000-08:00

Have had to change the information regarding a previous post on Henderson C-1118.

For sure there is a lot to learn from walking in historic footsteps :-)

Jac. Hansen & Indian "special"

2012-01-24T08:14:00.000-08:00

I remember still when the vintage motorcycle hobby was based on overseas phone conversations trough a crackling switchboard, or alternatively you sent a letter waiting for weeks or even months to get a reply from a foreign vendor, you had almost forgotten your own question when getting an answer.

Most of the winter was spent in the cellar completely lonely and quiet whilst trying to restore that old piece of Iron. Only during summer if your homework during winter was crowned with success would you meet fellow gear heads at a rally.

It is not like that anymore, now we have the internet and the blog world, we have to make decisions whether we want to get anything done or stay tuned. Recently finding time to get myself updated on my favorite blogs I didn’t get far. Starting out with Jeff aka Knucklebuster`s blog I soon found myself totally excited by a recent post on his blog.
His post showing a single page from an old Indian News, issue June/July 1932, which he had found in the pile of goodies he hauled back from his hill climber hero Larry Franz Sr.
Jeff how damned cool, I sat there in Wauseon sharing beer with you next to this pile when your van was still not unloaded.

Well, what could excite me on this single page to such an extent? There was a picture sent in from an unnamed Norwegian reader showing him ready to race his OHV Scout. OHV Scout, did they not make them with side valves only, nope they didn’t, no rule without exceptions.
The Wigwam did make a very limited amount of OHV Scouts as well as a number of independent tuners like Andy Koslow, Al Crocker and well known New Zealander Burt Monroe made this as modifications to standard engines, the two first mentioned for sale the third for his own bike.
Andy Koslow is well known for his Excelsior Super X Big-Bertha hillclimbers, Al Crocker for oh well that’s an easy one and Burt Monroe should not get someone to ask themselves what, who or where neither.

OHV valve Scouts are rare as hen`s teeth and priced accordingly. What happened to the Norwegian OHV Scout? Who was the lucky owner roaring the Norwegian dirt tracks in the early thirties on such an interesting piece of American motorcycle history. Why have I never heard of this machine before?

OK, my pulse has fallen back to its normal level of stress and my memory begins to work. Didn’t I read in some old race programs there was a guy competing with what was mentioned as an Indian “special” at several Norwegian races during the early thirties.
Of course, this was Jac. Hansen one of our famous race heroes later to become the main Norwegian Indian importer based in our capitol Oslo.

I spent the next couple of hours refreshing my knowledge on Jac. Hansen by sourcing the information in my files, this was great reading.
Jac. or more correctly Jacob Hansen started his racing career as many early motorcycle racers, on a bicycle. In example he won his class competing at a 30 km`s race in 1920. Racing by leg power would soon be history for Jac. According to my files he seems to have been at the start line at most motorcycle races from 1923 and the next ten years. He competed with an incredible number of motorcycle brands during those events; Harley, Rudge, Nortons, FN, Husquarna, Gillet and finally Indians where we are to be concerned with the “special”.
Jac. surely must have spent time in the US to get his dealership going, maybe he bought the OHV on one of his trips to the Wigwam?

Jac. Hansen start no. 26.

I look forward to dig more into this Norwegian OHV Scout`s story, in the meantime a couple of links on the subject;

Virtual Indian.org

The Vinagent

Stay tuned, more to come!!

Added; 26.01.2012

1`st pic show a young Jac. Hansen with his prize after getting a second place in the Std. motorcycle class at the Glostrup Race Track - Denmark back in 1924.

Second pic we see young Jac. (at far right)still at Glostrup in -24 admiring one of the OHV V-twin`s competing in the racing class. This one sported 8 valves and was manufactured in Europe, anyone got a clue??
No wonder he got ambitions to own a real racer himself!

Special parts

2012-01-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

In general getting parts from e-bay is like Christmas eve and birthday in one party, then receiving some parts are even more thrilling than others.

Got my offset rocker towers for the Cutdown project today, whow what great parts those are!!!!
Thanks a lot Chuck for making those and for sharing.

zero clearance

2012-01-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

Lapping the head of any cylinder on my cast iron leveling table is time consuming, exhausting and in general a shit job, but still very important to the overall result when time comes to apply any pressure to the head gasket.

My Danish Vilh. Pedersen mill is old, very old. It still does the job though.

Progress, progress

2012-01-12T15:26:00.000-08:00

Today have been a day filled with action. Blew all engine parts with glass, they had once (maybe in Mexico) been painted silver, forgot to bring my camera.

Then changing location to blow a fair amount of the chassis that will need to be painted, its hard to find a location with fine sand giving the correct finish. One need to stay away from the steel sand which is commonly used in the industry.

One step forward, then two back!

2012-01-12T14:24:00.000-08:00

Have been slow with posting lately, luckily life is not as quiet as the number of blog messages would indicate.

In retrospect, when finally Christmas & New year celebrations were over, it was due time to increase the speed of Panhead restoration. Working with the engine is the major task at this moment ,mentioning parts not to be replaced rather than those who will be replaced is far easier. One lucky dealer might look forward to receive this order.
Grief, horror, when removing the right side outher cranckshaft bearing from the case I came to see a very small movement in the steel bushing wich is a part of the crankcase casting. Not that loose that it could be moved, but still.

This part is NOT supposed to be loose at all.

When talking to the pros it was clear the best fix would be milling out the steel part, then replace this with a new one press fitted in the case half.

Hmm, an operation like this is beyond my milling skills as well as this steel bushing is very close to the inner camshaft bushing hole, just a few mm`s off, rather not make a crack between those two holes when press fitting a new steel insert, a crack which is a common problem with quite a few cases.

I`m a true believer in Loctite products, they do indeed warrant the functionality of their products, and they work. Called Loctite in Oslo, they recommend Loctite 290, this is a high strength penetrating metal glue, working at temperatures well above 150 degree C.
Problem is how to get rid of any oil in the microscopic gap between steel insert and case as well as getting any Loctite glue in there when cleaned?

Vacuum is the answer, vacuum, oh yes, again I see the light. If a sufficient vacuum is maintained there is no problem in sucking trough detergent to get the gap cleaned as well as getting the gap filled with glue.

I am now running frantically around to collect vacuum compressor, turning all the tools needed to achieve vacuum in the crack, etc. etc.

The rest is just straight forward, and whow am I pleased with the result.

If there should be any misalignement (Whisch I do not believe) this would need to be taken care of when lapping the outher bearings with cases together.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-12-28T13:43:00.000-08:00

It is still Christmas, let us enjoy another great photo from Yesterdaze`s motorcycling life. This is a image taken during one of many ice races held in Norway during the twenties. These races were very popular and high speeds were obtained during these events.

Keep in mind no roads where stretching out as the ice of a frozen lake, hence winter were times for motorsport and high speeds.

Plastic aint fantastic

2011-12-28T13:21:00.000-08:00

Still in pain from digesting the Christmas pudding I found time was there to make the final mechanical repair to my ol panheads chassis, replacing parts of its front mudguard wich in its previous life had been repaired by plastic padding. Wich is a brilliant method of hiding rust but in my point of view not an repair.

One could easily ask, why attacking the only part looking decent on your bike with a grinder?

Suspicion. If something looks to good be true, then it for sure is false. We all know Harley mudguards rust apart in the area where it attach to the fork, this where its double plates.

Greetings for all

2011-12-23T05:56:00.000-08:00

OK all you gear heads, motocyclist`s, motorcyclist`s, collectors, pack rats, friends, fellow bloggers and whoever pass by this blog;

Merry Christmas & Happy New year to all

Hope to see you in 2012

Sverre & Øyunn
AMcN

Enrique Pontolillo

2011-12-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

Christmas came early this year. Today to be more precise, when recieving a parcel I had been looking forward to get. I tell you I was not dissapointed, nope I was stunned when checking out the last book presented by Eggi, a German Harley enthusiast and author / co-author of several books devoted to the Harley history. This time Eggi offer for your reading / viewing pleasure a 640 pages book including more than 1000 illustrations covering the life of a truly interesting person, living his entire life devoted to Harley Davidson. This person is Enrique Pontolillo, selling Harley Davidson motorcycles in Lima - Peru for allmost a decade.
To get an idea what this book is all about, check out Fritz of Harleysons homepage, order the book at Eggis Pontolillo site on the www.

Various ways of relaxing

2011-12-20T01:43:00.000-08:00

My last decent motorcycle road trip this autumn, I found myself travel a total of 90km`s gravel road in a single day. Every new sign pointing in the direction of a dead end, I just have to follow it.
You never know what might be there, better check it out.
There is nothing like motorcycling in late Oktober when air is cold and crisp, sun with no real heat, no leafs on the trees make visibility better than any other time of the year, what a day.
Talking to old people with internal clocks who seems to be set to another pace than what we modern people follow is an adventure in itself.
Turning the conversation onto the motorcycle theme is a must, would there by any chance be any left?

When in the evening I`m getting back to the nest, the temperature is just above zero degrees.

Did I pic anything motorcycle related, nope no luck this time, but adding a bunch of periodic oil cans to my collection is a fair substitute.

Why am I writing this in retrospect?
Sob, its because winter starts getting a grab at me now, I would have liked going for a ride on any of my bikes, there is nothing as relaxing as this.

"Harley-Nilsen"

2011-12-15T00:19:00.000-08:00

Years ago I was given a picture as well as a tip on where an old Harley sidecar racer where resting, this was then supposedly for sale by its owner.
As, back then my finances where rather limited I didnt allow myself to strike any deal, and I didnt offer to many thoughts on this bike for years (which is not quite true as I heard of others from time to time considering the same bike) until recently when I learned the bike had finally changed hands after all those years.
For me and others this bike was known as the bike that had been raced by "Harley Nilsen", which Nilsen? for sure I didnt know.

