Hang on for this story of competitive Indian lore and antique motorcycle controversy. “In July of 1926, Indian debuted its all new, Charles B. Franklin-designed, race motor at the Altoona, Pennsylvania board track,” Said Dan Statnekov the previous owner. “The machine lapped the 1 and 1/4-mile wooden track at a speed of 114 mph and […]
Rarest Indian Of All Read More »
Charlie Brechtel’s Newest Hit—5-Ball BluesThis song is based on Bandit’s life and times. You may wonder why his company name is 5-Ball, Inc. We’ll it’s because he was married five times and named it such as a tribute to all the women who have crossed his path. “I’ve been extremely passionate about two aspects of
5-Ball Song Discovered Read More »
“The fastest man in the world…bullets are the only rivals of Glenn H. Curtiss of Hammondsport.” – 1907 newspaper headline Thursday, January 24, 1907. Ormond Beach, Florida. Glenn H. Curtiss, age 29, sits astride the test bench for his new V8 269 cu. in aircraft engine. When all was said and done, Curtiss was clocked
Francisco Doroteo “Pancho” Villa and his 1914 Indian, one of the bikes used in the successful attack on Torreon in Mexico that year. Pancho Villa may be one of the most recognizable names in both Mexican and American history. He crossed the border and raided Columbus, New Mexico with 400 of his men on March
CHASING PANCHO VILLA Read More »
No, we're not talking the Buell or even the Italian-made Aermacchi H-D bought and rebadged by H-D..= The case of the Woolery Bullet is one of those odd sideroads in the history of Milwaukee Motor Co. It was a one-off built custom by the factory for the fellow whose name appears on the gas tank–
Tom on right. I've known Tom Rodan since the early '70s. He owned a shop in Tujunga, California until a divorce ate it. He now restores vintage motorcycles with Don Whalen. Tom encountered motorcycles as a kid living in a ghost town of 450, in Watts, Oklahoma about 100 miles from Tulsa. Even in this
Installment 29: Bike Recovery 70s Style Read More »
The Very Best Bike! There's been some yellin' there's been some cussin' there's been some fightin' and been some fussin'. The war's been long and hard and hot blood has flowed lots more than not. What's the beef and why the strife? Why the gun and why the knife? Lend an ear and get a
The Very Best Bike Read More »
Richard Kranzler straddled a Harley of sorts when he was 16 years old. He's been building bikes and bouncing around the industry since. Recently his wife was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus. Richard left his job in the engineering field, sold all his bikes, gave Sportster parts to Jon Towle and hauled all his
Installment 28: A Tribute To Brotherhood Read More »
When viewing early images of Harley-Davidson riders, their clothing always stands out. Instead of the black leather, jeans, bandanas and safety helmets of today, riders in the first decades of the 20th century wore very different clothing: Three-piece suits, shirts with starched collars, flowing scarves, long skirts and no helmets. To our eyes, they look
Hey Bandit–Got rained out today at work, so I thought I would bug you….. Here are some photos in front of your house …I believe it’s Long Beach ? Can`t remember that far back. And a couple in front of the Terminal Island Prison. Found more in front of your house. Look at the price
Bob T. And His Time Capsule – That 70s Show Read More »
At first the hard-riding HORSE staff compelled me to blast each issue with rugged anecdotes of outlaw lore. If I went much further with my own road stories, I might confess to some treacherous crime that would bust my three strikes standing to an even half dozen and you'd never hear from me again. So
Installment 27: Deacons Ups And Downs Read More »
This has to be the first biker song…… Not bad for 1955…..Almost 50 years ago..hard to believe…..Does that mean we are getting older ? I also included the recording of the song…..It took me many years to find the song…..Way cool…. Let me know what you think. Bob T Artist: Vaughn Monroe Words and Music
Terror Of Highway 101 Read More »
I often state that anything truly cool is running near the edge between life or death, pass or fail, Ted Nugent or “Damn Yankees”, etc. Just so you know ,when I write these stories, they are not “based on fact” or “inspired by”. They happened, and as a lot of you know the ” smoothing”
Installment 26: K-Model Times Read More »
The author, Bob T., riding in the old days. Last segment I dug up an old riding pal, Bob T. who now lives in a '59 Cadillac buried in the desert. He's hiding from society, but I sparked his attention and he peeled off his thoughts about the past after snorting some desert sand mixed
Installment 25: Another Rider Ponders The Past Read More »
Bob knows what he's talking about. He's been riding since 1971, and is a master of the old school. You can check out how he got involved in this wild sport in Bandit's Life and Times section. We snuck out to the desert where his lives in a rusting '59 Cadillac. With night vision goggles
“The 59 Rules Of Motorcycling” Read More »
That title rings true today constantly, but this was based in '71. If you think newbies run afoul of old school now, hang on. This is a story about a rider, Bob T., who rode with me in the early '70s. He was laid off from Hughes Aircraft after his stint in the Marines, as
Installment 24: No Slack Read More »
Indian suffered through one tumultuous setback after another, “And here's another example,” Don Whalen, curator and Indian collector, said while weeping over the recently Indian Bankruptsy. “Damn it, Don,” I said, “Get over it.” It may be the anti-name, like Edsel, that should be avoided like slick roads. Shortly after the first Indian decade, through
1914 Indian Classic–Hendee Special Read More »
Y’know, lately there’s a helluva lot of discussion about RUBs. I don’t really get why everyone’s got their leathers in a twist about these guys…They’re basically harmless. Me? I’m not a RUB, but I’d take the R part of the thing if it was given to me. They say “Money can’t buy happiness.” I’m a
In a constant search for the Code Of The West, we reached across the nation to the east coast where we found these elements sealed in whiskey bottle and trapped in a sunken drug running barge off the coast of Florida. It used to be that all bikers shared a common bond, an unspoken code
The Code Of The West Search Continues Read More »
Hey, I got sick of telling stories about the bullshit mistakes I've made over the years. Besides I might stumble into a story that isn't covered by the statue of limitations and throw myself into a 50-gallon drum of boiling oil. So I'm shifting to terrible tales of bikers from the past. Not exactly the
Installment 23: Death Valley Run, 1978 Read More »
Ricky Nelson shots from Bob T. Following is a short quirky story by Mustang Jack, a long time friend, who collected Mustangs for years: Back in the 50's I was a teenager living in the San Fernando Valley. That's the same valley where the Mustang motorcycles were built. I owned a Doodle Bug, a Cushman,
Ricky Nelsons Mustang Read More »
Hey, I lost chapter 21. Actually, I started and never finished, and it never made it to the pages of HORSE. We jumped right to 22. So, over the next couple of weeks I'll dig it out, dust it off and dial it in. You'll get an original. In the meantime here's 22. I've never
Installment 22: Switching Gears Read More »
I don't talk about clubs much. I won't mention names to protect the guilty. This particular story will ring a lot of bells from coast to coast. I was in a club in the mid '70s. Some of us were new members, some were old club guys who had been in one club and transferred
Installment 20: Church Read More »
I was pulled over recently. While standing on the concrete curb of a city street, a brother rode past at double the speed limit, his straight pipes making the cop’s door rattle. The rider held the throttle open with impunity, barely lifting an eyebrow as he jammed through the traffic unencumbered, disappearing in the crowded
Installment 19: New Years Eve 1970 Read More »
