• 2022 Speed Record Update

    Ted and Gary made the drive in to attend the Bison Rally Show and Shine, answering questions from anyone that asked.

    We recorded a short video where they talk about the major changes to the bodywork and motor for this years attempt.

    The bike looks fast standing still!   Check back in September to see their results!.

     


  • 2022 Bison Rally

    Thank you ! To all the volunteers that pitched in and made the 2022 Bison rally a success!Special thanks to our rally registrar Della Beattie, Chef Travis and Andrew for the fantastic meals, Tim Klassen, with help from Tom Phillips, for collecting and setting up the silent auction prizes, Chas Peters for hand crafting all the trophies awarded  to the winners,  Barry and Rollie for getting the signs up early, Jim Beattie for making the gate sign and the new signs for the two added show n shine classes, Irv Peters for taking the group photo, Ross for the Friday night trivia challenge, Don Charleton for hauling out and setting up the bike games,  all the Ladies and Gents that stepped up without being asked that cleared moved setup tables and chairs and Jeff our new President that was our MC and auctioneer, hauled out a ton of stuff and made sure he was the last one in line for the banquet ( great leadership).

    I’m sure I’ve missed a few but thanks again to all that attended this years 2022 Bison Rally see you all again next year.

    Keep the date  June 30th – July 2nd  2023 open, 2023 marque brand Kawasaki     “Let the good times roll”!

    Pictures to come!

     

    Ken Charleton rally committee chairman.

     


  • For Sale – 1973 Serveta Lambretta 150 Super

    1973 Serveta Lambretta 150 Super, one owner from new,1082 original miles, original paint & tyres!!

    Serveta was a Spanish company that aquired the rights to manufacture what had been the Italian Lambretta LI 150 in 1967

    Asking $6,000 OBO

    Mirror is probably aftermarket but not 100% sure

    Contact  John Thompson johnfmthompson@gmail.com

    204 223 1718

     

     


  • Salt – Speed, Heat, and Hope at Bonneville

    “Salt” follows Ted and Gary from the shop in Alonsa Manitoba to Utah’s iconic Bonneville Salt Flats, where they push the limits of their big twin flathead Harley in pursuit of a vintage world land speed record.

    Filmed and directed by Ted’s long time friend and past business partner Bill Fraser.  Indeed a moment in history as you see the fabrication, and hear the stories that have pushed them to the salt flats for over 15 years.

    The movie premiered at the Park Theater in Winnipeg in September 2020.  You can still purchase either a DVD or Blu-Ray disc directly from Bill from his website at  https://www.navionco.com/

     


  • Installing a New Centre Stand Spring

    By Tom Hesom

    Most restorers reach the stage where the freshly painted centre stand has to be replaced, most likely with a new strong spring.  And most restorers have battled to stretch this very strong spring to fit over the fixing points with some sort of lever mechanism, skinned knuckles, much tongue work and less-than-polite expletives!

    Here is an easy way- – – –

    • The bike has to be lifted so as to have easy access underneath where the centre stand fits.
    • Bolt the stand loosely on to the pivot lugs on the frame and hanging downwards. (Don’t forget to grease the pivot points)
    • Put the end of the spring in your vice and bend it over sideways.
    • Then put washers into the gap between the coils.
    • Bend over the other way and put more washers in the other side.
    • The spring will now be longer.
    • Remove spring and try and see if it now fits easily over the fixing points.
    • If not put back in vice and slip in more washers.
    • After the spring fits the washers usually fall out when the stand is retracted to the folded up (riding) position.
    • If not they are easily pulled out with pliers or vice-grip.

     

     

     

     

     

     


  • Headlight Lens Replacement (Life Hack)

    By Ken Charleton

    I needed a glass headlight lens for a 1974 RD 350 Yamaha.  Kim Houde gave me an old 5 3/4-inch seal beam that was burnt out.  I just needed the lens but didn’t know how to cut the seal-beam.   I ended up using a tile cutter (with water) just holding it freehand over the smooth diamond blade.  Two minutes and the job was done.

