The Liberator - a motorcycle at war.

[@johngarrity7777]

Very interesting, love Harleys - I have a modern Softail Deluxe. I met up with a friend of yours at Stamford Bridge a few months ago when he was having a few issues with his WLA. I was out on my new Africa Twin while noticing him broken down at the bridge so stopped to say hello and we both mentioned you. I hope your back out riding soon - maybe next summer with a bit of luck!

[@whistlinwolf]

Hi John, it was me with the fluffy capacitor in Stamford that day,nice to chat to you. Cheers Tim

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks for watching John, glad you enjoyed it. I've a couple of friends in the York area who have WLAs and WLCs, wonder who it was at Stamford Bridge. Nice of you to stop. Cheers Rog

[@old-n-Goldie]

@whistlinwolf was wondering who it could be. I know all about fluffy capacitors, there seemed to be a spate of faulty cheep aftermarket ones doing the rounds at one time. Cheers Rog

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Fascinating Stuff Rog and should be seen by more folks. Hope your recovery is back on track!

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks Andy, glad you found it interesting. I'm seeing the consultant on Thursday to see where we go next with my leg. Been following your winter service videos on the BSA, some very useful suff there. Cheers Rog

[@FelliniMotorcycle]

First rate, Rog, first rate. Excellent video.

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks very much Tim, so glad you enjoyed it. Cheers Rog

[@Lanes-Explorer5733]

Hello Rog. I hope you were able to enjoy your Christmas with family and friends despite your reduced mobility. I came across this KZbin channel which I thought may appeal to you. 'Highways and Byways with Dr John Dunn' is very much in your style - well researched and thoughtful narration. Very best wishes to you for the coming year. Peter

[@old-n-Goldie]

Hi Peter, we had a quiet but very enjoyable Christmas thanks. I am a subscriber to Dr John Dunns channel, someone recommended it to me earlier in the year but thanks for the suggestion anyway. Really like his videos, easy to watch and informative. May I wish you and your family a happy new year and hope you do a lot more lanes exploring. Cheers Rog

[@JW-ym5yb]

Great video! I would like to add that I am a child of the 60’s and where I grew up most country roads were still gravel/mud and even in the town, pop 12000, we had many gravel roads. Back in the 40’s many American riders would have been proficient at hustling these bikes on bad or no roads. Even into the 70’s and 80’s we took street bikes with street tires down gravel roads to get to out of the way places. Me I was on a HD SuperGlide doing 55 mph in the gravel. Where there’s a will there’s a way! Thanks again for the video!

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it, The motoring scene developed quite differently over this side of the pond so we just weren't used to big heavy machines. Mainly decent roads and comparatively light motorcycles bred a different mind set and style of riding. I remember getting my very first Harley, a shovelhead, back in 1993, it was a full dress 1970 FLH Electraglide and compared to my BSA A10, it was a monster and took a little while to get used to. As you say, where there's a will there's a way and I'm now quite happy with foot clutches etc. Ride safe Cheers Rog

[@JW-ym5yb]

@ An Electra Glide! You jumped right into the deep end! I found British Army motorcycle training films on KZbin dated 1942. A how to ride, advanced skills, and maintenance. Much of what is presented is still applicable. I always like to see the different aspects of motorcycling. As well as real time depictions of WWII preparations. As always I am rooting for you!

[@copper6600]

Hy Rog,who on earth would hate these sort of bikes that have such a great history.Should a katastrofy happen again we never know then i think these sort of bikes will be born again,i can`t imagine motorcycles with a heap of elektonics being used.Thanks for telling these stories they are very interesting and people who know about them are getting few🍀🍀🍀.Pete

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks for watching Pete. There certainly pretty basic and despite their idiosyncrasies and drawbacks, I've always loved them since I first saw one in the flesh in the late 1960s. Cheers Rog.

[@thesilverfoxtravels6653]

I found that really interesting Rog and well put together. Cheers. 👍

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks Nick 👍

[@Lanes-Explorer5733]

Absolutely fascinating Rog. The video I really enjoyed - you recreated the feeling of riding in wartime wonderfully well on that . What a wealth of knowledge you have and all the research you've done to show us such an important part of that period of history. Wow that siren... 😯 Brilliant. Thank you.