Recently I was in the area of the bike`s new home and its owner Eirik offered me to visit his garage to check it out.

This bike is a cool homebrewed racer based on a std 25-27 Harley twin with a cut down sidecar. Engine is a std. 1929 61" (at least from the outside view). Still there is some other cool features worth to notice. The rear part of its fork is the oddball dropforged JDH style, the one not mentioned in any parts books - ever. For those familiar with sites as the AMCA forum as well as the Caimag forum, not to forget anything related to Cutdowns or early bobbers will know this part.

Another detail is the original fork stabilizer, a Harley accessory causing the front part of the fork to get less flexible. AND yes the original is cast in steel, not brass. This is another issue which is consistently discussed at various forums.

A homemade arrangement made by shackles and wire is attached to the forks right side to further improve its stiffness when going left only at the race tracks.

Leather protection is added to the fuel tank as the rider on a sidecar racer has to move a lot to keep the front wheel grounded. Hoops are attached all over the bike to allow the sidecar monkey to be present where needed. His job is something different to any other. At least there are no brakes on this hack as sudden braking is what scares modern sidecar monkeys the most.

Front wheel seems to be turned 180 degree as the drum is opposite to the fork lug where the brake shackle should be anchored. Talking on front wheel, seems like front tire is taken from a period tractor, cool.
Rear tire is one scary tire, that’s a monster I have never seen on a bike before, bet that gave a god grip on those horse tracks or uphill events.
Having checked out the bike in itself I started dwelling with them cool plaques attached to the sidecar boot.
This is so cool; every race in which the bike has participated and the great wins by Harly-Nilsen is proven by those plaques from 1933 to 1939 as well as a particular plaque for 1940-45.

Plaque details from sidecar hood.
AMK, we know NMK Norsk Motorcycle Club in the earlier years (to become Norsk Motor Klubb), who were AMK? I had heard of AMK before but hadn’t used any effort in investigating this until now triggered by this bike.
AMK were kind of an opposite of the NMK. This as AMK where the Workers Motor Club (we have previously learned NMK where more upper class guys), one could easily state AMK to be to the left of those NMK guys as the worker movements in the thirties where strongly directed towards socialism.
AMK was founded in 1933 (hence a 1933 memory plaque on the sidecar), the year of the great economic depression that scared the entire world as well as it got the working class to grow even stronger.
And, of course did the working class ride motorcycles as well as being interested in the sport of such, but from what I have learned AMK were not allowed to participate in races organized by NMK in the early years. If is true or not I have not figured out by now, I will need to dig further into that.
What I do know is both NMK & AMK came along with their motorbikes covered with flowers in an event held in Oslo the summer of 1945 when the war had just ended. I bet they by then had figured the class issue was of less importance and where able to join their forces on the racing issue.

I had never seen or studied the AMK logo prior to the visit in Eiriks garage, a red star in a green circle surrounded by corn ears.
No doubt those guys where politically left wing.

From the plaques we learn Harley-Nilsen have been the "workers champion" as well as "Scandinavian champion" trough out the thirties. In addition there are plaques for races held all over eastern Norway. I don’t know for sure, tough I recon the 1940 to 45 plaque is there to tell there was no racing during WWII.
Unfortunately my investigations have turned out there is limited to none information to find on the AMK in official archives, I have been told most of the labor movement lost everything during the war.

My interest is now facing who was this Harley-Nilsen once riding the bike?

First off I learned the guy behind the nick Harley-Nilsen`s true name was Erling. A search on the www got me in contact with his daughter Grethe. Even if born after her father had ended his career as a motorcycle racer she was well aware of her father`s keen interest in motorcycling and his participation in races during the thirties. She was indeed pleased to share information with me on Erlings life during our phone conversation.
Erling was born in 1904, passing away too young at the age of 59 in 1963. For sure he had been a working class hero, a mechanic of god`s grace with a load of artistic skills added to his practical ones.
Not only did he own a bunch of various Harleys during the thirties, forties and early fifties giving him his nick name Harley-Nilsen, he did wrench, rebuild and even build his own improvements to the bikes to make them serve his needs. In pictures provided by his daughter showing some of his bikes, most of the earlier ones have the modification to the side of their front fork as seen on Eiriks race bike. Apparently Erling believed in this modification. According to a news paper clip from 1946 he made at least 7 or 8 enclosed sidecars trough the years, this to prevent his wife from getting soaked when touring the country side. Erling`s Harley`s started with the early style IOE`s from the twenties, later there would be thirties VL`s.

Erling and wife with a Harley rebuilt to the Nilsen spec.

Grethes mother dressed in an aviation style helmet, googles, kidney belt, motorcycle gloves and windproof coverall. Life is a thrill on a motorcycle.

A very cool detail in relation to Erlings motorcycle rebuilds is the fact he made scale models of his bikes, one off which is still in the family.
Picture of a Harley scale model, even this have plaques on the sidecar hood.

Same bike as the model in a newspaper clip from 1946.
Erling was not only a Harley enthusiast, motorcyclist, motorcycle racer and working class hero. He according to his daughter invented stuff as well, small things and bigger ones, such as the principals for the “Lillebror” camper to be produced by the company Widerøe from 1957 to 1971. The Lillebror invention was most likely a product evolving from trailers Erling would pull behind his sidecar hacks when he went camping at the countryside
A more artistic mission where the huge 8-10 meter(25-30 feet) Banana once located on the roof top at Banana Mathiesen in Oslo. Guess what Mathiesen imported!, all our Bananas for a decade. This Banana is still in existence at the Hennie Onstad art museum.
In addition to working in his own workshop from where he serviced a bunch of Oslos Harley riders at the time, Erling added a steady job as scene mechanic / builder at Chat Noir. This was Oslo’s most reputed theatre during the 1900`s
Erling Løwer Nilsen seems to have been one of these guys with unlimited resources and endless days.
I look forward to learn more from his racing career as well as the AMK, stay tuned.

Erling with his cream 1929 JD, this bike represent the end of the IOE era. Most of Erlings bikes where painted cream (as his racer), according to his daughter this cream colour was sort of an trademark to him.

Added 17.12.2011;
This is a picture I really appreciate, Erlings two daughters checking out their fathers old race Harley.
Both girls seems to have the racing gene from their father.
The other pic show some of Erlings prizes won in AMK races during the thirties.

Sources;
Erlings daughter Grethe, Eirik & Arne Bjørn, Dagfinn Johansen, Aftenposten
Note: Pics of pics showing some of Nilsens Harleys will be replaced as soon as they have been properly digitalized, promise too.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-12-13T04:31:00.000-08:00

I have in previous posts stated Harley Davidson was the number one chose of motorcycles availiable during the late teens, through the twenties and into the early thirties.
How many Harleys was sold in these years? We will never find out for sure as private actors imported and sold bikes, new and used, with or without warranty then as today.
What we do know, is that by mid October 1929 the official sales by Sørensen & Balchen whom was the official general agent passed 3000 bikes.

This must have caused an official celebration at S&B, as well as they posted an special ad to chosen newspapers to brag the Harley superiority.

Whom was chosen to represent Harley in their ad, none other than Bjarne Whist and his keystone framed racer wich we know from a previous post on this blog.

As stated by S&B in 1929;
Harley Davidson, none more solid, powerful and reliable, as made for Norwegian roads.

3000 bikes by 1929, no wonder there are still a bunch of those old IOE engined Hog`s around.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-12-11T09:39:00.001-08:00

Quite sure this is another super rare Iver Johnson. There is no other bike sporting an odd shaped curved fueltank as the Iver Johnson does.

Tom Fredrik`s 45"

2011-12-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

In some ways I would have liked Norway not being such a long country with people living scattered around . Tom lives in the middle of Norway, me all the way down south. That is a looong way to go for a meet and an evening spin. If we had lived in, lets say Denmark, we could meet in the middle and enjoy a ride to go home for a late supper.
Anyway and anyhow, Toms ride is a beautiful Harley 45" that started (according to Tom) as a WWII WL but shortley after Normandie rebuilt to be sold as a sivilian bike as early as in 1946. This is a bike brought back to life by NOS and more NOS or used original parts. What`s even better, its a daily rider trough the summer season, either with a solo saddle or a buddy seat to bring someone along for a ride. Tom, you can look forward to next summers rides, thats what a 45" is made for, to be used.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-12-10T06:57:00.000-08:00

This image might not be of the best quality, but still an interesting picture. A beautiful Excelsior w. a sidecar attached, a model 19 (correct me if Ì`m wrong)made by Schwinn in Chicago. This bike is a beauty, grey with red side panels on the fuel tank where a golden X tell you the bike brand. Mother rides pillion, both daughters tucked into the sidecar when the X huff`s and puff`s along the narrow gravel roads. The only way to get across many lakes or rivers these days is by means of barges attached to a submerged cable. This cable was used to propel the barge across as well as it prevented the barge to float downstream when on a river . There are still a limited number of these ferries in use, though slightly upgraded. My favourite is still in use to cross lake Nisser in Telemark, pics have been posted on this blog previously.

The ferry man, a local seems to be a tough and rugged chap. His jacket should desperately need a wash, as well as its size seems to have shrunk or the ferryman`s size have increased since the jacket was purchased, either or.

The stack of fire wood in the far left of the pic make me think there is a steam boat coming to shore to deliver folks and goods whenever passing. Manyt small steamers traveling inland had their boilers heated by means of firewood sold by the locals.

I love these old pics, to read them as a story just by looking.

Keep in mind; Excelsior, always makes good.

Olavs 36 VL hack

2011-12-09T09:03:00.001-08:00

Olav is a chap I`ve learned to know trough the www in recent times, tough it appears our roads have crossed before without knowing (Once my fierce bidding caused him a pretty expensive Knucklehead. Still he was the toughest in the end, arf).
We both have 48 Pans, his a bit more roadworthy at time beeing and I just learned it could easily been him having bought my Pan project as according to himself he dribbled for that one too. I bet he dont regret too hard having followed my work in giving a rebirth to the old lady.

