Greatest Harley Ever Made 1942 WLA Harley Davidson Junkyard find
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- čas přidán 17. 10. 2021
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In this video we get the rare opportunity to test drive a Harley Davidson wla WW2 motorcycle, that was previously featured on Bikes and Beards and spent the last 40 years in a junkyard, this motorcycle has a lot of history and is super fun to test drive.
#srkcycles - Auta a dopravní prostředky
My first Harley was a 1942 WL civilian model with the big buddy seat and windshield. I was 14 in 1955. I rode it to a high school track meet 4 miles away and took a girl for a ride on it. We have been married for 62 years last June 1st. I am 80 now and ride a 99 Softail Custom. Have great memories of the old 45 flat head. Wish I still had it.
I started riding on Whizzer motor bikes in the late 40,s. Then Cushman Motor scooters, When I was 10, I bought a Doodle Bug. I have been on some motorized 2 wheeler ever since that first ride on a friend of my older brother let me ride his Whizzer Pacemaker motor bike.
That old 45 was a great motor. Tough as nails. Thanks for bringing back the memories.
That is just great. Good health for your wife and yourself. Keep riding bikes for many years!
Her parents never knew. Besides. My father was a Baptist minister so I could be good for nothing. LOL. And I pretty much was. Thank God eternal life is a free GIFT from God. Romans 6:23
They did make me come to the door to see her. I tried honking, but her mother would not let her come out till I went to the door. Her mother was a wise woman. You can tell a teenager, but you can not tell them much. LOL.
We have all heard our parents say at times. I hope you have a child just like you. But they forgot. They were once that child too. My father was a good man, but not perfect. And neither am I. But I have been blessed beyond measure. My wife has supported me in what ever I have wanted to do. We raised four teenagers our selves. We had four in five years. If you can live through raising four teenagers at one time you can get through anything. LOL. They actually all turned out pretty good in spite of us.
Enough of my drivel. I get carried away some times. Love talking bikes though. Rode an 84 Iron head Sportster for 23 years.
80 and still ride…that’s awesome. I hope to be like that when I am 80 too!
Thanks for sharing your story, it’s really awesome!
Coolest story ever! Sean should get you to ride it!
I'd really like to see you and Craig freshen up the engine, clean the bike up and fix anything else to make it more functional and safe, but not a restore.
ya thats pretty much what i was going to suggest ,go through it mechanically ,send out the speedo, as i know there are companies who specialize in restoring speedos and source out an original headlight ,then have a sodium bicarbonate steam wash or clean ,then thats it, no rechomeing or paint,oh and some rubber do dads for the foot shifter ..lol and after you do that id say keep it ,enjoy it at least for a while then if you decide to ,sell it hmm Wheels through time might be a good place for it to go to .
That seat!
Yes, exactly. Sort it, but Please don't restore it.
No wayy much cooler the way it sits !!!
@@farmermoejoe1912Agreed...
True story. Back in 2000 I was passing through Santa Fe N.M. and stopped by a one man repair shop and sitting right by the old school glass counter with an old time cash register on it was one of these military bikes. Had a rifle scabbard on the front wheel and it was in immaculate showroom shine condition.
I asked the old gentleman that owned the shop if he was the one that refinished it and he said “No it was a customer’s and it wasn’t redone.” He told me the only thing that was not original was “the oil and gas.”
He went on to tell me the owner was a Captain in the army during WW 2 and when the war was over he was put on a transport ship in the English Channel that had 100’s if not 1000’s of these beautiful Harley’s sitting on the deck most brand new. So to make room for the troops they just started shoving them off the boat into the Channel!
The Captain made a deal with someone and he was told he could keep one of the bikes, but he would have to ride home sitting and sleeping on the bike until they got home. He evidently paid some privates to sit on it some of the ride home so he could get a break.
I don’t know if that story is true or not, but I’ll never forget that bike!!!!! Thanks again for a great video!!
That sounds cruel. Just throwing these beautiful motorcycles into the sea.
Love watching these old Harleys start up. You gotta kick them 3 times, blip the throttle twice, spit on the tires and pull the choke and then they start right up.
haha i missd that step, you also have to the point the bike towards mecca
@@Srkcycles ??? Mecca?????ohhhhhhh!!!! you mean your Warehouse!!!!
That is something i never had a problem with. Mine always started right up after a kick or to choked. I had straight pipes and it was loud in cool fall weather. But no one complained about noise back in the 50's. Or a 14 year old kid riding a Harley without a license. Small towns. My Father was a Baptist minister so I could be good for nothing. LOL.
@@Srkcycles You meant Milwaukee?
