I think this is the most excited I have been for a youtube video to come out. I have really enjoyed your series so far, and I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the 77' seeing as it's my first foray into the world of Harley Davidson, and I have had fun whipping it into riding shape.
Chris, that's about the nicest thing anyone's ever said about my videos: thank you mate. It is so encouraging to hear that someone really likes my work. Thanks again. :-) As it happens, episode 5 is out this evening (GB time, GMT +1), so you can get excited all over again! I only get to 1973/4, so episode 6 will be 1977. Thanks again Chris, you're most kind. Cheers, Chris
Hi Chris, how are you sir? Another great video from you. When I bought my 1977 XLH1000 Ironhead Sportster new back then I could've bought 3 Export Triumph Bonnevilles and got change back. As I told you before, I still own it. Both my Sportster and my mates 1975 XLH (which he bought new and still has it) are AMF Sportsters and both of us are proud that they are AMF machines and in some small way we helped to save HD buy buying them. In our opinion if AMF had not bought HD back then they wouldn't be here now. Keep up the good work Chris. Cheers, Sky.
Morning Sky - nice to hear form you again, and many thanks for the kind 'good work'. I agree about AMF. The takeover was a positive thing for Harley in the end. (Although we can never know if the alternative (Bangor-Punta) would have been good or bad.) I love it that you and your mate still have your old Iron Heads - that's how it should be: proper Harley heritage! So, yes, you two did help save Harley. (In fact, I'd contact Jochen Zeitz 'cos I reckon he owes you...) I am excited about looking at the next episode, but it's going to have to wait a while as I've got life, and stuff, going on here. Still, I am enjoying the project, even if it half kills me at times. But, I suppose, that's what the Bulldog Spirit is for.. Cheers Sky, Chris
I love this documentary. It's pretty meandering , more like a stream of consciousness, but very interesting. And no rider - no dude anyways - could possibly object to Kiera Knightly on a Ducati. Nicely done
Well, thanks for the encouragement, erm, Mr Wind. It means a lot to me when people appreciate my efforts, so thank you again. I will keep be 'keeping up the great work', but I will have to pause these history videos for a couple more months as I'm focusing on the Triumph stuff: there's just a lot going on with my Speedmaster at the moment. But, fear not, episode 5 will be coming, just not today... 🥺 Thank you again sir - may I call you 'Desert', or 'Wind' or something else? Cheers, Chris
Afternoon Esr - nice to hear you have such a new Sportster. They were getting rare by 2020. The 48 is a looker - though when I rode one, that ridiculously small tank really got on my nerves! (The suspension was uncomfortable too - is yours stock?) Still, a great bike. Thank you for being so complimentary about the videos - they are a huge amount of work so it's nice to see appreciative viewers: thank you! Cheers, Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 Hi Chris, Yes mine is pretty much stock with a compete Stage 1. I love my 48, even the good looking tank. Then, I really like to throw her around as I live in eastern Belgium where we’ve got plenty of small twisty roads. Last year I went to Spain and back. No issue. Cheers, Emmanuel
Wow Emmanuel - I'm mightily impressed that you've toured on a 48 - good on ya'! (I found it painful to ride for long, and the tank range left me frustrated.) Still, the engine is wonderful - especially a Stage 1 - so I imagine it was great fun for you. Cheers, Chris
At 6:19, the Suzuki s40 boulevard is a 652cc or 40ci "cubic inch" single and not a 400cc. It used to be called the Suzuki savage, LS650. Suzuki changed all their cruising bikes to the name "boulevard" with an S, C, or M, for Sport, Classic, or Muscle, followed by the engine size in cubic inches. S40, M50, S83, M109 to name a few. I guess boulevard sounded nicer than savage or intruder. 🤔
Morning Happy - thanks for the comments (& subscription!). Thanks for the pointer too. I hadn't realised the Suzuki numbers were CI. Never occured to me (but sounds obvious, now that you say it...)! I was also confused about the Boulevard lettering, but lo!, you're there to learn me good. 😊 All makes perfect sense now - thank you. I was aware of the Savage, my era really, but I didn't realise it was re-branded to the Boulevard, so thanks again. Amazing what you can learn on the interweb, innit? I've always wanted to try a big, old thumper like the Savage (or S40, now). I used to own a VX800, the same engine as the Intruder M50 (or M800 here), but I didn't like it too much, although it was a perfectly good bike. I think I'd have done much better with an Intruder. Anyway, thanks for the pointer mate. One day I'll update the caption, but I've got too much stuff at the moment. Cheers, Chris
