What we are talking about is not a fiction scene, it is the real story of a meeting between passion, knowledge and respect for the legacy of motorcycling in the form of Harley-Davidson Preur. If you are passionate about classic motorcycles and you are one of those who stop to admire an old washer with history, this video is a real gift for your eyes.
Yes, as you read it, imagine a huge table full of dusty boxes full of loose pieces, many without cataloging and that also keep decades of countless mechanical secrets. But … among all that disorder, with an old oil aroma, a true jewel appears. Yeah, “The face appears“A legendary Harley-Davidson Model J from 1919disassembled, almost complete and, of course, patiently waiting for its restoration and return to life.
This is the story of this Harley-Davidson
But, obviously, and even if you have some experience in the world of motorcycles, these types of situations are likely to overcome you. Above all, not because it is just about restoring a motorcycle, but because you have to relive an entire chapter of the history of motorcycling. Of course, we are lucky.
True experts, those who have dedicated decades to study, repair and conserve these mechanical jewels and who have such a deep, almost esoteric knowledge. The good thing is that, now, thanks to the RR.SS. They share it with a generosity that deserves, of course, at least the recognition of these lines.
In this case, more specifically, we talk about Craigknown as The Bearded Mechanic (TBM), an experienced mechanic and YouTuber who, for years, has been working with Japanese classics of the 1970s and 1980s. But this time, Craig, surprisingly, has embarked on a completely different adventure, the acquisition of a Harley-Davidson Model J. of 1919.
Eye, it is not any restoration. The motorcycle is not assembled, but is unarmed in multiple boxes next to a rolling chassis. A mechanical puzzle with more than a century old. Blessed “puzzle”
Faced with such a project, even the most prepared, as is the case, they know that they need the appropriate guide and advice. Craig He was clear from the beginning, if he was going to face this challenge, he had to have one of the greatest experts in Harley-Davidson classic
And so he reached Matt WalkslerAlma del Wheels Through Time Museum (Maggie Valley, North Carolina, USA). Without a doubt, one of the few true sanctuaries for historical motorcycles that are currently in the country of tariffs and hamburgers.
Matt It is not just passionate about Harley-Davidson Pre-Second World War, but has an encyclopedic knowledge about each component, each model variation and each small anecdote of the motorcycles of the early twentieth century. Just see how, in the video, it is submerged between the pieces of pieces of the project of Craig to appreciate the depth of your experience.
Recognizes components of a look, identifies oddities that few would know how to classify, there is even such an unusual piece that claims to know their function and origin, although it confesses that I had never seen one in person. A true historical jewel.
The most exciting thing is that Matt It is not limited to looking. In fact, he has accepted the challenge of personally rebuilding the engine of this Harley-Davidson Model J.. By the way, this model, produced between 1915 and 1929, was one of the pillars of the growth of Harley-Davidson in the era prior to the great depression.
It had a 989 cc V-TWin engine, side distribution and a three-speed transmission. Many specimens were used by the US army during World War I and, today, are extremely difficult to find in restorable conditions.
This video, which you can find on the YouTube channels of The Bearded Mechanicalthough we link it to you at the beginning of the article, it is a jewel not only because of the rarity of the motorcycle in question, but because of the spirit that transmits: the humility of those who recognize that there is always something new to learn, the emotion of discovering forgotten pieces for decades and the determination to return to the road a machine that first rolled for the first time more than one hundred years ago.
We don’t burn our hands. If you have ever felt a stab of emotion when you see an old motorcycle again, this video will make you vibrate.
