Race prep for Jake Smith’s #13 1946 Harley-Davidson WR flathead racer, ending in 80+mph crash at Daytona Bike Week Sons of Speed vintage motorcycle races on New Smyrna Speedway
I am going to quote my old boss who was a Harley wrench from way back "taking a good crap before the race saves as much weight as you get from drilling holes in everything."
More weight in muscles is better than more dead metal weight. Really only matters if you're on the same bike, but also I like the lightweight feeling of a light bike even if I'm slower than someone that took a bigger shit.
Back in my mountain biking days I hung out with the serious guys that would spend $200 to shave a few grams from their bike, and brag about it over beers at the end of the ride. I was broke, with a shitty bike, but kept up with most of them just fine. When I told them I much preferred to take a two pound shit to save weight before a ride, I no longer was invited to hang out with them.
Whats the chance a guy could get a couple of those fuel fittings? That's genius. I'm just a solo wrencher on bikes. Been a fan a long time. You're knowledge has been priceless to me over the years. Be cool to have something you made on my bikes. Sometimes it's the little things I like best. Don't care how long I have to wait just put me on a list somewhere and send me an invoice. \m/
Coupla questions. What's the point of drilling chain primary?Chains dont build heat like a belt. By drilling fins on head you are removing metal from cooling surfaces which pull heat from engine. So it is actually counter productive. Consider why air cooled engines have fins. To remove heat.
Hay any of you guys that have more money then you know what to do with can you help a brother out and get him a deal on a Kawasaki kz900 1000 or a Honda CB900 something to make a good cafe racer out of, l miss riding a bike so much just can't afford one so if you want ,one of u guys that have more money then you know what to do with and really want to help a biker friend and make him more happier than anything in this world . someone could please help me find a decent deal I live in Tennessee and really miss riding especially this time of the year ,spring.
just an awesome video Mr. Lane, and I don't ever say anything on social media, I have enjoyed pretty much every thing you have ever worked on over all these years👍
@@RVAMotorsports That’s nice to hear Chris. Thank you for writing me back. I’m in Minnesota, just looking for a new friendship and I hope you don’t mind.
Billy mounted the peg back and much higher (and they fold) I drag the primary in every turn. Crash on the track and ambulance pulling onto track, I had to try to turn down the track... pretty much new I was going down.
Looked like you ran common white Teflon tape? I've had that leak over time and believe it's not recommended. They make the yellow one that is recommended for use around gasoline, oil, petroleum etc. Not trying to be a bitchin Bella, just passing along LiL tips, ppl have done to me.
those 3 grams you drilled out should do the trick, first over the line by 1/1000th of a second... lolololololololo a fookin half helmet? boy you're beggin for it..
not a fan of letting people race with crap safety equipment. open face helmet and 2piece un zipped together leathers is just asking for it. looking cool is dumb
Well your wrong. It's not a 2 piece, unzipped leather. It was denim riding pants and my Harley Leather Jacket😁 But I did actually just get a leather a 1 piece leather suite for the next race
Since you moved the left peg up higher would it be unreasonable to put a wear plate on the primary at the angle it would touch the ground? Something hard that would not dig in . Cold roll or ar500?
Also, I know I'm WAY late on this, but RIP Indian Larry. I stopped watching Biker Build off after that. You and him were two of my biggest idols in the bike building world. To watch him go like that still makes me cry.
I love the fab work. I was thinking that straight peg will dig in when layed down. Glad Jake explained what happened here in the comments. Glad it was a routine lay down and slide.
HOLY MOLY HOW IS MY BROTHER DOING BUBBA BLACKWELL IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME GOD BLESS YOU I AM SO THANKFUL TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND TO HAVE GROWN UP WITH YOU ♥️♥️♥️♥️🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈💯💯💯💯💯💯
Awesome fun!!! 👍🏼 Love doing that stuff ! Except for the crash that sucks. At least OK. If you don’t crash once in while you’re not racing not pushing it hard enough.
