The Enthusiast

[Steve Slocombe]

The previous issue of The Enthusiast, December 1946, has a great story about a couple riding a 1935 VL 10,000 miles on their honeymoon. They went to the local East Coast dealer where they could not buy a new bike (presumably because of lack of availability) so took a reconditioned flathead and drove it in a big loop to the West Coast and back two-up. Those were the days.

[Barry Brown]

Don't you find it hilarious how Harley blanked out the name of their competitors in race results? Who did they think they were fooling? Makes you wonder how insecure the editor or the ad department was.

[Glenn]

anyone have a 50 enthusiast introducing the new 1950 models?

[Chris Haynes]

anyone have a 50 enthusiast introducing the new 1950 models?

Anticle Cycle Supply sell reprints of The New Model Introduction issues.
http://www.antiquecyclesupply.com/catScan/p191.htm

[Chris in Japan]

1947 February (I)

[Chris in Japan]

1947 February (II)

[c.o.]

Chris.....awesome, awesome, awesome! It's great that your taking the time to post this stuff! I'm running low on time now, but I'm definitely sitting down this evening to read the Alcan story. I've always wanted to ride to Alaska and love any stories I can read about such trips. Oh, and not to sidetrack the thread too much, but have you seen much for "early" motorcycles in Japan? I'm sure they are there.

[Chris Haynes]

have you seen much for "early" motorcycles in Japan? I'm sure they are there.

Of course they are there. They have been over here buyin' them for the past 20 years.

[KDR]

I know of three antique bikes that went over just so the new owner could mount them on posts in his "high end" night club.

[Chris in Japan]

For Japan: This is true. There are many vintage HDs in Tokyo. (They even made their own Flatheads under HD license! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rikuo_Motorcycles_-_Japan). Mainly bobbers which are very popular! But 35 million are living in Big Tokyo and this dilutes of course the "density"... I am more a "purist", but I have to recognize that the Japs are good at styling and are also detailed up to the extreme, therefore this bobbers are often great pieces of art beside to good runners! And there are some "original" ones also... When I was searching for my Knuck a year ago, I quite quickly gave up when I met a guy proudly showing me his 1946 bought for 70 grands in the US. I deeply congratulate him to not destroy his happiness but watching at the huge amount of repros and incorrect parts, I felt also sad... Prices here are beyond any understanding!

For the Enthusiast. Many thanks c.o.! I will post shortly the November issue which is maybe interesting for those like me having a 48FL... The announcement of the Pan!

Kind regards to all,

Chris.

[Chris in Japan]

1947 November (I)

[Chris in Japan]

1947 November (II)

[Chris in Japan]

1947 June (I)

[Chris in Japan]

1947 June (II)

[Steve Slocombe]

Dear Chris, in 1932 Harley sold the plans for the VL flathead to Japan and this became the Rikuo big twin. A March 1998 article in Classic Bike showed this only moved away from foot clutch/hand change in 1956, introduced dry sump lubrication in 1958, and stopped production in 1960 (a lesson there, surely). I sell quite a few VL parts to Japan which are probably going into Rikuos, and it's nice to think a version of the VL was being produced in Japan 20 years after it stopped in its home country.