Olavs last score is this great looking 1936 VL combination. A great machine that I admit would not have felt hard to own. The later VL`s are well designed machines capable of taking hard use as well as parts are no problem thanks to Steve at VL-heaven.

Early VL`s are still pretty cheap to get hold of in Scandinavia, I recon if they have been properly set up its a god investment, tough they have a more slender apperance, more like the J era bikes. That those early VL`s too can handle lots of mileage is proved by Bengts VL previously presented on this blog, that`s a bike getting lot of km`s a year.

Head job and stiff nipples

2011-12-08T23:49:00.001-08:00

Short update on the Pan. As heads where now removed time was due to get their internals inspected. As most engine heads are hard to get properly placed in a vice. My preference is to make a custom tool to fit in the spark plug hole, this in its turn allow an easier fit in the vice and the head can easily be turned to the most sutable angle. Spark plug threads on my Pan heads where 14x1,25, easily turned in my trusty Mayford screw cutting lathe (what would life be without one?).
It appeared my 25 year old valve spring compress tool had to be slightly modified to be able to work on the Pan heads too, no big deal.

To be able to get the manifoild nipples removed without disturbing the head threads (their threads where badly disturbed in the area where the securing rivet had been replaced by a soft screw. This allowing those parts to work back and forth, no good and a fair amount of gasket compound did not solve the "real" problem) they had to be split twice by a junior hack saw blade, a paintaking process of umpteen minimal cuts. When split the intake nipples where given enough pain by a chisel to slip out of their holes, sucess, no thread damage.

Upon inspection of valves, guides, springs etc. the conclusion was quite easy, change it all!

Panhead project, get the guts out of this engine.

2011-11-29T13:18:00.000-08:00

I would like to use the words of my since long passed granma; when it appears to be real bad, keep in mind it could always be worse!

Unconventional solutions were required during disassembly, oh my!

Garage visit II

2011-11-26T14:03:00.000-08:00

Still in the Western part of Norway, Tor picked me up at the hotel to take me along to another guy serious about his Harley Davidsons, Otto.
Otto bought his first Milwaukee marvel back in 1964 when with his brother he went off to a nearby town to buy a car. The bike that lit his Harley fire, a 1941 E Knucklehead is still his favorite Harley Davidson. This year his Knuck is getting a major overhaul, this means getting its first real restoration, a task easily taken care of by Otto in a garage where the level of tools added with his skills allow him to make pretty much anything mechanical.
Among Ottos bikes there is one interesting flathead that have previously been presented in "pics from yesterdaze". This bike once belonged to a friends grandpa, this is where the photo came from.
How Otto manage to keep his "indoors" Harleys in such a flawless original condition tough still being used outside, I wonder. When did you see a 100% original Super Glide with the factory stickers for tire air pressure still on the rims???

Garage visit I

2011-11-26T13:30:00.001-08:00

Sometimes it is good for your inspiration visiting others addicted to the same hobby as yourself, old motorcycles in general and Harley Davidsons in particular.
A few days ago I attended a work related conferense in the western parts of Norway, finnishing early ment there was time to visit my friend Tor`s place. His life is all about Harley Davidsons and if there ever is going to be a TV quiz related to "what fits where and what year is this part for" on a Harley Davidson, Tor would win, no doubt on that.
Tor is dead a dead serious collector of HD Accessories catalogs, I think he have the whole bunch of them, and he have pretty much of what is in them as well. Tor fancy all that "bling" you could fit to your Pan or Knuck, loads of it.

He is the only one I know owning a pair of Harley siblings, two original paint AMF electra glides with subsequent engine numbers, the only two sold in Norway that year, oh my!
His 1933 VL in original condition is a rare bird indeed, you have to go as far back as 1910 to find a year when Milwaukee produced less bikes than in 1933 when all markets suffered badly from the great depression.
Well, enjoy a few snaps from inside Tor`s cave.

Roadweasels badge

2011-11-23T15:38:00.000-08:00

How did I become the first Norwegian member of the US Roadweasels Mc, a great club with a bunch of friendly people?
This all started when I bought some very well made parts for my Henderson on e-bay from Bill, a proud member of the Roadweasel`s in Michigan.
Having enjoyed corresponding by e-mail after our e-bay deal I finally got to meet Bill and friends when attending the AMCA meet at Davenport a couple of years ago, great fun and great people.

A few days ago I got a parcel from Bill, not an e-bay deal this time, no. I got my Roadweasel badge, handmade by Bill.

Thanks a lot mate, truly appreciated this one!!

Offset springer repair II

2011-11-23T15:16:00.000-08:00

OK, this is a pretty late update on the repair of my 48 Panhead fork. Brought my fork and the jig to Eriks forge. I really enjoy beeing in Eriks forge when he and his apprentice Odin do their work as blacksmith`s. Coal, fire, flames, heat and steel soft as butter which is allowed to be shaped of their skilled hands, these are epic moments.

Old legs had to be ground out of the main casting, not as much work as I would have believed at first. Supposedly they where to be secured by pins, didn`t find any. Then the new legs from Matt & Carl Olsen where soldered in place by Erik, this when the fork was placed in the jig to ensure it coming back together straight.
When the joints had cooled the lower part of the fork was made loose, just slightly. Then both fork legs where spot heated on the outside of the tubes just below the main casting, then again allowed to cool down. This cause the outside of the tubes where heated to shrink which in turn removed any tension that the fork legs had got towards the spacer sleeve at the bottom of the jig. Voila fork is as god as new :-), tough still partly original.

Offset springer repair

2011-11-16T16:12:00.000-08:00

Jig is done, thanks alot Jeff aka Knucklebuster 1939 for keeping a 48 Pan springer in your kitchen ready to be measured whenever I mail stupid questions:-)
This jig is made to ensure the new legs get in place where supposed to. Off to my friend Erik the master blacksmith tomorrow, hopefully getting back home with a repaired fork!

Having finished the fork repair jig there was still time to get some more done, hmm why not fit the NOS Nation Built dash trim rail recently received from my all time hero and fellow Roadweasel Easy Russ, grand hero of e-bay!!
Turned out being a pretty time consuming job but the result was great. Thanks a lot Russ & Tracy.

A great addition to the Bling factor!

Roadster bars for the Cutdown project

2011-11-16T15:57:00.000-08:00

A while back I recieved a piece of steel tube that I had been waiting for since plans where made at the Wauseon AMCA meet this summer. Tom Faber at Fabercycle.com (check out his web page) have made a great looking roadster handlebar for my cutdown project, whow. Tom is a super skilled craftsman, his handlebars for twenties to fourties Harleys, Hellings&Stellings or the ever popular Flanders are made as exact copies of the originals.
My bars are made to look like bars seen in early photos of cutdowns with 1" shorter grips.

These narrow bars look great together with the slim JDH fueltank, or more correct a peashooter tank with valve pockets this is and the messinger racer saddle. Damned I need to get that Pan done to spend more time working on the cutdown.

Sometimes I wonder why I keep a comfortable sofa in my workshop, I`ve never got time to sit in it anyway. Tonight Sara, a dog I`m taking care of these days kept it warm, thanks Sara!

Mudflapping

2011-11-14T16:14:00.000-08:00

Sometimes one does jobs of less importance, but they might be fun still.
Got this plain leather mudflap from e-bay, to boring to fit to a dressed up Panhead, better modify it, tada and its as bling as any flap can ever get.

OK time for more serious matters. Started working with making a jig for the springer fork leg repair. It will need to get back together as a straight piece of fork, not like the Tijuana Mexico repair as is.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-11-08T04:22:00.000-08:00

Just found there have been no posting in a while. Busy at work this time, hardly had any time to spend on the www at all. Well not quite the truth as a few bits and bobs for on going projects have been secured on e-bay.
Since back shore I have been off looking at a cool Norwegian Harley IOE race bike preserved in its "as raced condition", post to follow on this soon.

Till then, an early Indian Power Plus captured at the farm where it served as transport and workhorse, this to its owners great satisfaction.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-10-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

One more pic from my recent scan session. This show the ever popular and as always spectacular sidecarclass ready for take of in a Norwegian ice race held sometime in the mid twenties.
There are several cool details in this photo,
the first and most important is the fact that there is one Norwegian Harley racer with a FLXI mounted to the right side, this is the bike third from left in the picture.
Those fully flexible sidecar hacks where hard to compete with due to their roadholding capabilities, and soon after their arrival on the US race tracks they dominated the sport.
From my knowledge there is only one FLXI sidecar that have partially survived in Norway, though there must have been a few around, this as they where frequently advertised in early twenties newspapers.

Then there are two more hacks where the sidecar is visible, both home made attempts to streemline the body to allow for more speed. Keep in mind the monkey of these hacks where laying on his back looking straight into the air, my gosh, just the thought could give chills.

It is so cool to know there have been such impressive Harley racing hacks in use on Norwegian race tracks, just wish more had survived.

Pic from Uffe

2011-10-26T00:46:00.000-07:00

Uffe lives in Sweden, he has a bunch of HD bikes and they are not for display. Uffe and his mates go riding as soon as there is an opportunity to. Uffe shared with me & you this epic moment from one recent late autumns spin. Uffe riding his 1929 and mate Perre a 1926,(hence no front brake).
I love the 29 J`s, when they have the I-beam drop forged rear front fork, the oil pump cover and the bullet style twin headlamps.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-10-20T03:34:00.000-07:00

What an evening yesterday. Visiting the son of another Norwegian twenties Motorcycle racer, scanning pics when listening to stories told from father to son.
Its like being there, somehow looking into what life was like then when you where a motorcycle speed freak in the early days of motoring.

