1912 Harley-Davidson 'Creek Find'

This 1912 single cylinder Harley-Davidson X8A has spent the majority of its life broken up in a big way. Yet today it's been reunited and is a time capsule of originality despite it's long faded finish. Once upon a time, this was Harley-Davidson's most popular machine, that was in production from 1904-1918, the "Silent Gray Fellow", which featured a De Dion Bouton engine 35 cubic inches and producing 5 horsepower. Top speed was a claimed 45 mph.

According to the current owner, the bike was cut in two with a saw, and it's motor was plucked out and put to work as a pump engine in a mill. The frame, now in two parts, was thrown in a nearby river, seemingly lost forever. Just old junk afterall.

But when the water dried up, the remains of the bike protruded from the now dry riverbed

and the crafty new owner, undaunted by the challenge, set off to find the engine. A nearby mill was located and the old Harley engine was purchased and put back in the correct slot after the frame was welded back together again. Amazing, but true.

Fortunately, the current owner sees no reason to restore the bike, content that it now runs very well and has a fantastic story to share with others. The collector who owns the bike has over twenty pre-1920 Harley-Davidson, but this is one of his favorites. From the carbide lamp to the California license plate from pre-war era this is a usable one hundred year old motorcycle.

This bike is virually 100 % percent orignal except for the replacement leather drive belt and tires.

Those brass plungers on the tank help the oil keep flowing. Below is the magneto and exhaust cutout for maximum performance. Primitive and rustic she may be, but in her time she was

'state of the art'.