Video 2 The Bikes

[@whitehurstcomic]

I only saw a few episodes of Then Came Bronson. Like most commentators, I longed for the day I’d have my own motorcycle. My parents were not fans of them and wouldn’t let me have one. 62 now and have had one since 1986. I still ride my 1986 FXWG. I enjoy getting all your takes on the episodes I’ve never seen. Thanks!

[@buickman4878]

Thanks for your comments! And thanks for watching!

[@bandicoot5412]

I missed Star Treks for misbehavior but I never missed, "Then Came Bronson," thank you!

[@buickman4878]

You behaved well on Wednesdays! Thanks for watching!

[@buickman4878]

Funny! Thanks for watching!

[@dabprod]

I was riding a 1967 BSA 650 chopper in Orlando FL in '69 when this hit the TV.

[@buickman4878]

That's cool! Thanks for watching!

[@buickman4878]

That's cool! Thanks for watching!

[@796andy2]

i was on trophy trail 500 chopper !!

[@gonzalorodriguez4218]

I Watch the show every week when a I was a kid I tell my friends about the show they never saw or remember the show,and watching that’s how I started to ride motorcycles first bike was a Honda 50cc,and my father surprise me with a Yamaha 175cc 1973,keep bike for long time have some friends who ride HD at the time now I am 66 years old still riding motorcycles currently ride a Indian motorcycle.

[@buickman4878]

That's a great story! Good for you! Thanks for watching!

[@buickman4878]

That's awesome!! Thanks for watching!

[@robnewlee1787]

Sorry, I don't know where any Bronson bikes are. I did see one at the same museum as you did, but closer to '79 or '80. The placard next to the bike claimed it to be built by Ventura Harley-Davidson. Don't know if it was in the show or just a reproduction.The Show TCB was a huge influence on me and the reason I loved Harleys at a young age. In 2010 I was in Jackson Hole, Wy. As I pulled into a gas station, on my Harley, five Bronson bikes appeared. They were there for a reunion of TCB filming in the area. I couldn't believe my eyes! They were all good guys and we talked Bronson for 15 minutes or so, before I had to leave. Thanks for the video.

[@buickman4878]

If you were in Jackson Hole with the Bronson guys, I was there too! Thanks Rob for watching!

[@FrankBonessa]

As comprehensive a video I've ever seen on any subject, let alone my favorite subject. Thank you.

[@buickman4878]

Thank you for the kind words and thank you for watching!

[@FrankBonessa]

@@buickman4878 My pleasure.

[@dwaynegoforth3246]

Great information and well done. I enjoyed this very much. I have been a fan of Then Came Bronson since watching every episode during the original airing.

[@buickman4878]

Thank you Dwayne! Me too!

[@curtislund8322]

Wow you deserve a lot of credit getting all these details of the bikes, NICE JOB! I always liked this show but had no clue about the bike Bronson rode. All the clips and photos tell the story about the bikes and how they filmed the show. You did your homework and created a gem for all the fans of this show.

[@buickman4878]

Thank you so much for watching!!

[@buickman4878]

Thank you so much! and thanks for watching!

[@martincvitkovich724]

Enjoying teh series, I hope you enlighten us on the Bronson Rock repair techniques

[@buickman4878]

Keep watching Martin, I do discuss the rock. Thanks for watching!

[@TheJeffreyDisney]

Loved the TV series. Thanks for keeping the memories alive!

[@buickman4878]

You bet! Thanks for watching!

[@sheldonhchambliss1385]

Thank you for this posting

[@buickman4878]

You bet! Thanks for watching!

[@Wootangtw]

Awesome… I watched that show every week when I was a kid…. I’d roll up a quilt and put it on the handlebars of my mini bike…thanks buddy…

[@buickman4878]

That's cool! Thanks for watching!

[@techreviews.heretoday.gonetomo]

Yes. Same here. I visited the Cars of stars & Planes of fame" Museum in Buena park California. (They are no longer there) in 1972 or 73. There was a Bike displayed that said on the bottom "Bronson's Bike" Being a fanatic of the show, and going on to own two Harley's including a Red Sportster, I couldn't resist. I had to sit on Bronson's bike..what ta thrill !.. LOL

[@buickman4878]

I stepped over the velvet rope and looked at the speedometer/odometer, a little over 2000 miles on it.

