Those are wonderful photos, especially considering the size and quality of them. The bubble bags are a classic design. Seeing that bike in brand-new condition is incredible. Please tell us more about how you obtained the slides. And thanks for posting this. Would you mind if I re-posted the pics on some other forums?

 

I don't mind if you share them at all. To me, it's history and deserves to be shared.

I bought the bike from its second owner who only had the bike for one year when the economy crashed and forced its sale. He had known the bike his whole life, gone to school with the original owner's daughter and was friends with him. In fact, his mother got her first ever motorcycle ride on this bike with the owner's brother driving. He was almost in tears when I drove off with it in my truck. I got the slides from him along with some other stuff when I bought the bike. There are nine of them in total - these four are the best. I also got the original owner's manual and Rider Handbook. I just got around to finding somebody who could scan them onto a disk for me.

The trip to Sturgis in 1960 was important in the life of this motorcycle because somebody ran into the side of it there and crushed one of the white bags. The original owner liked the black ones better and replaced them with black because of the damage. I have since sold the black ones and the "good" white one, which was in pretty bad shape, and bought a set of white ones that are in decent shape. I still have the crushed one on the shelf in my garage as a souvenir.

The other little touch I like is that there is a St. Christopher medal attached to the handlebars. When the second owner bought it, he asked Joe (original owner) if he wanted the medal. He said no, that it had kept whoever was on that bike safe for 50 years and it needed to say right there. It will be on there for as long as I own it, for sure.

 

Great bike, great history.
Thanks

 

Sweet! Plus you still have it?

Just to be nosey and stick my nose where it dont belong I would be curious to know what you paid for it then ,, and what its worth now or what you have it insured for?

Hows she running now? Still all original?

 

The picture of me on it is from a couple of weeks ago at Antiques on Main in Chesnee, SC. It was a little over 300 miles round trip that day. Yeah, you can say it still runs.

It is priceless to me because it is my birth-year bike and a present from my wife. It ain't for sale.

 

That is all so cool! Awsome pictures and a great story.

 

Feels good to say that, don't it?

 

It does. And it is about the only thing I can say that about.

 

That's quite a remarkable find. Sweet bike.

 

I feel ya.....