Moonshiner Josh was running in 3rd place and crashed right behind us. We beat the red flag and light into turn 1, racing wide open down the back straight, I dove into turn 3 and that’s when I see in turn 4… a red light, red flag, an ambulance pulling onto the track, and then moonshiner Josh's crash. My primary dragging and no lean angle left. No option but to try to turn down the track to avoid disaster. Went for a slide and a couple tumbles but was able to run off the track with just some bruised ribs
Nice work, love the drilled cooling fins. Was that for weight saving, better cooling or both? Trying to wrap my head around it...surface area vs air flow. I need to make my way to Daytona one of these days, would love to photograph the races. Starting a new job soon so maybe next year when I have some vacation time.
Great video, Billy. Have you ever used the titanium or (old school) silica heat wrap tape? I always thought it looked racy and cool. Thanks and keep it up!
Those bikes are like Cement Mixers, or Boat Anchors! What on earth make you think they could ever perform on a track? Harley's are them most LOW TECH bike ever built!
A beard won’t save your face in a crash. A full face helmet will. Come down to the ED at the hospital I work at and we can show some guys that have had their chin,nose and cheeks removed by face planting crashing their bikes. I love these bikes but it is beyond moronic not wearing a full face helmet while racing. Billy you are damn lucky. Don’t be a fool cuz you want to look cool. Imagine how cool you would look with half your face gone?
Wicked, one day I will make it, to watch Billy. Love the mods to the racer, do the drilled head fins add much to the cooling? hope she rebuilds ok, and better after the spill, glad Jake Smith walked away unharmed. Love the Indian Larry knife. what number do you have? as I have the #2 Whiteknuckler Indian Larry drop point... LLR from the UK
I enjoy your videos Billy! I work on bikes in my garage for friends and neighbors and have for years and dream of doing it for a living! Your living the dream man!! I get a lot of ideas from watching you fab thanks brother!!
Leathers saved my ass once, looks like they worked for him to, I always cringe when I see these kids running around on crotch rockets, in shorts and a tank top and a pair of Crocs, sorry to concentrate on the negative first, but the way you kinda explain whats going on as your fabricating just awesome, even your camera work is truly next level, just a joy to watch, I learn something new every time, keep up the incredible work, your a true craftsman.
@@carlgar2007 Good morning Carl. Yes I’m doing well thank you for writing me back. I came across your comment here on Billy’s channel, so i decided to send you a message. Looking for a friendship and I hope you don’t mind. I live in Minnesota😉
Nice. I was also riding under the influence yesterday. Before I turned on the bike I was pretty sure I should lay on the ground instead lol. Was way out on a trail smoking blunts though not at a bar. Unfortunately bars in america arent full of European women so I'm spoiled from when I lived in Germany. Can't stand lard girls.
The bike shown may be numbered "WR", but the cylinders & heads are plain-Jane 129-36/361 low performance cylinder castings used on every 45 1936-73. Somehow the master builder ignored the sharp angle the clutch cable takes exiting the sheath.
I’ve read some of your books and respect your knowledge, but I can say with 100% certainty you’re wrong on this one. You might be looking at old videos when the bike had a WLD engine installed. This is all WR with roller cams, canted valves, & tappet assemblies. This bike hung with three of the fastest, seasoned WR’s running it’s first time on the track- something not possible with plain Jane cylinders & heads. The master builder intentionally moved the clutch pedal rearward, changing the angle of the cable. Been racing them this way for a long time, the cable doesn’t seem to mind as much as you do. Sons of Speed runs March, May, & October. We prove our point & weed out the a-holes at the track, not at the keyboard. If you don’t want to be a part of that, STFU.
That's one lucky guy Billy, coming off the bike at that speed. Do you know what caused the fall? Obviously it wasn't the left hand side peg that caught. As an aside Billy, do you know what balance factor was used on the engine and if you don't mind, what model and size S&S carb is fitted to the WR? Hope the bike is rebuildable. Enjoy watching you fabricate stuff. Cheers ~ Vince (from Oz Downunder)
You know they make bikes nowadays that weigh 390lbs and put 200hp to the wheel .... :/ I think harley's make 80 - 100hp and weigh 500lbs .... :/ I dont get it ... :)
