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Monday, February 20, 2012

The '47 Knuck's Reincarnation as a Stock Bike and the '65 Panhead

When the California Motorcycle Helmet law took effect in 1992, the old man decided if he was going to have to look like a dork, (what he referred to as the Peewee Herman look), it wasn't right to be riding a chopper. So he rebuilt the '47 Knucklehead as a stock bike. He had been collecting the parts for it for years. When he got the stock original frame and the springer front end it all began to come together. I loved it from the beginning. 

Stock 1947 Harley Knucklehead black and orange

So, he had the tank shift, suicide clutch and throttle. We still had the mechanical brakes. After the last trip to Sturgis he went ahead and put disk brakes and a stock windshield on it. It's still 6 volt.

The stock bike was so much more comfortable to ride than the chopper had been. I had a nice wide flat seat, and the foot pegs were positioned perfectly so my knees didn’t get all tweaked and I could use my legs as shock absorbers, because of course it was still a rigid frame and didn’t have them.

Besides all that, I think it looks pretty cool. I was just going through my old photos, and I don’t have many really good ones of just the bike, not packed or anything. We still have the ’47, always will, but it is not in prime shape at the moment. It’s sitting in a corner of the shop waiting for a rebuild, and it possibly will have a new paint job by the time it’s on the road again.

At the moment the riding bike is the “new” bike a 1965 Panhead (shown below.) It has a push button, electric start and shocks, which do soften the bumps some. At first I hated it. It just didn’t feel stable in the corners. But I am getting used to it, and it is pretty nice that he can start the bike while I am sitting on it.

Black 1965 Harley Panhead motorcycle

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What-to-Take-to Sturgis on your 1947 Harley Knucklehead

Monday, February 6, 2012

She's Gone... Goodbye to the '42

The 1942 Knucklehead has been sold. We'll miss her, but she's off to a new home with many more miles ahead.




Saturday, February 4, 2012

Our Trip to Sturgis on the '47 Knuck

Off to Sturgis on the Knucklehead

It was the year 2000, the year of the 60th annual Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis South Dakota. My husband Bryan and I were riding alone on a 1947 Knucklehead. It was the only time I have made that trip.


When we left home, our only real goal was to be at Buffalo Chip Campground on Thursday night to see Johnny Lang play.

We took kind of a long route through the bottom corner of Idaho, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. Once we got to Idaho, there were dark clouds circling overhead. Although it did not rain on us, there were plenty of times we could tell it had just rained, since the road was still wet.

We camped all the way, and though we didn't cook all that much, we made coffee every morning, and had cold iced tea in the small ice chest we carried. That was a pretty nice thing to have going through Nevada when the temperature was in triple digits. Once we got to Buffalo Chip Campground we did do some cooking.


Sturgis Rally in Full Swing

When we arrived at Main Street in Sturgis on Wednesday afternoon, we saw half a dozen people we know from our hometown within 2 hours of being there. It’s funny how that happens.
The street was very crowded, lots of guys hot rodding up and down the street showing off, tattooed women in pasties and leather chaps and not much more, a woman dressed as Lady Godiva in a long blond wig, and plenty of cops keeping an eye on things.
It was a hot day. They had stands selling this killer lemonade that they made right in front of you. They squeezed fresh lemons into the cup, added water, ice, and simple syrup, covered it with another cup and gave it a good shake. Quick, simple and so refreshing.
We stopped at a vendor selling leathers, and ended up both buying new leather jackets. I had never realized how uncomfortable every other leather jacket I had ever worn was until I got my brand new soft as butter leather jacket.
Most of the bikes there were new. As usual, the old Knucklehead got a lot of attention. When we went to leave, Bryan was actually drawing a crowd by kick starting it.
Our friend Red Dog's mom lived right there in Sturgis, so we pitched the tent in her front yard that night, then headed out for Buffalo Chip the next day.
1947 Knucklehead in crowd of bikes at Sturgis 2000
Can you pick out the Knucklehead in this photo? 
It stands out like a sore thumb to me!

Equipment List

You may think I'm joking, but we really did take all these things with us when we rode to Sturgis from our home in Nevada City, California. As you can see from the photo at the beginning of the story, it was quite a load. We actually used most of the things we brought.