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks Peter, its a period I'm particularly interested in and I normally attend quite a few 1940s and wartime events with Libby and my 1943 Dodge truck. The sirens pretty loud and can only be used at low speed but does occasionally get a quick blast at events like these. Cheers Rog

[@millinutz]

What an interesting and professional production this is... thoroughly enjoyed it Rog, I was close to thinking this was a BBC docu! You've excelled yourself this time, and got me wondering what else could come next! But, knowing you, you've already got your next offering in the pipeline. Ah the good old days eh? To which many of those who experienced them will say, they were not as good as many would think. But at least the memories of them were. The human brain has the tendancy and ability to fade out most of the bad times. Thanks for the time and effort you've put into this, and as I saw Goldie in the garage background, it seemed like just 10 days ago that I had the chance to sit on her for a couple minutes😊. Stay well, greetz S. PS. You better get used to being a Roger from now on...., i've finally branded it into my pea of a brain!

[@old-n-Goldie]

Wow, thanks Steve, maybe I could get a job in TV,😂😂 then again I'm happily retired and just enjoying my hobbies, well some of them anyway. The sayings 'the good old days' and 'through rose tinted glasses' work well together. Cheers Rog

[@jim.bambury]

Excellent video Rog. I learnt a lot, thank you.

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks Jim, so glad you enjoyed it. Cheers Rog

[@cbrider726]

Love Libby what a chunk of a bike built to last . I would love to see your bikes and i see that you have a 4x4 in the corner lol. Great stream . We might get a chance to meet up one day . When your felling better . Take care mate 👍👍👍

[@old-n-Goldie]

Yes, really over-engineered in some respects but they just keep going. The trucks a 1943 Dodge WC52 weapons carrier. Be good to meet up at some point in the future when I'm back on two legs and two wheels. Cheers Rog.

[@droneon29]

Afternoon Rog, what an interesting and informative video, thanks for sharing that with us, take care ............colin 😀

[@old-n-Goldie]

Hi Colin, thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it. Cheers Rog

[@sgtLuuk]

another great video Rog! Also a nice explanation about the lighting. It's time I finish my WLA. greetings Duco

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks. People sometimes do ask 'why all the lights' when I'm out on Libby so I thought an explanation of how they were used would be interesting. I'd be interested in hearing about your WLA. Cheers Rog

[@dogpaw775]

All good stuff, thank you.

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks for watching👍 . Cheers Rog

[@chrisbland8650]

Another excellent, entertaining and informative video. The mounted camera position and watching the bike in front gave a real feeling of riding the bike as if you're watching yourself riding...I've got to stop smoking that stuff...Get well soon.😁

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks for watching Chris, glad you found it interesting and enjoyed the ride. Just remember not to go out on your real bike when you've had a smoke 😂😂😂 Cheers Rog

[@chrisbland8650]

@@old-n-Goldie 😂

[@johnnybartlett-ke9wg]

Great video and very good commentary 😊 peace bro

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks Johnny glad you enjoyed it. Cheers Rog

[@JeremyHollier]

Great stuff Roger. All the best.

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks for watching Jeremy, glad you enjoyed it. Cheers Rog

[@chrislewis4830]

yeah thats better thankyou Rog and a thankyou from all the old poor buggers that were being bombed while building the bikes in the UK. your a good man

[@old-n-Goldie]

@@chrislewis4830 my pleasure, I try to do things right if I can 👍🏻👍🏻

[@johnnybartlett-ke9wg]

In Houston TX I hade a 1936 45 with reverse, 6 v very rough ride 😊

[@old-n-Goldie]

Mines still on 6 volt but I find the ride not too bad unless you're on a particularly rough road. Bet it had a Servicar gearbox if it had reverse gear. Cheers Rog

[@timsatchell6713]

Fasinating Rog. Hope the mending is going well or better still accelerating. Thanks.. Tim

