Harley's Flexi Racer

Dale's Wheels Through Time Museum, located in Maggie Valley, NC, features over 375 American motorcycles, unique cars, and transportation history.
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[@n4zou]

I become a sidecar owner in Nov 2019. I was at an estate auction and purchased an old Soviet Union military Dnepr sidecar motorcycle at the auction. At first I thought it was a Harley Davidson XA but quickly realized it was not that. The engine was stuck and so I got it cheap. I got the engine unstuck but figured out I had to take everything apart because it was built with slave labor in Kiev, Ukraine while it was under control by the communist Russians. Parts are still being made for them in Ukraine. I completely rebuilt everything and love it! I ride it everyday. It's just like riding a 1930's motorcycle and retains that WWII Dieselpunk look.

[@atcjoe1600]

Seeing and learning about these old bikes never gets old.

[@neebob2]

Did you catch that great line around 1:40 " it handles like a regular bike not a Harley " LOL . Great channel !!!!

[@martinhiggins9814]

Interesting mention of tied and soldered spokes on the sidecar wheel. When I was a youngster bicycle racer in the early seventies this was a common trick to try and stiffen up a pair of hand me down wheels with corroded spokes and also stop the spokes at the third cross cutting into each other and prolong their life.Others thought it just transfered the stress to the rim. A spoked wheel is a complicated thing, Jobst Brandt considered it to be like a suspension bridge and a cast wheel like a plank across a stream.

[@essexalien7504]

It's taken 100 years to get a patina like that it would be such a shame to loose all those battle scars ,each one tells a story 👍🏼

[@rogerfrancis65]

Yep a cost of clear and call it done.

[@dehoedisc7247]

Some of the "patina"/Corrosion is from plain old Abuse and Lack of Care. Face it, these machines now have the attention in their grave/museum that they never got in life.

[@veb6814]

I cannot imagine being in that sidecar at 80 mph ! What a cool motorcycle!! Thanks for the awesome video!

[@michaelhill7471]

I first learned of the “flexi car” some 30 yrs ago when one of the bike rags featured what I recall was a 1937 knucklehead with the flexible sidecar. I thought then and still to this day relish thinking about that setup. I don’t believe anything has stuck in my mind so long.

[@markj4066]

Matt & Dale. If you are listening. You need to produce a "History of American Motorcycles" video series. You have most of the footage already. Add what you are missing and have it professionally produced and marketed. You will be able to make enough money to perpetuate the museum for generations to come. I will be the first to buy a copy!

[@mayoroflosangeles]

love your videos. what a beautiful machine. interesting about the soldered spokes, old man always told me to zip tie my spokes so if they come loose, they don t fly around all crazy.

[@rickmaginity6042]

I would really like to see some customized bikes in your collection . Like some choppers from 50s 60s 70s . Show off so of the taletents of bike builders back then .

[@jodycarter9382]

It was called the Flxible Side Car Co. (Not Misspelled). In the 20s they started making buses, and ended in 1995 after a few ownership changes. They also started building a line of Flxible Funeral Coaches and Ambulances in 1925 and continued until 1964. Flxible was known for quality over quantity. So shouldn't it be called Harley's Flxi Flyer?

[@bradwilliams4921]

Your knowledge of Harley-Davidson motorcycles is impressive. Thank you for posting this content.

[@goatlocker1995]

T1:36 "handles very much like a regular bike, instead of a Harley" I know it was a "Freudian slip" but from an Indian owner, that was classic! :-P

[@clavo3352]

Beautiful bike and great video! May I suggest a small dry erase board you can have on a nearby easel, with the year model of the bike and other pertinent info. It sounded like a 0 degree valve timing overlap motor but by the time you fired it up I had forgotten what year bike it was. I'll go back and check. 1919 got it!

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Ingenious design almost UFO technology with the lean friendly sidecar attachment!!

[@garysmith5781]

Really cool..those guys back then were nucking futs....racing around in that side car 70-80 mph..seriously hard core dudes back then. Great video..🤩

[@zedhead2864]

I find it VERY hard to believe this channel has less than 50K subs. C'mon Guize. SHARE THE SHIT OUTTA THIS CHANNEL! Matt, a little suggestion, if I may. A remote microphone held at the rear of the bikes, when fired up. The difference in sound when the camera moves is crazy.