Hi mate I am enjoying the episode about customisation . I currently own 4 Harleys an Ultra classic evo,twin cam fat bob, 883 and 1200 sporties. Unsurprisingly the 883 has 18" Apes and a flames paint job in the world and the 1200 is a trike . Another reason why sportsters one of the best bikes they lend them selves to personalisation so wonderfully . Hope you manage the AMF years , I know a lot of people love to have AMF but they did keep the brand alive when many a marque had to die before rebirth Triumph,BSA and AJS to name but a few . Just a thought keep up the good work looking forward to seeing your next thoughts . Kind regards
Hi Lee - thanks for saying that you enjoy these histories. It's very much appreciated, thank you. I have now started work on episode 5, but it's a huge amount of work so I don't know when it'll be up - maybe a month or so? AMF did make mistakes, and certainly the head-honcho at the end was 'an accountant' or 'bean counter', rather than the sort of CEO the whole enterprise needed. But, as you noted, under the (massive) AMF umberella, H-D progressed massively and, ultimately, it was the AMF money & drive which enabled the buy-out team to succeed. Without the AMF initiatives, Harley would have been in even more difficulties. Nice that you have an Evo - these are my favourite Harleys. And I love the idea of a Sportster trike: maybe, oneday, it'll be for me too... Cheers Lee, Chris
Great ending! Can't wait to see what happens next! Those early Sportster sales numbers were pretty dismal. Then in the late 1960s things really took off. I myself saw The Wild Angels in 1966 at a kid and was thrilled. In 1970 I brought a little Honda 160 and then rode tn to California and back at age 17. In the Black Hills a guy touring on an XL with a "Sportster" embossed on the primary cover rode next me for awhile. It was the coolest motorcycle I had ever seen. When I got back I bought a junked 48FL Harley and 8n 1971 built a chopper in my dad's garage. You should look into The Wild One 1953 movie's influence on motorcycle culture in both USA and England. That was the real triggering event. Much more so than Hollister. It would make a great larger cultural exploration that you do so well.
Hi Brown - good to hear from you again. I've not seen 'The Wild Angels' (not least because it's not got the best reviews...!), but I will look it out as it's become a bit of a 'grungy classic', so to speak. I have seen The Wild One (which is much more enjoyable than 'Easy Rider'), but in Britain it had no impact at all - 'cos it was banned. Thank you for complementing my 'cultural exploration': it is something I feel passionate about and work hard at - so many thanks again Brown. Cheers, Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 I think you're wrong about that. Although restricted, The Wild One was still widely seen in Great Britain. It was a huge influence on the Rockers generation. Check into it deeper.
Hi Brown - well, according to IMDb, the film was 'banned' until 1968. I grew up in the 1970s and never heard of 'The Wild One' - but 'Easy Rider' and 'The Great Escape' were top of the motorcycling hit-list. I suspect that if the film was available here before 1968, it would have been so 'restricted' as to be throttled to death. Either way, the film had no impact at all on me and my young motorcycle friends of the day. And, by 1968, the days of the classic British 'Rocker' were coming to an end. Honestly, 'The Wild One' had no impact here, and even today, it's not mentioned in general historical motorcycle context. (Unless very esoteric - like this one focusing on the Sportster.) Sorry Brown, but I'm digging in on this one! Still, it's nice to talk to you again. Cheers mate 🙂 Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 Maybe you're right. But at some point some Rockers adopted the black leather jacket Brando look including the Skull backpatch. Other Rockers looked like ordinary motorcyclists. Even here in the USA the Wild One took time to influence youth culture through James Dean, Elvis, etc. Plus there was also the Forbidden Fruit factor about the Wild One in England. Couldn't some of them have hopped the Channel and seen it in France or the Netherlands? But you living there obviously know more than me. Here in USA it was a huge influence. Maybe it wasn't there. In fact one source the leather jacket look in England came from war surplus Nazi U-Boat leather gear. The uncertainty is why I find it interesting.
