Hunting Harley's, 1947 Knucklehead original paint, Mr. Bill

Todd found this gem hiding in Kalamazoo Michigan, where it was originally sold from the local Harley dealer in 1947. With only 3 owners in it's history, Bill, the latest owner, lovingly cared for her since 1961 when he had purchased the machine from his friend who had bought her when she was near new from the original owner.

[@joebehanna5894]

What a beautiful classic harley I hope I'm able to ride my harley with my grandson when I'm 88

[@tat2ddrac]

This is awesome. Seeing a local bike on your KZbin channel is nice. I'm 20 minutes away from three Rivers and 40 minutes from Kalamazoo..

[@jimg691]

I'm 71 amd no young wiper snappers are gettin my 59 while I'm still kickin. Once I'm below ground you can fight over it LOL And yeah I still kick start it and come that day I can't It's gettin moved in my livin room so I can keep an eye on it.

[@kingdomnate6906]

Lmao that made my day

[@adamsantiago4541]

Hahaha

[@claymabry6298]

I'm pretty sure a 71 year old person didnt write this. "Kickin it", "lol" yeah if this was a person. That's 71 then there hip asf at 71

[@crackerjack8115]

@@claymabry6298 he said while I'm still kickin. As in alive......Read...

[@terrymckinch8587]

What an AWESOME bike and an AWESOME man to go with her. Good Luck, God Bless and Long Life to you both

[@bmike3000]

beautiful machine and awesome story to go with it. thank you todd for making sure we could here the story this time!

[@user-ew1hx1ye2u]

I'm not a Harley fan but the classics like this are gorgeous

[@billgonzales2339]

why?

[@laurentlaussucq1464]

Incredible piece of history in an amazing condition ! A pleasure for eyes Congratulations for his owner thanks mister...

[@BigWheelHawaii]

What a Great Story,,, and What a Great Video,,, May God and Buddha Bless This Fine Man,,, and Great Motorcycle... In Today's Money,,, I Wonder,,,, One Hundred Thousand,,, More ??? Less ???

[@darmasayoga1525]

in my country it would be around $100K

[@mcyclecollector]

Wow Todd what a find this is the holy grail and the story behind it ,makes it even better. This is a keeper. Well done.

[@jasonmonahan6301]

Man.. just amazing and inspiring beyond words

[@markanthony653]

Absolutely gorgeous. There's not much that gets me going in this old world anymore but that does good upload guys Michigan??? I ain't been there in 35 years was raised in GR 28th Street and Kalamazoo. Thank the Sweet Lord I got the hell out of there.

[@whitedust696]

That is one beautiful bike

[@ws678ta]

A man, a machine, and the memories. To pass that torch could kill that man....

[@aninja7628]

Gotta love how is guys from the mitt know how to take care of the good stuff even on them salt covered crater impregnated roads! Sweet ride

[@SoMDHarleyRider]

That just made my day! Thanks

[@Mr_Mojo_Risin]

WOW! Nice find Todd...

[@moparerrnocar]

Wow!! Such a great video. Thanks

[@farclebaba]

This guy is awesome. So is the bike, but I really enjoyed listening to this gentleman talk about his machine :)

[@robertstafford3449]

I bought a 1980 FLH in 1992 had to sell it because of yours 56 and retired now I'm going to buy one in the summer and grow old with her love the way them all the hardest Transmissions wine like that

[@h.d.mech.mortenson2098]

I'm itching to polish it up ! Nice bike Bill. Wishing you the best of health

[@jgrof2000]

I watch this at least once a week. People like Bill are so cool. I had a friend named Bill that used to let me ride an old generator shovel he bought for $2500. He rode a 47 knuckle. He took the time to teach me about vintage harleys. Anyway, that was back in the 80's. I miss that old fart. This video takes me back to that point in time.

[@HuntingHarleys]

it is most unfortunate, but I have just sold the motor and transmission out of this machine and soon the chassis.

[@jgrof2000]

Well you have to live. I hope I can meet you some day.

[@deormanrobey892]

What a beauty. And no expensive unneeded solid state crap.

[@DavidKing-jx3sg]

Gee you know how to find em .. What a time machine

[@geoman51270]

Let's make America great again, and look at it just two years later.

[@MrSideoiler]

Its great to see the older folks who love and cherish these great bikes. he obviously took care of it and used it for years,thats whats missing from motorcycling these days ,no one gives a crap anymore,they use em and move on,sad really. Great video. Ride my 66flh and its one of the most fun bikes ive owned,even compared to the new ones. Ride on.

[@L2fish]

Beautiful bike. Nice old Gentleman

[@gsb1616]

Nice to see him enjoy his bike, I hope I'll still be riding my 2017 Indian Chief Classic. I bought it when the new bikes were being delivered I believe he gave me a good deal. 2 year warranty and lifetime on the drive train. I just hope their still in business.The bike is huge they added 2 inches on the length and it's a heavy bike it just cruises down the highway. I got 30.5 mpg not bad for highway driving.

