NH Flathead

My dad's friend Mike was over today. He is from New Hampshire. Mike collects old bikes. He recently bought 3 Indians we had here in storage. Anyway he brought a couple of bikes down with him today. One of which was a 1946 Harley Davidson Flathead.

The bike was just about all original except the fenders! It was a cool bike. My dad came up to my office and said "Jod, you have to come ride this bike!"

Outback the bike was already running. It was a jockey shift with a foot clutch AND the front brake was on the opposite side of the handlebars. Definitely rearranges everything you know about riding a bike. but nothing a Perewitz couldn't handle, right!

So I got on the bike and got a short lesson about it and off I went around the parking lot. It wasn't that hard to ride at all! When I got off Kory jumped on and took it for a spin. Both of us agreed that it was easier than Franks's Bobber that we built.

It sure is a cool bike and fun to ride.... Could one like this be in store for Perewitz? Maybe a goal could be the cover of The Horse magazine? That's one I don't think we have ever been on...

2 of 2 Bobbahs

Yesterday I saw Kory loading a bobber we just finished into a trailer to be delivered. This particular bobber is unlike any that we have done in the past 10 years at least! It has a suicide shift, which means that you shift with your hand, and a foot clutch. Two components that very few people associate with a Perewitz bike. This means that you have to get it in neutral before you stop so you can put two feet down.


Well I have been wanting to ride this bike since it was done but just hadn't worked up enough nerve to do it because I have never ridden a bike like this. Also so far Kory and my dad are the only ones that have been able to ride this bike. I though OK now my last chance. So I went outside and asked Kory if I could try to ride it (don't worry Frank!) before it left. He went over how to do it and the basics of it and said "just don't panic, think about what you are doing". The bike has a hydraulic clutch therefore it is jumpy. I practiced letting the clutch out and before I knew it I was riding it!!!

Kory going for a ride. Unfortunately I didn't take
any pictures yesterday!!!

Normally when there is something I have never done I usually look for my dad's confidence, "oh Jod you can do it, go ahead" but my dad is in Chicago. I figured Kory was somewhat responsible for the bike so if he didn't think I could do it then he probably wouldn't let me.


But I did it and wish I had earlier so I could ride it a couple of times! Frank you will have to let me borrow it!!