I remember a story my grandfather told me once about him and his buddy riding together from Schenectady NY to Canning Nova Scotia and back (1426 miles) in 4 days so his buddy could court a young woman he liked just to see her for a couple of hours. This was in the early 1920's. They would each strap 10 gallons of extra gas to the rear fenders instead of saddle bags. They rode entirely on dirt roads and because of the dust, they had to ride almost a mile apart just to be able to see the road without crashing. Those were the days of some of the most hardcore bikers in American motorcycle history.
Great history talk on the Henderson, all she need is an oil cooler, a full fairing, flatslide Keihin carbs, USD forks and a Yoshimura exhaust and a rename to HSXR 1000 rrr to get 100hp out of it! 🐱👍🏿
Dales’ collection of bikes and wisdom of yore is a treasure and best of all a stones through from the best riding in the Blue Ridge - Maggie Valley Rocks!🦊
I love your channel. I'm so sad I'm driving through the front of the museum while its closed next week. I would truly love to visit the museum, but I know it's not open for the season. Maybe next time I drive to NC I'll catch you all opened.
There used to be an example of this model, an exact replica of the one that you feature here, in Peter Murray's Motorcycle museum on Snaefell mountain, which is part of the TT course, on the Isle of Man. The collection has been moved since Peter died, but it is mostly intact on the Island.
I've been riding since the '70's and I like the newer rides. That said, I've always loved old iron. I'm still hoping for that great barn find. Probably be an import at this point if I ever find something.
I'm wondering if that bike had any cooling issues with the 4 cylinders one behind the other? Do you guys have motorhome parking there by any chance? Keep the good stuff coming guys.
In my opinion, the latest Motorcycle Manufacturers to use the Excelsior Henderson and Indian names both missed out on an opportunity when they ignored the 4 cylinder heritage that can be associated with both names just to concentrate exclusively on Vtwins. Yes, i know Vtwins are awesome, I get it, I love the Potato potato as much as anyone, thats why I worked for HD Motor Company as an R&D tech and as a HD dealership engine and driveline tech, performance specialist, and machinist. But I do think a longitudinal inline 4 cylinde, modernized of course would as an American made bike still have some heritage credibility and could be used as a segway into more performance oriented bikes. If nothing else it would bring more product diversity into a class of motorcycles that are basically only available as cruiser, smaller cruiser, touring, and larger touring typre bikes with Vtwins, teardrop tanks, and mostly form over function design.
Im going to say again most kids that follow in their parents foot steps are a yada ,yada,yada this kid was born to take his dads work to another level !
I I'm an old rider. Been riding on the street since 1970. I love the way every episode you do whether it's building something, or showing something it's a history lesson. A lot of newer riders need to know our history and where motorcycling came from. Your channel and museum is a great example of that.
I’m a older rider, been on two wheels since I was 12 years old. Owned just about anything British, American, Japanese. Love your dad and his many adventures. I’m now 79 years and still riding. When I returned from VietNam in 1969, my first ride was Sturges, in order to blow off the stink of 18 long months in Vietnam. Best therapy’s guy could have. My old pan head ran great after sitting 4 years. Greatly appreciated what you and your dad have and continue doing for the motorcycle history.
Well the engine design is Belgian. Every American 4 cilinder in-line engine in that era was derived from the Belgian design. Henderson beefed up and bettered it and added more displacement. Like for instance Indian also did.
What a great history of a one-of-a-kind motorcycle. I noticed the price in the ad for a Henderson was $325. That would be $7,600 in today's dollars. Still a good price.
Purchase power of a dollar and earning power/potential of the average man at each given period in time. I wonder how/if the 2nd is factored in and compared to a man nowadays and if it would raise the number,and,by how much. A greater mind than mine could come up with something I suppose,but,can it even be done to more than a wide estimation? Hey,your name is Price! I bet you can do it! :)
God willing I'm gonna be headed that way this year 2023 since my very first visit a few years back . Coming from the OBX ( OUTER BANKS NC ) . Can't wait. 👍🇬🇧🇺🇲😎
I really really really hope, that you have fire security and all that sh*t at top level. That is the worst part of museums - that "everything" can be destroied at one time. Was it in Brazil that some museum burnt not many years ago, with almost everything being lost. But I also often think of wars or terror - it's the old "Don't put all the eggs in the same basket" situation..
@@bobturnbull18 I was actually pretty spot on - not always my memory is this good. From The Guardian - "3. sep. 2018 - The fire at Rio de Janeiro's 200-year-old National Museum began after it closed to the public on Sunday and raged into the night."
Nobody has a better and more complete collection of early American four cylinder motorcycles -- Hendersons, Aces, Indians, the lot. For a least a decade after I first visited, my computer had a picture of the 1913 Two tone, Blue on Blue Henderson as its desktop background. Never got tired of looking at it.
Did I hear correctly that it's 1000 CC's but only 7 horsepower? How is it possible to only be getting 7 ponies out of something bigger than an old Harley Sportster?
What a beauty!! That guy sounds like my Ghia (VW) after i gave her the Monza exhaust... Love what you guys got goin on, keep up the good work & thank you for taking care of our elders
If you want to support Wheels Through Time, head over to www.wheelsthroughtime.com/win-this-bike and get your chance to win a historic '37 Knucklehead.
I'm a recent subscriber to this channel over in England 🇬🇧 , not a big fan of modern American bikes, ( to big to expensive to over rated)but these old bikes featured here are absolutely fabulous. Keep up the good work.
I just can't hardly believe it's that old WOW Matt what a bike. I always buy tickets for a chance to win a bike built by you and your team you just couldn't find one much nicer than one built by you
The Henderson four was used in airplanes. Ed Heath made a gear reduction for a propeller that bolted to the front of the engine. This allowed airplanes to be built in garages after WW1 when so many pilots came home and wanted their own plane. So many Hendersons lost their engine to airplanes. Henderson did sell the engines directly to Heath. Heath offered the airplanes in a complete plane or a kit.