[@steelwheels327]

Nice guy & nice bike !!

[@Mazafaka77]

An interesting seat, I see this for the first time

[@arthurfreeman]

Congrats Mr beautiful motor bike

[@VoodooDewey69]

It's hard believe that's the same original nitrocellulose lacquer paint job . she's a beauty . I would find a PDR technician ( Paintless dent repair), to remove the dent from the side of the tank without harming the original paint.

[@HuntingHarleys]

Unfortunately no longer my machine

[@steveperry1344]

wicked good video, a man and his bike.

[@Westy73]

Way to respect the PO/caretaker, very classy. kudos.

[@soggypants]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL !!

[@MrEdster328]

Very nice.. You guys should def have a show on tv dude.. Why not. Cheers!

[@G56AG]

That's a beauty!

[@scootinflh]

My hat off to you Sir, much respect.

[@mcrowley8460]

You got the gal in Kalamazoo. Rest easy Bill in 2022.

[@HuntingHarleys]

I did. Mr. Bill just died? He must of been 95 plus. A pretty good run for a human, RIP

[@lakecrab]

AWESOME! Bill is in great shape and has a great motorcycle. The tank has a dent in the same place as my Shadow. Wish somebody could pull it W/O paint damage.

[@deborahchesser7375]

So awesome one in a million people take care of a bike that meticulously

[@michaelledford4751]

Theres a few of us old coots that have taken great care of our bikes,the 80s you couldn't give a knuckle or pan away ,these old OG knuckles weren't worth much ,same with the panheads,I saw hundreds of pans chopped up into fugly bobbers & choppers just thrown together on paughco frames with 2" open headers ,even shovels became nearly worthless in the 90s after the Evo had established itself ,which never made alot of sense to me seeing how weak the 88 CI Evo motors we're ,I test drove the 1993 Evo Springer ,merged onto the expressway and got right back off 3 exits later ,I thought the motor would blow the RPMs were so high & 5th gear was out of torque at 65 mph ,those of us who own original knuckles and pans try hard to keep them up but when your nearing 70 it's very difficult to keep up with the maintenance because no HD dealer will even work on a knuckle or Panhead anymore ,the 2 dealers near me won't work on anything older than an Evo and also refuse to work on the HD Buells anymore ,that leaves me with a knuckle ,a Panhead , a Shovelhead ,an Ironhead ,and 2 Buells that I had to maintain ,HD makes it very hard for us vintage owners to keep our bikes serviced ,instead they try to push new bikes on us .

[@fearsomegladiator]

Great story; I have heard of people finding old Indians and Harleys in barns as recent as 2012!

[@markrumfola9833]

1947 is awesome

[@MrEdster328]

Awesome!!! Good luck

[@ericheine2414]

A 47 with 88 Jockey Shifter. I think you yo can take this man for his word. The coolest.

[@turbomustang84]

That gentleman is a treasure hope lives to 100

[@larrytownley2231]

Beautiful !!!!

[@alaing6463]

- belle machine !

[@timurkraus8030]

Beautiful machine

[@WORRO]

Very very nice!

[@zari63]

great man great bike

[@tom-lc9fm]

"Yeah we ran then on Tractor gas" haha awesome! This guy rocks

[@GRACEORT]

Stunning machine

[@gunterm2009]

Nice bike even cooler story.

[@Victorsadventures2774]

Oh my god! You get them all!!

[@1980dandeb]

works of art.

[@whiterose7909]

Beautiful

[@joshschwartz5663]

What a bad ass bike!

[@672egalaxie6]

What a legend!!

[@frankmorris2603]

Bill's a warrior.

[@leesbo55]

This is my favorite vid. Bill is no wimp. Will there be more vids to come Todd? Ive watched them all 3 times easy.

[@gumbothundereagle8006]

Amazing 😉

[@angelomelville9084]

Just WOW!

[@GawgaCracka]

Mr. Bill you are proof that America was once GREAT...God Bless Sir.

[@DavidKing-jx3sg]

Dig the old fellas hat too man

[@denworley16]

Nice one

[@user-xw2st9lz7n]

Эстетика и мощь ,молодцы что сохранился в таком виде харлей)

[@MrDevlin350]

He bought it in '61 I couldn't imagine parting with it after almost 52 years,that would be like kicking an old friend to the curb. lol !

[@liamstandish878]

fired right up

[@richardhoyt5784]

Sweet!

[@steveperry1344]

to me, this is how a motorcycle should look.

[@travelinben1966]

Awesome.

[@harlanlinville4244]

I own a 47 FL Knucklehead and I was watching this UTube video and it blew me away when the camera scanned the VIN#, My number is 47FL10295. next one made after yours. I live in NC and my friend found it and it had 5k miles. I bought it from him and restored it. Just had to write you to tell you awesome to have the brother bike.

[@HuntingHarleys]

+Harlan Linville wow, VERY cool! Do you have pictures of the machine, before and after? email [e-mail]

[@GG-tn3mp]

I love it all original bill thriple OG biker!

