Dodge City 1914

[HarleyCreation]

this is from the june 5, 1913 issue of motorcycling.

I've seen similar pronouncements from H-D around this time, but this is a very strongly worded example!

While Arty starts by blasting motordromes in particular, he then expands it to racing in general. We covered this aspect in some detail in the recent Eight-Valve article. How Harley was forced to return to racing due to the great advertising value, but hated doing so because of the many racing deaths and injuries that gave motorcycles such a bad name; something that motorcycles have never fully overcome even today.

Harley never did go for small 1/4-mile motordrome ("murderdrome") racing, but stuck to the larger 2-mile board tracks, hillclimbs, and dirt track racing. Those little bowls with steep sides were where so much blood and guts were spilled and what Harley and others hated so much and made the motorcycle a suicide machine in the public mind.

This is another interesting early phase of our sport and hobby and proves that the post WWII "outlaw biker" theory as cause of the public hatred of motorcycles is BUNK. In fact hatred of motorcycles is FAR older and goes back to the very origin of the device (Pennington).

Thanks!

[c.o.]

This is another interesting early phase of our sport and hobby and proves that the post WWII "outlaw biker" theory as cause of the public hatred of motorcycles is BUNK.

I would 100% agree with that statement. Public hatred was not only isolated to racing but to motorcycle use in general. I've read over and over the repeated pleading in early magazines for riders to avoid using their cutouts in populated areas and heaven forbid on public roads while passing pedestrians or horses!!! There was also encouragement to only be seen quietly on the move. If you had to "tinker" with your machine it was adviseable to push it out of sight to do so.

This article was printed in the June, 1914 issue of the Canadian Motorcycle. It looks as though bands of unruly bikers terrorizing the general public was most certainly not born in the '40's!!!

[gary.h]

great thread you guys! im enjoying this one.

[HarleyCreation]

Cory,

Quite true. They even had a name for those noisy guys -- "OMB" -- or "Open Muffler Boobs."

There has always been something fundamental about motorcycles, terrorizing the citizenry, and frightening parents out of their wits! Maybe because the combination of excessive speed on two wheels is so intoxicating that one instinctively wants to show off and impress or disturb others. Why else do Harley riders regularly gun their engines at stoplights? Why else when you see a pretty girl on the sidewalk or pass a church on Sunday morning you want to open the throttle?

Why else when Pennington gave the world's first ride on his tandem model of "The Motor Cycle" he purposely tried to terrify his passenger out of his wits who then described the experience way back in 1895 as "a demon-driven machine."

It's mind boggling how deep this goes. Almost like there is a devil inside the gasoline motorcycle trying to get out!

gary h., I'm enjoying this one too. The demonic side of the motorcycle is very intriguing and goes back to the very beginning of time, it would seem.

[c.o.]

Quite true. They even had a name for those noisy guys -- "OMB" -- or "Open Muffler Boobs."

.

Herb!!! You're quick on the draw!!! I was gonna mention the "OMB" on my next post!!!

Here are a couple of write-ups. The first is from 1912 and the other two are from 1914. I really got a kick out of the pi$$ed off neighbor!

[HarleyCreation]

Mighty strong language in Cory's c1912-'14 OMB post: "curse of the motorcycle game," "maniacs," "disgusted with motor cyclists," "uphill fight," "nuisance," "inflicting on an already prejudiced community," "cloud of smoke...noise...disgusting everyone," "damfool riders," even talk of lynching the noisy rider with his open cutout!

This proves without doubt that all the hype about motorcycles getting a bad rap after WWII with outlaw biker types and Wild One movies is total crap! The public already hated and feared motorcycles and always had. Chalk this up as another myth. There sure are a lot of them in this field.

[c.o.]

Chalk this up as another myth. There sure are a lot of them in this field.

You can say that again! Sadly only a few of us will recognize it.... I'm still seeing the H-D since 1903 ads!!!

[jurassic]

1907

[c.o.]

Lonnie!! That most definitely paints the picture!!!

[c.o.]

Nov. 2 1911

[c.o.]

It took Indian a little longer to announce throwing in the towel on racing. The dangerous stuff that is!!! (note the b.s.ing on when Indian started racing)

Oct, 1914

[HarleyCreation]

Those are funny, informative and so true!

Think of how it was before clutches or free engine devices were invented or used. Direct drive machines that you could not stop without killing the motor. So of course you would NOT stop under any circumstances but barrel right on through like a red hot cannonball!

Ain't motorcycles great?

[c.o.]

Those are funny, informative and so true!

Think of how it was before clutches or free engine devices were invented or used. Direct drive machines that you could not stop without killing the motor. So of course you would NOT stop under any circumstances but barrel right on through like a red hot cannonball!

Ain't motorcycles great?

Motorcycles are great!! Especially the earliest ones, when all was new and uncertain!!! Great description on the direct drive sickles!!! It paints quite a picture....

[Lexi9834]

The board is very qualitative and they always check the forum content. I like it so much. So, thank you for the website developed.

[exeric]

I have Malwarebytes and it says your link is evil. I also see that this is your first post, and if you're not some limp wristed keyboard jockey in a dark room; post an introduction and I'll apologize