@@MochiMotoPa Milwaukee
A love for motorcycles and the lack of real friends. Thought that was just me.
SaddleTramp jajjajaj got ya! Lurking here! Remember me I don't think so. Hope this helps a little. (Mouth Trap)jajja gotta visit your channel soon! Just a subcriber!
Same here. That’s exactly why I mostly ride on my own. I can go exactly where I want to ride, not tag along on some shitty trip to a place I don’t really want to go..
I know it looked sad hanging up on a wall. It wasn't meant for that. It's an old man. You got to take Grandpa out for a walk every once in a while!! "Sure we can go 50 miles" might take us 2 days! But just enjoy the scenery!
That's a family heirloom Don't every sell pass it down .
Most definitely
That is the best bike you have ever owned overall. l had a 1946 61EL with a foot clutch and a suicide shifter witch is under your left leg. That a tank shift your riding
Agreed. Unless you sell it to me of course
Lol I just seen your name an haft to point it out how's frank fritz doing 😅
@@wrongturnarchery2337 Fat and sassy I guess.
Man, if I had the money I'd be making an offer. Not because of the antique Harley part, but because of it being Joey Chitwood's bike. My dad took me to see the Chitwood Stunt Show when I was five or six and I became fascinated by motorcycles and driving cars on two wheels from that day on. To date I've owned 39 street legal bikes and did manage to drive a Chevette on two wheels (once successfully, a bunch of times not so much).
Please make sure that bike finds a good home.
My Dad and I built the servi-car (three wheeler) version of that bike when I was a kid. Some of my favorite memories with my Dad are centered around that bike. Unfortunately, when I was in college, he had to sell it and there is not a day that goes by that I don't wish I could get my hands on it or another like it. I lost him less than a year ago and watching this bring back a lot of great memories. Maybe someday I will be lucky enough to get my hands on one again, until then, I will always have the pictures of that old bike.
Love to see the bike be freshened up and it's hard to believe it was in a scrap yard
When referring to the clutch, it is better to say engaged or disengaged. I have a 46 Knucklehead with the foot clutch. It becomes suicide clutch when the bike is chopped and the rocker mechanism is discarded, making the pedal like a auto clutch. Sit at the light in gear, star to fall over to the left, put your foot down-then off you go into the intersection!
My 42 had the stock rocker clutch, but no front brake. The cable was broken. It got real interesting at a stop light on a hill. I stopped with the bike in first gear. Disengage the clutch put my left foot down and right foot on the brake. When the light changed, let off the brake and put my right foot down to operate the clutch with my left foot and hope I do not kill it. LOL. At 14 years old you can do anything. The cable to the advance on the left hand grip was also broken. So I had to retard it by hand when starting. You just do what you have to do to ride.
yeah that terminology would be a little more clear wouldnt it
I knew an amazing guy that was a fighter pilot in WW2. When they came home he said they got off the boat, and were told see ya later. He had no idea how to get home to texas from the east coast.... so he spent $25 and bought a WLA, and took it cross country all the way back to texas! Imagine that trip! I saw pictures of him with the bike in his flight jacket. What a guy!
God bless you my friend for giving that old beauty a second life back on the road. Awesome classic HD 👍🏻
$125 in the 60s is actually $1,158.40 adjusted for inflation, not bad for a new bike!
The other $20,000 comes from the cushy seat, electronics, and cup holder... 😉
I have a new found respect for Sean. I bought a 1964 Triumph TR6 earlier this year. Riding it home an hour and a half with the right side shift and crappy drum brakes was an experience. I can't imagine hoping on a 1942 Harley with a side shift and foot clutch and riding it home on the freeway.
My first motorcycle was a 1942 WLA, in 1965, when I was 18 years old, bought for $75.oo. It only had a back brake, as the front was broken and no front fender. Sweet is the right word. That's what I learned to ride on. If it wouldn't start with the kick starter, like if it was 20 degrees f, we could push start it with a car. Sitting at a red light at the top of a hill, was thought provoking. Right foot on the brake keeping me from rolling back on the car behind me which it always seemed was almost on top of me already, and left foot needed to hold the bike upright, and also needed for the clutch when it was time to pull away... I wish you could have ridden it. That was a combat veteran. I'm 75 now and I have a 2014 H-D FXDL. Some people think motorcycles go stop and turn, and that's all they do. Anyone who ever owned a WL knows better Put a cable on the distributor and buy a can of spray paint, and ride that sucker.