[@user-io3iq1ve3d]

Крутой дед на старой Харли!

[@duggydugg3937]

magnificent

[@minoosethna4615]

I had one but a combination with a reverse gear. Wasnt the silencer a fishtail?

[@HuntingHarleys]

that's why I'm "Hunting Harleys" :)

[@detroitbloodrunsinme8194]

Where in Michigan is this guy ? I’d like to invite him to a club ride some day, love to get some photos with the brothers

[@HuntingHarleys]

This was in Kalamazoo. The video is from 2012. The machine now resides in Washington State

[@detroitbloodrunsinme8194]

@@HuntingHarleys that’s a damn shame, wish it stayed in Michigan

[@HuntingHarleys]

It was on Craigslist for a month before I bought, right there in Kalamazoo

[@bluesharp59]

Very good shape, Thumbs up liked.

[@stevekwall925]

That strange i would have never ask you that question if i knew you were going to put out you latest video.

[@HuntingHarleys]

LOL, plenty of other vids with that motor in them!

[@larrywood3833]

Nothing is more beautiful than a Harley if only women aged half that good lol

[@michaelledford4751]

Wow , now knowing Mr Bill came from my area makes me feel happy , I'm in Bloomfield Hills in the winter & Frankenmuth in the summer , what city is this Todd ? I've been on the runs he was talking about being on yrs ago but I was riding the 55 pan instead of the 36 knuckle , wish I coulda made a run with Mr Bill on his scoot , I really like seeing that trailer full of bikes behind the van , gives me hope everybody isn't ripped off by craigslist .

[@HuntingHarleys]

+Michael Ledford Mr. Bill came from kalamazoo Michigan. He was sold new at the HD dealer there. After buying the bike, I went to the dealer and confirmed it with the owner.

[@michaelledford4751]

HuntingHarleys That makes me feel good man , its nice to know there still nice original bikes in my state , I also loved seeing that man's much loved bike go to the right man . One of my greatest fears is my 55 pan , 36 knuckle & 70 shovel end up in the hands of some west coast choppers ass bag who destroys them & puts a huge rear tire & flames on them :( , I'm fairly certain I've taught my son's better though , I'm 68 now so seeing Mr Bill hold on to his till he was 88 gave me a huge smile :)

[@HuntingHarleys]

yea, really something he was able to hold onto the machine so long. Even more so, that he know all of the owners since 1st sold. Michigan is full of original machines. One of the best stocked states there is.

[@AOR_FSA]

Top!

[@claymabry6298]

Yeah you do. When you actually find one in a barn!!! Finding one in a garage is a but different

[@stevekwall925]

Todd ,What happened to this motor ? I know the rest of the bike is in your shop aka mr.Bill, But I must of missed something.

[@HuntingHarleys]

You have missed something, a few somethings' Duncan rebuilt the motor and trans saving the original patina, it has been on the "bench" for months now, waiting. The motor and transmission out of Mr. Bill is at the start of the video I just posted. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mISao6aQh7Jkh5I

[@HuntingHarleys]

as I find them, yes. right now, I am selling off all "extra machines" and not buying any.

[@VintageCycleService]

Bill N1!

[@HuntingHarleys]

bought her for myself for my 50th

[@mr.x-file3122]

WoW...#lekkah 🙌🙌🙌

[@HuntingHarleys]

that's the idea:)

[@HuntingHarleys]

prices r all over the place with this stuff

[@tomcata1467]

Cool biker with a hot little number that knucklehead from yesteryear and both look no less for wear either...

[@HuntingHarleys]

thanks! 'm trying for it

[@HuntingHarleys]

a guy just found an original paint Pan last Friday. It still happens today

[@patrickkitchens3363]

Im looking for a 81 Harley Davidson lowrider

[@nicholasyoder]

Bill is 96 now!

[@zari63]

hello i have problem with my sporster xlch 1000 model 82 oil leaking from bottom rear intake push rod can you advise me method to fix this

[@HuntingHarleys]

Buy a factory manual. Pull the pushrods out and replace the seals

[@zari63]

@@HuntingHarleys I did this replace new set of o-ring cover spring alll but still leaking

[@HuntingHarleys]

Double up the washer under the spring

[@mattanton5654]

I have a 1945 Knuckle and I noticed his knuckle has a 12 Volt system and back then they didn't have 12 volt on them knuckles but 6 volt so that being said it is not original and who knows what else has been changed on this bike

[@Gr8Layks]

Where is this bike now? Did Todd buy it from Bill? Is it still in Kzoo, Michigan?

[@HuntingHarleys]

+Anonymous The bike is still here at my shop. This is the one I call Mr. Bill. This video was taken the day I bought it

[@oldrover3007]

He parted it out , read the replies .

[@minoosethna4615]

Oh b9y, my model again but in showroom condition.

[@roberthambly9926]

OMG!!!!

[@billbright1755]

I got a gal in Kalamazoo. I’m going to Michigan.