    This wasn’t a glass lens glued to a plastic shell, it was your typical automotive round seal beam.  One of those jobs that I kept putting off because I was pretty sure it would end badly.  I was more surprised that the seal-beam didn’t shatter in my hands than how easy the job was.

     

     


  • For Sale

    1966 & 1967 Harley-Davidson 250cc Sprints by (Aermacchi)
     
    Not exactly as pictured!
    This is a project for someone without a life! LOL!
     I found a life ….or…. I now have more grandkids to babysit.
    – there are (2) engines: 1- 1966 knucklehead & 1- 1967 “smooth” head. Both turn over and have compression.
     – there are (2) frames and 1 is registered.
     – I have a seat pan and extra fenders
     – carb has been rebuilt.
     – custom made engine stand
     – bolts and hardware have been cleaned and plated at Cadorath.
     – 3 gas tanks.
     – frame, side tanks, fenders, swing arm(s), original handle bar have been powder-coated.
     – includes parts and service manual
     Best offer.
    Jerry @ (204) 284-8851 res:
         (204) 294-7066 cell

  • For Sale

    For sale one set of Yamaha 600 R6  fairings to fit 08-16, complete from front fender to rear fender to seat . Best offer . Call or text David at:
    Two Zero Four- 963 2157.
    Click on Pics for larger view

  • Irv Lowen

    By John Lowen

    I went to Winnipeg in 1992 to visit my 81-year-old father, who’d ridden and raced Indian motorcycles on and off for 56 years. He rode his 1936 Sport Scout every day, everywhere — the man knew how to ride.

    Dad was the secretary for the Manitoba Antique Motorcycle Club. At a meeting not long before my visit, members of the club told him you were required to have a motorcycle-specific license to operate a bike. Dad disagreed. “No, all you need is a driver’s license.” That law changed in 1963, they said. A grandfather clause had been established so those who were already riding could get their motorcycle license by filling out a form — no road test required. But the expiry date to fill out the form was the end of 1964. Dad had missed the cutoff by 28 years. I arrived in Winnipeg on a Sunday night and asked what was on the agenda. “I’m going to get my motorcycle license,” he said.

    We headed down to the motor vehicle department on Monday afternoon. Dad hopped onto his Indian and told me to follow him in the station wagon. Downtown traffic was heavy and I had a hard time keeping up. He had fought as a fighter pilot in World War II, flying Spitfires and Thunderbolts; he knew what speed was. I arrived — long after him — and parked beside the Indian. A youthful driver examiner came over. “That’s a beautiful motorcycle. Is it yours?” “No, it’s my Dad’s. He’s inside getting his motorcycle license.” We chatted for a while, and then I saw Dad emerging from the office. I looked at his face and laughed as I said, “You didn’t get it, did you?” “Those bastards don’t know anything,” he said. “Who do they think they are, giving a motorcycle test when they don’t know anything about motorcycles?”

    Dad disliked Harleys, probably going back to the ‘30s and ’40s when he raced against them. He once said to me, “The only parts of a Harley that are any good are the pistons — they make good shifter knobs for Indians.” (He actually melted down a Harley piston to make a gearshift knob for his 1919 Indian Powerplus.) One of the main differences between old Indians and Harleys is the location of the throttle; a Harley’s throttle is on the right and an Indian’s is on the left.

    I asked Dad what happened at the motor vehicle office. “He asked me to show him how you signal for a left turn, a right turn, and for stopping. I showed him, and then he said that I was almost right, but that I used the wrong hand to signal. That’s when I told him that I rode an Indian — and not a damn Harley — and you can’t take your hand off the throttle to signal. I also told him he shouldn’t be giving anyone a motorcycle exam.”

    The examiner who’d come over to admire the bike was still standing next to me. Overhearing all of this, he looked at me. “Do you have a motorcycle license?” I nodded. “You’ll have to ride the bike home,” he said. “Your dad doesn’t have a license.” “Good luck telling him that,” I said. The examiner walked over to Dad while he was preparing to fire up the bike, put his hand on Dad’s shoulder, and broke the bad news. Dad turned his head and looked at him, but I didn’t hear what Dad said. The examiner straightened, then slowly backed away. Dad fired up the Indian with one kick and left in a cloud of dust.