Get the bike running absolutely perfect eg. engine, brakes, suspension etc but NO paint job....maybe a Clear Lacquer over the paint work to keep it exactly like it is and prevent more wear. Then you’ll have an awesome piece of Motorcycling History that’ll be worth not only money but pride and joy and the happiness it will bring you and your family, maybe your Great Grandkids will be tinkering with it one day keeping it running as part of the family tradition. Imagine that....cool
I agree, he should clear over the patina. It looks bad ass just like that.
I second this. The paint is perfect
This may be the coolest pile of rust and tears I’ve ever seen. Thank you for sharing!
Btw, when you recently selling soulless hellfire Chinese cafe bikes?
I have a WLA that somehow made it's way back to the States from Russia. When I got it a few years back, it still had tires on it that said "Made in USSR" on them. Pretty cool. It is now running again after languishing unloved for many many years. It is a blast to ride around the back roads of Berks County, PA.
Thanks man, it kills me to see bikes like these sitting in displays when they were born to be ridden. Keep up the videos like these.
Maybe it wouldn't exist today if it weren't hung up on the wall all those years.
Agreed. Nothing worse than a classic bike that doesn’t get used, it’s a waste. Like classic car owners who just Polish their car all day and never so much as take it up the local shops.
One of my favourite old Harleys, the old WL! A real gem you have there, she just needs a LOT of work to put her into excellent running condition...and she is well worth it! I suspect there are lots of folks out there who would love to own her! Get her sorted...and keep her...and enter her in the Motorcycle Cannonball cross country race!.....😎...😎...!
That fact that you can run this dust bucket and still deliver a decent video monologue is astounding!
Sweet bike, love both your channels. FYI, that's a gate shift. A suicide clutch is an owner modification where the offset spring is removed from the clutch pedal so you have to hold it in without assitance. This mod is usally combined with the jockey shift mod where the lever comes straight off the tranny and you have to reach behind your left leg to shift.
That's what I told him too. These young kids don't know anything LOL
That’s a really cool bike. It seemed like it shifted better with a little more RPM!
Thank you for rescuing this bike!. And thanks to your channels, I decided to take my MSF course and purchased a Honda Shadow VLX :)
I absolutely LOVE that vintage H-D! That is such an awe-inspiring bike and I would give anything to just take it for a ride once! Thanks so much for sharing I really appreciate it!
A friend of mine has a cherry WLA that he keeps at his museum (along with his Tanks and Half Tracks!)... Watching you start that and the grin on your face says it all. You have no idea how lucky you are! God Bless and Enjoy Life!
Old Harleys may not be the fastest but there's something about them that just makes you love them.
I can never seem to find any of these in my junkyard...
Sean it sounds a little bit rough which is expected from an 80 year old bike but because this was similar to the military style version the primary things I would suggest is taking the engine out and cleaning all the parts on it because I believe a full on restoration of the motor may get it running to optimal speeds but i'm also very knowledgeable in how the foot clutches work so it's all about timing and since this bike has the indicator light (not sure if it still operates) that light is actually crucial because it doesn't just let you know when to shift but it also is an indicator so the gears inside the engine don't get grinded out since this bike was used for stunts and speed stuff so it may take a little bit of getting used to but for these styles of bikes shifting earlier as opposed to once your at the top gear speed will save you a lot of unwanted repair work to the engine and will keep the bike operational in the long run.
Sean you've got to be one of the coolest guys on the webs, love your vids, nice bike - I haven't ridden a cycle since 1985 and the KZ 550 LTD (sweet rider), but NOW, I really want a motor sickle , thanks man, keep the great vids coming
This beauty is one of the coolest bikes I ever seen. 79 years is a complete life!
The rough aspect and the fact that it still running Is amazing!
I would never change it's appearance, I would just get it running as good as possible, and enjoy it.
The head light flows right in with the springer front end lol!
If it was Joey's bike it definitely had a rough life lol. I met him and his son a few times, and even got to hang out after the show. They were an awesome bunch of guys!
Great that you brought this bike back to life and are using it! You look good on it. Interesting that it took until 1975 before motorcycle controls were standardized. So, my first bike, a 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, was only nine years into standardized controls. Just something I took for granted.
This bike reminds me of my Dad's, about mid 1930s WLA flat head have a pic of it takin 1942. My uncle rode a Harley mid 1930s wile in the Marines WW2, mine was a 62 Pan Head back in 1975, thanks for the ride at the first of your video and thanks to Srkcycles for your down loading this bike
I’m not a Harley fan, but I really like this bike. Sounds great too.
While yours may have a top speed of 50. My old WLA would run at 65 all day with a top speed somewhere around 75-80. Back in the days of the 55 speed limit I rode from El Paso to Dallas many times and got more than a few speeding tickets. It's a hand shift or jockey top with a foot clutch. God that sound brings back memories. Loved that bike.