[@nonaeubinis7891]

" Sidecar Racing " young men always looking for new inventive ways they kill themselves lol God bless em

[@dazjams1]

Link to the 'right turn issue' now please...! Thank you for another excellent 'bike-nerd' reason why the walk isn't shoveled.

[@garyseaton4619]

Your knowledge is so far reaching. It's an absolute pleasure learning about these pieces of History. That's an incredible machine. Thank you...

[@korymanuel7158]

Love seeing these old bikes nothing better

[@bobhoe]

Love seeing them run

[@stevetaylor9265]

Wonderful piece of history

[@michaelhill7471]

Matt, you are too good. I’ve watched/ listened to too many say how they are going to start a vintage HD motor and actually do it.

[@57torg]

This is a great place to visit it would take days to see everything in detail. But I only had a couple days to see the whole place and I learned so much more that I thought I knew about the history of motorcycles. I know I'll be going back again, I just don't know when.

[@Lindleyferchel]

Thanks for the history lesson!

[@rosscoombes5605]

Love to see it raced again fantastic

[@scottarmstrong1172]

Another great video Matt. Your knowledge of these old bikes is impressive. I'll be down to see you in the spring!

[@toddk.5873]

I couldn't help but think 'What would Cliff Palmer do to that bike if he seen it today? Thanks Matt.

[@KowboyUSA]

Spiitin' fire. Sound's killer.

[@ameliasb]

Excellent and informative as always!

[@jbojason5312]

Thanks for theses videos i don’t think ill ever make it to America to see your collection and even if i did i dont think id be able to take it all in in the same way i can from your videos. I hope youtube is giving you a good enough money boost to keep you buying more bikes

[@bigangry9348]

I want to work their. The only old harley I got is my 56 pan head.

[@robertbarnes3915]

That thing sounds so amazing!!! Love it. Great Video Matt.

[@TheBustedNut]

Sounds pretty good!👍

[@gerardmontgomery280]

Oh that thing makes a lovely sound. I only recently discovered your channel but I am learning so much about bikes on the other side of the pond. It's interesting to see the difference between this and the sidecar racers at the Isle of Mann TT. They've changes so much the only thing that hasn't is the danger, especially for the monkey.

[@markschuman3615]

Great posts Matt keep them coming

[@browngreen933]

No, motor numbers did NOT start at "501" for this motor. They started at 500. The same is true for road models. Motor numbers started with "1000" and NOT 1001 like most people believe. Period factory literature clearly states that fact -- which you've got a ton of. That system lasted until 1956. Then they did start at 1001.

[@skgate]

not true.. look at his single cylinder harley video.. 1920s racer, serial number starts at 501

[@hdevo80]

Thank you from Hungary!

[@karlvanderhyde1840]

Very cool.... Love the sound of history

[@davidwood1923]

Quite an Inovative Early Machine... Thanks for Sharing

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Best bike video's ever.....Thanks very much...!

[@sparky4152003]

As always, thrilling and informative - great and thanks ..

[@robertrobb2367]

Matt, did race rules of the time limit the number of bananas the Monkey could carry? The first "Unlimited" class!

[@KLUTCHdot58]

"a few parts pivotal" Nice pun.

[@talkingrock7011]

Thanks Dale , very unique

[@freeziree]

Very unique.

[@paulpaul5606]

O my god. I live in uk. id love to go to this place. The bike are great. Lots of rust. ( Heaven )

[@scottbrown3444]

older than me! cooler too. wish i could see well enough to still be riding.good on you

[@zbruh7268]

Hello from Michigan! Interesting learn right here

[@garettanderson6772]

It reminds me of the tilting sidecar on the TV show CHiPs. I think those guys rode around snatching ladies purses, or something.

[@LuisM.Quintana]

The engineering in those days was impressive. A rigid sidecar wheel would lift off the road in a turn. To build a modern version would be very expensive, but safer in corners.

[@carljacobson8903]

If you want to watch sidecar racing look at Isle of Man TT

[@kevincarter5939]

I just watched my second video I’m hooked, great job great explanation of everything!!

[@boomerhgt]

The most deadly motorcycle race is the Isle of Man TT race ..nothing else comes even close

[@drummerdm1016]

Amazing, thanks Matt

[@Orbacron]

Someone's gotta ask.. Any haunting anomalies at the building from time to time?

[@jonnothetrucker]

Oh wow ! 😳 now that would definitely be an interesting experience!

