1942 WLA Harley Davidson Motorcycle ride - Start up and Operation

[@BusterKitten]

my great-uncle rode one of those during WW2 in Europe. He ended up as "That uncle" with all the crazy stories, rough around the edges and always rolled his own cigarettes. And he continued to ride Harley Davidsons when he came home from the war. He was the one that got me hooked on the motor company in the 60s. As I watched this video my thoughts were of my uncle, and the other WW2 veterans I knew. They were a special breed.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Jim appreciate the comments! Nostalgia is definitely what I was going for and to have a little experience. My dad was a WWII vet...combat engineer. Me, I just ride the new stuff😁. Jay and I terrorized the roads back in the 80s together 🤣

[@taringbabii]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2mcZHSIh7R0jNU 2020 come back

[@thevozz]

@@georgetownmultimedia653 Love this tribute to our Vets! My dad was also an Army engineer. But he was in Vietnam in the 67TH Detachment. Good stuff man!

[@cundoandvieira9601]

Imagine the flashback that a veteran could have if he see this man dressed like a WW2 soldier riding that harley 😂 , great video pal ! 👏🏻👏🏻

[@nikolaskareem3720]

Instablaster.

[@tonys9397]

Imagine the flashback for a German veteran!

[@heinersaller5374]

@@tonys9397 haha

[@nicnic1190]

Imagine the flash back I had from my past life

[@lotnylotny671]

This motorcycle is my dream. Jay took us back to its glory days with his motorcycle. This movie is really great. Kind of like a return to the past. I like to replay this video every now and then. Greetings from Poland

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

@@lotnylotny671 he has since sold the bike but he still has a half-track. Very involved in WWII re-enactments. Appreciate the comments! I visited Poland while in the military in 1999. Beautiful country!!!

[@lotnylotny671]

@georgetownmultimedia653 I'm glad you visited Poland, but a lot has changed in Poland since 1999. In my opinion, a plus. This is not the same country anymore, without highways, without infrastructure, with "gray" Street. In Poland we appreciate the US army. I live near the air base, I see our planes exercising together with yours. Beautiful view. In Poland we also have a Harley and Indian motorcycle club. A friend of mine has a modern day Harley. However, I like old bikes like this WLA42. One day I'll build one, and I'll try to make it look like Jay. ✌️🇺🇸🇵🇱

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

@ I ride a 2010 Ultra Classic myself. I have a couple of 360 videos from here in Texas. Also took a ride in Patagonia a few years ago on a BMW with a video of that as well. Cheers!!

[@edprince9079]

Great video. Love these old Harleys. A friend gave me a WW2 manual,from1943,that covers the WLA.

[@mihaimihai9254]

I'm so glad I found this video! That's probably one of the most beautiful motorcycle footages I have ever watched!

[@natepope5677]

Your collection is beautiful don’t ever let them old machines die bubba they are a testament to a the greatest generation to ever walk this planet

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks Alex!!

[@thejester95]

I like the black and white editing, it’s a good touch

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks Jester! Kind of step back in time and gradually come back to reality.

[@RetroGaming-gp2ef]

It’s a beautiful motorcycle, painted military green with the white stars and attachments for military equipment.

[@ernieschatz3783]

Very cool to see a fully outfitted WLA! The cosplay was a bit strange, but to each their own.

[@rastroyfyah5630]

Man you looked like you just came back from the war.Great effort.. MIA/POW gone but not forgotten.

[@llyanamadeus1835]

Best video on the WLA on KZbin!! Perfectly executed starting procedure! Thank you !!!

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Appreciate it! Took us about 5 hours to shoot all of the sequences. Had Jay go through all of the starting procedures so I could get good shots. The Army TM was slightly different but overall I enjoyed the process

[@barriejones6564]

Rode a 1942 wlc for 16 years ,excellent machine ,l miss riding the old girl on the uk roads.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@russupholster8221]

Great video really captures the WWII vibe.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks Russ!

[@milesrogers8314]

My first motorcycle was a WLA. That was nearly 50 years ago. Bought two for $90 and built one good one. Bike is long gone but still have a photo.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

You ever joined one of the Harley Vintage groups on Facebook...fantastic images.