[@srkwixdraw]

I recall the Bronson bike from the Cars of the Stars and Planes of Fame museum. The aircraft portion of that museum split off and is now based at Chino airport. Perhaps contacting them might provide some means of tracking where some of the auto side of things went. One of the Bronson bikes was destroyed while making the episode titled “The Forest Primeval” iI was employed at Harley-Davidson of Fullerton, which handled the West coast test fleet bikes for HD Motor Co. The tumble down the slope in that episode really wadded up that Sportster. I was given the job of salvaging the useable parts off of that bike and believe me, there were very few.

[@buickman4878]

Great story and thank you for the information and for watching my video. If you have any ideas on how I can track down an original Bronson bike ,please let me know. Thanks!!!

[@mikedurning6562]

we grew up with him we never forget

[@buickman4878]

Yep

[@jamesreilly7932]

Yeah got that show here in Ireland, never missed a episode, definitely contributed to my love of Harley's, would love to build a replica.😊

[@ernieroberts56]

Im glad you are posting these videos. It would be so difficult for anyone to do this. It would be a book I would buy.

[@buickman4878]

Thanks Ernie. I would buy a book as well!

[@John-ls2gp]

Never missed an episode. They called me Bronson in jr high '69-71. 1976 bought a new XLCH orange as I thought that was the color of his bike based on the album cover. The bike a 1000cc AMF electric start only, while fun to ride around town was a piece of junk. '77 found myself at the Carlsbad motocross race, they announced Michael Parks was was at the starting line with a flag to start the race, although I didn't spot him. I was on my sportster that day. I enjoyed this immensely, thank you so much. By the way those smaller cc bikes never fooled me for a second😅. Interestingly enough I test drove a Bonneville 750 twin before my purchase, that was the only bike Triumph made at the time. There's one just like it in the "Riders on the storm" Doors music video.Whew!

[@buickman4878]

Cool story! Thanks for watching!

[@hondachopper6978]

Thanks for the memories. I had the model.

[@buickman4878]

You bet! I had the model too! Thanks for watching!

[@gordonemoore]

I worked for Bud Ekins at his Triumph dealership in the early '70s. There was another camera bike sidecar outfit built from a 500 Triumph with a Harley-Davidson tractor-style solo seat mounted backwards over the front wheel. I think it was used in the Bronson show and I rode it at Saddleback Park during the filming of 'The Thing With Two Heads' movie.

[@buickman4878]

That's very interesting! Do you happen to know where any of the original Bronson bikes might be or who I could contact? Thanks for watching!

[@donaldleavy4379]

Just WOW.. I was 9 years old & My Dad Had A BRAND NEW Electra Glide.. But All I Wanted .. at 9 yrs WAS A 69 900 Sportster.. still do fer that matter.. Micheal Parks Was Truly A Class Act..God I Miss Those Days…I’ve had several H-Ds .. the 69 900 is elusive. At best

[@buickman4878]

I know exactly how you feel! Thanks for the comment!

[@SAM-gy7ep]

Thank You For Sharing 🇺🇲

[@buickman4878]

Thanks for watching SAM!

[@garyedwards3269]

Great info! Always wanted to know the background on the motorcycle. I bought the 'Then Came Bronson' vinyl album way back when it first came out after becoming a fan of the show.

[@buickman4878]

Thanks for watching Gary!

[@scvandy3129]

Very informative. Almost everything one could hope to know in just over 9 minutes. I'm a big fan of the pilot and the series (more so than bikes), so this was an unexpected pleasure. All who've seen "TCB" producer and "Star Trek" TOS associate producer Robert Justman reminisce informatively on the "Star Trek" TOS Blu-ray and DVD bonus tracks and specific series-related books realizes how sorry we are that no one at MGM or Warner Archive thought to get his "TCB" accounts on video for a bonus track on their release of the pilot / movie. Surely long-sought, precious information would reach a vast, appreciative audience. I'm 'preaching to the choir here,' but what would it take for Warner Archive to restore and release the 26 episodes, to a ready market? Thank you, Buick Man.

[@buickman4878]

Thanks!

[@TomBrown-z3q]

Didn't Bud Ekins do the bike jump in "The great escape" ?