    I went into the office and got the motorcycle handbook. I convinced Dad to read it so he could answer the questions on the test. A week later, after I’d gone home, I phoned and asked if he’d passed the written test. Yes, he said. I asked if he took the road test. Yes, he said. And then I asked how it went.

    “They drive behind you in a car, and when they want you to turn, they put their turn signal on,” he said. “But the guy had a hard time keeping up with me. I think he signaled left. But my mirrors shake a lot. I turned right and went home and had a cold beer.”

    Dad never got his license but kept riding his 1936 Indian until he had a stroke in 1997. He died two years later. I’ll never forget that day in the parking lot. That examiner likely won’t, either.

    Irv’s early Motorcycle and WW2 days

    Dad and Ken Butterfield rode their bikes from Winnipeg through the states to Mexico and across to Los Angeles (stayed there a while) and back to Winnipeg. They left Dec 7th, 1934 returning on March 3rd,1935.  

    He rode his bike solo to the World’s Fairs in Chicago and New York (will check and see if I can unravel the years).

    In January 1937 he traveled to Daytona Florida for the first Daytona 200 motorcycle race, Sunday January 24th 3250 Km. There were several other riders from Winnipeg there. He got back to Winnipeg a week before getting married Feb 13th, 1937. The average January temp in Winnipeg for 1937 was -25c.

    He was also at the 1938 Daytona. Apparently by himself.

     

    During the Second World War, Irv enlisted in the Air force on the 21st of  Dec 1940 (J7449) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He took Initial Training School in Regina, SK and graduated the 26th of April 1941. Elementary Flying Training School was at Portage La Prairie, MB. His Service Flying Training School was in Yorkton, SK. There he received his wings and commission on the 11th of Sept. 1941. He left for England on the 4th of Oct 1941 and was assigned to the Royal Air force Training Command as a flying instructor. On the 13th of Sep 1943 he was promoted to Flying Officer and joined the Royal Air Force’s 134 Squadron near Cairo, Egypt, as a fighter pilot. The 134 provided defense for patrols along the North African coast.

    Hawker Hurricane

    With Hurricane fighter planes they helped push the German army and Field Marshall Rommel along the North Africa coast and out at Tunisia. During the summer of 1943 while on patrol over the Island of Crete, Irv was shot by a sniper on the ground. Luckily he was looking out the side window (he said to me) as the bullet went through this thigh and out through the top of the canopy of his airplane.

    He managed to control the bleeding and return to the airbase. After a few days in the hospital, he was back with the Squadron. On November 14th, 1943 the Squadron moved to India and flew its aircraft to the Burmese frontier area.

    Dad told me, “We flew our Hurricanes as a squadron to Burma. I read a Readers Digest cover to cover flying formation on that trip.”

    Ground attack missions against Japanese positions in Burma were carried out with P-47 Thunderbolt fighters.” We gave the Japs a rough time with our 20mm cannons.” Irv.

    P47 Thunderbolt

    “After the Monsoon, we came back with P47’s. They then hung a 250 lb. bomb on each wing and instructions “How to Bomb”  – (written by a Spitfire pilot I think). However, we developed our own system. Approached target at over 8 thousand feet, closed throttle, pulled up sharply. Did a stall turn, prop in fine pitch – dropped the eggs as soon as lined up in the vertical dive and then pulled out. With practice, it was very accurate and only a short blackout.” Irv.

    Spitfire

    Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 13 September 1943 Irvin Lawrence Lowen was awarded the Mentioned in Despatches [a military award for gallantry or otherwise commendable service] and published in the London Gazette 14th Jan. 1944. Repatriated 12 April 1945. To No.2 Air Command, 22 May 1945. To No.5 Release Centre, Winnipeg, 6th August 1945. Retired 5 September 1945.

     

    Aircraft                                         Period of Service

    Hurricane 11B & 11C                Jan 1943–Aug 1944

    Spitfire VB &VC                        Jun 1943-Aug 1943

    Thunderbolt P47                       Aug 1944- Jun 1945 


  • No Title

    2018 Bison Classic Motorcycle Rally

    June 22nd-24th 2018  The year of the Yamaha

     

     

    Clarence Holigroski is the chair of the rally committee.