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks Tim, Afraid the leg is reluctant to mend at the moment but I'm sure it'll get there in the end. Cheers Rog

[@philipmobbs9520]

Hi Roger, just wanted to say a big thank you for all your videos this year, wish you a very Merry Christmas hopes for a healthier - more mobile New Year. I shall spend my festive break catching up on video archive. Regards, Phil 🎅

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks very much Phil, much appreciated. Glad you're enjoying my offerings and I hope you too have a merry Christmas and a great new year. Cheers Rog

[@copper6600]

Hallo Rog, just a few words to say i hope you have a Merry Christmas and i wish you a very healing New Year with the positiv feeling that all will be well again and you will be riding your bike again...Pete🌲🌲🌲💪

[@old-n-Goldie]

Hi Pete and thank you so much for your lovely comment it really means a lot. I'm sure that sooner or later I'll be out riding again, but in the meantime I'm just staying positive. Happy new year to you. Cheers Rog

[@cbrider726]

What a complicated bike to ride . So many different things to remember . How long did it take to get to grips with it .

[@old-n-Goldie]

I must admit that when I first got Libby, it did take a while to get used to her as the riding experience is quite different to normal bikes. The turning point for me was when I swapped the front brake over the the right hand handle bar and fitted the WLC clutch assist to the left. It just put things where you expect to find em and, although I rarely use the hand clutch, the fact that its there seemed to instil confidence. Nowadays, I just take it all for granted and my mindset seems to automatically swap to foot clutch hand change mode as soon as I sit on her. Cheers Rog

[@RobertCollins1945]

Great informative ramble, keep them comming. Hope you get some progress with leg soon (nut and bolt job?)

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks Robert, glad you enjoyed it. To be honest, I wish they could just bolt my leg back together cos natural healing doesn't seem to be working 😂😂 Cheers Rog

[@simongilbert2704]

very good story ,, didn't know there is so many left over here ;; not sure if i could ride one that quick off road , ;;; like those army boys , phew ;;

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks Simon. Yes, there are still plenty running about both in the UK and over the other side of the channel. Those old training films certainly make it look easy😂😂. Cheers Rog.

[@motormikeb1047]

Was never a fan of HD's.... ... too heavy... overpriced... rode mostly 650 twins over the years.... but always had a soft spot for the 45's. So, for my 65th birthday I found a very nice 42' 45 in civilian trim. Lovely machine....black, white wall tires, saddle bags.... easy to start... rolls along at a steady 50mph. Then a couple years ago I got a lead about a 42' 45 for sale at a museum in Sturgis South Dakota. It was in basic military trim, and my checking account took a hit. I finished it in Military Police era correct. If I recall the Army manual states these were only deigned to last about 5 years. These 45's are great machines.... easy to maintain... parts readily available... and very relivable. 😎

[@old-n-Goldie]

I've had a couple of big twins in the past, a 1200 shovelhead and a 1360 evo, both very heavy. These 45s are still heavy but the weights so low down they're completely different to push around and ride. I've had three now and just love em. Two I've sold to friends so still see them regularly. Totally agree with your assessment of them. Thanks for watching and hope you found the video interesting. Cheers Rog.

[@millinutz]

Hallo again 😊!

[@old-n-Goldie]

Hi Steve, you're on the ball today👍🏻👍🏻

[@millinutz]

@old-n-Goldie yep, I was on my phone and was just about to go get my jacket on, to go do my (usual) Tuesday grocery shop, as you pinged in.