[@oscararanda6960]

What an awesome tribute to all who served in WWII

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Oscar Aranda thanks Oscar!

[@KatsudonArt]

I love how old bikes like this operate. It's a lost work of engineering art. I wish I could drive one.

[@proudpict2057]

Just cool on so many levels! Respect to all that are serving and have served in all all forces.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Proud PICT appreciate the comments! I enjoyed shooting the video. Army veteran of 22 years.

[@justinvmonti]

What a beautifully done video. Thank you for this. I am restoring this bike currently myself

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

justin monti , Jay and I used to ride bikes together back in the 80s. He’s always been about fixing vehicles. It is an awesome bike. Thanks for watching. I had a great time creating the video!

[@taringbabii]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2mcZHSIh7R0jNU 2020 come back

[@wayansudiani2197]

@@georgetownmultimedia653cl ])pppppppppppppppppppppp] Pi

[@finddeniro]

Spring Of 1945 ..Neatherlands. Lines falling So fast Motor Cycles were Doing Recon and Declaring Liberation..

[@FB-pk9ob]

Awesome!!! Thanks for posting. My Alma Mater is The Big Red 1. Fort Riley Kansas 1993-1997.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Did some work in Ft Riley last year on a Joint Assault Bridge. I’ve got some WLA posters and other images in my portfolio if you care to check them out: View my photos at: tadbrowning.smugmug.com/Portfolio-2019

[@ryanstewart1521]

Something about those bikes that get me, just so darn cool looking!

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks for watching Ryan!

[@StevenVanLoven]

perfect , just love these 45's ... one of the best ever made.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Appreciate the comments...really enjoyed making the video!

[@gilbertstuart8812]

Great video. Just one suggestion and that is that when I was taught in the army to ride a 42 wla we were shown that it was not necessary to use the clutch to change gears once you were moving. This was because there is an open spot between each gear when you can get your revs right for the change.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Gilbert Stuart great to know. I’ll pass it on to Jay. Did you ride a WLA in the Army? I’m a retired Army guy myself.

[@jaymorris3093]

I’m a newbie with the wla. I didn’t get the detailed training you received. Learning as I’m going and from great people like you giving me tips and tricks. It’s definitely not like any modern day bike.

[@gilbertstuart8812]

@@jaymorris3093 Thanks Jay but in reply to you and Georgetown I must say that I only ever did a course on the 42 wla which consisted of a couple of days when I was in the part time reserves in a transport battalion. I never did actually get to be rider in the army. However I did own one myself at one stage. A friend and I both had one each and we stripped them down to rebuild them. He completed his but unfortunately mine stayed in pieces. Mine used a lot of oil and I can still remember the vibration felt through the footrest platform. I went on one 80 mile ride and on the way home at night I could see flame coming from the cylinders where the pipes went in. It was cold and on that side my leg was warm, on the other side I tucked my leg in against the cylinders as far as I could. That was all back in the early 60"s and of course my memory is probably not spot on. On the other hand your bike looks very nice and is a credit to you.

[@dehoedisc7247]

And yet, there is nothing saved by Not using the clutch. It's up to each rider to get comfortable with his machine. The highest wear for a clutch occurs upon starting off in first gear. There is virtually no wear on a clutch when changing to a higher gear. Optional.

[@Sy7j3wdDPS]

Watching this makes me rly sad.. My dad sold his 1942 wla (it looked just like the ones in the video, im in Indonesia btw) a week before he passed away in 2020 I remember delivering the bike to the new owner itself, seeing it being rode one last time

[@hirepgym6913]

I bought 13 of those as a job lot off the Belgian Police they still used them in 1969/70 they were all 1936 HD "45"'s Hand gear change foot clutch it Tiletson carbs had to be changed the cork floats were no good. thereshould be a piece of armour plate under the sump

[@pjbaba1]

VERY NICELY DONE,I LIKE THE CLOSE UP ON THE START UP

[@netarpaljassy891]

Thise bike I had seen in caption America first Avenger Iambfrom India so I does not know to much English

[@ksekhose8933]

Oh boy caption America it is

[@georgec2126]

Just my sort of thing. You'd never get me off it! I'd just keep going! See you next year... !😁

[@gtan431]

Just brilliant...well done old chap, such a fantastic video.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks!!! Was a great day!!