Morning Brown -Noting that 'Rockers adopted the black leather jacket Brando look including the Skull backpatch' is a very interesting point. I had not focused on the skull bit, but it is an iconic element. I'll have to look into it. I imagine several people might have crossed the channel to view banned films, but given the general austerity of the day, it would never have been many (or enough to make a difference). War surplus is bound to be significant, though US stuff would have been more prolific (I imagine). And the Nazis were well presented, weren't they? Nice talking to you again Brown. Cheers, Chris
As someone who was born in the United States in 1959 I lived through all this “non-motorcycle” history. I was watching this as a long time fan of the Sportster but you took a cheap shot at a hard time in the United States. I’m clicking off this video as soon as I get done typing this message. British bikes were half the cost and that’s what they were worth.
@@chrisoftheot6272 what did race relations in the USA have to do with a history of the Sportster? Somehow “the left” tries to make every single aspect of our lives about race. If you had really done your research you would have known there have always been “people of color” involved in the motorcycling history in our country. Why no mention of that? Didn’t fit your narrative? STICK TO THE SUBJECT!
Great video series! Me personally would have enjoyed it more if there was a tad more about the Sportster. Only about a quarter of the video's are about the early XL and the rest about the rest of the motorcycle world & Harleys troubles at the time? Still interesting though! I've personally owned quite a few of them. Currently have a 57 and a 68 both stock.
Afternoon Rich - thank you for the positive note. I hadn't 'done the maths' to work out that only about a quarter of the content is specifically Sportster - interesting to read that stat! My aim is to tell the Sportster story, whilst emphasising (as strongly as I can), that this story - ANY story - happens in context. As I've said before, the Sportster did not 'appear out of nowhere'; nothing does. So I am keen to describe the wider history, here and in America, because that history shaped the Sportster. And, occasionally, that Sportster helped shape history... a bit. I'm very glad you're 'still interested though'! The next video will be a while as I've got life and stuff going on, but please hang in there. And, you have a genuine 1957 Sportster? Wow! How did you come by that? (And, how much?!) That's a special possession, to be sure. Also, is that a phone box from an early Sim City in your thumb ID? Thanks again Rich, Cheers, Chris
Ok- I’ve owned and ridden Sportsters since 1968. The idea that Sportsters were some sort of social statement of the times is 100% nonsense. It wasn’t anything like that. If anything, the popularity was due to all the biker movies, well before East Rider. Ever see The Wild Angels? Hell, I was there, you weren’t.
Hi - I assume you're writting from America. I've covered the 'biker movies' in previous videos - though not The Wild Angels as I've never seen it. I'll have a look at some point. But since that film is 1968 - the Sportster had been around, and the 'best bike in the world' - for a decade, that film cannot account for the Sportster's popularity. (The same for Easy Rider.) I agree with your observation about film being so influential on 'social statements' though. But, again, the most successful, earlier influential films promoted Triumph more than Harley so even they didn't influence the Sportster. Anyway, then as now, a motorcycle is most certainly a 'social statement'. Why didn't you buy a Chevrolet in 1968? Cheers, Chris
Morning Freyatilly (interesting name tag - what's that about?) - I envy you on many levels! I wish I'd been able to meet Fred. Some gents on the Harley forums have fond memories of him. I still think the Warr's history would be a great thing to record but, alas, Warr's were not interested in me writing it. (Story of my life!!) Cheers, Chris
I really enjoyed your presentation; however, I am compelled to point out that "scooter tramps" and hippies were NOT aligned as it relates to the Vietnam War or Racism. There is famous video content of Sonny Barger of the Hells Angels smacking war protesters. The black creators of the choppers in Easy Rider still have not received proper credit. I live in Northern California and was 17yrs old the "Summer of Love". Check out David Mann paintings and count the Triumph choppers. Hippie bikers rode chopped Triumphs. Bad boys rode Harleys.(Discounting the TV series, "Along came Bronson"). Motorcycle riders fiercely rejected the societal label of "biker". The term "Hippie" was a journalistic label. Thank you for your video !!