[@martinowl]

A great history lesson & info on the WLA, nice one.👍

[@chrislewis4830]

i think that Harley davidson didnt really deserve that title. firstly there wasnt enough produced and as such were actually quite rare in ww2 compared to other allied manufacturers there was only 70,000 harleys produced from1940 onwards. Where as BSA m20 produced 126,334 motorcycles from 1939 onwards. Also norton produced 100,000 also matchless produced 80,000. So most of the bikes that liberated Europe would of been either a BSA or a Norton more likely a BSA m20. They also was in almost every theater of war even in africa so the title really belongs to them. It was mensioned that Americans preferred the English bikes as they were lighter and more agile and more reliable. thats why after WW2 America went absolutely brit bike crazy from there experiances of rideing them in ww2

[@old-n-Goldie]

Hi Chris, I quite agree with you that they probably didn't deserve the nickname but never the less, they got it and this is just a brief story of that particular make and model of motorcycle, not WW2 bikes in general. As I say in the video, for a number of reasons they are the must unlikely candidates for an off road DR bike and the British makes were much more suitable and rider friendly. Having owned a 43 WM20 for some years I know which I would prefer to ride in those conditions. I know that there were far more British bikes used during the war, but they deserve their own separate video. Cheers Rog

[@old-n-Goldie]

Hi Chris, I quite agree with you that they probably didn't deserve the nickname but never the less, they got it and this is just a brief story of that particular make and model of motorcycle, not WW2 bikes in general. As I say in the video, for a number of reasons they are the must unlikely candidates for an off road DR bike and the British makes were much more suitable and rider friendly. Having owned a 43 WM20 for some years I know which I would prefer to ride in those conditions. I know that there were far more British bikes used during the war, but they deserve their own separate video. Cheers Rog

[@chrislewis4830]

Your facts are wrong im afraid (American WW2 bikes produced) Indian produced 38,827 /Harley produced 70,000 (English WW2 bikes produced) BSA 126,334 /Norton 100,000 /matchless 80,000 this isnt including Triumph or Royal Enfield/ Ariel etc please feel free to check these results. there on google

[@old-n-Goldie]

Thanks for watching Chris and for commenting. Sorry if I've got something wrong, but I'm not sure what? The only production figures I give are for Harley Davidson and we both agree that 70,000 were made. I don't give any production figures for Indian or any of the British makes so which bit is wrong please? Cheers Rog.

[@chrislewis4830]

@@old-n-Goldie Hi Rog hope your well. now in your video you said that most WW2 vehicles were provided by the US which is true in most case's due of cause to the heavy bombing. But not reguarding motorcycles we clearly massively out produced them. but you didnt mesion that. which would lead people to belive that they also made more motorcycles too. thats why i said you were wrong as we produced more than them decpite the bombing. it might sound like im nit picking and i get that but im personally proud of the sheer amount of motorcycles produced under such catastropic bombing and want it to be known. Americans get enough smoke blown up there arse's without giving them this as well LOL. i hope i didnt offend you and i am a fan of yours. my brother has owened a WW2 Indian and a WW2 BSA m20

[@old-n-Goldie]

@chrislewis4830 Hi Chris, thanks for getting back to me and I totally agree with you. Firstly, I'm certainly not offended and I don't think you're nit picking, I welcome sensible discussion especially if someone disagrees with my point of view or I get something wrong. I've been riding mainly British bikes since 1967 but it was love at first sight with the WLA when I first encountered one in the flesh around 1969. I had books, photos and models of em over the years, but it was forty four years later when I finally got to own one, followed by two others. As you can tell, I'm a little biased towards these unusual machines. In making this video, I just wanted to tell a little of the story behind what is one of my favourite motorcycles. My intention was to show that they were not only used by the US but also other countries of the allied forces. Checking back through the script, I do list Ariel, BSA, Norton, Royal Enfield, AJS, Matchless, Triumph and Velocette, who were the ones that I knew supplied for the war effort and I know that they were produced in large quantities though unfortunately, I have neglected to say just how many. I then go on to say that "a large proportion of the vehicles used by the allies were of American manufacture", meaning all vehicles, but in retrospect, that could be taken as meaning motorcycles as well, which we know was not the case. Thanks for pointing this out. Although I can't add any clarification in the actual video, I've edited the description to hopefully paint a little clearer picture. Hope you'll still keep watching my ramblings. Cheers Rog

[@chrislewis4830]

@@old-n-Goldie no problem Rog. ill alway watch your vidz bud have your self a great time and yes im jealouse of your Harley as i also was of my brothers Indian. he also had a big Indian chief grrr lol but gear sticks on bikes nahh thanks.