Rode my Knucklehead To Work Today - Harley Forum

admin · #1 06-01-2007, 01:29 PM

It's been a long time since I rode my 1947 Knucklehead during the week but the weather was so sweet today I hopped on the old girl and rode to the office. I've had this bike since '95 or '96 and rode the wheels off her for a couple of years until the engine gave up on me. I had it rebuilt stroking it out from a 61 (EL) to a 74 inch (FL) bottom end. New pistons, rings and fresh top end. Converted it back from a Mikuni to the original Linkert and never looked back. After letting it sit for over a year on display at a friends HD dealership I brough it back to my gaage a few months ago. New battery installed and it fired up on the 3rd hot kick even with the old gas. Amazing. Warmed it up and off for the day on the road. I covered about 150 or 200 miles that day and she ran stronger with each mile. I guess the fresh gas helped too. Then I let her sit for 4 or 5 weeks and fired her up this morning on the first hot kick. Nice. Sure got some interesting looks for people as I rode by today and shifted by hand. I love this old bike and feel I've got her pretty well sorted out over the years to just where I want her. Sure is different then my warmed up twin cam Ultra.

Posted by: Buzz Kanter on May 24, 07 8:52:23 pm

admin · #2 06-01-2007, 01:29 PM

Man you gotta' love those old bikes! I went on a poker run last Sunday, first on the new Street Glide. My navigator (wife) did not go because it was supposed to be a cool and possible rainy day, turned out to be 75 and sunny. Anyway, sans navigator, I hooked up with a group of about 12 other bikes to run with, mostly solo riders as well. One was a Knucklehead, I think a 45, one was a 46' Chief, and one a 52' Chief. I rode behind these three for most of the 100 mile route and kept the stereo low so I could hear those old bikes. And talk about looks, people were eyeballin' our group all day. I had never seen a guy on a hand shift do a burnout before either so that was cool. Old as they were, they were unrestored, they were draggin' us out country roads (roller coasters) at 60-65 with no problems. It was a blast just getting to ride with them.

Posted by: Soulman on May 25, 07 6:46:02 am

admin · #3 06-01-2007, 01:29 PM

It's great that you're keeping the old Knucklehead on the road. It's cool that Harley makes bikes that resemble oldies, but nothing turns heads like a genuine oldie.

Posted by: shovelmike on May 25, 07 7:17:33 am

admin · #4 06-01-2007, 01:30 PM

Thanks guys. I am always surprised by how people fall all over themselves when they see these old bike son the road and often keeping up with the new bikes on the road.
The biggest issues with these old bikes is poor lights and lousy brakes. I upgraded my knuck to 12 volts so the headlight is better, but the brakes are still pretty bad. Still lots of fun though.

Posted by: Buzz Kanter on May 26, 07 3:55:26 pm