The silver knuckle is beautiful. The first motorcycle I ever sat on was a knucklehead, I’ve got a photo of me on it in 1948. I was eleven months old, and my mom was holding me on the seat. The start of this 77 year old’s motorcycle life! I’m down to only five bikes today.
The Finch Coca Cola bike is one of my all time favorites. So many og impossible to find parts, cool as hell, first "themed" bike, aghhh I love it. I can't wait for the day I finally get to visit the museum
What boots do you wear out of curiosity? Would you even do a gear video that you use. I know it would be out of character for the channel but I’m super curious.
What I love about bikes is the fact that they don't change for the sake of change. Take a Model A Ford from the 1930s and put next to whatever you drive today. The two things you'll be looking at don't even appear to be the same species. You just don't get the same experience that early drivers got. They have taken all of the humanity out of cars and computerized it. Not only that, but the style has been lost. Every manufacturer is chasing the same aerodynamics, and wind flows the same way in every wind tunnel...so all cars are starting to look the same as each other. It's vanilla. It's bland. It's boring. Now look at bikes. Take your new muscle cruiser, and put to beside one of those stock race bikes from the 30s. The differences are MINOR. Seats are different. I am sure they have better shocks, and that sort of thing. But in essence, your bike does not look very much different from what those guys were taking around the track 90 years ago, or what James Dean was keeping cool 70 years ago. Bikes are the same animal now that they were in the beginning. And you can mod yours out just like they could, without having to call in an IT specialist. We are getting almost the same experience that they were getting. Now, the copycat thing is an issue, just like with cars. My Nip cruiser looks just as cool as your Harley. Relax, I am not saying they are the same. But my copy has the same look as your original, and that is undeniable. But at least they are copycatting each other on something real, raw and cool. I dig that!
We are currently living in the absolute worst time for motorcycles ever. Not only do we have trash like EFI, ABS, rider modes, digital instruments, computerized everything, but they are hideously UGLY. It is virtually impossible to find a new street motorcycle that is not 99% flat black. I started riding on the street back in 1975 at age 16 on a 1972 Suzuki GT380 2 stroke triple. Back then there were so many wonderful bikes. My first brand new bike was a 1980 Suzuki GS450L. That started my life long love affair with cruiser style motorcycles. They looked great, they were super comfortable, and there was plenty of room to tie stuff onto them. They made perfect touring bikes, which quickly became my favorite type of riding. I've owned over 30 of them, all carbureted, all with bright shiny paint and LOTS of chrome and polished aluminum. For a while I bought a new bike about every year and a half. As soon as I paid one off I bought another. Now there is not a single new bike out there that I want. I'm so glad I have a collection of older bikes that still look like motorcycles should. Two of them are Harleys, both bought used. A 1989 FXRS Low Rider, and a 2001 Sportster 1200C. Both EVO powered.
period bikes proppa motorcycles, could pick up a wla flathead engine in the early seventies for 300 quid bsa A10 4 speed gearbox 40 quid, lets get chopping, mint days, yer he put that over great
Riders have less to choose from. It was back then & is going that way today. H.D. has eliminated some of their best works. Not only H.D. but other brands also. Not much to choose from when going into a Motorcycle dealership of any sort. This place here is eye candy & a huge wish list. Always great stuff featured.
Wheels Through Time = I think Harley needs to Go Through There Catalog and (Make Old-Bikes=Modernized to todays Standards), And Rerelease them to the Public, I know the old bikes weren't that Great, That's why I said (Modernize It), (So it Runs a Lot Better / To Today Standards), {Better than it Ran-Back-In-The-Day}. They would Probably Sell-Out every Single ReRelease..
Love to hear Matt talk the way he tells about each motorcycle he's very knowledgeable for his age he learned from his dad and has took what he learned from his dad even farther his dad would be proud he's kept the museum going and continues to build it
As a Brit, modern Harleys and the culture that goes with them feels alien to me ( I ride an Italian bike) but these early American motorcycles influenced the worlds motorcycle manufactures, they are so slim, and well balanced and purposeful, and the fact that all of your machines run is the icing on the cake, and to listen to you speak about them with such passion is a joy, ps I think the knucklehead really is the pinnacle of motorcycles, you could ride around the world on one of those
Always a pleasure to watch your videos and to see all the cool bikes and memorabilia. Plus listening to how you explain and tell the story behind each motorcycle. A complete education every time I drop in to check WTT out!!!
I never rode an Indian with the left hand throttle. Just wouldn't even consider it back when! I always knew I'd probably wreck it and die. No, I've never wrecked any motorcycle, come close, too scary so I slowed down years ago. Many friends died so I went from fast to extreme defensive riding. Good friend had his Harley for 3 weeks and someone pulled out in front of him. He put the skids on, ended on the side and he hit the bumper at his neck. One of the times of my life other than suffering a brain aneurysm, lol. Bud would give you his last $ and had the biggest heart of anyone I knew. Dang, gotta go, the tears may flow. Great video. Keep them coming!
The really weird thing is that I actively dislike modern Harleys (and Harley rider mentality), most Indians (except the FTR), choppers, bobbers etc. My logic is simple: they are heavy outdated agricultural geriatric vibrators - and were by the 1950s. But every time I watch one of your videos, I end up not knowing which one of these crazy old things I like the most!!! Do I want the factory bike? The stripped down sports bike? The ratty rusty bobber…???👀🙄🧐😎😜🙈 It’s more than your extensive knowledge, boundless enthusiasm, skills and dedication to your amazing collection. The bikes themselves have an allure that defies explanation. Thank you for sharing. PS If I won the raffle bike, do you ship to the UK?
Thank you so much Matt, it's so interesting the beginning of customisation stripping off weight. These machines are so much more beautiful than today's machines. It's great that wheels through time is creating tomorrow's enthusiasts so these machines will still. Be around for another 120 years hopefully.
Please share the Love of the Son of God. Please write His Words in your Heart, and share them. Please Forgive, and Pray for everyone. Immanuel, God with us...
I just hope Matt that you have a child or younger family member who will carry the torch and be as passionate about preserving the motorcycle history as you are
Heading to Springfield Missouri to go pick up a 1955 pan head that my dad gave me that one belong to my grandfathers been sitting in a barn for years to resurrect the dead
Pretty wild the knowledge and detail year by year. What was attractive to the time. Certainly the excitement while your building step by step ! So appreciative for everything you bring.
I know he is like his dad, who took everything to another level. But I feel like someone from the production company told him that using his hands when he talks will make the show more exciting. But it’s too much, I feel like he took that advice too far. He wasn’t like that before he was the star. Not hating, just been around reality tv a lot. But best show on motorcycles by far, but every time there is a list , you have to count it on your fingers?
He's an encyclopedia of complete knowledge about motorcycles. Those of who have ridden and love to ride, this is an entire education. Love the channel and Wheels Through Time Museum❤
My Uncle owned a custom Knucklehead that was all chrome. Unfortunately he died in a hunting accident in 1947 after returning home from WW2 . I never did meet him, but when my grandfather was actually able to talk about him without breaking down he told me stories about his bikes, because I was interested in bikes too. Then one day he found a picture of it and his bike literally was 100% chrome . I heard that a guy from Kentucky bought it.
Your father will never be forgotten even if he had a daughter with a great looking beard like, you she would be a, top notch mechanic wheels through time this country loves what you have preserved.
You REALLY know how to put together an engine! No smoke on startup on something from the teens is just amazing - probably no engine did that back then, even brand new or just broken in.