Afternoon Mpista - thanks for commenting. I agree that Clifford A. "Soney" Vaughs, and Ben Hardy didn't really get the credit they deserved for creating the iconic Easy Rider choppers. But, as I mention, at least Peter Fonda did acknowledge them and their contribution years later. It's a start! Cheers, Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 You're welcome. The hippies and bikers were like the little birds sitting on rhinos eating bugs as it came to the use and sale of drugs. Philisophically however they were very different. Janis Joplin for example was aligned with the Angels whereas the Mama and Papas were all in the hippie scene. At the outdoor concerts I attended the bikers always grouped away from the hippies often armed with revolvers and holding meth. The hippies were usually armed with guitars and flutes stoned on LSD lol sorry for the ramble Thanks again for the post I truly enjoyed it
Cool name, mate. It is a 'motorcycle video'. But, as I've said before, motorcycles do not appear out of nowhere because bikes, like everything, are a product of history. (And, as I've also said many times before, history is the most important subject in the world because it contains ALL the other subjects...) Thanks for watching and commenting Chris. Cheers, Chris
I think this is the most excited I have been for a youtube video to come out. I have really enjoyed your series so far, and I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the 77' seeing as it's my first foray into the world of Harley Davidson, and I have had fun whipping it into riding shape.
Chris, that's about the nicest thing anyone's ever said about my videos: thank you mate. It is so encouraging to hear that someone really likes my work. Thanks again. :-)
As it happens, episode 5 is out this evening (GB time, GMT +1), so you can get excited all over again! I only get to 1973/4, so episode 6 will be 1977.
Thanks again Chris, you're most kind.
Cheers,
Chris
Hi Chris, how are you sir? Another great video from you. When I bought my 1977 XLH1000 Ironhead Sportster new back then I could've bought 3 Export Triumph Bonnevilles and got change back. As I told you before, I still own it. Both my Sportster and my mates 1975 XLH (which he bought new and still has it) are AMF Sportsters and both of us are proud that they are AMF machines and in some small way we helped to save HD buy buying them. In our opinion if AMF had not bought HD back then they wouldn't be here now.
Keep up the good work Chris. Cheers, Sky.
Morning Sky - nice to hear form you again, and many thanks for the kind 'good work'.
I agree about AMF. The takeover was a positive thing for Harley in the end. (Although we can never know if the alternative (Bangor-Punta) would have been good or bad.) I love it that you and your mate still have your old Iron Heads - that's how it should be: proper Harley heritage! So, yes, you two did help save Harley. (In fact, I'd contact Jochen Zeitz 'cos I reckon he owes you...)
I am excited about looking at the next episode, but it's going to have to wait a while as I've got life, and stuff, going on here. Still, I am enjoying the project, even if it half kills me at times. But, I suppose, that's what the Bulldog Spirit is for..
Cheers Sky,
Chris
I love this documentary. It's pretty meandering , more like a stream of consciousness, but very interesting. And no rider - no dude anyways - could possibly object to Kiera Knightly on a Ducati. Nicely done
Thanks for the kind words, I so appreciate the encouragement. Me, and Kiera.
Cheers,
Chris
Fantastic series so far. Keep up the great work.
Well, thanks for the encouragement, erm, Mr Wind. It means a lot to me when people appreciate my efforts, so thank you again.
I will keep be 'keeping up the great work', but I will have to pause these history videos for a couple more months as I'm focusing on the Triumph stuff: there's just a lot going on with my Speedmaster at the moment.
But, fear not, episode 5 will be coming, just not today... 🥺
Thank you again sir - may I call you 'Desert', or 'Wind' or something else?
Cheers,
Chris
Great Sportster documentaries. I own a 2020 48 and love dearly how she rides and looks.
Afternoon Esr - nice to hear you have such a new Sportster. They were getting rare by 2020. The 48 is a looker - though when I rode one, that ridiculously small tank really got on my nerves! (The suspension was uncomfortable too - is yours stock?)
