1946 FL Knucklehead - Red'46 Bobber

The bike still runs it's original chrome Springer frontend, and the custom handmade front fender and hidden support system remain intact. The rear fender is typical of the day. It's a Hydraglide front fender reverse mounted in true '50s style with hidden rear struts. The rims are stock chromed H-D. A Firestone Racing 400 front and a Firestone Sportsman 500 rear tire were used and are correct for the period.

Atop the Springer frontend are vintage Flanders 3.5-inch risers holding the Helling's Buck Horn handlebars and the Flanders English quarter-turn throttle. An Arrow 5-inch headlight and a custom hand-fabricated tunnel taillight illuminate the road. A nice addition was the custom cooling ring mounted on the stock front drum brake setup and the stock drum type rear brake to help slow the bike.

The gas tanks are the original 3.5-gallon type with a shifter gate for the tank-mounted hand shifter. An original chrome stock Cats Eye speedo is nestled between the tanks. The pegs are also homemade, as are the foot-controlled suicide clutch and rear brake pedals. The seat is an original vintage Bates solo setup with a twist - the seat's custom mounting brackets are fully adjustable for height and travel.

Sometimes older is better. Dan could have gone to town tearing up and changing things around on his bike. Dan Henke is, by trade, a restorer of vintage bikes. He runs Henke Cycle in Purling, New York, and makes his living by wrenching on other people's rides. Dan realized that what he had was a true example of how riders back in the day tricked out their bikes and wanted to keep this sweet '46 Bobber true to its original owners intent. We're glad he did. Through Dan's one-year refurbishment project we can still see a fine example of how those who have gone before us thought it should be done. This rare bike remains a piece of living history.