H-D in HD
I am hoping someone at Motorcycle Classics would be able to identify the motorcycle in this picture. The writing on the back of the photo says “HAW on Motorcycle 1913.” HAW are my grandfather Harry Arthur’s initials. He was born in Chicago in 1893 and lived and worked in the Chicago area. This photo has been in our family since it was first taken. My grandmother told us that she sewed a pillow and Harry fastened it to the back of the motorcycle, and she rode on that pillow all the way to Indianapolis to see the “new 500 mile race” for their honeymoon!
–Mark Pote, Texas
Great photo! The motorcycle has chain drive, yet retains pedals, which makes me say this is a 1912 or 1913 Harley-Davidson V-Twin. — Ed.
First flight on a Sportster
After reading the “Gold Standard” article in your March/April issue, I thought of my introduction to the Harley-Davidson Sportsters.
Around 1961, while hanging out at my uncle’s gas station, I watched as a local fellow, who was about 18 years old or so, rolled his new XLCH out of the garage that his father ran just across the street at their gas station.
He was all decked out with a leather jacket and the Elvis Harley cap. He filled his bike up with gas and started trying to start it, but had no luck.
Then, being a tall, lanky guy, he stood up stiff-legged on the kick starter and gave it all he had.
The Sportster kicked back and launched him straight up in the air, higher than the gas pumps, and he came down flat on his back on the concrete. He lay there for a while, then got up, grabbed the Sportster by the handlebars, and rolled it back into the garage.
I never saw that bike again! To this day, I can see this big tall guy flying up into the air, arms and legs like he was shot out of a cannon. You folks have the best magazine ever, so keep up the good work.
–Jim Nelson, Nevada
Assuming a good state of tune, kickstarting any bike calls for following a regimen, precisely executing a ritual… which, like a title, should be passed along, owner to owner. But old Sportsters are notorious. — Ed.
Dax on, Dax off
Ahhh. The mini bike = maximum fun. I have a Fox 2-speed automatic called the “Sundowner” from about 1974, the year I got married. Still ride it on occasion. Looking back to about 1976, had a few friends over, and they all wanted to ride it. Push met shove, so we built a ramp in the yard so we could see how far we could fly, and we did for sure. Most of us were at least 175lbs, and 10-15 feet airborne. The little Sachs engine and the Fox frame just wanted more, and we obliged. When my 45-year-old son was small, we rode it two-up all over the place, and 10 years later, #2 son (now 35) we rode it two-up through all the neighbors sprinklers in the hot summertime. What a magnificent little machine, and what great memories.
–Mike French via email
There is just something great about being airborne on a minibike or motorcycle. — Ed.