Still, a great bike. Thank you for being so complimentary about the videos - they are a huge amount of work so it's nice to see appreciative viewers: thank you!
Cheers,
Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 Hi Chris, Yes mine is pretty much stock with a compete Stage 1. I love my 48, even the good looking tank. Then, I really like to throw her around as I live in eastern Belgium where we’ve got plenty of small twisty roads. Last year I went to Spain and back. No issue. Cheers, Emmanuel
I have watched your Sportsters docs. If I had the money I’d love one from 64 …
Wow Emmanuel - I'm mightily impressed that you've toured on a 48 - good on ya'! (I found it painful to ride for long, and the tank range left me frustrated.) Still, the engine is wonderful - especially a Stage 1 - so I imagine it was great fun for you.
Cheers,
Chris
Morning Emmanuel - why the 1964? What do you especially like about that year?
At 6:19, the Suzuki s40 boulevard is a 652cc or 40ci "cubic inch" single and not a 400cc. It used to be called the Suzuki savage, LS650. Suzuki changed all their cruising bikes to the name "boulevard" with an S, C, or M, for Sport, Classic, or Muscle, followed by the engine size in cubic inches. S40, M50, S83, M109 to name a few. I guess boulevard sounded nicer than savage or intruder. 🤔
Morning Happy - thanks for the comments (& subscription!).
Thanks for the pointer too. I hadn't realised the Suzuki numbers were CI. Never occured to me (but sounds obvious, now that you say it...)! I was also confused about the Boulevard lettering, but lo!, you're there to learn me good. 😊 All makes perfect sense now - thank you.
I was aware of the Savage, my era really, but I didn't realise it was re-branded to the Boulevard, so thanks again. Amazing what you can learn on the interweb, innit? I've always wanted to try a big, old thumper like the Savage (or S40, now).
I used to own a VX800, the same engine as the Intruder M50 (or M800 here), but I didn't like it too much, although it was a perfectly good bike. I think I'd have done much better with an Intruder.
Anyway, thanks for the pointer mate. One day I'll update the caption, but I've got too much stuff at the moment.
Cheers,
Chris
Hi mate I am enjoying the episode about customisation . I currently own 4 Harleys an Ultra classic evo,twin cam fat bob, 883 and 1200 sporties. Unsurprisingly the 883 has 18" Apes and a flames paint job in the world and the 1200 is a trike . Another reason why sportsters one of the best bikes they lend them selves to personalisation so wonderfully . Hope you manage the AMF years , I know a lot of people love to have AMF but they did keep the brand alive when many a marque had to die before rebirth Triumph,BSA and AJS to name but a few . Just a thought keep up the good work looking forward to seeing your next thoughts .
Kind regards
Hi Lee - thanks for saying that you enjoy these histories. It's very much appreciated, thank you. I have now started work on episode 5, but it's a huge amount of work so I don't know when it'll be up - maybe a month or so?
AMF did make mistakes, and certainly the head-honcho at the end was 'an accountant' or 'bean counter', rather than the sort of CEO the whole enterprise needed. But, as you noted, under the (massive) AMF umberella, H-D progressed massively and, ultimately, it was the AMF money & drive which enabled the buy-out team to succeed. Without the AMF initiatives, Harley would have been in even more difficulties.
Nice that you have an Evo - these are my favourite Harleys. And I love the idea of a Sportster trike: maybe, oneday, it'll be for me too...
Cheers Lee,
Chris
ABSOLUTELY....in the long run AMF saved Harleys assss
Great ending! Can't wait to see what happens next!
Those early Sportster sales numbers were pretty dismal. Then in the late 1960s things really took off. I myself saw The Wild Angels in 1966 at a kid and was thrilled. In 1970 I brought a little Honda 160 and then rode tn to California and back at age 17. In the Black Hills a guy touring on an XL with a "Sportster" embossed on the primary cover rode next me for awhile. It was the coolest motorcycle I had ever seen. When I got back I bought a junked 48FL Harley and 8n 1971 built a chopper in my dad's garage.