Even more cool to see pics related to those whom albums I have already been trough in other homes. It appears certain events have been more captured than others.

OK, here is one great shot from yesterdays scanning, not showing the owner of the albums but one of his NMK friends Macke Nickolaysen in action with one of his many Reading Standards.
Macke must have been one of few using the RS brand bikes for competition, I find this mean they where not as bad as their reputation tells today?

Look forward to more pics from yesterdaze.

Spending more time in the workshop

2011-10-17T03:45:00.000-07:00

OK, seems like the 2011 motorcycle season have come to an end. Winter tires are back on the car and I`ve already seen some cars having slipped of the road their summer tires dont cope the ice spots still present in the early hours of the morning.

Have started playing with my Panhead project again. Still some work left with the chassis, but I`m getting there. Have a deal with a painter in January, better have everything ready by then.

This spring I played with the original primary cover that needed quite a bit of welding and I almost gave it up when ordering a repop cover. Receiving this gave me new strength in repairing the original, what a difference in appearance there was from the original to the repopped one.
I will keep the repop on my workshop wall, at least it looks god from some distance. Had to cut out and re-weld the both areas for the inner cower fixture points as well as adding the old lugs with new rivets.

When at Wauseon back in June I got a refurbished original speedo from Perry in Canada, he is quite an expert in bringing old Stewart-Warners back to life. My speedo looks so sweat and I am truly pleased with his work.

Finally got to use my home made jig for riveting a new sprocket to my rear drum (presented in a previous post), worked out well and I recommend you making one to ensure proper riveting.

Then of course there have been the work of adding dresser lulls as under seat stop lamps, accessory trim on mudguards, tail gunners etc., look forwar to see this all when bike gets black.

Right now my major task is to replace the forklegs on the front springer as they are both temporarely fixed in Mexico at some time when they broke off. Carls Cycle Supply have those legs for sale, look forward to receive the package from these great guys.

Then there is to rebuild the star hubs. I think I need to replace one hub as there is some pitting in the bearing surface, hmm will have to consider.

Posting a few pics to update the Panhead project, more to come.

Cool link

2011-10-14T16:19:00.000-07:00

Got an e-mail from Ronald this evening, he shared a link to an awesome story with me. I`m quite sure he dont mind me sharing this along.

I remember this place you will see in Dale Walkslers video stories was presented in a Norwegian magazine some years back, my first thought then was how is it possible for one person to collect such a load of stash??

Check this out, all 8 videos;
http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=417

Oktober treff

2011-10-09T13:39:00.000-07:00

For years and years every first weekend of October have seen a bunch of hardcore touring bikers gathering in the woods at Dalebukta by lake Byglandsfjord to celebrate the end of another motorcycle season. Frost at nights are no problem, just dilute your blood with enough alcohol and temperatures does not matter. I am sure my worst Sunday head aces ever where faced at this event.
Dalebukta used to be a Nirvana for camping with your motorbike year round, dare to say there was no place like it. Dalebukta is no more, local horny developers have battered the place to build 80 luxury cottages, sigh! Again we see there is no such as eternal values.
OK, Oktober treff was for this year temporary moved to a less desert and wilderness located spot in Setesdal and as Sataurday showed up as nice as days before we decided to include this event into our ride.

Sunday morning with ice on the car windows outside soon turned to pissing rain. Snow as low as 4-500 m above sea level. Was this weekend the end of the 2011 season?

Another great late season ride

2011-10-09T13:08:00.000-07:00

A wet summer is almost forgotten when a week have passed with dry autumn weather and great rides .
OK, its cold outside but there is clothes for any occasion :-)
Some pic`s from Fridays ride into the Agder valleys.
Had another ride with the W, ending up as usual in some remote gravel roads with a hope of discovering some abandoned location to have sneak inside.
Didn`t score any this time, but one never know.
Had the chance to ride along with Øyunn on her BMW, great company as always.

Though separated by 65 years our bikes share a common technical feature, they both have ABS brakes and it should be needless to mention the Harley system is the most efficient in this case :-)

Brothers

2011-10-05T15:36:00.001-07:00

Pretty much the same bikes, or not?

For sure those to 45"`s are two different animals even if their date of birth is only two years apart.

Colours of autumn

2011-10-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

Had another great ride with my "not that dirty nine" up the hills to enjoy the colors of the trees before they all let their leaves go.
There is something truly different with riding in the crisp air of autumn, lets hope there will be some more days to enjoy.

Another season getting closer to an end

2011-09-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

Oh my, its for sure god to get back shore. When even weather gods are playing on your team, your life is likely good. This was my initial thoughts when I watched the weather forecasts earlier this week, still on the rig.
For how long was Adam in Paradise? I got the flu yesterday but heck I am giving a shit, I wanna drive my motorcycle!

Time to get some dust on my 39 W, I always tend to forget how well a old hog running on them 18" ballon tires handles compared to the later 16" wheels & tires.

My route for todays drive took me trough sceneric countryside where colours have changed from the green colour of summer to autumn`s brown, yellow and orange. Winding roads where pure joy from riding brings a huge smile on my face.
Drove by my friend Villys place. His Motorcycle garage is way above what most can ever dream of and he is wrenching all sorts of old bikes including a skirted Indian Chief.

Pointing my nose towards the valleys again, spending another couple of hours riding single lane roads. oops, saw this road from passing by a junction. Where might that road lead to?
Turning back to investigate further, you never know what is hidden in the unknown.
Well, this road didnt bring any since long forgotten dumpster place, it finally went into a lake next to a place wich would be an ideal location for a camp fire next summer.

American Motorcycles

2011-09-27T05:52:00.000-07:00

Another way cool image from one of the Danish beach racing events held at the Fanø beach. Spoke of this before in my post on Chr. Bohnstedt Pedersen the guy with an Militoir inline 4, if you remember (if not click on the Chr. B P name and you will be brought there to refresh your memory).

Picture from the 1923 Fanø races, from right to left; an Indian bigvalve Power Plus racer, a OHV FN, then a unbelivable beatiful Excelsior racer (that bike is for sure a story in itself)and finally a Harley racer with an interesting setup. The Harley engine is an early banjo case two cam engine, the frame is a factory keystone.

Oh boy, wouldn we have loved to be at the scene?

Steves Super X

2011-09-26T08:44:00.001-07:00

Got this cool photo a while back from my Super X friend Steve living in Indiana.
We have been fortunate enough to meet at a couple of occasions, Wauseon last where I checked out his great original looking Super X low frame 45".
here is a pic of Steves X (to the right) and a friend of his bike, both X`s are in time capsules rather than gloss and shiny nickle plating.
I love them bikes and having seen John R. beating his X on the Wauseon track I look forward to try mine, eventually!

Hornsbergs Velodromen Sweden

2011-09-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

Long time ago when I wrote a post on my facination for the US boardtrack racing I came to mention we had one track for motorcycle racing with banked curves in Scandinavia too. This was named "Hornsbergs velodromen".The Swedes Paul & Ruben Ljungberg built this concrete race track with a huge bank loan back in 1922-23. It was fisrt opened for the 1923 season and was really busy for a couple of years to come. To provide additional income boxing matches where held inside the track when not used for racing.

The track was located on a beautiful spot at the country side by Kungsholmen, this a part of the capitol Stockholm.
Next to the track where on one side a huge allotment for Stockholm citizens, on the other a huge victorian building where a children orphans home where housed.
The track was used for bicycles and motorcycles, even a car was once tried but as the track was as short as 333 1/2 meters it became to narrow.
Luck didnt follow the Ljungberg brothers, the track didnt get approval for racing in 1927 and they soon faced bankruptcy.
In 1931 this great innovative track was torn down in favour for an ordinary sports ground, sigh!

This post is to share a link with an actual film from a race at the velodrom found in a Swedish film arcive where in the middle there is a sequence with real motorcycle racing. Click on; Hornsbergs velodromen Motorcycle racing 1925

Imagine when Master Erik Westerberg, "Kjøttbullen" Liljekvist and invited race heroes from Norway, Denmark and Finland roared their bikes around the concrete wall.
Wonder if Master Erik ever used his open port 8 valve two cam Harley here??

Some stills from the movie to give you an idea what this was all about.

Allans Indian Bobber

2011-09-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

Couple of days ago I got an e-mail from the most friendly Dane ever Allan, a proud member of the Killer Bobbers located in the Danish capitol Copenhagen.
Since I first met Allan at A-bombers I know him from riding his lowrider skirted Indian Chief. Not anymore, check out his new Indian toy.
What a gem this bike is.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-09-21T08:18:00.001-07:00

Argh!!!, what a picture this is. There you have Herman Oppen to the left in the picture, well seated on his Henderson De-luxe C-1118. Herman is a guy filled with determination. Just look at him, no kidding this is a go fast guy with an "eat my dust attitude" written in his face.

Then there is the still unknown dandy on his ACE A-1507, looking as cool as a James Dean loong before James was ever born.
Mr. Cools`s ACE is a sport model, look at them wide handlebars they will get your body down when needed.

Whilst Herman have ripped off all parts on his bike causing excess weight Mr. Cool have kept his bike as clean as if it had just left the factory in Philadelphia. Just as clean as his white collared racing jersey.
No grease or oil on this gentleman, girlies watch out your harts will get lost with this fella.

Stay tuned, you will get better known to Herman and C-1118.

27.01.2012:
Digging further into the history of the persons and bikes in this picture reveals I was wrong when naming the Henderson owner in my initial post. This Henderson used to be owned and ridden in road trials such as the Trondhjemsridtet 1921 by Johan Hellum. Hellum a former Norwegian athletics champion would by 1922 or 23 become the Norwegian Henderson general agent for a number of years, an interesting person whom is to be further investegated.
Herman Oppen is the new owner of Henderson De-luxe C-1118, and boy is this Henderson getting a tough life in mr. Oppen`s hands. More to come on Mr. Oppen and C-1118.

