Author Topic: NGC found this photo of my grandfather whats he riding (Read 2527 times)

Johncolleary · « **on:** April 13, 2018, 07:58:36 PM »

Anybody have an idea what he's sitting on I don't have a year for the picture either. Unfortunately he is no longer with us so I can't ask him

SmithSwede · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2018, 08:37:31 PM »

Neat photo. No idea about the bike.

Daniel Kalal · « **Reply #2 on:** April 14, 2018, 08:29:38 AM »

Quote from: Johncolleary on April 13, 2018, 07:58:36 PM

Anybody have an idea what he's sitting on I don't have a year for the picture either.

John, I'm not at all knowledgeable on these things, but at first glance--to me--it looks like an old Harley-Davidson Servi-Car. Your grandfather is sitting on a bike that's straight up (the photo is tilted just a bit) and his feet are up. A quick image-search of old Servi-Cars shows the same detail on the handlebars that looks like a gusset of some kind (not really sure what it is). I didn't see anything with that distinctive front fender, but there you go. I could easily be way off the mark. Good luck!

John A · « **Reply #3 on:** April 14, 2018, 08:38:15 AM »

First thing I noticed about the bike was the large front tire so that supports a Servi Car

Lannis · « **Reply #4 on:** April 14, 2018, 08:38:51 AM »

I'm going to guess it isn't a Servi-Car for three reasons:

1) They didn't start making Servi-Cars until the early '30s, and this bike looks older than that.

2) Servi-cars weren't typically bought by the general public - it was all police departments and small businesses that bought one instead of a TT truck for deliveries.

3) I just don't see any Servi-car rear end there. Old Harleys of the time had a swing-down rear-wheel stand clipped to the back frame to stand the bike up on - I think the bike is on one of those.

I'm going to guess a model JD Harley from the late 1920s ....

Lannis

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #5 on:** April 14, 2018, 08:53:10 AM »

I don't know what the bike is but he better get his front tire changed soon.

Daniel Kalal · « **Reply #6 on:** April 14, 2018, 09:59:53 AM »

here's a snippet of a ServiCar

This is my father's 1928 Harley-Davidson JD. He owned it when he was fourteen, but the bike was older than he was, and probably considered mostly junk at the time.

The photo shows the rear axle center-stand that has been mentioned. It's safe to say that H-D didn't change things too much over the years.

Do you have any background on your grandfather's photo? Was it even his, or could he just be sitting on a friend's or the delivery man's bike? Chances are good that any real H-D vintage enthusiast would be able to ID this thing pretty quickly.

JACoH · « **Reply #7 on:** April 14, 2018, 10:55:57 AM »

I don't see anything at the rear to indicate it to be a 3 wheeler/servi-car. I think that something may be leaning up against the fence on the right side behind him. That front end doesn't match the Harley forks either. But, I have no idea what it may be.

oldbike54 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2018, 11:12:28 AM »

Could be an Excelsior .

Dusty

KiwiKev · « **Reply #9 on:** April 14, 2018, 03:04:07 PM »

Front mudguard / fender is an unusual shape and must be the best clue ? No idea what it is though.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Aaron D. · « **Reply #10 on:** April 14, 2018, 03:34:29 PM »

Lots of ServiCars in private hands when I was a kid, most getting turned into "choppers".

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #11 on:** April 14, 2018, 03:39:07 PM »

I know some guys that can ID anything.. maybe tomorrow we'll know.

Lannis · « **Reply #12 on:** April 14, 2018, 08:04:17 PM »

Quote from: Aaron D. on April 14, 2018, 03:34:29 PM

Lots of ServiCars in private hands when I was a kid, most getting turned into "choppers".

EasyRiders did a feature on a Servi-Car chopper, never will forget it. Had a long springer front end, peanut gas tank, K&Q seat, all the usual 70's chopper stuff.

The best part was that it had a pair of huge drag-race tires on the back that looked like oil drums ... and the article was specific in that the 45" engine had been cleaned up and chromed, but was otherwise stock!

I don't know what people thought a Servi-Car engine WAS; maybe people thought that ALL Harley engines were rip-snorting, ground-pounding, asphalt-rippling monsters that would spin a pair of drag slicks on pavement. This chopper would have been lucky to be able to spin those tires if the rear end were jacked up off the ground and on blocks ... a NEW Servicar had about 23 horsepower .....

Lannis

Socalrob · « **Reply #13 on:** April 15, 2018, 03:59:43 AM »

Whatever it is, that bike certainly put a great smile on gramps.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #14 on:** April 15, 2018, 06:36:31 AM »

I was afraid of that..

Quote

"We're going to need a bigger picture."

trippah · « **Reply #15 on:** April 15, 2018, 09:00:52 AM »

My eyes are too old, sorry can't help. Looks like Grampa Kirk was going for maximum millage on that front tire.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #16 on:** April 15, 2018, 10:14:39 AM »

A reply..

Quote

FRom the clean bars and wide tyre, my primary guess would be Indian but, without a better pic, I wouldn't bet

snipped.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #17 on:** April 16, 2018, 06:03:08 AM »

From the world's best

historian..

Quote

Blew it up myself a bit. No leaf spring front suspenders, so probably not Indian. Forks look more like 1920s HD. Sorry, that's the best I can do, unless there's a better scan.

EldoMike · « **Reply #18 on:** April 16, 2018, 06:26:19 AM »

My vote is HD Jd

News:

Author Topic: NGC found this photo of my grandfather whats he riding (Read 2527 times)

oldbike54