[@arguswil]

Thank God your weren't under fire while starting the bike. Great video.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

🤣🤣

[@bve7397]

My grandpa had one of these! The story of it is quite sick. Basicaly his dad took in a soldier at the time, during war which was obviously quite dangerous. And as a thank you hé gave him this bike, which later passed onto my grandpa. Shame he sold the bike :/

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Bart, great story. Thanks for sharing

[@kspann6583]

Superb. From England 👍

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks so much!

[@33818ual]

Great,Great video. Thanks so much for posting. Always wanted to know how to start and shift the old tank shift bikes, you did a great job!

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

33818ual , appreciate it. To be honest, Jay is the subject matter expert. I just documented it and put the video together 😁

[@Sergejoncas]

nice to see it ride not just parked

[@nickkercheval2704]

Very cool. I like the starting procedure.

[@francescoalbertosi2241]

Spettacolare, absolutely amazing!!!

[@G.R98]

Damn riding this bloody thing without sidecar. At my first attempt I almost broke my legs. Much respect sir.

[@taringbabii]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2mcZHSIh7R0jNU 2020 come back

[@kenmorison6464]

Awesome video, very timely, tomorrow's Memorial Day. Beautiful bike, loved the black & white portion with the uniform, thanks for sharing!

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Ken Morison thanks Ken! My dad was a WWII vet. Jay is a likes reinactments and he is also a very talented mechanic. The 37 Chevy in the background was fully restored by him. I thought adding a long transition starting with black and white was a transition that took the viewers from a past time back to the present. Used to ride bikes with Jay back in the mid 80s...long time friend. Thanks for watching. I also have a similar video on my channel without the BW but has instructions on the bottom of the video.

[@mariop.9904]

Deserve much more views ! Greets from France (posted june 6 2019 for the 75th birthday of D-day) 🙋🙏

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks Mario! Appreciate your comments!

[@wayneellis1565]

I agree. I'd rather have that bike than anyone made. Thanks!

[@gcanaday1]

I love those bags!

[@jamesfrost7465]

So nice. I just received the model of this bike, Cant wait to build it.

[@adamrasmussen1839]

This is incredible. Thank you for sharing! A dream of mine to own one for sure.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Adam Rasmussen thanks Adam!

[@rockbay79]

This is the perfect "parade" bike and uniform! Really nice!

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks so much!

[@joeguzman3558]

100% the best video on KZbin

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

About 6 hours of shooting. Nikon D5, GoPros and a couple of drone shots. Unfortunately, my plan was to get more drone shots but it was really windy! Thanks for your comments!

[@tanhelmet]

BEAUTIFUL rendering. Awesome angles and details.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Appreciate it!

[@johnvandenberghe6621]

Absolutely incredible !!!.......

[@CarlosOrtega-hn1qq]

Jay Morris CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT KNOWS HOW TO KICK START A MOTORCYCLE YOU ARE A REAL MOTORCYCLE RIDER . ALL THE OTHER ONES JUMP LIKE A LITTLE GIRLS

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

He’s been riding a while! First started riding with Jay around 84...we terrorized the roads back then.

[@CarlosOrtega-hn1qq]

@@georgetownmultimedia653 yes I DID START RIDING A FLATHEAD 1962 BEFORE I LEARN HOW TO RIDE I HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO KICK START THE BEAST WITH THE LEFT FOOT ON THE GROUND TO SUPPORT THE BIKE OR YOU BRAKE THE KICK STAND, LOOK HOW SEXY IS A GIRL KICKING START A HARLEY kzbin.info/www/bejne/amS5aXZop9x8fcU AND A 12 YEARS OLD LITTLE GIRL kzbin.info/www/bejne/epmTgH-fg8p9r6s BUT A BIG MAN LIKE THIS IS RIDICULOUS kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioeXd4V_qsyqmLc

[@gideoncohen3427]

Thanks sir for sharing your video clip .Realy masterpiece /You make my day-I am overwhelemed

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@greggoodes]

Lovely!

[@싱겁이]

이게 딱 저의 스타일인데.... 멋집니다.. 항상 좋은 날만 함께하시길 기원합니다...

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

싱겁이 Thank you for watching!

[@daveross7]

Excellent video, thank you.