[@buickman4878]

Yes, he sure did!

[@B25gunship]

I used to watch this show religiously when I was in the Navy in the late 60's. Part of what got me hooked on bikes. Over the years had some Japanese bikes and lots of Harleys including 2 Sportsters. Still riding at 74 years although now on 3 wheels. Very informative video. Anyone know that music at the end?

[@buickman4878]

At the end of my video or at the end of each episode of the TV show? My music is free on my editing software. Long Lonesome Highway was written by James Hendricks and sung by Michael Parks.

[@B25gunship]

@@buickman4878 Thanks for response. At the end of video.

[@buickman4878]

Thanks for watching!

[@B25gunship]

I watched your entire series over the weekend and have just a couple of weekly episodes left to watch. My personal favorite of the weekly shows is the Keenan Wynn vintage bike episode. My favorite of your series is your recent build of the Bronson bike from the 76 blue Sportster. Your attention to detail is superb and is what makes the difference. Such as the various heights of the front fender and passenger foot pegs. You're lucky to know some guys that can fabricate also. The fat rear wheel I think looks fine and doesn't detract from the look. So what if it's left side shift. The rest of the bike is so well done it doesn't matter. The only time I ever drove a right side shift I almost wrecked. Your background knowledge of the series and movie is fantastic. Thank you for posting this series. It made my weekend much more enjoyable between the raking of all the leaves. I'd still like to know more about the background music you used in your videos.

[@buickman4878]

@@B25gunship Thank you Harry for watching and all the kind words. I did try to be as accurate and factual as possible. I use an editing software called Filmora by Wondrshare. and they have a list of free music you can choose from for back ground. The one I use is called The Wanderer. Maybe you can google all of that and learn more. By the way we both have the same last name, spelled correctly!

[@ernieroberts56]

I've watched the video 2 times now and I realized something that it made me less stressed out. Knowing that I can’t go to wrong reproducing my bike

[@buickman4878]

Don't worry, I have stressed out for the both of us trying to build as accurate replica as I could.

[@gerardlacey9384]

Brilliant thank you so much!, imagine finding a genuine Bronson bike!. G.

[@buickman4878]

Thank you Gerard! I have imagined many times and have tried to find one.

[@alpacker2741]

I liked the show and the bike I even bought an old '69 XLCH later I rode a customized '63 Triumph Bonneville up the Coast Highway then headed east a coupla thousand miles home. On the way I learned why the old Limey riders called the guy who ran Lucas Electric "The Master of Darkness".

[@buickman4878]

Thanks for watching!

[@thatsmrharley2u2]

Lucas was "The Prince of Darkness".

[@bill2953]

1968 I lived a block from Bud Ekins' Triumph shop in Sherman Oaks, CA. One of his mechanics was later to become off road legend Bobby Ferro. If I recall they charged me like 15 bucks to tune up my '67 Daytona 500 and they had the bike running like a top.

[@buickman4878]

That is very cool! Thanks for watching!

[@bill2953]

@@buickman4878 Sure thing you did a really good piece of work there.

[@buickman4878]

@@bill2953 Thanks!

[@peterloosigian7295]

Great video! Keep it up please!

[@buickman4878]

Thanks Peter! What would you think the next video should be about?

[@kyleblackman5183]

Thank you

[@buickman4878]

Thank you for watching!

[@joehiatt1992]

Never missed an episode,years later bought a 75 sportster ,my friends had a 74 & a 76 ,but traded mine in long time ago but friends still have theirs sitting in the garage,now I have busa & 14r sportbikes now , surprising why they dont replay these since they do all the other old shows

[@buickman4878]

Interesting story. Thanks for watching!

[@billsmetal]

Great Job.. I know when we were at Buddy Stubbs Harley for the 45th anniversary, we asked him how many bikes they had on set. I don't remember what he said..?? But I do remember that he said it was hard to know for sure, because he would have some in his shop to keep repaired, and there would be some out on location. He told us that the film crew had their own mechanics but he let them use his shop, while they were filming in Arizona ... Here's a little bit of the video that Mike took. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooG1aX-AoMmIhJo

[@buickman4878]

Thanks Billy! I don't think anyone knows for sure anymore.