American Motorcycles oddball

2011-09-19T09:29:00.001-07:00

Much to my despair, I can not manage to figure out what brand this bike is. Any ideas, suggestions will be truly apprechiated.

This bike once belonged to a lucky Swede, one can just wonder if it ever survived?

Motorcycle racing in the "Korketrekkeren"

2011-09-17T08:17:00.001-07:00

As mentioned in a previous post Korketrekkeren (corkscrew) was a very popular uphill race both for motorcycles and cars trough out twenties and well into the thirties.
The motorcycle races held by NMK and KNA at this location drew speed dare-devils from all over Europe to compete on achieving the shortest time up the hill.
Dangerous curves where banked by wooden planks to prevent the competitors from hitting the audience when they lost control of their bikes.

In this picture from an album discovered in my last search for "pics from yesterdaze" a couple of visitiors from Sweden is captured at full speed up Korketrekkeren, though not fast enough as they are still far from climbing on the wooden planks as I have seen from my pics some did.

Trough the years of competition taking place in the Korketrekkeren, race speeds where significantly increased. As stated in my first post covering the 1921 Korketrekkeren event, Macke Nicolaysen won by riding his Reading Standard at a time 2 minutes 59 1/2 seconds. If we jump to 4 of June 1928 an international race was held in Korketrekkeren where "master" Erik Westerberg set a new record of 2 minutes 4,8 seconds and Norwegian Harley ace Ernst Vaumund clocked in at 2 minutes, 5 seconds. This is close to a minute less, whow!
Its great fun to know the two Harley dare devils Erik and Ernst rode 10 sec faster up the hill than the Bugatti winning the race car class.

INDIAN Motocycles, the Decker collection

2011-09-16T05:42:00.000-07:00

Spoke with Thomas Bund today, his last book will be ready in October. For sure I look forward to own the "Indian Motocycles" with pics from the Michael Decker collection.
This is one "must have", you find Thomas Bund by clicking his name.

American Motorcycles

2011-09-15T09:34:00.001-07:00

Z 80, a 1917ìsh Harley once ridden at Swedish country roads. Would rather not have catched to much speed with this bike as long as them old clinchers have next to none air pressure in them.

I couldnt resist posting the picture where the old Ford A is working as a ice cutter. That is some HOT-ROD for sure, imagine!

Agder Motorhistoriske Klubb Swap meet 2011

2011-09-14T05:53:00.000-07:00

Some weeks ago I realised I was able to join the annual Swap meet of AMK for the first time in several years.
Its OK with those local swaps as you never really know what will surface as well as I`m pretty much having the scene by myself for what I`m looking for (hey that showed up to be wrong this time).

Got up 0600 Saturday morning, just a couple of degrees outside.
Primed the old Henderson wich started easily in the crisp air.
This would be my first ride since having installed spacers to get the inlet manifoild further out from the exhaust system, this to lower the carb temperature.

The swap, like 1/2 a hours drive from my home was allready crowded when I arrived, to find Tor Anders a major pack rat for any thing related to old American Motorcycles was allready there with a big grin on his face. Hey this swap is far off from your territories I tried, in vain.

High lights to be mentioned,
Tor Anders finds ehrrm and his Iver Johnson motor, meeting all local lunatics in one place rather than seek for them, getting voted as best motorcycle attending the meet/swap, spending quite a few bucks on stuff I easily could have lived without and finally a great drive trough winding country roads on my way home with a purring four.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-09-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

Whow!!

From my last weeks journey in digging for "pics from yesterdaze" I am totally surprised by the amount of "un-discovered" photos from the Norwegian hey-days of motorcycling that are actually waiting to be found. I consider pics from the years around 1915 to the early thirties, a period when our motorcycle scene was dominated by US made motors as Thor, Excelsior, Henderson, Indian and Harleys as well as Reading Standards, Popes and even oddballs like the Iver Johnsons to be of great interest to preserve (uh you might allready have guessed that?).

Those pics are all in danger from getting extinct, this as the childs of those who actually rode those years are now all in their late seventies to early nineties. The next generations might even not have ever meet their grand or grand grands, hence their interest in keeping this material in the family is less important.

Another important fact is that in todays homes where tidiness and minimalism is the general rule, there are no lofts or stalls where stuff can be hidden away till "you never know when"!

Shit, I will vote for 36 hour days if or when ever that is an option, I need more time.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-09-06T16:37:00.001-07:00

It is September, this summer is officially over and we have entered the autumn season, that is for sure. It is rain, rain and more of the same, flooding rivers and my cicles are parked, hopefully not for the rest of the year.
Well, if this amount of rainfall is to be continued when the temperature gets lower we will get a lot of snow.

A lot of snow, maybe I will put snow chains on my Henderson, drive to a nearby lake and play with the old four. The guy in this picture I think for quite sure is Mr. Ernst Vaumund, once a Norwegian race ace!!

I have just been fortunate enough to be able to scan the motorcycle photos that once belonged to Ernst`s brother Christinus. Whow those two lived exciting motorcycle lives.

This is going to be an exciting week, two more scan sessions coming up visiting the families of our since long passed motorcycle race heroes.

American Motorcycles

2011-08-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

What a great shot this is, a missus in the sidecar and a purring Exelsior to pull you both trough the country side roads.

Hanson sports shield

2011-08-24T12:50:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Gary and his skills I have been lucky enough to get a Hanson sports shield on my bobber. This is a cool period accessory for the bobber guys wanting the best of two worlds.

Thanks a lot Gary!!

Zenith Tx4

2011-08-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

The Henderson De-luxe models as well as the K all used Zenith updraft carbs. The first models used the T3 1/2 whilst the later used the Zenith Tx4. This carb is a three piece unit where the main part contain the floatbowl and jets, one part is the choke and finally there is one part for the ventury and throttle.
The ventury is originally cast in pot metal and the ventury body in cast iron. Due to the potmetals severe abilities for corosion it makes the cast iron to crack, sometimes in several pieces.
Hence there is a need for recasted ventury bodies. As you might remember I got a couple made a while back, now its time to get them machined.

Tx4`s where used by Chevy in the early twenties too, if altered with the Henderson style ventury body, choke part and throtle control arm it works OK and noone will se any difference. A new ventury as well as all screws and gaskets can be bought from Bill at Hendersonmotorcycles in St- Louis.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-08-15T08:53:00.001-07:00

A 1928 Harley Davidson model FD. Looks like if there is some special occasion as the Harley have been decorated with those white flowers.
Maybe from the look of the smile in the riders face its as simple as he is in love and have been given flowers from "her".

Motorcycle babes

2011-08-14T08:10:00.001-07:00

No words needed with this pic, its still summer out there.

American Motorcycles

2011-08-13T06:05:00.000-07:00

Hans in Holland have more luck than most. At a fair he found an old photo album where the captures below where amongst other photos from whoever once kept his memorys in there.
According to Hans he think those are British motorists touring Belgium on their bikes.
And what bikes those are. Early twenties Harleys and an inline four ACE. Some with periodic artillery wheel caps, and riders all dressed for touring.
What luck those images got rescued by Hans rather than ending at the dumpster place.

I can not resist from posting these pics even if not representing the Scandinavian bike scene from Yesterdaze.

15.08.2011:
My internet friend Jaap in Holland is the lucky owner of a 33 Harley 45". Having seen those pics he could tell us the G registration as shown on the visible reg. plates are from North Holland, most likely Amsterdam. They are some special personal reg. plates that allowed the owner to use them on any vehicle registrated in his name. Eventally the Dutch gov. ended this by the mid fifties.

Oh I wish we had the same, a reg plate to swap between my bikes as I can only drive one at the time anyway.

Thanks Jaap!

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-08-13T05:33:00.001-07:00

I admit in having gently stolen this pic elsewhere on the www. This photo is cool as its taken outside the forge in a small mid Norway community. In these days the blacksmith was a true artist capable of repairing anything mechanical. Those locations slowly changed when the horses where replaced by early cars and motorcycles, getting more advanced tools, grease pit and a petrol pump like the Tokvam? pump in the middle of this image.
When a capture is of such a quality as this its great to dive into it to look at the details, as the 1928 Harley JD with optional spot light bar as well as a speedo and amp meter on the fuel tank.
One can just wonder what motorcycle relics are dumped in the "used parts dept." at the far back of the site, sigh.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-08-12T01:16:00.001-07:00

Another picture from Bjørn Andre`s collection. Early twenties J model Harley with unknown brand sidecar attached. Someone made a modification to the bikes headlamp, this is not as when the bike left the "mo-co" in Milwaukee.

John Boija sr.`s Indian Chief

2011-08-09T23:27:00.000-07:00

As usual it`s mostly due to coincidence I get in contact with my victims whom I am to nuisance for old motorcycle photos.
John Boija jr. is one of those.
His interest in family heritage is presented on a dedicated website, http://www.boija.com/ .
Here is shown a small image capturing his grandfather John Boija Sr on an Indian motocycle and side car. OK, alarm bells are now on and I need to get in touch with the owner of this page to learn more.
It showed up with John Jr`s response to my e-mail he is in Afica and I am told to contact him later, which I did and this is the result of what John Jr had to share with us from his Grampa`s time as an avid motorcyclist.

