My grandfather on one of his motorcycles- 'in 1915'

[PowerDubs]

Going through some stuff, I came across this old picture of my grandfather.

Sorry for the lack of quality, but it is a cell phone pic of a photocopy of an old newspaper clipping from 1976. The blurb in the newspaper next to the picture says it was taken 'about 1915' although I have a feeling it was more in the mid 20's.

I never met my grandfather as he died 2 months before I was born. I don't know anything about old bikes, but my father tells me he had an old Indian and an old Harley.

Can anyone ID and date the bike in the picture?

Somewhere, I have another picture of him on the other bike, which has my grandmother sitting in the sidecar smiling. By the time I was old enough to have any memory of her, she was in her 80's so seeing her as a young girl on a motorcycle is pretty cool.

[disenfranchised]

I think you're right about the date, the Oldsmobile Six in the billboard is $750, and here's an ad for a 1927 that was a couple hundred more, but looks about the same. I'd guess mid-20s for the picture. The tires on the bike are also way too bulky for a 1915 machine, so I'd guess the bike is early to mid-20s as well. The headlight is positioned right for something like a 1925 Harley Davidson.



check out the side view of this 1925 Harley:

it even has the same diamond design on it.

[rpmk4]

i'm pretty impressed with the 1st response in this thread. well done!

[PowerDubs]

Excellent. After looking at your picture and mine closely, you can see the sidecar on my grandfathers bike. I didn't notice it before.

I like how he is wearing 'proper' riding gear as well. (at least boots, pants, jacket, scarf). Was wearing of helmets common back then?


- Josh

[ANSAracingb]

Very cool picture, and it is really neat that you have it and the one with your grandmother in the sidecar.
Riding around on a 1920s motorcycle would be very unique, even for back then. I don't know if motorycles were as popular back then as they are now?

[pknopp]

Excellent. After looking at your picture and mine closely, you can see the sidecar on my grandfathers bike. I didn't notice it before.

I like how he is wearing 'proper' riding gear as well. (at least boots, pants, jacket, scarf). Was wearing of helmets common back then?


- Josh

A leather skull cap like a pilot would have worn at the most. It looks like it might be cold out which is why he has a scarf.

[Mk1Racer]

Very cool Josh.

[MRVW00]

Very cool picture, and it is really neat that you have it and the one with your grandmother in the sidecar.
Riding around on a 1920s motorcycle would be very unique, even for back then. I don't know if motorycles were as popular back then as they are now?

They were MORE popular then!

[Tinker Toy]

It's a Harley Model JD. My uncle's friend had one with a sidecar also. The last year for the JD Model if my memory serves me was 1929.