  • Canteen with Water
  • Map
  • Tools
  • Bicycle Pump
  • Extra Tire Tube
  • Spare 3-brush Generator
  • Headlight and Taillight Bulb
  • Quart of Oil
  • Liter of Gasoline
  • Sunscreen
  • Chapstick
  • Rain Gear
  • 60 Second Tent
  • Sleeping Bags
  • Clothes for temperatures
    ranging from 45° to 110°
  • Camp Mattresses
  • Towel
  • Soap and Toiletries
  • Radio
  • Camera
  • Flashlights
  • Ice Chest
  • Food
  • Aspirin and Decongestant
  • P38 Can Opener
  • Camp Stove
  • Coffee and Tea Bags
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Knife
  • Cast Iron Skillet
Last but not least:
  • Credit Card

Sixty Second Tent - A Lifesaver

I think the best piece of camping gear we brought on this trip was our 60 second tent. It's a dome tent, but instead of threading the poles through sleeves on the tent, they are already in place, with hinges that lock open. It can literally be set up in 60 seconds. When you are riding and breaking camp every day it just makes life so much easier.
Sixty Second Tent

Buffalo Chip Campground

When we got to Buffalo Chip, it was already hot, the campground was almost full and the terrain was relatively flat with not very many trees.
My sweetie had camped there the year before, so he headed for his old camp spot under a big tree. Amazingly, it was available with only one other tent in
 the area.
As soon as we pulled up a guy jumped out of the tent and said "Hey, a Knucklehead, is that the original paint?"
I said "Hell no, it's been painted twice that I know of."
He said his name was Hotdog, and he was from Florida. He was riding an evo, but it turned out he had a Knucklehead at home and was kind of a collector. He considered the Knucklehead an around town show bike. He sheepishly admitted that he'd had his bike shipped and he had flown in for the run. He didn't have enough time off to make the ride, but we said "Whatever, no big deal, at least you made it."
Being another Knucklehead guy, Hotdog and Bryan had plenty to talk about,
and we invited him for dinner, cooked up some steak and beans. While we were sitting around getting to know each other, we noticed the wind picked up, and the sky looked ominous. We threw everything we had inside the tent and went inside ourselves.
The storm hit fast with strong winds, rain and hail. It only lasted maybe 30 minutes, but when it was over there were tents and tarps blown down all over the campground. 
It was only 2 hours before Johnny Lang was to hit the stage, so we were a little worried about that. We need not have been concerned though. The moon came out pretty as can be, the stars twinkling away, and the show went on as planned.


We got a nice spot about 25 feet from the stage. Since I am only 5'2", I usually can't see anything in a crowd like that, but there was a picnic table near us and I was able to stand on the bench so I got a fine view of the stage. There I was, on a beautiful clear evening, almost level with the stage, watching Johnny sing "Wander This World." It was just one of those perfect nights.
The next morning we woke up to a little Japanese guy who came looking for Bryan. He had met him at the same spot the year before. He worked for a Japanese magazine and wanted to take pictures of the bike and us. He actually sent us copies of the issue with our pictures in it a few months later.

We rode out to Deadwood, and went to see Mt. Rushmore (pretty amazing by the way, don't miss it if you're in the area), then back to Main Street one more time before we headed out.
We had already been on the road for 10 days I wanted to go home, but Bryan wanted to go to the San Juan Islands in Washington, so where do you think we went? That's a whole story in itself, maybe I'll tell you about it sometime.
1947 Harley Knucklehead motorcycle and rider in tie-dye at Idaho border sign
The old man, stylin' his tie dye Sturgis shirt at the Idaho border
Stock 1947 Harley Knucklehead Motorcycle at the Grand Tetons
This was at the Grand Tetons
Woman looking in saddle bags of 1947 Harley Knucklehead
Me looking glamorous after a week on the road living 
out of saddlebags
Sturgis is a great place to see blues music
We saw some fabulous artists there.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The Redwood Run and Shelter Cove

For years my old man and I used to go to the Redwood Run up by Garberville, CA on the 47 Knucklehead. We started in 1985 and the last time we went was about 1997. Most of the time after the run was over we went to Shelter Cove to camp for a couple of days. Here are some photos of those old times.


Pulling in to the KOA campground, across the street from the Redwood Run at Richardson Grove.


Big bikes, bigger trees

Knucklehead Lineup - Many of these bikes rode up to the Redwood Run 
from southern California.


Winding my camera

Harleys parked in front of movie theater in Garberville CA

Redwood Run in Garbervielle, CA circa 1987

Kick starting the 47 Knucklehead chopper
Kick the starting the Knuck on a cold morning
Stock 47 Harley Knucklehead in the mountains
Stock Knucklehead a scenic overlook
Harleys at the old Grapewine Station on Hwy 101 in the Redwoods
Grapewine Station Hwy 101
Harleys at the Oasis
The Oasis CA Hwy 20

Pit stop
Takin' a little break
Redwood Run
Sherry and Dwight

1947 Harley Knucklehead chopper stuck in the sand
Stuck in the sand at Shelter Cove

Changing tire on vintage Harley Panhead motorcycle
Flat tire

There was always great music at the Redwood Run

It reminded me of the Hippie Music festivals back in the '60s.