[@ernieroberts56]

Do you have any information about why the sissy bar was shortened from the long one that is first seen in the movie? The second seen that we see the sporster in the sissy bar is about one third the original higth.

[@buickman4878]

I asked Birney Jarvis if he knew and he didn't. I have two theories. 1. If you recall Nick/Martin Sheen tells Jim to "buy the bike back Jim" which leads you to believe that Bronson owned the bike first, sold it to Nick and then bought it back. Nick put the tall sissy bar on, Bronson didn't like it and changed it when he bought it from Nicks widow. B. Choppers with tall sissy bars were popular back then and someone thought it looked cool. Bud Ekins may have decided that he couldn't do any of the stunts he needed to do and changed it. No one knows for sure.

[@Brokesville]

the Cobra seats were made in Tujunga Ca by Leo's later to become Bar Enterprises. both companies are gone now. Bud was a friend of Leo and the seats were model S2 and special made thick ones made first for Parks as he had Hemorrhoids. the series made my fathers company take off. Got to sit on a few of those bikes, for a 14 year old that was it have had street bikes the past 56 years.

[@buickman4878]

I thought they were Bar seats! Thanks and thanks for watching?

[@tomryan9854]

Buddy Stubbs HD Cave Creek Rd. Phoenix, AZ. Has a real used on show Bronson bike in there museum.

[@buickman4878]

I reached out to them and sorry but they had a replica that was on loan from a fan in Texas.

[@legalmexican]

There was a movie?

[@buickman4878]

Yep! Thanks for watching!

[@basaraj]

outstanding

[@buickman4878]

Thanks for watching!

[@sheldonhchambliss1385]

I never seen the movie lol didn't know there was one on then came bronson

[@buickman4878]

You can buy the theatrical release movie on Amazon for under $20. Thanks for watching!

[@sheldonhchambliss1385]

@@buickman4878 ok thanks

[@timgibbons905]

Do you have the episode where Bronson plays guitar and sings in a hippie coffeehouse?

[@buickman4878]

Sorry, Bronson never played the guitar in a hippie coffeehouse. But he did sing along with and partnered up with a guy that played the guitar for a contest in a bar That episode number 16 called A Pickin' An A Singin" Thanks for watching!

[@timgibbons905]

@@buickman4878 thanks buickman4878.

[@leetrotboswell6273]

Wow I was wrong for many years . I always was led to believe there was 8 + bikes ,was never sure about that cz I guess i assumed it was a rapido or a baja . I remember a article in a magazine about Michael Parks donating his bike from the show to a school to auction off it wasn't red anymore it had a early 70's custom paint job on it . Never heard about that bike again.

[@buickman4878]

That bike was a fund raiser for Michael Parks daughters school in California. It was black and not one of the bikes used in the TV show. A women in Pennsylvania won that bike and I believe she still has it in the family. Thanks for watching!

[@leetrotboswell6273]

@@buickman4878 thank you looking forward to watching all your videos, it was a great time we had easy rider , then came Bronson and a year or so later on any Sunday how could we not be motorcycle enthusiasts.

[@buickman4878]

I agree, I watched all those too!

[@neilstern7108]

You should talk to Jay Leno. Hitched to California cus of this show. But went over the GG bridge in a moving truck.

[@buickman4878]

I tried reaching out to him but no luck. Thanks for watching!

[@peterlepore2726]

there is a radio interview with michael he said he was given them all i dont think he lie about it he did say he gave them away hang in there

[@georgegriffith7263]

AMF didn’t take over till 1973

[@buickman4878]

When Did AMF Buy Harley-Davidson? In the year of 1969, the AMF corporation (American Machine and Foundry) originally took over production of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

[@joehovanec1985]

AMF bought Harley in January 1969. The bikes were built in Milwaukee through 1972. The York, PA plant stated producing Harleys for 1973 models. The first bike they built was a 1973 Sportster, painted metallic blue. I don't remember if it was an XLCH or XLH.

[@johnstocker6728]

My first bike 69 Sportster Kickstart Magneto xlch baby. Yes Panda Torrance just like the bike

[@buickman4878]

Very cool! Wonder where that bike is today. Thanks for watching!

[@hondachopper6978]

I had a '66, what a bear.