John Boija Sr was born in 1898 and grew up on Granholmen, a small island in the river Ångermans located in the rural part of mid-Sweden. This island was the final location for all timber floated down the river to reach the sea.
John was from young years very interested in all technical. Growing up close to a huge steam driven saw mill allowed him to work with steam boilers, mechanic and even electrics in his school holidays.
In 1913 at the age 15 John left elementary school to start a 5 years education as an engineer, this a natural choice of study based on his interests. When John got his exam in 1918 he was ready to start his working career with a local factory, this wouldn’t last long as he three months later was enrolled in the army to serve his country.
John was not ready to continue his career as an engineer in thermodynamics until 1920. With a permanent position comes income, a driving licence was handed over from the authorities in nearby Harnøsand in 1921 and soon after in the spring of 1922 his savings allowed him to buy his first motorcycle. His eyes fell on a used but not abused Swiss made Moto-Reve from the late teens. This little belt puller could under optimal conditions deliver 4hp with its v-twin engine of 500cc displacement.
John enjoyed many miles on Y 241 and they where a happy couple for two years. As with most others bitten by the motorcycle bug there will always be an urge to get more cubic inches, power hence speed. In 1924 John traded his little Swiss companion in an early Indian. Y 108 was according to its registration a 1924 model Chief, the models third year of production, to be continued until 1953 when the wigwam finally closed. Owning this huge 1200cc / 74” side valve v-twin must have been like stepping into another world in motorcycling for young John. An Indian Chief motocycle, brand new out of the Sprigfield wigwam. The mighty Chief would easily carry any load up a steep hill, running beside or passengers out to push is now all forgotten. Neither is there any slipping belts during rainy days as the Indian was running a chain drive.
Captivated by his Indians capability of speed John soon became involved in racing, this as we know means ice racing during winter as this is the only time of the year mother nature provides enough flat space in the North of Scandinavia to allow for a race track.
If Johns racing led him to any local fame is unknown, but we could only imagine the fun and thrills he gained.
John stayed with his Indian for six years until the spring of 1930. His transport was now carried by a Citroen car bought a year before he finally let his Indian go.

John continued his interest in motoring tough now with cars as well as he became a successful entrepreneur, but hey that is another story which you can find more on at John jr.`s site (if your read Swedish).

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-08-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

Reading Standards, when did we ever see any of those around amongst those active in the vintage motorcycle scene?
Those mighty dark green sidevalve twins sold a number of bikes in Scandinavia in the late teens and early twenties. This Reading Standard once stayed in the eastern parts of Norway, Akershus where it carried its owner and passengers.

Reading Standard offered their bikes as early as in 1903, twins from 1908 and they continued to make bikes until 1922 when they sold the entire factory to Cleveland motorcycles. They only made the the Raedings Standards for one more year when they had to sell their own factory du to the decline in motorcycle sales. The golden age of motorcycling was by then passed and the markets would never be the same.

I have always liked the Reading Standard sales slogan, "Tested in the Mountains". This as the factory was located in the hills of Pennsylvania.

AmericanMotorcyclesNorway

2011-08-07T08:47:00.001-07:00

Got this photo captured in the south western parts of Norway trough my friend Ståle, himself the owner of several bikes made in the Springfield wigwam.
This Power Plus is a magneto model, with a ball horn to warn whoever needs to be warned and a home made arrangement with a bicycle light at front powered by a dynamo running towards the wall of the front tire.
I would imagine the amount of light from this setup during winter nights was rather limited?

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-08-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

Whow time goes by in a blast at summer. I didnt post a pic from yestedaze in a month, today. I feel sorry for this, there is still a bunch of cool photos to be posted to show what yesterdaze motorcycling was all about.

Here is another mighty Thor, pictured in Fredrikstad, eastern Norway close to Sweden.
This is the electrically equipped big twin which have been described thoroughly described elsewhere on this blog.
On cute detail, the owner didnt really trust his electrics, hence there is both an electric horn and to be sure a hand operatated ogahh horn on the bars.
Better not run over some pedestrians when thundering down the streets of old Fredrikstad!

Wauseon 2011, "A litle bit of this and a litle bit of that"

2011-08-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

Those pic show a tiny fraction of the huge amount of nice motorcycles at Wauseon. Of course there where European and Japanese bikes too, many.

Wauseon 2011 Hendersons Hendersons Hendersons

2011-08-05T00:23:00.001-07:00

OK I`m a Henderson owner and this years theme at Wauseon was the Henderson brand bikes.
There where Hendersons indeed. From the very first to the very last model, a couple of specials, unrestored and "very restored", some driven and others displayed.
I got to try Dave Molnars killer 1928 De-luxe, this bike for sure gets used. When Dave reved up his engine I was sure there would start coming rods and stuff out sideways, but nope this engine soon after purred at idle.

Wauseon 2011 The boardtrack racers

2011-08-04T07:56:00.001-07:00

OK, sorry for beeing late posting pics from our great weekend at Wauseon AMCA meet 2011.
Weather have been just to god to be inside in front of the computer, riding have no. 1 priority, computer is not even on the list when it finally is summer in god ol Norway.
Now when supposed to work its far more easy to find time for this.
OK, Øyunn took such a huge lot of pics from the event, its hard to find what pics to post.
We stayed in the pits as long as the Boardtrack racers (as well as the handshifters) where in action. SUN SUN SUN, 95 degree F and still there are some guys as you will se from those pics keeping their helmet on pretty much all the time even in the pits (big grin). Those pics will try to tell what its all about when it comes to vintage racing; wrenching, adjusting, camaraderie when a problem occures, helping hands, pushing, sweating and some riding but still smiles only!!
If someone need pics of their race action, please feel free to e-mail me with start no. there might be more of your interest too.

Who entered the podium when the boardtrack class was all trough, John the X man with his Super X as well as Matt & Big Jesus both riding IOE Harleys.

All pics AMcN`s Øyunn;

Start No. 33A

2011-07-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

Having known Jeff aka Knucklebuster from the blogspot sphere for quite a while and since long enjoyed his blog I had looked forward to meet this guy celebrating christmas with knuck engines under the the green tree.
Its always great meeting others more old bike crazy than one self :-)

We ran into each other early Thursday evening and I was able to check out Jeffs latest purchase, a totally crazy HD 45" hillclimber and a truck load of race memories like race scrap books and other from the bikes previous owner. What a score, and what luck this is all now beeing seriously taken care of for the future in Jeffs collection.

At Fridays race we stayed in the pits and there is nothing like it.
Some pics off Jeff and 33A in action at the Fulton county race track

Some of the handsome girls & guys we met at Wauseon 2011

2011-07-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, I`m sure there are some that Øyunn didnt catch with her camera (like Rob Mr. Henderson Olsen and Girard) but she really tried to get ya all.
Bill & me, Jeff aka Knucklebuster and John the X man & me, Easy Russ & Bill, Steve the ace Super X restorer, Tom & Lori from Faber cycle, Roadweasel, Ron that have helped me with many Panhead parts, our German friends Paul and Fritz with race legend Al Knapp, Mr. crazy Henderson Frank, Cyclone Bob w. sons Paul Fritz Zdenek and Øyunn, Dave Molnar ace Henderson mechanic , Gary the "hanson sports shield" man, Mike when getting a parcel from overseas, Panhead Paul the tailgunner man, the Walkslers, Napariala aka speedo-rat, Dave explaining his plans for an Anzani powered motorbike, Roscoe the race man , Sheila with her beloved Beemer and finally Big Jesus w. team mates.

Wauseon AMCA meet, celebrating the Henderson & more

2011-07-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

Finally back home from the US having been overseas for almost two weeks. What a great time we had at Wauseon thanks to a well organised meet at a great location and the bunch of friendly guys and girls we spent our time with whilst there.
Some friends whom we knew from before, some we knew from the internet and many new we learned to know trough the weekend.

I brought a long list of names whom I where to meet at various locations to shake hands and / or get parts, I managed to see everyone on that list.
Arriving Thursday early afternoon was great, lots of vendors, bikes and campers allready on the scene.
We soon found our friends from the Roadweasels, those guys and girls are the nicest people.
Running into Fritz and Paul Thursday evening was great too, we always appreciate their company.
Getting together with the Henderson owners was another great experience that started Thursday and kept on trough the entire weekend. It`s great talking to all those experienced guys working with Hendersons, next time I need to bring a tape recorder to be able to memorise it all.

Friday was race day, we spent that in the pits with our new friend Jeff aka "Mr. Knucklebuster". We did our best in transfering our positive vibrations for Jeff to gain success when racing his 45" HD in the handshifter class. He is the one to tell if we succeeded.

Beeing able to take Dave`s super hot 28 Henderson De-luxe for a spin needs to be mentioned, what a bike and this is getting used, for real. I normally dont borrow a bike, this one I could not resist.

Saturday was swapmeet day and more talk, talk, talk. To become familiar with Al Knapp at age 88, a true American Racer and a legend from the fourties and fifities when roaring the tracks with his WR`s was unforgettable. Listening to his tales from inside the factory race department was like a travel in time, for real.
Thanks a lot to Fritz for letting me come along.

The swapmeet was huge, more than 500 vendors its amazing. As a positive change from our local swapmeets there are none of the baloon & candy sellers, not a single one. Motorcycle parts or related only. I had no chance ever in getting trough the vast number of stuff for sale, running into far to much peoples to catch up with.

Sunday was some more swapmeet, you never know do you? Then time to say god bye and we allready started looking forward to next time, maybe Oley in Pa?

Øyunn beeing the AMcN photographer took such a huge number of great photos its hard to pick the best ones for my blog. I will at least give it a try.

Wauseon aftermath

2011-07-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

Trying to get back to earth at Niagara Falls having spent four days at Wauseon, a motorcycle marathon.
Loads of great guys and girls, never seen before motorcicles, old friends and new friends, race action, swapmeet with more than 500 vendors and so the story goes.

Wait for more to come.