You should look into The Wild One 1953 movie's influence on motorcycle culture in both USA and England. That was the real triggering event. Much more so than Hollister. It would make a great larger cultural exploration that you do so well.
Hi Brown - good to hear from you again. I've not seen 'The Wild Angels' (not least because it's not got the best reviews...!), but I will look it out as it's become a bit of a 'grungy classic', so to speak.
I have seen The Wild One (which is much more enjoyable than 'Easy Rider'), but in Britain it had no impact at all - 'cos it was banned.
Thank you for complementing my 'cultural exploration': it is something I feel passionate about and work hard at - so many thanks again Brown.
Cheers,
Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272
I think you're wrong about that. Although restricted, The Wild One was still widely seen in Great Britain. It was a huge influence on the Rockers generation. Check into it deeper.
Hi Brown - well, according to IMDb, the film was 'banned' until 1968. I grew up in the 1970s and never heard of 'The Wild One' - but 'Easy Rider' and 'The Great Escape' were top of the motorcycling hit-list. I suspect that if the film was available here before 1968, it would have been so 'restricted' as to be throttled to death.
Either way, the film had no impact at all on me and my young motorcycle friends of the day. And, by 1968, the days of the classic British 'Rocker' were coming to an end. Honestly, 'The Wild One' had no impact here, and even today, it's not mentioned in general historical motorcycle context. (Unless very esoteric - like this one focusing on the Sportster.)
Sorry Brown, but I'm digging in on this one! Still, it's nice to talk to you again.
Cheers mate 🙂
Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272
Maybe you're right. But at some point some Rockers adopted the black leather jacket Brando look including the Skull backpatch. Other Rockers looked like ordinary motorcyclists. Even here in the USA the Wild One took time to influence youth culture through James Dean, Elvis, etc. Plus there was also the Forbidden Fruit factor about the Wild One in England. Couldn't some of them have hopped the Channel and seen it in France or the Netherlands? But you living there obviously know more than me. Here in USA it was a huge influence. Maybe it wasn't there. In fact one source the leather jacket look in England came from war surplus Nazi U-Boat leather gear. The uncertainty is why I find it interesting.
Morning Brown -Noting that 'Rockers adopted the black leather jacket Brando look including the Skull backpatch' is a very interesting point. I had not focused on the skull bit, but it is an iconic element. I'll have to look into it.
I imagine several people might have crossed the channel to view banned films, but given the general austerity of the day, it would never have been many (or enough to make a difference).
War surplus is bound to be significant, though US stuff would have been more prolific (I imagine). And the Nazis were well presented, weren't they?
Nice talking to you again Brown.
Cheers,
Chris
Pratt's in Greenwich were official HD dealers, what has social injustice have to do with the Sportster ?.
Ask a female rider; or a black rider; or a gay rider...
@@chrisoftheot6272 they were barred from riding a Harley Sportster ?.
As someone who was born in the United States in 1959 I lived through all this “non-motorcycle” history. I was watching this as a long time fan of the Sportster but you took a cheap shot at a hard time in the United States. I’m clicking off this video as soon as I get done typing this message. British bikes were half the cost and that’s what they were worth.
Morning John - thanks for taking the time to comment. What was the 'cheap shot' that you mention?
Cheers,
Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 what did race relations in the USA have to do with a history of the Sportster? Somehow “the left” tries to make every single aspect of our lives about race. If you had really done your research you would have known there have always been “people of color” involved in the motorcycling history in our country. Why no mention of that? Didn’t fit your narrative? STICK TO THE SUBJECT!
The British bikes had terrible Lucas electronics. Nightmares.
Great video series! Me personally would have enjoyed it more if there was a tad more about the Sportster. Only about a quarter of the video's are about the early XL and the rest about the rest of the motorcycle world & Harleys troubles at the time? Still interesting though! I've personally owned quite a few of them. Currently have a 57 and a 68 both stock.
Afternoon Rich - thank you for the positive note.
I hadn't 'done the maths' to work out that only about a quarter of the content is specifically Sportster - interesting to read that stat! My aim is to tell the Sportster story, whilst emphasising (as strongly as I can), that this story - ANY story - happens in context. As I've said before, the Sportster did not 'appear out of nowhere'; nothing does. So I am keen to describe the wider history, here and in America, because that history shaped the Sportster. And, occasionally, that Sportster helped shape history... a bit.
