Greatest Harley Ever Made 1942 WLA Harley Davidson Junkyard find

In this video we get the rare opportunity to test drive a Harley Davidson wla WW2 motorcycle, that was previously featured on Bikes and Beards and spent the last 40 years in a junkyard, this motorcycle has a lot of history and is super fun to test drive.

#srkcycles

[jimkraft]

My first Harley was a 1942 WL civilian model with the big buddy seat and windshield. I was 14 in 1955. I rode it to a high school track meet 4 miles away and took a girl for a ride on it. We have been married for 62 years last June 1st. I am 80 now and ride a 99 Softail Custom. Have great memories of the old 45 flat head. Wish I still had it.

I started riding on Whizzer motor bikes in the late 40, s. Then Cushman Motor scooters, When I was 10, I bought a Doodle Bug. I have been on some motorized 2 wheeler ever since that first ride on a friend of my older brother let me ride his Whizzer Pacemaker motor bike.

That old 45 was a great motor. Tough as nails. Thanks for bringing back the memories.

[Thunder_Bear_mg]

I'd really like to see you and Craig freshen up the engine, clean the bike up and fix anything else to make it more functional and safe, but not a restore.

[SaddleTrampTV]

A love for motorcycles and the lack of real friends. Thought that was just me.

[terrylstarks]

True story. Back in 2000 I was passing through Santa Fe N.M. and stopped by a one man repair shop and sitting right by the old school glass counter with an old time cash register on it was one of these military bikes. Had a rifle scabbard on the front wheel and it was in immaculate showroom shine condition.
I asked the old gentleman that owned the shop if he was the one that refinished it and he said “No it was a customer’s and it wasn’t redone.” He told me the only thing that was not original was “the oil and gas.”
He went on to tell me the owner was a Captain in the army during WW 2 and when the war was over he was put on a transport ship in the English Channel that had 100’s if not 1000’s of these beautiful Harley’s sitting on the deck most brand new. So to make room for the troops they just started shoving them off the boat into the Channel!
The Captain made a deal with someone and he was told he could keep one of the bikes, but he would have to ride home sitting and sleeping on the bike until they got home. He evidently paid some privates to sit on it some of the ride home so he could get a break.
I don’t know if that story is true or not, but I’ll never forget that Thanks again for a great video!!

[mikewolf]

That's a family heirloom Don't every sell pass it down .

[Steve-eced]

Love watching these old Harleys start up. You gotta kick them 3 times, blip the throttle twice, spit on the tires and pull the choke and then they start right up.

[TJimbo]

Get the bike running absolutely perfect eg. engine, brakes, suspension etc but NO paint job....maybe a Clear Lacquer over the paint work to keep it exactly like it is and prevent more wear. Then you’ll have an awesome piece of Motorcycling History that’ll be worth not only money but pride and joy and the happiness it will bring you and your family, maybe your Great Grandkids will be tinkering with it one day keeping it running as part of the family tradition. Imagine that....cool

[RCrdparanormal]

I know it looked sad hanging up on a wall. It wasn't meant for that. It's an old man. You got to take Grandpa out for a walk every once in a while!! "Sure we can go 50 miles" might take us 2 days! But just enjoy the scenery!

[cccougars]

My Dad and I built the servi-car (three wheeler) version of that bike when I was a kid. Some of my favorite memories with my Dad are centered around that bike. Unfortunately, when I was in college, he had to sell it and there is not a day that goes by that I don't wish I could get my hands on it or another like it. I lost him less than a year ago and watching this bring back a lot of great memories. Maybe someday I will be lucky enough to get my hands on one again, until then, I will always have the pictures of that old bike.

[wallyr.]

God bless you my friend for giving that old beauty a second life back on the road. Awesome classic HD 👍🏻

[SnarfyDude]

Man, if I had the money I'd be making an offer. Not because of the antique Harley part, but because of it being Joey Chitwood's bike. My dad took me to see the Chitwood Stunt Show when I was five or six and I became fascinated by motorcycles and driving cars on two wheels from that day on. To date I've owned 39 street legal bikes and did manage to drive a Chevette on two wheels (once successfully, a bunch of times not so much).
Please make sure that bike finds a good home.

[jonnyscott]

Love to see the bike be freshened up and it's hard to believe it was in a scrap yard

[ThePapapenguin]

This may be the coolest pile of rust and tears I’ve ever seen. Thank you for sharing!

[robseneff]

Thanks man, it kills me to see bikes like these sitting in displays when they were born to be ridden. Keep up the videos like these.

[daveco]

I have a new found respect for Sean. I bought a 1964 Triumph TR6 earlier this year. Riding it home an hour and a half with the right side shift and crappy drum brakes was an experience. I can't imagine hoping on a 1942 Harley with a side shift and foot clutch and riding it home on the freeway.

[wichtt]

I have always dreamed of riding on one of the WLA, it may sound corny but something about this particular model made me feel nostalgic.
I have never ridden one but on the back of WLA it feels like home to me, with wind on my body smells of gas and ignition while gazing at an endless road that leads to the sunset that is the place where I longed to be.
I know somewhere in this world there's a WLA waiting for the day I would finally find it after decades had passed.

[Mr.Hopper]

I knew an amazing guy that was a fighter pilot in WW2. When they came home he said they got off the boat, and were told see ya later. He had no idea how to get home to texas from the east coast.... so he spent $25 and bought a WLA, and took it cross country all the way back to texas! Imagine that trip! I saw pictures of him with the bike in his flight jacket. What a guy!

[RobsRidesPA]

I have a WLA that somehow made it's way back to the States from Russia. When I got it a few years back, it still had tires on it that said "Made in USSR" on them. Pretty cool. It is now running again after languishing unloved for many many years. It is a blast to ride around the back roads of Berks County, PA.

[fwpetegld]

When referring to the clutch, it is better to say engaged or disengaged. I have a 46 Knucklehead with the foot clutch. It becomes suicide clutch when the bike is chopped and the rocker mechanism is discarded, making the pedal like a auto clutch. Sit at the light in gear, star to fall over to the left, put your foot down-then off you go into the intersection!

[slimdudeDJC]

That fact that you can run this dust bucket and still deliver a decent video monologue is astounding!