Back shore

2011-07-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

I`ve got my ol feets back on steady ground, will not even consider leaving the rig a thought the entire leave. Got a nice ride with my thrusty 45" bobber today, day started with pissing rain but turned out with sun getting close to evening. Went up the valleys as I realised this was first Wednesday in July, and I have now finally learned that a lot of local bike owners meet every first Wednesday in the month at a remote Cafe an hours drive from Kristiansand (nearby town). I soon got behind some modern Jap bikes whoms speed didnt impress me much. OK, as normal they suddenly became aware of my existence behind, most likely because of my wide open exhaust rather than by looking in the mirror.
Common thought is; OK better get away from this old bike moron, NOT.
I`m childish, I easily admit to, but there is nothing like stepping the tail on some Japanese bike owners trying to go fast on the narrow curvy roads up the valley, I LOVE THAT!!
Drove for a couple of hours, stopping at a small lake to have a swim before reaching back home, life is not to bad after all.

A couple of weeks ago having just parked my Henderson after an evening spin this Car stopped by my fence.
old guy came over and asked if my bike was a Henderson. OK, this guy know a Henderson from a Tempo! My antennas started to extend.
Turned out this chap rode Indians in his youth and he had lot of knowledge in what bikes had been where during the 50-60`s in my area.
Talked on my interest in photos of old bikes and he went home to fetch an Indian photo from back then, cool.
What is even more interesting is I know where this Army Scout is resting, waiting for a new start whenever its owner trough the last 40 years realise he will never breath life to it. We can wait, we are even god at it.

Oddball engine

2011-07-03T06:08:00.000-07:00

Found a couple of pics from a few years back when looking for some other images in the deep of my hard disk. Found this oddball V-twin (actually I found two) at the country side an hours drive from where I live. This was even one of this rare occasions where I was given the old scrap.
Carried them with me to a swapmeet mostly to see if anyone would recognise the make of those oddbal V-twin. To my surprise there was one foreign guy that did, they are now back in the country where they once where made, hopefully to be part of a running bike.

The Van Buren sisters "Gussie" & "Addie"

2011-06-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

OK, this pic is not from Scandinavia for sure, but I just love this pic and the story behind. The two young van Buren sisters crossing the US in the mid teens on their Hedstrom Indians.
An amazing story and two amazing young women. Check it out here;
http://www.vanburensisters.com/

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-06-26T21:20:00.001-07:00

Another great photo from Bjørn Andres archives, thanks a lot. A-598 is a 1916ìsh Henderson with sidecar, what a stylish bike this is. Someone have added an European brand headlight to the bike, one can just wonder if this bike was originally equipped with a generator or if this is added later.
Pic is taken when there is still snow at Dokka railway station, hence the warm clothes on both rider and passenger.
One cool detail given by Bjørn Andre is that the station clock is still there after all those years, as seen from the pics I found on the www.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-06-25T21:34:00.000-07:00

I got a couple of cool photos from Bjørn Andre a while back. We know Bjørn from beeing the owner of the Spanjola, a Norwegian special built multi cylindered superbike from the twenties.

This photo is arranged for sure and we know this setting, babes and bikes, yeah we love it.

I`ve seen this image at the Nostalgisiden blog else where on the www but I will have a go with this still for you to enjoy.

Nestor, Bodens king of motorcycles

2011-06-24T21:33:00.000-07:00

I while back I got a number of e-mails with some interesting old motorcycle race photos from Svante in Sweden.
Svante working in Aftonbladet, a major Swedish newspaper was obviously more into high resolution scan of old pictures than I had ever dreamt being as I got a bunch of pics in the size 18 Mb and up.
Whow did my mail server have a hard time in loading those pics.

In addition to the photos presented Svante had a great story to tell which will be shared with you on this blog, just hang on with me.

We need to step back in time to the year 1973 when Svante hitch hiked from Søderhamn his hometown in mid-Sweden up north to Boden.
Svantes goal of the trip to pick up his grandpa Nestor`s old twenties Harley.
We can just imagine Svantes face upon arriving being told by grandma the bike that had rested for almost half a century in the roost was recently sold of to the local scrap guy, price 150 SEK.

Svante never got his grandpas bike, but he have his memories on Nestor and a bunch of old film clips from twenties when Nestor raced the bike on ice in the Boden area, setting several speed records.

Here are the words on Nestor as given from Svante;

The farmer boy who became Bodens fastes man.

Grandpa nestor was a tough guy.
Born back in 1888 as a poor farmers son Nestor joined the army young to get away from the curse of the marsh peat.
Nestor had natural skills with horses and was very athletic. He once beat the head of his regiment, count Gilbert Hamilton in a saber battle by horse.
The count did appreciate the young athlete and had no hard feelings.
In 1912 Nestor was part of a team winning a gold medal in gymnastics in Stockholm, tough he didn’t get his medal as he became seriously ill soon after and almost died.
Nestor lost his first family after WWI and this got him to travel north ending up in Boden with the military police force there.

And that is when he won in the lottery getting enough money to both get a driving licence as well as buying his first motorcycle.
Nestor was soon recognised as a speed demon in his area, claiming to the day of his death he had the standing speed record on the route from Boden to Luleå.

Nestor and his motorcycle buddies started competing on the ice during winter, Nestor once stated there was pure luck anyone of the guys ever survived those years.

On his way to propose to what would become Svantes grandma Nestor went over with his bike as he tried to shoot a bird when driving.
Om mormor blev så imponerad av fjädrarna som stack upp ur sidovagnen när han kom fram att hon tackade ja bara därför har aldrig blivit helt utrett.
Grandma never liked Nestors riding motorcycles, she never new if he would come back in one piece.

Nestor always brought his pistol, a gun and a bottle of liquor in his sidecar when riding, the liquor became just hot enough down there.

Sunday 4 December 1927 was a seriously cold wintersday up north, there was loads of snow on the ice at Svartbytrasket a Boden lake.
Nestor and his race buddies where fit for fight and had arranged a day packed with race action for their audience.
A film crew where on the location to memorise any speed records, which they got. Again Nestor set a new record, this one never to be forgotten as it was captured on film from where those photos are scanned.
Nestor got a copy of the movie from a mate working at a local cinema, he loved holding those clips towards the light to see the action, pictures one by one.

Getting more children Grandma Rut told Nestor to stay away from racing and the bike was parked, to finally end up in the roost. Still Nestor occasionally to the day of his death in 1972 started the bike to listen to its sound bringing back memories of forgotten fame.

And then we are back in 1973 again, young Svante on his way to Boden to get fresh air in the tires of grandpa Nestors old bike then driving it back home, not as rut had done the deal of her life getting 150 SEK for the old junk, didn’t she do well?

Today Svante can laugh of the incident, not at all then.
But he have the photos still.

Having seen the photos I could tell Svante Nestors bike had not been a Harley but a Super X from 1927. No wonder Nestor was fast in his racing days, the Super X was the superbike of its day, it might even have been ordered as a hopped up super sport model, we can just imagine.

Thanks for words and pics Svante.

Source Svante and Aftonbladet.

30.06.2011;
The bike parked in the background on the 5 pic from top and down is a rare bird indeed, a Swdish DS. Made in a limited number from 1924 to 1927 by David Senning a Swede known for racing with motorcycles in the twenties. A Swiss MAG engine in a Swedish chassis.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-06-23T12:17:00.001-07:00

Shame on me, there is just such a load of historical photos to be posted but no time to work with them.
Here is one pic of Harry Ånerud on his way up to Rjukan, riding his 4 cylindered Henderson De-luxe. This is an early model De-luxe, as there is no dash, just a tool box mounted on top of the fuel tank with the amp meter on. Oil gauge is located down on the engine just in front of the magneto coupling.

Bedrock # 10 The party

2011-06-23T10:34:00.001-07:00

The Bedrock town mock up gave the setting for a god party. Several bands played cool rock`n roll from the scene both Friday & Saturday evening.

Bedrock # 10 The god guys & girls

2011-06-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

We met a bunch of great people at Bedrock, some we knew and even more we didnt. Truly apprechiated their company.

Bedrock # 10 Cicles

2011-06-22T21:10:00.001-07:00

A bunch of great guys and girls defied the rain and the sad forecasts and came to Bedrock by 30`s to 50`s bob jobs. I apprechiated seeing some cool Brit bobbers, I like them.

Bedrock # 10 Cars

2011-06-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

Some of those cool cars we saw at Bedrock,

Bedrock # 10 The Race

2011-06-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday showed up with heavy rain and the race was postponed a couple of hours, easily spent socialising whilst drinking the local Driftwood beer.

Bedrock # 10 traveling in Denmark

2011-06-22T20:43:00.000-07:00

OK, Bedrock # 10 is history. We loved it and will try to go there again. The worst weather forecasts one could imagine was brought to shame, at least where we drove. Felt like Moses in the desert at times driving the small roads trough Denmark seeing rainstorms and lightning nearby without feeling the water at all. My gloves didnt get wet at the entire trip, 750km`s and the old WL bob job purred easily (no wonder, the Danes hardly have no hills. Its flat out for ever). Øyunn with her BMW had to carry most of the stuff needed to camp, aint that what we have modern bikes for?

Hard to choose what pics to post, I feel there is so many that tell what Bedrock was like.
I start of with some pics from our trip getting there.

Bedrock 2011

2011-06-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

Sore ass, 300 something km trough Denmark on the 45" bobber. Almost there, lets hope there is sun tomorrow.

Up the Setesdal by Henderson

2011-06-13T02:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday my phone rang, Halvor the crazy Chief destroyer where to pass by our house on his way to his cottage in Telemark. What a great time, Øyunn & Eva riding moderns whilst Halvor rode his Chief and me beating the old Henderson up the hills, bright sun and country roads with no traffic.
Stopping at an old abandoned farm for photo shooting, you never know if they once rode an American motorcycle here?

Life is a thrill on a motorcycle.

Casting time (finally)

2011-06-13T02:23:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I finally managed to grab a hold of both myself and Totto my casting specialist, more spesifically his profession is named "Gjørtler" in Norwegian whatever that might be in the english language. A Gjørtler is casting his works in sand.
My goals for a day with Totto was to reproduce some Zenith Tx4 Henderson De-luxe carburetor parts. Those carbs have a ventury body made of cast iron and a ventury made of potmetal, an aluminium or zinc alloy of poor quality. As the potmetal expands heavily when the old Henderson is resting in a moisty barn it gets the cast iron body to crack, hence there is always a need for ventury bodies.
To be able to reproduce any parts its important to blank of all holes and repair any wear to ensure the slip is allowing the plug to leave the sand without ruining its imprint.

Tottos workshop is a place with what I like to describe as in "english tidiness", hrmm sorry if offending anyone. Anyway, he knows where his stuff is still and its just great to spend a day making parts from molten metal.

As melting bronze takes time I convinced us in making a bunch of star trims (oh yes those damned expencive Bucos too, you see them on e-pay) for my Panhead dresser job, now resting as time is needed elsewhere.

Oh by the way, if anyone need a pair of those large Buco stars let us know as there might be some more coming along.

Thanks a lot Totto for a great day.

Tailgunners

2011-06-05T05:39:00.000-07:00

I`ve always loved the stylish Flash Gordon look on the tailgunner lights found on fourties and fifties Harleys and Indians.
Unfortunately these little thingies are damned pricy.

Managed to complete two pairs thanks to PanheadPaul, a very dedicated person repoping essential parts as lenses, bulb holders and bezels for these little beauties.

Thanks a lot Paul :-)

Evening out

2011-06-05T05:32:00.000-07:00

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-05-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

There is a fair chance I posted this picture way back, I`ve lost track of that. Still its great when stumbling across information to a capture of unknown history like I just did when reading an issue of Aftenposten dated 31 of Jan. 1929.
Recognising the picture in the article led to frenetic searches in my files, success I found it.

This Harley JD and two more where bought brand new in 29 to allow post to be carried three times a week across the mountains and down the valleys in a route from Oppdal to Sunndalsøra in Norway. Imagine winter, snow, blizzards and freezing cold on a motorbike when the distance is no less than 70 km`s one way.
Prior to those Harleys post was shipped by boat all around the coastline to reach Kristianaia (Oslo) which took several days.

24.06.2011;
going trough some old pics on my harddisk show that the post from Oppdal to Sunndalsøra was actually brought pr. Harley during winter in 1928 too. Svein S Wammer is captured during winter at Oppdal ready to leave for Sunndalsøra with post in a pic posted back in April 2010 on this blog.

American Motorcycles

2011-05-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

Early Indian PP`s recieved from the wig wam in Springfield Ma by the Swedish General agent AB A. Wiklunds Maskin & Velocipedfabrik in Stockholm.
Obviously these machines where shipped with no tires. What a bunch of white non-skids stcked in the back.

Pic gently borrowed from a Swedish vintage car site on the www.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-05-23T06:59:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I was fortunate to get a bunch of very cool motorcycle pictures captured in the early twenties in eastern Norway.
To be able to tell the story on all pics there is still some work to be done in talking more with a very nice chap Sverre, borned in 1930. He is the owner of those pics and the one still remembering this old Henderson and the folks it belonged to. Still I can not resist in posting this image now, enjoy these beautiful girls dressed up in their prettiest dresses on a sunny spring day and of course the Henderson.

The wind chill factor

2011-05-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

Whoever riding his motorcycle(s) in all weathers know if your wet from heavy rain the wind chill factor might make you really cold, even on a summers day.
A windshield or a fairing might be a part of solving this problem, tough you will then miss those sunny days and moments of riding with a cool breeze playing in your face that motorcycles is all about.
Hrrm, you might say there is now way you can get the best from both worlds!
Some would get stuck with either a windshield or fairing as shown in the illustrations from two 30`s Popular Science magazines, some would get wet and cold to be able to undisturbed feel those magic moments of motorcycling given only by a hot summers day.

Or. there might be a third option, the Hanson Sports Shield introduced to the market in the late fourties. Made by Thoro Corporation in Batavia Ill. USA. I dont know much on Thoro else than that they where among the first to introduce a hydraulic motorcycle workshop lift as early as in 1948, cool too.
I imagine Thoro did only produce the roll up windshield as its named Hanson, my guess is its designed by, yes one Mr. Hanson.
I have wished for one of this rare windshield for many years until I recently had the chance to purchase one for my bobber.

Oh my do I look forwar in getting this cool period aftermarket windshield.

Periodic pictures are gently stolen from the Caimag forum and the super cool blog of Mr. Knucklebuster. One cool detail, in the second last photo sent to me from Gary in the US is our friend Paul from W&W cycles in Germany whoms face is pictured in a bunch of more photos on this blog.

THE HANSON SPORTS SHIELD IS WAY COOL

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-05-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

I do appreciate this old shot alot.
Pictured is a family as well their pride and joy`s.
Mother have teached the old Sangt Bernard to sit and give its paw, son wish to be as cool a guy as his father owning a motor when grown up and father, well for sure is he proud of his Indian Scout bought from Sontum in Kristiania after having seen their add in the local newspaper. OK, he wished for a larger PP but his savings didnt reach for more than the Scout.
Those Scouts became very popular as they where easy handling motorcycles as well as their power mostly satisfied the everyday riders needs.

The sun sparkle in the nickle plated handle bars, acetylene head lamp and accesory pump attached to the fork.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-05-18T11:11:00.001-07:00

Another pic of C-8163, previously posted on this blog i another view.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-05-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

I did by chance get in contact with Ronny from the Ski / Follo district as he have collected a number of old photos related to his area, those can be found at http://www.skislekt.no/

Ronny enjoy old motorcycles and is as myself a member of NVMC. He have shared with me this fantastic photo of Eugene Holmen at right in the picture and his Harley Davidson.

Eugene`s Harley is a early twenties model whilst the other bike is a late teens. Photo is taken outside what appears to be a outlet for various electrical apparatus.
At first when I saw the poster advertising for Daytons I came to think about a recent discovery showing periodical advertising for Dayton motorcycles offered by a Kristiania (Oslo) dealer in the late teens. I`ve never seen or heard of Dayton remains in Norway and would be more than happy to learn there where some??
OK, this poster is obviously advertising an electrical product made by Dayton Electric and Mfg Company, as with the motorcycles made out of Dayton Ohio in the US.

American Motorcycles Norway

2011-05-16T19:24:00.001-07:00

"A picture might tell more than a thousand words", a phrase heard again and again.
Still I find this beeing the truth.
Female riders from Yesterdaze - canvas riding coats, googles and leather caps, all according to periodic motorcycle fashion. I bet their skirts by the end of the day got some evidence of the Indian Power Plus`s oil consumption and total loss lubrication system!!!

One can just wonder if the guy in the pic is trying to adjust the handlebars to be in line with the bike?

Stickers, stickers, stickers

2011-05-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

As long as I`ve been into motorcycles (that is quite a time when counting years) I have collected stickers related to the sport, dealers, clubs, whatever and so on to put on my tool locker and all over my workshops, they are every where and I like it.

OK, running into Bjørn Andre at the Ekeberg swap led to more than an interesting conversation on old US made motorcycles in general and the restoration of Bjørn Andres famous Spanjola, the multicylindered Indian based homebrew that have been presented on this blog previously.
I have been lucky enough to benefit from his skills as grapich designer to get an AMcN sticker, thanks a lot!!

Felix, in latin "lucky". I feel lucky whenever I ride my old cicles, else why should I bother keeping them alive?
"Felix the cat", a surrealistic cartoon character borned in the late teens as a silent film star, soon to get his own cartoon. Both his films and cartoons gained enormous popularity troughout the twenties, the same years as when US made motorcycles had their heydays, the boardtracks still roared with their stands crowded by spectators and the depression was still inconceivable. The times presented to this blogs readers trough images from "Yesterdaze" and times I picture inside my head when riding my twenties era bikes.

Reaching the thirties both Felix the cat and motorcycles popularity faded, films got sound and cars where preferred instead of motorcycles.

Even if beeing a fading star Felix where still to be a popular mascot amongst those in need of "luck", such as Charles Lindbergh the aviator and keen motorcyclist (Excelsiors) who actually had a Felix the cat figure onboard his flight across the atlantic.
US-AF`s VF-3 Hellcat Fighter planes fighting during WWII had Felix the cat as their mascot, sporting Felix stickers on their cokpits.

Riding old motorcicles is pure luck as well as we all need luck dont we, riding our old scooters in todays trafic?, hence Felix the cat on my sticker.
The bomb?, lets drop it on members of the bureaucracy and
authoritarian people in general, inattentive car drivers and whoever else deserve one!

American Motorcycles

2011-05-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

Another cool motorcycle picture, two sweet girls on an Indian PP, 1919 or thereabouts.
Girls are Anna behind controls and sister Signe on the pad at rear. Hiding in the back grounds are one of those Thor big twins that I just love, this beeing a later model with enclosed inlet valves.
Found this pic amongst a bunch of old car pics at a vintage car site belonging to our brothers to the east, gently stole it to share at this blog.

What to do during summer 2011

2011-05-15T12:43:00.000-07:00

We are looking forward for this one.

American Motorcycles

2011-05-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

Another dark blue Big X Excelsior from Schwinn. A thrusty sidecar puller, helpfull if you`ve got a large family to be carried around.

Wrenching

2011-05-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

Played with Rune (and his Panhead) a couple of nights before leaving offshore to work.
Modifying back to original solo saddle with original seatpost from a chopper seat mounted directly to the frame.
Easy task, naeh sadly not, but hey mechanical challenges make better mechanics (eventually) or?

I`m wishing for a larger spaced machine shop.

Brand new seat needed to be tampered with get the seat pin lock spring to work, repop will never be as original.

Someone earlier in this old Panhead girls life rather ripped the seat lugs of the frame than modifying the cheapo chopper seat, oh well.