[@cronutfloperator6599]

“Handles like a regular bike, instead of a Harley” lmfao

[@jakobw.9920]

Lovely Bike!👍

[@darrellbarnes6905]

The ole fella would be so proud of you well done! Keep it up you beauty👍🏼🍻🇦🇺

[@mikel6989]

Love these videos

[@adamakins9748]

What a difference in throttle response between this and the hill climber

[@831santacruz]

The carburetor is so high tech wow

[@hensleyshobbies-doug7761]

Fantastic Matt!

[@jeffvaughn6466]

Great job. Y'all get an attaboy from me. I need to know about that no right turn. Please and thank you.

[@MF11283]

Why do those 3 od green bikes, along with the sidecar bike, have 3 gas caps? I get some of the older bikes had separate tank halves, but whats the 3rd cap for oil tank?

[@calharris670]

I love your videos 💯

[@jmsiii4751]

I'm an old racer, and I love the motorcycle nerd stuff! But racing a sidecar? NFW!

[@CertifiedPre33]

I would love to visit this place irl.

[@djay6651]

I've seen vintage motorcycle chariot racing. I'd say that was pretty dangerous.

[@dehoedisc7247]

Seems like, with old motorcycles, that it's either Patina and Corrosion with much Decay, or it's big dollar Restoration, and not much in between.

[@donwright3427]

I used to ride trial bike with chair so I know what you mean about

[@carthrasher8022]

What's not to like about hearing that growl & bark !! Thanks!

[@rogerlawrencewhite1475]

Do any modern companies offer tilting sidecars anymore ? Last one I saw was in the 80’s on TV on an episode of CHIPS

[@glaslynx123]

I remember back in the 80's they had one here in the UK called a Sidewinder that was really small, and you could only carry luggage on it . It was classed as a "sidecar" so you got around the need for a test to ride something bigger than a 250cc, because if it was a Sidecar there was no limit on the size of the engine . Crazy !

[@rogerlawrencewhite1475]

@@glaslynx123 Thank you for the info, I’ve got research to do now. As I live in the US those models were probably never seen here, though on smaller bikes they’d be extremely useful. It’s also because here small bikes 125-250 are highly restricted, not to mention the 50cc’s never going over 30mph without a lot of work. And the majority of bikes in those classes are never seen here despite them being highly in demand across the rest of the world. Thank you again and wishing you many years of safe and fun riding.

[@tphvictims5101]

Were most MONKEYS Deaf ? Holy Mackerel.

[@bartschwartz7217]

Was this a spin off of the Europe side car racing or did it evolve around the same time with out the other knowing???

[@grokster9ontheroads174]

Got a nasty exhaust leak down the front pipe where it bends straight near the bottom

[@SamSamuylik]

If you look at it hard enough, its just a 2-cylinder motorized bicycle 🚲 (1000cc though)

[@stevenmachurick2712]

awesome channel!!!!!

[@randywest8324]

did that race happen at davenport

[@shanewright6958]

Too cool 👍👍🇨🇱

[@wickedbuggie]

What happens when you turn right

[@MegaTroyhamilton]

Back when you had to have balls to ride

[@azvoltmanphoenix446]

And no brains either......... reminds me of when i was 18.......... lol🤣

[@dukecraig2402]

"Back when"? Everytime I get on a motorcycle some idiot in a car tries to kill me, what do you mean "back when"? Do you get to ride on private closed roads? I've buried so many friends in the past 35 years from idiots in cars I don't even care to think about it.

[@azvoltmanphoenix446]

Dont be a debbie downer

[@McDylanNuggets]

Is that the stock exhaust or is it missing?

[@831santacruz]

Badass Matt

[@slavetospeed]

👏👏👏Bravo👍👍👍🏁

[@randall1959]

Why aren't all sidecars like this?

[@patrickrooney5735]

I see this to thumbs down why would you wash that and not like it if it's not your cup of tea vintage motorcycles Harley-Davidsons and such don't watch it

[@alpatriot6227]

Boy those were men in them days ! No fear!

[@JamesAllmond]

See my avatar...sidecars are how I ride. So, saying that, back in the day, if you didn't lose a sidecar monkey or two a season, you weren't trying...

[@JamesAllmond]

FLXIBL is still in business, owned by Gruman, make busses now...but name is gone...sad...

[@wjb111]

I wouldn’t be a monkey 😣