I'm very glad you're 'still interested though'! The next video will be a while as I've got life and stuff going on, but please hang in there.
And, you have a genuine 1957 Sportster? Wow! How did you come by that? (And, how much?!) That's a special possession, to be sure.
Also, is that a phone box from an early Sim City in your thumb ID?
Thanks again Rich,
Cheers,
Chris
Ok- I’ve owned and ridden Sportsters since 1968. The idea that Sportsters were some sort of social statement of the times is 100% nonsense. It wasn’t anything like that. If anything, the popularity was due to all the biker movies, well before East Rider. Ever see The Wild Angels?
Hell, I was there, you weren’t.
Hi - I assume you're writting from America. I've covered the 'biker movies' in previous videos - though not The Wild Angels as I've never seen it. I'll have a look at some point.
But since that film is 1968 - the Sportster had been around, and the 'best bike in the world' - for a decade, that film cannot account for the Sportster's popularity. (The same for Easy Rider.)
I agree with your observation about film being so influential on 'social statements' though. But, again, the most successful, earlier influential films promoted Triumph more than Harley so even they didn't influence the Sportster.
Anyway, then as now, a motorcycle is most certainly a 'social statement'. Why didn't you buy a Chevrolet in 1968?
Cheers,
Chris
That is the best sounding harley motor.
Hi William - I'm sure you're right, but I can't remember the last time I heard a 1960s Sportster running.
Cheers,
Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 doesn't have to be from the 60s. Any ironhead cracked wide open.
Got my 1st harley from Fred in 1988.
Morning Freyatilly (interesting name tag - what's that about?) - I envy you on many levels! I wish I'd been able to meet Fred. Some gents on the Harley forums have fond memories of him. I still think the Warr's history would be a great thing to record but, alas, Warr's were not interested in me writing it. (Story of my life!!)
Cheers,
Chris
I've got to take a leak. Hopefully this guy will be talking about Ironheads by the time I get back. Otherwise....
I really enjoyed your presentation; however, I am compelled to point out that "scooter tramps" and hippies were NOT aligned as it relates to the Vietnam War or Racism. There is famous video content of Sonny Barger of the Hells Angels smacking war protesters. The black creators of the choppers in Easy Rider still have not received proper credit. I live in Northern California and was 17yrs old the "Summer of Love". Check out David Mann paintings and count the Triumph choppers. Hippie bikers rode chopped Triumphs. Bad boys rode Harleys.(Discounting the TV series, "Along came Bronson"). Motorcycle riders fiercely rejected the societal label of "biker". The term "Hippie" was a journalistic label. Thank you for your video !!
Afternoon Mpista - thanks for commenting. I agree that Clifford A. "Soney" Vaughs, and Ben Hardy didn't really get the credit they deserved for creating the iconic Easy Rider choppers.
But, as I mention, at least Peter Fonda did acknowledge them and their contribution years later. It's a start!
Cheers,
Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 You're welcome. The hippies and bikers were like the little birds sitting on rhinos eating bugs as it came to the use and sale of drugs. Philisophically however they were very different. Janis Joplin for example was aligned with the Angels whereas the Mama and Papas were all in the hippie scene. At the outdoor concerts I attended the bikers always grouped away from the hippies often armed with revolvers and holding meth. The hippies were usually armed with guitars and flutes stoned on LSD lol sorry for the ramble Thanks again for the post I truly enjoyed it
Thought this was a motorcycle video mate.
Cool name, mate.
It is a 'motorcycle video'. But, as I've said before, motorcycles do not appear out of nowhere because bikes, like everything, are a product of history. (And, as I've also said many times before, history is the most important subject in the world because it contains ALL the other subjects...)
Thanks for watching and commenting Chris.
Cheers,
Chris
sadly i couldnt watch all of this , dude's voice sounded too depressing, sent me to sleep
Oh Keira--- on desmo ss OMFG...... STOP IT STOP IT!!!! ITS JUST TOO MUCH