(The following is an excert of some of our ride journals)
Bitchy and the “47…
After 15 years, the 1947 knucklehead was restored… Actually I had been apprehensive for over a year about learning to ride it… Foot clutch, tank shift, distributor advance, drum brakes, etc… It was a rush the first time I rode it…
One day I started it up, Bitchy started her shovelhead and we rode to an outdoor bike show in Bonner Springs, Ks. People at the gate wanted to know if I wanted to show the Knuckle. It was easily the oldest bike there…Nah! Were just out for a ride!... After we left, we rode home, the knucklehead was just sitting there in neutral while I pulled out my shovelhead… I turned around, and Bitchy was sitting on the seat looking over the controls… trying to imagine riding it… I walked over and asked her if she wanted to take it around the block…
"Really??!!!..."
OK, push the foot clutch in, put the tank shifter in gear, let the clutch out just a little, and push it back in just to see how it feels"…
Well…She dropped the clutch, as it took off, she was sliding back on the seat which caused her to twist the throttle more… Bad to worse… Going faster made her swing wide coming out of our back yard… She hit the neighbor’s bush which launched her and the knuckle airborne… She nose dived it into the neighbor’s front yard!!! I came running around the corner and saw both on their sides in the front lawn… I was torn between which to help first!!! There was a guy knocking on the neighbor’s door, he helped Bitchy while I picked up the Knuckle… I never did catch his name, but he said as a kid he always dreamed about girls “flying thru the air”. Bitchy was bruised and a little cut on her leg… Mostly a injured ego. The knuckle had a original light broken and a bent crash bar…OK!!... “Engine protector” to be politically correct… but the knuckle was PISSED!!! Antiques can be temperamental, but the “Mistress” wouldn’t start for over a year!
Bitchy has yet to try riding her again…
.jpg)
10 comments:
Okay my side of the story...
I was sitting on her trying to imagaine how to hold that bike on a hill, not many back home but a thought none the less...
When Wooly started to tell me how to ride her all I heard was bla bla bla tank shift, bla bla bla take it slow (not me) bla bla bla..
Yes I wrecked her, I did however get origanal glass back for the one I busted it prodly sets in the china cabinet... and next time I will listen a little better
lol, loved this!! that IS why we call em' crash bars. glad it turned out ok. i can totally picture myself doing the exact same thing...and i can imagine wooly thinking; oh shit, who do i go to first... lol...
gorgeous mistress of a bike :) and so glad it was minor and that you're ok bitchy. cant wait to hear more!!! :)
Thanks MQ, Wooly was setting up my profile here so hell I am a person again lol
The Mistress is great took years for us to build and only two minutes for me to wreck..lol at myself..
next time I will listen hell dumb me thought foot clutch would be like my car, way wrong on that one
Quick question is there a way to post pics in comments???
I love this story..Bitchy I will share my knucklehead story with you..I was 16 and visiting my cousins shop in Modesto,,about 10 biker hanging out and a 47 sitting in the door way when I got there..I had been around these guys and they knew they cocky little shit I was..one of them says hey let the kid ride it..then can you handle it,,fuck yes I can ride anything..well first gear and getting on the street worked well,,I had it by the short hairs,,Stop light changes and I dump the clutch and roll..fine up to this point..I reach down to grab second and miss the gear..rev the motor about 65,000 rpms scaring dogs and old ladies for six blocks..panic sets in and I look down to find the shifter..get the gear and look up I am headed straight through the doors at Bank Of America..I got it straight,,people on the sidewalk were yelling and flashing fingers..I go around the block , park it and throw down the jiffy..look around and say cool..well I guess the look on my face wasn't expressing my words because within seconds there were 10 big ugly biker rolling on the floor belly laughing..kinda ended my suicide shift thought that day..so don't feel bad..
First this is Bitchy,and please invite me so I can quit using Woolys profile on here... Rat at least you did not launch one in the air...lol at myself...I know I should have listened better, but foot clutch tank shift hell it must be like driving my car same thing right....I was way wroung on that one... Did not even make it on to the road and that probally was a damn good thing, who knows what the hell I would have ended up crashing into...
Thanks Rat I fell like a real person now...
Welcome Bitchy..just got in from a central California bug tasting tour..you guys should come this way and try it..damn tasty stuff this time of year..LOL
oops, bitchy, just saw your pic question, sorry. seems most bloggers use flicker slideshows so try that...we're just learning too, lol. fingers crossed...
One of my dream bikes. I have never seen a knuck with the buddy seat on it. I have yet to see the real deal with the buddy seat intact. There must be a reason for this. I guess this pict is as close as I'm gonna get for now. I love this bike.
errr...I got called an asshole once by a few people when my girl dumped her bike because I stood there and made her pick it up herself. She understood why, but the folks trying to help her up didn't when I told them to back off. She needed the confidence and experience. They didn't see that.
Dave, you did her good. Its too bad but screw those that dont understand... Having said that, ya know, i learned i can get a bike up if its on a crash bar, no prob other than adrenaline rushing. but..if there isnt a crash bar im hosed... ;) ...
Post a Comment