Hello, friend! I'm writing from Russia, watching your channel and especially about Harley-Davidson. I like them and I'll take them as soon as possible, but this model amazed me, with non-standard gearshift and clutch it's still the best of its kind, thanks for the video!
Thanks for everything you do Sean, I went down for the first time on the road last night and if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t have ridden to work the next day
I have been riding old Harleys for 52+ years now. My dad rode before me at least 50 years until he passed away many years ago at age 75. I am not trying to be a dick, but that is not called a suicide shift, that is a tank shift with a standard rocker clutch pedal, the same as used on the big twins up until 1952. The Rocker clutch pedal is the safest way to go because if the spring is still intact you can kick the pedal in and it will stay in gear and idle right there. A "suicide shift" has the shifter mounted directly on the transmission top and you have a clutch pedal like a car. I own a 45 Flathead myself along with a Panhead. My 45 has a 3-speed and a reverse Transmission in it as it is a Servicar. Also my dad rode these after the war and they called them Bob jobs. They cut everything down 2 lower the weight on the bikes.
What a great find. Enjoy that piece of history awhile before letting it go. Now I want one.
Easiest way to get more power and make it more practical for everyday use is to stroke it with the 74” flywheel. Yes it’s a job to split the crankcase to install the flywheel, yes you’ll want a bigger carb. But those were the mods people did back then. And yes they take some time to learn to ride. Look into it as there are ways to hop them up. Also take the heads off and polish them and the piston heads. If you keep it you could make the mods over the course of the winter. My grandpa had one and the mods I mentioned he did. Also the intake manifold can be widened or a wider one( think the servicar had it at one point ) lastly Harley made the motor , G motor for 3 wheelers until 1973-74, so parts are out there if you look
How can you put 74 flywheels into a 45 crankcase? The 45 crankcase is too small for them to fit.
Happy for you Sean that you own a piece of rolling history. Just keep it, don’t even think of parting from it.
This is such a cool bike, Sean. Really loving the build btw. Can’t wait to see you ride this thing again
Look at that dinosaur on the road! Always such a beautiful sight to see an old grandfather still have it's pep running around.
Pacific Mike is going to be your dude. Not only does he know a whole bunch about old Harleys, he knows all the people who have the parts and knows more stuff about old Harleys. Can't hurt to say hello.
Looks like you're getting it down.. COOL!
The old rigid bikes WERE a bear to ride, but I love em! Mine is actually a rigid scooter. Keep up the great work,and may God bless you.
I remember going and seeing Joey Chitwood and The Super Chevy show it was pretty insane it's cool with that bike has that kind of History
OK you won't believe this but I have a 1947 knucklehead. Entire engine has been gone through and runs beautifully very powerful. We kept the paint with the same patina with a light sanding cleanup and clearcoat. Everything about the bike is perfect. It runs very well very strong. So if I were you I would never sell that bike but I would improve it it's something that you will cherish. Ava
Reminds me of the movie, The Heavenly Kid! That angel road that old Bike!🙏🏻
That is a great way to look at motorcycles. I kind of look at motorcycles that same way. I traded my motorcycle for a new one, and it sat at the dealership for almost a year without being bought. I felt so bad for it that I bought it back!
Very cool, Sean! Thanks! 😎
I dont have a beard, nor a bike, but I wish you all the best!
Budapest, Hungary
My first Harley, was a '72 Servicar that belonged to the Long Beach Ca Police. Left hand throttle, left foot clutch, RIGHT tank side shift. The only thing they took off to sell it, was the siren. Still had the take down lights, and pull over lights. The LBPD star and insignia, while peeled off, was still very much easily readable in the paint. That little 45ci engine could barely get her up to 55mph (but national speed was 55 anyway!), but all the guys loved having me along, because the huge trunk could carry a lot of beer and ice! LOL!
One week after I found an old spin-up siren from a fire truck to bring her back to glory, she was stolen. Never saw her again :(
Been waiting for this one 👏
Dr. Jones: That thing belongs in a museum!!!
Wheels through time: we can do that!
If nothing else they would be a great resource for information on the bike. 🤔
No,not a museum. That needs to be ridden.
@@derekcollins1972 check out wheels through time. That’s what they do, get them running where they can be ridden and seen by all.
@@davidhelmuth6654 Yes that's true.
I met a gentleman who during WW2 was in the Army as a motorcycle rider-evaluater riding WLA's in the California desert. He had many, many interesting stories.
Great video thanks for sharing it.
You were riding it pretty dam good.
Great piece of history.
Keep it you'll never find another one like it
I love older motorcycles due to NOT having modern parts that fail you and are costly in complicated maintenance.