Saturday, January 28, 2012

The Old Man's Sold a Knucklehead on ebay

My old man built this beautiful '42 Knucklehead himself. Sorry to say, it is sold and gone, but there will be another one coming along. I'll keep you posted.


black 1942 Harley Knucklehead motorcycle
1942 Harley Knucklehead Speedometer
1942 Harley Knucklehead Headlight
1942 Harley Knucklehead motorcycle motor close-up










Sunday, December 4, 2011

The Toy Run - Christmas in Gold Country

Harley Trike decorated for Christmas
The procession begins at noon and ends at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. If you’re lucky you might even see Santa on vintage Harley with a giant Teddy Bear in the sidecar. The route is lined with throngs of parents and children cheering them on.

2011 marked the 20th annual Nevada County Food and Toy Run. It took place on December 10th. California State Senator Doug La Malfa presented a Senate resolution to to the CEO and founder of the group Thom Stacer to commemorate the anniversary.


For Stacer the Toy Run is a fulfillment of a personal dream. He saw a need for such an event as a youth when mines and mills in the area would close during the winter. Now, with a dedicated group of volunteers, he works all year planning for the annual pilgrimage. The nonprofit group works closely with law enforcement who provide traffic control for the procession. 

In past years many riders have thrown candy to eager children on the sidewalks, but organizers and law enforcement have asked that this be discontinued for fear a child might run into the street after candy and be injured. Some participants have a hard time giving up this popular tradition, so it is an ongoing effort to get the practice entirely stopped. 

Once they arrive at the fairgrounds the toys are taken to the main exhibit building and handed in to volunteers who lovingly arrange them on tables grouped by appropriate age range. Then the lucky children are let in to make their selections. 
   The socializing continues with vendors selling food and crafts. Speakers fill the audience in on all the new developments, amount of money raised, any problems or concerns law enforcement has with the run, and new procedures under consideration. The presentation concludes with the raffle. Prizes for the raffle are items donated by sponsors, usually they include lots of motorcycle accessories and some years the grand prize is a new Harley Davidson. As the Winter sun goes down and the temperature drops many of the attendees go on to celebrate at other local venues into the evening. 

What began in 1991 with a small group of about 90 local bikers donating food and toys to local needy families has grown into a treasured tradition that draws as many as 1500 riders who come from from all over the state and beyond.
Lots of participants say they prefer the Nevada County Food and Toy Run to larger toy runs, like the Sacramento Toy Run, because of the small town feel the local involvement and the more intimate contact with the recipients as they actually get to see the people who benefit from their efforts. All proceeds are kept within Nevada County. 

Of course there have been a few problems and complaints over the years. Traffic on the main thoroughfare between Nevada City and Grass Valley is stopped for an hour while the bikes wind their way along the 3 mile stretch, so some unprepared travelers who were caught unaware are kept sitting at intersections until all the bikes have gone by. Most people are able to take it in stride and appreciate the good works being done, and efforts are being made to warn the public in advance that the roads will be closed during that time so they can plan accordingly. 

Area merchants were at first apprehensive of large groups of bikers going past their businesses at this, most busy, time of year. In fact, for this reason, for the first few years the procession was routed around the area of downtown Grass Valley. But business owners have come to appreciate the fact that the toy run attracts many people to the downtown area. They come to watch the spectacle, then stay and patronize local shops and restaurants. 

No matter what the weather the toy run goes on. Even in 2009, through driving rain, a few hardy souls made the ride. Only 250 rode in the procession that year, but many showed up at the fairgrounds in cars and trucks bringing donations. 150 turkeys, 150 hams, 300 ten-pound bags of potatoes, and many bags of groceries were given away. No child went away empty handed.

The Nevada County Food and Toy Run is a tradition that exemplifies the true meaning of the season. It stresses good will towards man, and the importance of caring for others. It give us an opportunity to set aside the commercialism of modern Christmas. This is not to say that it isn’t a whole lot of fun for those involved. 

I expect that the Nevada County Food and Toy Run will continue to grow in size and popularity for years to come.

Residents of the normal foothills town of Nevada City know Christmas coming when they hear the massive rumble of motorcycle engines making their way down Broad Street.

On the second Saturday in December, participants begin gathering at the Eric W. Rood Administration Center at 9:00 am. There they greet old friends, check out the motorcycles and socialize. Most are riding Harleys, but any make of motorcycle is welcome. Each rider brings a toy, many also bring food items and make cash donations. Coffee, hot cider and donuts are provided. T-shirts and raffle tickets are available for purchase.

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