[@steveperry1344]

serious looking army guy on his nice machine.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

steve perry , Jay does a lot of WWII reinactments.

[@steveperry1344]

@@georgetownmultimedia653 nice, must be fun.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

steve perry , he and his wife both do Re-enactments. Many times they take the half-track to events. He let me take it for a spin 😁

[@britvacations9937]

Great videography,, thanks for posting

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Brit Vacations thanks for watching! Really enjoyed putting this together. About 6 hours of shooting. 😁

[@iansalmon1662]

Informative and a great tribute.

[@tedykrisnapati2924]

New swing arm is very good service for old device . Engine is hot 💯🤙🤙🤙

[@dehoedisc7247]

Great military WW2 ride with authentic gear, I just would like to see that Stewart Warner speedometer in working order. That soldier depends on equipment that is fully functional.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Yes, Jay was still trying to get a Speedo at the time we made this. Good eye!!

[@humanityalive3]

Love this bike 😍

[@flinkostememniakgrant1266]

I played with servi-cars of that era, in the 70's, love the simplicity and strength

[@charlesramos5914]

He looks like he just came out of a time warp! Awesome to see! Now we just need the German counterpart.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks Charles!

[@usabadone]

Thanks for the ride. 👍🏻🇺🇸

[@Paul20661]

Woah

[@Rossplanet]

Very well done video. Professional quality.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks Neil!! Appreciate it! Took about 6 hours of shooting. Nikon D5, GoPro 6 & a DJI Mavic Pro...little too windy for the drone footage I wanted.

[@Rossplanet]

It would take more than six hours just to storyboard this film. You could develop the plot and add music and make a full feature.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

@@Rossplanet didn’t have a lot of time...just a weekend visit to an old friend. Hadn’t seen the bike until the day we began shooting. For the most part, unscripted. I had Jay go through the entire startup process and then filmed individual actions. Road trip was about 6-7 rides with a GoPro set up in different locations to show what he was doing. Appreciate all the comments! Jay also does WWII re-enactments on a regular basis and also has a half track. The 37 Chevy pickup in the video he restored about 15 years ago...all original.

[@shaquillemanagement1799]

like the ritual when starting that old bike

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

I have another video on my channel that explains the process with captions on the bottom as well. Thanks for watching!!

[@Rossplanet]

Zen experience

[@shaquillemanagement1799]

Georgetown Multimedia now i have my own ritual with bsa m20

[@Walkercolt1]

I owned one rigged for a sidecar, no front brake at all. I guess in WWII even on "good roads" they rarely exceeded 45 MPH if that. I know mine was "too exciting" to ride above about 50 MPH. I've seen two fireflies mating put out more light than the factory "headlight" without the black-out shield. They were about the original "dual-purpose" bike, as they were ridden on dirt or in mud much more than on roads. My late Brother-in-law rode one in the Signal Corps as a messenger I believe. It wasn't good duty at all. Messagers are always targets, and he got in a very unpleasant situation he wouldn't or couldn't talk about. He did say the MP's in France usually got Indians. It's been more than a half-Century since I had "My first and last Harley-Davidson". Never dreamed I'd write that.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Ricky Earp awesome story! Thanks for sharing!

[@taraishot100]

Damn those bikes still look great they were ahead of their time

[@joeguzman3558]

I can see this video over and over

[@Ghost-jy8lh]

It's sad that the veterans in Brazil are all forgotten...

[@theotterguy]

Not true, I just watched a movie called road 47 about Brazilians in WW2. It made me start reading more about Brazil's role in WW2. I'm Canadian I get the same thing, our countries' history sometimes get forgotten and pushed back in the background of the bigger countries.

[@dave99887]

Beautiful video.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thank you!!

[@jstephenallington8431]

Perfectly awesome! I want one!

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

I think it is for sale.

[@Busywave]

Man I love motorcycles!

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Me too! 😀

[@ghostdelay6770]

Perfect bike.

[@sidwalker6902]

Do it again, do it again, do it again!

[@andressimonsierrasilva6971]

Wait a second on this bike the cultch is placed left foot and the gearbox managed by hand?

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Pretty much...hard to ride

[@lewsoltis5142]

Great video! Nicely done.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Lew Soltis appreciate it.

