World's Ugliest Harley Knucklehead?

[DaveSwanson]

Originally Posted by Bigincher

Hahahaha...! No kidding! At least he softened it by adding a few skulls...!

Just think of the body parts you would leave behind if you ever took a trip over the bar

[FOE]

Sarge, why do you think the "Police Jockey Shifter" is the dumbest way to shift a Harley? That method was used by police departments for years, and on many custom bikes to date with no problems. Just curious to your experience with it.

[Sarge]

What I was commenting on isn't the under-tank, frame-mounted hand shifter mechanism used by police up to 1979. That was a standard tank-shift operation, using a "jockey top" transmission. You have four gears and a standard foot clutch: put that out, heel down, and it stays there, like Harley fitted to every street bike until 1952, and my favorite way to shift a Harley. You can put the shift lever in the "neutral" spot on the gate, and that's where you are, instantly. Then you're able to put your left foot down and hold the bike up at a stop, like a red light.
I was commenting on the "Slap Shifter:" people who put a dash-52 "ratchet top" on their transmission, and then file all the the notches from the little sheet-metal shifting quadrant of the "police" undertank hand shift mechanism, and fit up a suicide (push-to-disengage-release-to-engage) clutch pedal:

Here's the bike in question: ratchet top, slap-shift, suicide clutch.

That's more commonly called a "slap shifter," as the rider just slaps the stick, repeatedly, to go up up-or-down the gears through the ratchet top, and has to keep track of what gear he's in to find neutral. Meanwhile, he can't put his left foot down when he comes to a stop unless he's already found it.
A true "jockey shift," a short lever right off a pre-52 jockey top, sticking out just under the rider's left thigh, is an improvement over that, because you learn by feel what gear you're in, and know where neutral is, and you can go to it instantly, without rowing your "oar" up or down; it takes time, to find it. Just my personal preference. I've driven them all, and I like "slap shift" least.

[Border MFG]

I am probably going to make a few less friends here. Just going to throw in my 2 pennies. By the way, are they still worth anything???? Anyway, while I must say the bike is not my thing, I can think of alot of others that are not my thing also. Take any chopper from 1966 through today thats built "oldschool". Long front end, straight pipes, apes, king queen seat, coffin tank. You all know the look. Make it new school with a 300 rear tire and we are on to another meeting with the shrink. The term " bobber" was washed down the drain too many years ago to even count. Wash in the mix all the cafe meteric crotch rockets and we get a whole other kind of bike.

I guess my point is this. We, myself included, have been pointing fingers and laughing at others for what they built or bolted together since the begining. Picture the guy on his brand new 1904 Harley going home with a tear in his eye when he was laughed at by the guy on his Nelk water cooled over head valve. Who cares what someone else built. As long as you have fun and enjoy it. Just my 2 pennies.

[nuklhd]

[Border MFG]

Now thats what I call an ugly bike!!!! LOL Just kidding! I love it. Thats what I love about this hobby of ours, there is something for everyone. Now if I can just get one of my best friends to talk to me again. I used his shovle head as an example of the 70's bike.

[moonwolf]

Originally Posted by Border MFG

I am probably going to make a few less friends here. Just going to throw in my 2 pennies. By the way, are they still worth anything???? Anyway, while I must say the bike is not my thing, I can think of alot of others that are not my thing also. Take any chopper from 1966 through today thats built "oldschool". Long front end, straight pipes, apes, king queen seat, coffin tank. You all know the look. Make it new school with a 300 rear tire and we are on to another meeting with the shrink. The term " bobber" was washed down the drain too many years ago to even count. Wash in the mix all the cafe meteric crotch rockets and we get a whole other kind of bike.

I guess my point is this. We, myself included, have been pointing fingers and laughing at others for what they built or bolted together since the begining. Picture the guy on his brand new 1904 Harley going home with a tear in his eye when he was laughed at by the guy on his Nelk water cooled over head valve. Who cares what someone else built. As long as you have fun and enjoy it. Just my 2 pennies.

I've read this post several times, and I'm still not sure of your point. But if you're suggesting we shouldn't judge this bike, that's just plain silly. Of course we get to comment on the aesthetics of this and other bikes. Of course we get to criticize. Not only do we get to, it's important we do so. The fingerpainting your six-year-old daughter made, as much as you may love it, is no Renoir. And while we may not agree on all aspects of bike design, including what's cool and what isn't, we can certainly know ugly when we see it.

[Border MFG]

LOL. I re read my post several times too. I dont think I said anything while saying alot. The only thing I was trying to say was think about it from the owners point. He built, bolted, paid, ordered, whatever he did to acheive that bike. He did what he likes. Thats all. Lets just not get too mean. Might be one of our own thats called ugly next.

[sqdealgeorge]

Plus 1 on Border MFG's comment You so called purists have got to get a life Ask Buzz he loved the pics of my Knucklehead chopper Right Buzz ?

[moonwolf]

Originally Posted by sqdealgeorge

Plus 1 on Border MFG's comment You so called purists have got to get a life Ask Buzz he loved the pics of my Knucklehead chopper Right Buzz ?

You're missing the point. I've had a chopper since the late sixties. Somewhere down the line, I will build another bobber. It has nothing to do with being a purist. Did you actually take a look at that bike?