AMCA European chapter meet in Raalte (Holland)

As usual, I`m behind schedule with blog updates. Not that its that much going on, but hey there is some!

Here are a few of the umpteen pics we took during our 4 day stay in Raalte (Holland) to visit our first meet organized by the European  AMCA chapter.

This long weekend was a great experience. A fantastic location close to the "American Motorcycle Museum" owned by Max and organized by himself and his friend Rob. We meet a bunch of friendly and dedicated guys and gals, some of whom we know from before, and several new.

The amount of bikes present, both at the museum and those owned by the participants at the meet was overwhelming, I have tried to present a few in this blog post.

Here are a two links to the www that I think presents the museum very well, its worth a visit if your nearby:

Youtube

Flickr

The location.

Finnish "Fiskis" and friend was out for a spin at the parking lot when we first came to the location.

Still one day ahead of the start, some people start to rig up.

An original paint Flying Merkle, sigh!

The Finnish corner.

One of the swap meet streets taking shape.

Polish vendors.

Goodies.

In Max and Robs "all for sale dept. Impressing!

Rob, the cashier and Max in the "all for sale" dept.

Shelves with Henderson parts.

Bikes start to arrive, some ridden, some by trailer.

Pelders had a sales stand.

Paulie aka Magnetozoo rode all the way from Gothenburg, impressing.

Below some bike shots taken during the weekend.

Norbert, one of the Harleysons from Germany and his last build, a frightening 37 Knuckle dragster.

Paul and Norbert`s 37 Knuckles, quite different in style.

Two beautiful Henderson KJ`s.

Steve Slocombe aka VL Heaven from UK showed up three of his Police VL`s.

This Excelsior was stunning.

Our French friend Olivier, he is a KnuckleJunkie! Here admiring the Norwegian AMCA representative`s low membership number.

Thomas, aka Americancycles showed up with his super Super X.

Cool sticker spotted on the Danish 48 Panhead.

Two of our Danish friends. Søren arriving by Knuckle, Villy on his 39 side valve.

Da boss Øyunn admiring a 09 HD.

Paul and Norbert enjoying the W&W Havana cigars.

Can there be to many pics of Paul`s 37 Knuck?

Sørens 37 Knuck, its a runner, more than 300000km`s should prove that?

To pics of one of my favorite Harleys, Harry Hacker`s famous 8 valve two cam.

Swiss 47 Knuckles.

Another famous bike, the German Canonball Henderson. Andreas the owner had ridden an entire day to come to the meet, of course by Henderson.

Duck.

Friday night.

Ferdy`s 28 two cam bob job.

Da boss ready for the AMCA Friday party.

Original paint.

Fork details, Ferdy`s bobbed two cam HD.

Smith Motor wheel.

A true beast!

Three wheelers.

The AMCA judges, thing start getting serious!

Ferdy starting his two cam for me to hear the growl of the engine!

Original paint PP.

Andreas 39 Knuckle, they of course rode from Germany.

Another view of the Dutch PP.

The Danes share their "Gammel Dansk" with two frosty Norwegians in the attic of the "American Motorcycle Museum".

Yes I know, they had Acetylene lights back then.

Below a bunch of pics from the museum.

Yes, yes its a Cleveland four, its only a chassis away from being a complete runner.

This old Indian was once ridden across the US by a 10 year old boy, no wonder they had to alter the seat height.

Paulie, Rowan and Olivier.

Ferdy taking off on the two cam bobber, not a bad ride for a gentleman who have passed 80.

Above some pictures from the Saturday evening banquet.

Below some happy price winners.

Norbert.

Paul.

Paulie.

Fiskis and friend.

Hope to be back in Raalte in 2016!

Schebler DLX 53

Got this little gem from Roland in CA this weekend. A Schebler racing carb in such a great condition. The DLX 53 was made for hillclimb two cam motors back in 1927, a one year only and obviously an alternative to the AMX barrel racing carb!

Success, finally success!!

It's running, be damned it's running, finally.
Today is a great day, my friend Runes 1927 J model is finally running, and its running great.
If you have been by here before you might remember this was a bike Rune bought with what was supposed to be an overhauled engine, NOT!
Now, many kroner`s later and a bunch of hours its running as supposed to when it left the factory in Milwaukee back in 27. So what have we done with this "overhauled" engine to get it running?
A welded front cylinder (it was cracked), all new valves and valve guides, refurbished exhaust valve seats, new inlet valve pockets from Competition Distr. that have been carefully lapped to fit the cylinders, new inlet rocker arms with home made guides and bolts, new inlet pushrod ends, new inlet valve housing nuts, all new valve springs, all new seals for inlet manifold, a DLX carb that is now overhauled, we got that from the Halvtopp lads in Stockholm - thanks by the way, Toyota ignition points and a totally overhauled ignition point housing, and most off all a carefully assembled engine to ensure the pressure test of the inlet showed a satisfying result.
Its as simple as this with any engine, no vacuum in the inlet system, no gas is sucked and there is no explosion (most likely the engine lack compression too), hence the engine want run, period, end of story.
Am I pissed, yes.

Pics from Yesterdaze

A great picture from the Danish beach at Fanø back in 1921. Per Chr. Herl on the Excelsior racer have the look of a winner in his face.

Militor

I have for quite a while heard rumors there should be the remains of what appeared to be a Militor motorcycle engine in Mid Norway.
Finally I got to see this engine when I was visited by Kurt that borrowed it from its owner to show me.
And indeed it was a chopped up Militor motor that someone with brute force had cut the heads of by means of a grinder. lets just hope this violent act took place many many years ago.

I have previously found that Militor was represented by Lindzen & Robsahm in Kristiania, as well as their agent in mid-Norway "Nordisk maskin & Automobil kompani. Apparently they might have sold one of those great bikes too.
There is another add from the well known company Gresvig in Kristiania offering Militaires too. Gresvig where the ones later to sell ACE motorcycles.

Cleveland Four

There are some guys I know that have had the old bike bug since "whenever". Svein is one of those guys, that I luckily lives close enough to drop by from time to time. It is fascinating to see what great restorations can be done without all sorts of fancy equipment at hand, Svein does it all, the old way.
Recently I got an interesting e-mail from Svein where some cool photos was added to. This was the remains of two Cleveland 4 motorcycles that in a rather short time during the early eighties surfaced in the Northern part of Norway, Svein had some of this for a while before passing on further.
This is what appears to be the first year Cleveland 4, a 1925 model from the chassis, but hey the motor don`t look as if a "Fowler" designed motor, neither does it look as the later 1926 to 1929 "De-Long" designed ones.
I will try to do some more investigations regarding this rather rare bird and what is today`s status.
Stay tuned.

Here is one add from the Norwegian news paper Aftenposten dated 1927 where Cleveland fours are for sale:

It is spring, though still cold!

Finally spring has come to a point where it is OK to ride around on an old Harley. This year winter was not that hard after all, hence smaller roads do have less gravel from when this is used on top of the snow to protect the cars from sliding out in the bends(sic!)
I prefer to keep the first rides  on my old bikes along the cost, it is less cold and as just stated less gravel in the curves.
Now when I`m due to go back offshore for work I will look back at those first rides.