Mosby, The Gray Ghost (aka Knucklehead)

Last year, as I was in the process of tearing the flathead apart after my failed Dixon run, I happened to take a good look at The Wizard's bikes, and his 1946 knucklehead grabbed my attention - it was the one had chosen to ride that day. I took a quick picture of it with my cell camera because it was so striking. There was just something about that bike that caught my eye. Here's the pic.

Six months later I bought it.

I didn't plan it that way, but that's exactly what happened. I had been thinking for quite awhile that I might like to have a knucklehead, I believe the knucklehead motor is about the prettiest engine Harley has ever made. When I bought the flattie I realized the frame will accept the knucklehead engine, and for quite awhile I thought of finding a knuckle motor of the proper vintage so I might swap whenever I want to. Then after I got to know Bob, I started talking to him about buying a basket case from him in "a few years", so I can build one up. Long story short, come January 2010 he had decided to move to Yuma AZ, which accelerated my plans. He started putting a 1944 basket together with an inventory of parts, which sounded pretty cool, because there were barely over 100 knuckleheads MADE in 1944. As he was digging the parts out I was getting the story for each part - where it came from, how he found it, etc. It was sounding like he was feeling a bit of nostalgia for the package, and I couldn't blame him. Bob is a builder, and he's good at it. But soon, it would be mine.

After a few weeks he was talking to our mutual friend Mike, who suggested that Bob just sell me the gray bike. It was up and running, all dialed in, and because of the move Bob would benefit from the additional cash. So, Bob called me with the proposition and within a few days he had cash in hand and I owned a gorgeous, original and very correct 1946 Harley Davidson Model FL knucklehead. After all, if I were to bring a basket case home, it may be up & running by the time I turn 70, probably too old to enjoy it. And oh, my, what a joy to ride. As it turns out I'm not the only person who thinks it's a pretty cool bike. It gets LOTS of looks, double takes and thumbs up.

It runs strong and it's very reliable. I've had a few bugs to work out and I'm sure there will be more to come. I bought it in February and I've put about 2500 miles on it since then. I've had very few problems with it, nothing I couldn't fix. I had to shim the muffler to get a tighter fit, it kept creeping back. I had to rewire the headlight internally because the original wiring was not making good contact. Oh it was very pretty wiring too, the fabric covered stuff. I need to repair it correctly one day so I'll know what's hidden in the shell.

Here's the biggest problem I've had with it so far: One day about 3 weeks ago I was riding to a bike show, and as I shifted into third on an entrance ramp I lost all power to the rear wheel. The engine was running nicely but in all gears - nothing. So I rolled to a stop and re=geared my head for a new plan. I called Bob, we chatted for a bit and decided to take a peek inside my primary. Sure enough, my primary belt had broken. So, my next call was to AAA and I got a ride home. Whatever did they do in 1946, before cell phones and AAA. It's a mystery.

Well, I got a new belt from Bob, went to Harbor freight for an electric impact wrench, and in 30 minutes I was up and running again. THAT is the worst problem I've had so far with the knucklehead. Bob did that, I am the beneficiary of his knowledge. I just hope I can keep it together.

So, what's with the Mosby name? Bob called it The Gray Ghost, and that is the name given to a gent named John Mosby, who was a Confederate raider in the Civil War. He would appear and disappear, like a ghost, he survived the war and died in 1916 at the ripe old age of 82. A famous story goes like this: He hit a Union camp and awakened a newly captured a general by smacking him on the rear. According to Wiki, the general said "Do you know who I am?", and Mosby replied "Do you know Mosby, General?". The general responded "Have you got the rascal??" and The Gray Ghost said "No sir, but he has got you!" Ah, I love that story.

So this old Harley is named after a very colorful character.