Harley-Davidson has been around since 1903, but the company began to hit its stride in the 1920s, after supplying the United States military with 15,000-20,000 bikes during World War I. After the war, Harley-Davidson was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.
The V-twin bikes of the early 20s were especially renowned. The bikes were regularly breaking speed records, and in 1922 Harley riders won all eight national racing championships.
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Now, almost 100 years later, most of the post-war era Harleys are no longer in commission. Luckily, a few of these vintage gems have survived, like the one owned by American Iron Magazine's Buzz Kanter.
In a video published to YouTube, Kanter fires up his 1924 JDCA V-twin -- a growling 74 cubic inch beast. 1924 is a significant year for the Harley motorcycles because it was the final year that the company used it's old rectangular gas tanks. