« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Identify this bike!  (Read 2161 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Drew

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 24
Identify this bike!
« on: May 26, 2011, 11:10:40 PM »
Found this old picture of my grandfather.  I'm pretty sure its not a SOHC 4 but can anyone identifiy the bike?  Thought I should use it as my avatar.
Logged
73 CB750

Offline pdxPope

  • Hit Shit, Hat Shat, Hut Shut,
  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 490
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2011, 11:42:41 PM »
Harley Davidson WLA?


-JP
Logged
The flowers say "Let's go shopping together..."
While the unicorn whispers "...for adult toys."

Offline Deltarider

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 8,132
  • ... but some animals are more equal than others.
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #2 on: May 26, 2011, 11:45:37 PM »
Ariel?
Logged
CB500K2-ED Excel black
"There is enough for everyone's need but not enough for anybody's greed."

Offline Hush

  • Finally they realise that I am an
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 6,761
  • "Lady, I've heard it all before"!
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2011, 11:47:05 PM »
Could be an Army Indian but the forks look very like early Harley.
Logged
I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!

Offline neverendingproject

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 76
  • Making the Northwest louder one road at a time
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2011, 05:47:18 AM »
Logged
'75 CB550 K1 Cafe Project

'72 CB500 Japanese market

Offline Drew

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 24
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2011, 06:49:29 AM »
it sure does look like that Harley.  Thanks!
Logged
73 CB750

Offline Bakeoff

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 264
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #6 on: May 27, 2011, 08:39:45 AM »
Just from the age of the photo, you kinda have to guess 40's.  So, it couldn't be a Honda, since wasn't he making engine propellers for the Jap Zeros?  lol

If it isn't a Harley, you kind of have to assume is an Indian.  Most Brit bikes of that era had MUCH more narrow tanks.  And were the rest of the Japanese makers hitting US shores by then?  If so, probably much more spindly looking, like the Brit bikes.
Logged

Offline 754

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 29,058
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2011, 09:07:47 AM »
Looks like a WLA to me.
 Indians do not look like that at all.
 Was the pic taken over here? Lots of surplus 45's around after the war.
 Its not an early springer its the late one.
Logged
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Duanob

  • Bold Timer
  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,009
  • Gotcha!
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #8 on: May 27, 2011, 09:31:21 AM »
Is that a dogtag around his neck? The bike looks military to me.

Cool phot Drew do you know where it was taken? Doesn't look like the PNW, at least west of the cascades. 
Logged
"Just because you flush a boatload of money down the toilet, doesn't make the toilet worth more",  My Stepfather the Unknown Poet

1974 CB360T
1976 CB550K2 Resurrected
1976 CB550F2 Barn Find
1979 CX500 VG "HONDA-GUZZI"
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 750ie
2015 BMW F700GS
Another 1976 CB550K Cafe?

  __o
_- \_<,
(*) /' (*)

Offline kopptl

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 277
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #9 on: May 27, 2011, 10:33:26 AM »
almost positive its an early harley wla!
Logged

Offline Drew

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 24
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #10 on: May 27, 2011, 11:55:10 AM »
Its my mothers father and I always new he was a pilot but I don't know his military back ground. (He died when I was 6).  My grandfather on my Dads side had a big military back ground and I was much closer to him so oddly I haven't inquired much about my moms dad.  I'm going to try to get more of the story about the photo from her.  He died after the CB750 had been released but its still a bit ironic that we love Japanese bikes when he was fighting them not to long ago.
Logged
73 CB750

Offline turboguzzi

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,086
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #11 on: May 27, 2011, 12:19:24 PM »
45" WLA
Logged

Offline haill

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 319
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #12 on: May 29, 2011, 12:26:51 PM »
you might have some interest in this article about the bike you were inquiring about.
the link is below and the article is midway down the page posted on 5/24/11

http://southsiders-mc.blogspot.com/

regards Keith
Logged

Offline Drew

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 24
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #13 on: May 29, 2011, 01:58:56 PM »
Thanks Keith!  Cool article with incredible detail photos.
Logged
73 CB750

Offline turboguzzi

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,086
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #14 on: May 29, 2011, 02:29:03 PM »
Quote from: haill on May 29, 2011, 12:26:51 PM
you might have some interest in this article about the bike you were inquiring about.
the link is below and the article is midway down the page posted on 5/24/11

http://southsiders-mc.blogspot.com/

nice keith, but that's a knuckle head, not a WLA.... :)



regards Keith
Logged

Offline haill

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 319
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #15 on: May 29, 2011, 03:00:21 PM »
it's old green and says harley, that should be enough...
Logged

Offline Old Scrambler

  • My CB750K3 has been in 39 States & 5 Provinces
  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 3,810
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #16 on: May 29, 2011, 05:12:04 PM »
Drew..........cool pic.......you will have fun filling in the story..............enjoy your K3!
Logged
Dennis in Wisconsin
'64 Triumph Cub & '74 Honda CB750 Bonneville Salt Flats AMA Record Holder (6)
CB750 Classic Bonneville Racer thread - http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,135473.0.html
'63 CL72 Project(s)
'66 CL77 Red
'67 Triumph T100C
'73 750K3 Owned since New
'77 750F2 Cafe Project
2020 ROYAL ENFIELD Himalayan

Offline 736cc

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,724
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #17 on: May 29, 2011, 05:28:27 PM »
What year was your grandfather born? I'd guess he's about 20-22 years old in that pic, that would narrow it down.
Logged

Offline Hush

  • Finally they realise that I am an
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 6,761
  • "Lady, I've heard it all before"!
Re: Identify this bike!
« Reply #18 on: May 31, 2011, 12:48:35 AM »
Cool photos of our Dad's on motorbikes during the war. :)
Logged
I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »