| Author | Message | ||
     Reepicheep |
I was looking through these awesome pictures: http://imgur.com/a/bLyB6?gallery And saw this one:  Look to the right, that looks like a motorcycle. Based on the caption and the context, I would have thought it would be a BMW Boxer, but if it is, the jugs met a terrible fate (perhaps by being driven over by a tank). Maybe it is a Harley Davidson FLA (or whatever they ran in WWII)? Anyone have any guesses? | ||
| Reepicheep |
I think that may be a HD WLA! | ||
| Buellish |
Look at the rubber knee pads on the tank,WLA's didn't have knee pads.BSA M20's had them.You don't see opposed cylinders so might rule out BMW's,Zundapp or Dnepr. | ||
| Hughlysses |
There appears to be a rusty exhaust system underneath the bike, which would be the left side. That wouldn't be on a WLA either. It does have a centerstand; that might help identify it. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Chain drive so not BMW. | ||
| Buellish |
In all the images of M20's I can find,the exaust is on the right side so we might rule it out too. (Message edited by buellish on January 14, 2015) | ||
| Reepicheep |
This center stand looks the same... http://www.mbltd.info/3528.htm | ||
| Hughlysses |
Chain drive so not BMW. Good catch. Chain drive on the right side, so that may help identify it. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Being picky. I don't think that's a tank, it looks like a Sturmgeschutz or another spg of that ilk. | ||
| Strokizator |
That armored vehicle looks crude. The only ones I've seen with rivets were Italian. So that make the motorcycle what, a Ducati?  | ||
| Desertdan |
it is not a WLA , I have a 47WL and the frame has cast pieces totally different then this bike | ||
| Hughlysses |
To summarize:  Anything we've missed? | ||
| Hootowl |
What are the rods/tubes running under the engine? Oil lines? | ||
| 86129squids |
Fun, forensic MC study... Right-hand chain drive will narrow the range of possibilities, the tank pads were commonly seen on old Triumphs- if that's the front fender to the right of the pile, the construction and braces on it seem distinctive... | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Given the lack of front wheel or rear tire, my guess is that whatever it was was FUBAR before the "tank" got there. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
It is (was) a twin. The other pipe and muffler are behind the armored vehicle near the soldiers left foot. It looks like it may have had a pipe on each side like a vertical twin. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Hugh, nice work! You missed "light spoke wheels" And is that a right hand shifter I see sticking up? The front fender stamping shape (with the fillet to the fender struts) seems pretty unique and identifiable as well. Not that I've identified it. The tank pads do look very triumphy, and I believe this picture did come from an Italian campaign, which bears support for Strokes comment about Italian tanks, which may suggest an Italian bike as well. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
The tracked vehicle is a anti-tank Marder III made in Czechoslovakia. The picture is from 1944 taken during the Allies push towards Rome. the motorcycle might be of Belgium origin. (Message edited by ferris von bueller on January 14, 2015) (Message edited by ferris von bueller on January 14, 2015) | ||
| Reepicheep |
(and that skid plate looks dead on for an XB exhaust. Maybe Chuck really did master time travel <- WheelNerds reference) | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Looks like it might be a 1938 Moto Guzzi Alce (Elk) 500cc military escort/recon motorcycle:  | ||
| Sifo |
I think we have a winner! | ||
| Two_seasons |
Anybody notice the starboard track is off the tank? | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
That would be consistent with battle damage | ||
| Reepicheep |
So cool! Thats a neat looking guzzi! | ||
| Desertdan |
the center stand on the smashed bike has 3 holes the 38 Guzzi has 4 holes ? | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Holes in the frame under the engine are the same on both bikes  | ||
| Thumper1203 |
Looks to me there are 2 centerstand brace-plates on opposite planes, one with 3 lightening holes and one with four  .. Discuss very fun project Reep! next? | ||
| Hootowl |
The front fender is wrong. | ||
| Hootowl |
Most everything else matches. So perhaps it's off one or two years? | ||
| Patches |
Military surplus would date the bike somewhere around 1942- 1944 maybe? http://www.microsofttranslator.com/BV.aspx?ref=IE8 Activity&a=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.taringa.net%2Fposts%2F imagenes%2F18347392%2F27-fotos-raras-a-color-de-la -2da-guerra-mundial.html |
