Righteous Resurrection Harley-Davidson WLA
You may have noticed I have an oil stained place in my heart for 1942 WLA Harleys. Here’s a classic looking example, with a theme from the ’50s.
A FEW years ago, we featured a bike in Ozbike that was owned and built by a member of the Asphalt Demons. These guys are dedicated to keeping the Rockabilly, rock ’n’ roll style of bike and car customising alive and well. Just so happens that Richie’s dad, Peter Manssen, is a long time member of the Asphalt Demons, and looking at the bike, it goes to show that the apple certainly didn’t fall far from the tree when it came time for Richie to personalise his own piece of H-D history.
Richie had owned this old flathead for around 12 months. He loved these bikes when he was a kid and his dad used to own them himself. He took his first solo ride on a ’42 before he even held a licence and has been hooked ever since.
A trip to Japan was the turning point for Richie. He and his dad were attending the annual Mooneyes Christmas Party in Yokohama held by a Japanese fella named Shige who owns the famous Mooneyes trademark. The boys were totally blown away with the custom scene in The Land Of The Rising Sun. In one show there were around 3000 classic old Harleys with virtually hundreds of flatheads dotted amongst them. This made up Richie’s mind to own a flatty of his own. Good move, Richie! Better get one now before the Japs buy up all of the remaining bikes in existence!
The bike was originally acquired in a semi-chopped state with a Softail rear guard, a tall sissy-bar fitted and an 18-inch front wheel, plus a few other mods that didn’t sit well with Richie. The decision was made to strip her down and get the bike looking more like what the riders of the ’50s were doing when the only custom accessories the H-D boys were offering were studded saddlebags and the like. Richie is no slouch with the spanners either as he owns and operates Redcliffe Tune and Service Centre.
First thing to face the chop was the out-of-place rear-guard and sissy-bar, to be replaced with a repo unit from the States; and the rear hinged-section removed for that “If ya don’t really need it, remove it” theme which was the real beginning of the chopper phase back when Brando and Lee Marvin were belting the shit outta each other in a small, mid-western American township.
Richie’s bike now runs a Mikuni carb with a Paucho air-cleaner, no front guard to speak of, and a set of custom-made bars which his dad made out of a set of late model hangers and skillfully attached to the existing top clamp for an older styled look.
Peter (dad) helped out with a lot of other bits and pieces when it came to getting the bike on the road including welding up a few broken fins on the heads and getting them looking ship-shape before they were sand-blasted.
Flathead guru, Barry Draper, rebuilt the gearbox, and anyone who knows Barry, knows that this bloke is passionate about keeping these old bikes on the road. He knows these bikes inside and out and could probably rebuild a gearbox blindfolded!
The wheels were re-laced, sand-blasted and powder-coated by Ash’s Spoked Wheels.
Mick, the previous owner, also helped Richie when he first bought the bike as did Andrew Dover, who applied his skills in the wiring department.
Jamie Smith applied the subtle pin-striping over the smooth looking ‘Richie Rattle-Can Original’ paint job. Thanks go to Supercheap Auto for the paint supplies.
The end result is one classy-looking, old bone-shaker that wouldn’t look outta place sitting in front of any diner on Route 66. Sure, there is a bit of flaked chrome, paint missing and a couple of rusty bits, but, hey, this just adds to the effect. These are the sort of bikes that many a young biker of that era would ride to work each day, hit the road on the weekends for a run with his mates, and probably take part in a bit of hill-climbing or impromptu dirt dragging; closely followed by a few drinks and a bit of a half-arsed punch-up to blow off more steam. Sounds like a good weekend to me!
We would like to thanks Richie and Jamie for taking the time for the photoshoot and for steering us in the direction of Bill’s place at Deception Bay. Bill’s shed served as the perfect backdrop, complete with old petrol bowsers and a disused truck carcass. Also, a big thanks go the delectable Sophie for her modelling work and professionalism in front of the camera. And last but not least, Richie would like to thank his lovely wife Jazmin for her patience and for not flipping her lid when the budget got blown a couple of times during the build. Good people, classic bikes and pretty girls. I love this job!
Pics by Jo; words by Chuck U Farley
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