Sadly I despise current large bikes. Size / weight/ cost versus comfort riding, control and ease of maintenance, I feel Harley and other brands abandoned the best of all motorcycles!
Today, Honda makes NEW 1970 style CB750s for sale in Asia (only)! But to buy - ship over and taxes makes the price to high.
Ship as parts in boxes is cheaper! But I need someone to put it together for me here.
I own one but it resides in Philippines with my in-laws and I allow them to use it, no fear of tearing it up. (Excellent mechanics there and new parts).
If Harley reproduced that bike with few changes to match brakes,clutch, etc. I would love to buy several of them!
But you cannot give me current big bike.
Thank you for sharing!
This is The Best Motorbike channel on CZcams!!!!!
It's awesome watching you ride around on that
This is the best video of any bike by any youtuber I have ever seen. Had me grinning the whole time and laughing some of the time. Awesome
This brings back memories. My 1st Harley was a 1946 wla. I was 16, and the year was 1972.
I heard you could get them real cheap then
Beautiful old scoot. A rebuild and wow what a bike you would have.
Cool history and operational overview!
Oh the drama of it all! But glad you saved it and will hopefully restore it. Very cool.
My step dad bought one in 1948. Under several coats of paint we came to olive drab. We painted it red after bobbing it and the motor was hopped up by the people that built Joe Leonard's track bikes. It was one of the fastest street bikes in the Bay Area in the early 50s.
I had a smile the whole time
Very cool
I feel ya man! I ride a ‘62 BMW and feel like the bike really appreciates being out on the road
Hey Sean , I really like that bike , love classics.. .
Was waiting for this one!!!
Crazy how far technology has come. Nowadays every bike has all three categories of reliability, efficiency and performance and we take it for granted
I got a weird perspective on life being brought up in a half Catholic and Muslim family. Swear to God. House I live in now has been in our family for the past 70 years. We got shot from Rome and something from a "Pope" Not up until 10 years ago my grandma went to church every day. Waving hi from SF now . Moving to Upstate NY in a week. I'm gonna try n make it down to your shop after I get settled. Great videos!
That bike is awesome, I like it old and rustic. Wouldn’t change a thing on it if I owned it.
What a cool old bike. Stay safe and God Bless.
Sean that's a very cool bike this is one of my favorite videos
That bike would be a fun restoration project...my 99 Road King had that automatic cruise control too when I first got it because it hadn't been ridden much & the cables were all crusty & didn't work right...replaced those cables with new ones & the throttle now operates like it should...
Ride yur ride! You do you!
Love that bike! Brakes tune up! Enjoy!
Ohhhh.... 'Chopper'.... I get it. Thanks for the living history lesson. Cool bike.
Very cool Shawn. 😎
Thumbs Up ! Nice bike and video.
Nice piece of history! 😎🤘
Don't talk , just camera , Ziggy , nice to hear your admiration The best REGARDS Canada
Doing good man! Good to see the old war horse out for a stroll. I hope you keep it, and keep it operational
Listen to that clutch rattle! Love it!
Had a friend with a '43 45 and his foot/clutch broke but he just shifted at the right RPM and no problems!
Brilliant Video Good Buddy!!!!,! Really good!!!! Always Wanted more information on that Bike!!!!,👍👍👍
The people that run Bikes and Beards are Giants among men, Thank the lord for their creation.
My old '39 Knucklehead model E only 214 units produced. Sean, those Flanders handlebars and risers are worth good money. Leave the patina, better yet, keep it.
noticed your avatar. my brother used to be able to rip out any VH guitar riff with amazing accuracy. he had health problems so that was about all he could do was play VH riffs to occupy his time. he was living proof practice makes perfect. if it werent for him i wouldnt be able to recognize a VH song from so few notes.
maddeningly awesome...wish I had one.
That bike is beautiful!!!!
thats an amazing bike mate l watched the vid of you rideing it home... less is more as in the least amount of work done the better
new rings maybe & a gentle tiddy up new spokes maybe as well.... ld love to find a bike like this.. cheers from Down Under & Keep Ya Knee's in Da Breeezzeeeeee
What a great ride !
That looks so hard to ride...... but soooo much fun. full of character that machine!
A bike with true soul. I would keep that thing and pass it down to my kids.
My mom got me a poster of one of these, it's awesome!
Damn, I wish I could find stuff like this in junkyards.
What happen at the shop, I see y’all are temporarily closed. Hope all is well and thanks for the great videos!
wondering as well. they took off all of their bikes on the site as well
Definitely the next project bike!!
Omg absolutely gorgeous machine love it 👍🇬🇧