Classic & Antique Motorcycles
In June, 1999, the Grace Museum and Art Gallery in Abilene, Texas (a restored turn of the century hotel) had an exhibit of antique motorcycles. They were kind enough to allow photography in the gallery.
The original Harley, 1913 edition. Note the twin sprockets. The smaller one, near the camera, was driven by plain old bicycle pedals. After the bike got up a little leg power speed, the 'one lung' engine would drive the larger sprocket. The Whizzer motor bike of the 1950's used that system. Whizzer employed a belt drive from their engine to the rear wheel.
Harley went to War in 1942. Note the rifle scabbard.
Harley did their one and only scooter - called the Topper - in 1965. Hard to imagine that the people who created the soft tail could envision such an ugly little motorized box, no?
In the 1930's Harley and Indian were the dominate motorcycle companies. Notice on this 1931 Indian Four that not only could you burn yourself on the hot pipes but you also could get a pretty good shock from the four spark plugs lined up between the pipes.
The 1941 Indian further defined the skirted look.
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I graduated from high school the same year Indian produced this beauty (1953). The Devil could have had me in exchange for it. It is one of the last bikes Indian produced (which shows the folly of making a deal with the Devil). The 'retro' bikes of today have captured this look and attached it to modern technology. What goes around, comes around, no?
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Pictures above by Kirk Woodward
Most certainly I didn't take this picture of the Easy Rider chopper. It was the star of the show: 'The Art of the Motorcycle' that started out in the Guggenheim art gallery in New York last year. News reports have said that the collection will find a semi-permanent home in a Las Vegas Strip casino (The Venetian) from October, 2001 forward.