Classic recollections: 1940 Harley-Davidson UL flathead
Some people need time to think decisions over. In Joel Bernbaum's case, 15 years were required to contemplate purchasing and restoring his 1940 Harley-Davidson UL motorcycle.
“My brother-in-law kept reminding me year after year, during every family gathering, about his buddy's dissembled bike locked up in a Marquette Park garage,” Bernbaum says.
The friend had purchased the hog in '71 from a Vietnam-bound Marine and spent the next eight years fiddling with the finicky Harley, trying to track down the cause of an oil consumption problem. Poor installation of new valve guides resulted in total disassembly in '79, leading to an abandonment of the project altogether. That was until the winter of 2001.
After the Thanksgiving meal and another round of brotherly prodding, Bernbaum finally decided he'd take a casual look and kick the tires on the old asphalt cruiser. He ventured out to see the still torn-apart bike, buried in its back-lot crypt.
It's dismantled state didn't deter the Western Springs resident, who decided to purchase the iconic Milwaukee-built machine. Dusty parts were scattered all throughout the dimly lit garage, in various boxes among other dilapidated stuff.
“It took a very thorough search and investigation of the space to find all the needed parts.”
When Bernbaum had all the pieces to his mechanical puzzle safely in his backyard workshop, he discovered all of the chrome was original. He also determined the handlebars had been replaced with a World War II military motorcycle bar.
While the bike wore a coat of faded maroon paint, upon closer inspection, traces of its original battle-ready ‘Squadron Gray' color could still be seen.
“I loved the idea that this bike could be rebuilt with all of its original factory parts. The thought that it was being built and ridden at a time in world history when Adolf Hitler was starting to roll into Poland was an exciting challenge for me,” he says.
Tackling the flathead with its side-mounted valves first, Bernbaum was able to reassemble the 74-cubic-inch engine, marking its first time back together in more than three decades. “Old Harley engines are works of art,” Bernbaum says. “Kick starting it for the first time and seeing and hearing it come back to life made all the effort worthwhile.”
With the vintage two-wheeler road-worthy, Joel opted to spray on a scintillating coat of firehouse-ready Flight Red — an original color for 1940, ensuring heads turn whenever he roars by.
“Its maiden voyage was last summer. I embarked on a journey back to where it was born and rode throughout the Wisconsin countryside. Without a doubt, the bike performed flawlessly!”
Through the decades, riding technology has changed and Joel has certainly discovered one key difference between the hogs of today versus yesteryear. “Modern Harleys are great, but they drive you. With the old classics and their antiquated foot clutch and tank shifter, its back to you driving them!”
Some may hastily jump at the prospect of a restoration while others, like Bernbaum, are a bit slower to commit to a new undertaking. Judging by this Harley's fine attention to detail and the brilliant final package, it certainly looks like all that contemplation paid off.