[@10ampsloblo21]

sounds awesome looks great I want it real bad

[@RaneSachin]

Very classy video.

[@Rebecca40111]

What a cool bike

[@michaelkay3565]

There the coolest scooters

[@adaptableadventurerider]

Thanks for posting!! Greetings from England.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks Mate! Glad you enjoyed the video

[@RMM1983-ec4pg]

Once I threw my jacket on the seat like that and about 10 minutes later my bike was on fire due to the jacket touching the hot pipes. Thankfully I got it out fast but the jacket was toast and it burnt a chunk out of the seat.

[@klebersampaio282]

Ronco da Haley Davidson e lindo desde 1942 😍

[@fikriblaze9861]

Beautiful bike

[@user-is2qj1iy2w]

Very nice

[@dodysetyawanp6590]

Legend...

[@o9rgeronimo979]

I had one when I was 15..mine was a wla .some were cla.i think w was Wisconsin and the c was Cleveland..mine was 1942..45 cubic inch 55 was about fast as it would go.7 pounds of pressure per cubic inch in the jug.bullit proof dependability.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

tadbrowning.smugmug.com/Portfolio-2019/i-DvLMmGN Link to my poster I made...good overview.

[@o9rgeronimo979]

In the 80s my dad was big into collecting military surplus vehicals...he had a mighty mite jeep.afew powerwagons and a wwl era duece and a half.one day I was looking at the paper newsletter with all the stuff to bid on was. You had to buy the whole lot ..no partials divided..400 45 cu in Harley Davidson in crates ,will probably need wires and tires and seat .dad said no.might sound crazy now to pass but at the time.....thanks man

[@rexazulunam1]

Magnificently

[@dillonsnyder1172]

Gorgeous machine.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Dillon Snyder thanks!!!

[@brunoecklund9580]

Amazing motorcycle

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Thanks Bruno!

[@neilgooderham4027]

Good way of keeping the mileage low, with the speedo not working. Beautiful bike

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Neil Gooderham , yeah, Jay has been trying to find an original speedometer for a while. Appreciate the comments!!

[@dankim7527]

So cool

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Daniel Kim thanks!!

[@andymorningstar2828]

Where did you get the boots?

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Not sure where Jay got his boots.

[@OkieBobby]

Sweet motorbike. Let's hear more about the boots!

[@cesarch5533]

Excelente lo mejor de lo mejor.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Muchas Gracias!

[@stag.3526]

What a delightful video! Thank you for posting it, surprised how quiet those WLAs were. Great cinematography (even drone work, nice job!)... enjoyed the "Twilight Zone" morphing of the modern guy going in, and emerging as a WWII GI. On a minor sidenote, motorcyclists (then and now) either tucked in their bootlaces, or double-tie them (ot both) as a safety precaution...just sayin'. Keep up the great work!

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Glad you enjoyed it! Had planned on having a lot more drone work but there was a 25mph wind most of the day. You can see from the last drone shot just how windy it was, my drone was getting pushed all over the place, lol Took about 6 hours to shoot!

[@Rossplanet]

They chattered like sewing machines. They were metal to metal...no belts.

[@IkanGelamaKuning]

Cap would be proud.

[@chadwright7614]

Your a legend and you bike is legendary thx I love 💙 love old old iron you made my day thx for keeping it oldskool

[@six-pack1332]

Very cool.

[@charlesrocks]

Broken speedometer Lol yep that’s a Harley alright

[@Eds.salazar]

the grandchildren will know what it is to ride in history bb

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Great comment! Thank you!

[@Epitome63]

Love the bike.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Epitome63 the serial number on this bike puts in having been in the battle of the bulge. Jay still has a couple of things he wants to restore on it but it really runs beautifully!

[@Epitome63]

@@georgetownmultimedia653 Wow. That is awesome. It looks like it is located quite a ways from me. Too bad, I would love to see it.

[@georgetownmultimedia653]

Epitome63 Jay is located in Southern Illinois. I traveled there to see him. An old motorcycle buddy of mine from the 80s 😊

[@Epitome63]

@@georgetownmultimedia653 That's my luck. I was guessing Ohio from the geography. I live in eastern VA so a long way.

[@Okke-j2n]

Bravoo. Cheers from ITALY