    Clarence Holigroski

    Chairman – Clarence Holigroski 204-668-5998

    Registration – Kim Robinson

    Show N Shine – John Thompson


  • Wanted

    WANTED To complete Manitoba Motorcycle license Plate run 1919 1922 1927
    and also a WW2 Leather dispatch rider’s Jerkin
    Old Nicholson Brothers and North West Cycle catalogues

    Contact Ross at moose102 at mymts.net or 831-8165 and I’ll make you rich.

    Please see www.manitobaplates.com


  • Norton Carb Synchronizing

    All the 750cc Norton Commando’s and the earlier 850cc models were fitted with a more-or-less rectangular air filter with two shaped rubber hose connectors from carbs to the filter front plate.
    Restorers will know what a difficult job it is to assemble the carbs, connecting hoses and filter between engine and frame, and then afterwards how difficult it is just to change a filter element. Only in 1974 with the MK2A 850’s, did Norton’s change to a much simpler and easy-to-get-at pad type air filter which could be changed in minutes.

    Setting up and tuning carburetors with BSA or Triumph twins with their dual easy-removable “pancake” air filters was easy, enabling one to get into both carb intakes to “finger feel,” or the other trick of inserting two same-sized drill bits shank first under the slide cut-away’s, and watch to see them dip evenly as you tweak the throttle.

    Final carb setting is not easy on a Commando because it is NOT a five minute job to get into the carb intakes to adjust the all-important simultaneous slide lift. Much easier way is to use two pieces of straight wire inserted through the top cap usually blanked off holes for choke slide, and watch the tips rise together. Easer to see if you glue a piece of white board on top of the wire. This all assuming of course that you have as most British bike owners of Amal carbed bikes have done, and discarded the choke mechanism, and again what many Commando owners have done and replaced the original air filter with K&N cone filters. If my carbs still had choke slides I would have drilled small holes in the carb tops to take the wire, then blocked them up again, rather than battle with taking that #@?!! air filter off and then on again!

     


  • 2017

    The 17th Annual Bison Classic Motorcycle Rally was held in Kings Park, Carman Mb.  June 23rd -25th 2017

    •  

    Clarence Holigroski is the chair of the rally committee.

    Clarence Holigroski

    Chairman – Clarence Holigroski 204-668-5998

    Registration – Kim Robinson

    Show N Shine – John Thompson

    Games – The Brothers Charleton

    Catering – Dave Pritchard

    Cleanup – Everyone!

    Photography – Irv Peters, Joe Friesen, Lyle Ball, Greg Hygaard

    Prizes – Tim Klassen

    Parade – Tom Hesom, Greg O’Kane

    Regalia sales – Rick Peters, Mike Baraschuk, Rick Poirier  


  • CARBURETOR CLEANING

    CCcC

    One of the most important jobs on any restoration is to re-build the carburetors, and before a re-build they need a thorough cleaning.  There are numerous expensive acid-based carb cleaning liquids on the market, but a cheaper method that works is as follows ;–

    1)  Get hold of an old saucepan (pot) that is big enough to enable the carb components to lie on the bottom without being on top of each other.  I have commandeered a pot that was going to be thrown out because it had been allowed to cook dry at some stage..

    2)  Fill it enough to just cover the carb parts with a third each of water, white vinegar and lemon juice, ( the kind you can buy in a plastic bottle at the grocery store called ReaLemon)

    3)  Wait till she has gone shopping, and boil on her stove for about 20 minutes.  (It must be bubbling and it stinks!)

    4)  Tip out the hot liquid and rinse several times with cold water.

    5)  Blow out excess water with an airhose through all the airways and lay out on a clean cloth and allow to dry.

    6)  The parts and air passages are beautifully clean but everything will be covered in a very fine grey powder which is easily brushed off with an old tooth brush or similar. If you want a nice dull shine, a soft brass bristle brush works fine (I bought a whole set including the brass bristle one, from Dolarama)

    A dull grey fine powder like the “bloom” on a grape!
    The bloom removed and parts brushed
    Re-built carbs with new gaskets & jets etc.