206 Harley-Davidsons were competing everywhere by the 1920s, and one of the most exciting areas was in off-road exploration. On January 16, 1921, John Edwin Hogg completed the first successful motorcycle ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back out again on a Harley-Davidson model W Sport Solo. The trip took him four days to complete and he claimed to have used only 2-1/2 gallons of fuel and 2 quarts of oil and “never touched a tool to the little Sport model.” The Sport Solo itself was mostly stock. Hogg completed the Grand Canyon attempt after riding the machine from Los Angeles to Arizona.
207 What’s the best fuel mileage you’ve ever pulled on an H-D? 50 mpg? 45? Those are certainly respectable numbers, but they hardly compare to the record that John F. Greenawalt set in 1913 aboard his H-D V-twin. In the Nomad Motorcycle Club economy test that year, Greenawalt massaged 19 miles out of his bike using only 23 ounces of gasoline, which worked out to 105 mpg! He set the world record for fuel economy, beating the previous year’s record of 62.2 mpg.
208 Most automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts are familiar with actor Steve McQueen’s car- and motorcycle-collecting passion, and may even be familiar with some of the stunning vehicles that once bore his name on the title. They tend to be very beautiful and very fast. And then there’s his 1917 J with carrier that was used for transporting carrier pigeons during World War I. It’s a cool machine, no doubt, but it certainly lacks that particular McQueen brand of sexiness that his other motorcycles exude.
209 What’s the best way to get out and see the world? General Sales Manager Arthur Davidson and his wife, Clara, certainly had the right idea when they began traveling to the far reaches of the globe to promote the product and expand the dealer base. Arthur and Clara took a trip to the South Pacific in 1917 to recruit international dealers in Australia, American Samoa, New Zealand, and Tasmania. They made several international explorations throughout the 1910s and 1920s, all to increase the international reach of The Motor Company.
210 Long known as one of the best states for hunting, fishing, and general outdoor activities, Wisconsin has a way of breeding enthusiastic outdoorsmen. Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson were no exception. Remember, they originally wanted motorcycles to get to their favorite fishing spots faster. They accomplished their mission and were known to go fishing at Beaver Lake in nearby Waukesha, just outside Milwaukee, and as far away as Pine Lake, which is near Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Are either of those are your favorite fishing spots? Think of them when you ride your Harley there to catch a walleye!
211 The October 19, 1916, issue of Motorcycle Illustrated ran a blurb announcing that Danish Prince Axel was a motorcyclist. Even cooler than that, however, is that the report states that he purchased a 3-speed Harley-Davidson with an electric headlight on September 8 from The Motor Company’s Copenhagen representative, C. Friss-Hansen & Co. Prince Axel previously rode an A.J.S. long-distance, but decided that a Harley-Davidson better suited his needs.
212 On July 11, 1919, Jack Fletcher rode his 1919 Sport Model to the top of Mount Baldy (also known as Mount San Antonio), the highest point in Los Angeles County, California. He completed the 10,080-foot climb in 3 hours 42 minutes, setting a world record for mountain climbing. The total route consisted of 7-1/2 miles of loose rock and crumbling granite, and some very steep grades. According to the June 16, 1919, issue of MotorCycling and Bicycling magazine, “The trip was made without experiencing any difficulty with the machine.”
213 In 1919, “Hap” Scherer set the speed record for the New York City to Chicago run with a time of 31 hours 24 minutes on a Harley-Davidson Sport Model, 10 hours 56 minutes faster than the previous record. He averaged 32 mph on muddy, slippery roads from rain that also caused dense fog throughout the trip. Even still, Hap completed the 1,012-mile journey more than an hour ahead of schedule on a machine with a displacement of only 36 ci! Legend has it that Hap didn’t eat a single bite of food throughout the entire trip. Like Jack Fletcher’s trip, Hap had no difficulty with his machine either. In fact, the motorcycle’s primary tool kit was sealed at the starting line, and, upon Hap’s arrival in Chicago, the tool kit was still sealed. The only tools Hap was allowed to use were tire tools and a valve nut wrench (two, most likely) for adjusting the pushrods, which has to be done about every 200 miles.
214 The Sport Model, still very early in its production, was actually a failure on the showroom. “Hap” Scherer’s record-setting run caused quite a bit of fanfare in the motorcycling world. Waiting for him at the finish line in Chicago was Harley-Davidson’s advertising manager, Chicago dealer C. H. Lang, and the editor of MotorCycling and Bicycling. A “moving picture operator” was present to record the finish. Of course, Hap’s wife was also there waiting for him.
215 What do you do if you want to take the whole family for a motorcycle ride but there’s not enough room in the sidecar? Simple! Do what “Xen” Critchfield did and mount two sidecars, one on each side of his bike. Remember, many exported sidecar rigs had a left-side sidecar as opposed to the right-side fitment used in the United States. However, Xen took his double-sidecar rig to a much higher standard. He used flexible sidecars, from the Flxible Co. These undulating sidehacks didn’t become famous until 1920 when they were first used for racing. By using flexibles, he could lean his Harley side to side and the sidecars leaned right along with it! In addition to the extra sporting nature, the flexibles were used primarily so that the motorcycle could keep both wheels on the ground at all times, even if the sidecar hit in the road.
216 Harley-Davidson wasn’t just the racing motorcycle of choice in the United States; it excelled anywhere that motorcycle riders were going head to head against competitors or the clock. On December 26, 1919, H-D riders in Australia won two competition events and another set an endurance record. Claude Sainty took home the first-place trophy in the Senior Australian Tourist Trophy race in Goulborn, followed by Joe Mostyn who took first in the Junior class. That same day, Australian Fred Yott completed the Launceston-Hobart run in a sidecar in 3 hours 8 minutes, beating Erwin “Cannonball” Baker’s record.
217 In an extremely rare occurrence in cinema history, a 1929 Harley-Davidson JDH Two-Cam appeared in Disney’s 1991 film, The Rocketeer. Unfortunately, the beautiful green twin-headlight machine only has a couple of scenes when Cliff (actor Billy Campbell) rode it. Fun personal fact: my friend, Bob, who sold me my first Harley-Davidson, went on to produce the critically acclaimed 2013 film, Copperhead, starring Billy Campbell and another well-known cinema biker, Peter Fonda.
218 Motorcyclists of today might think that Howard Hughes’ 1930 film, Hell’s Angels, is about a motorcycle club, but they’d be wrong. It’s actually about the fighter pilots of World War I, in particular, a pair of British brothers who enlist in the Royal Flying Corps. In the movie, the brothers ride a Harley-Davidson J with sidecar into town to let off some steam on the eve of their top-secret suicide mission. Not only was the use of the motorcycle historically correct as to what pilots used at the time, but it also allowed Hughes to show a different side of the main characters that only a Harley with a sidecar can do!
219 The Motorcycle & Allied Trades Association (M&ATA) was founded in 1916 as a vessel through which American motorcycle manufacturers could shape the perception of the sport of motorcycling. Before the M&ATA was transitioned into the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in 1924, one of its principal goals was to improve the professionalism of all dealers to make motorcycles more relatable to the public. Another goal was to promote civically responsible riding among the riding population. This includes maintaining a safe speed, being courteous, and maintaining use of quiet factory exhaust systems. The greatest fear that the OEMs had was that motorcycling would become a cult sport and would be banished in lawful society.
220 Leslie “Red” Parkhurst, Harley-Davidson’s first factory racer, was quickly thrust into the national spotlight when he appeared in many ads for The Motor Company. He became friends with one of his biggest fans, iconic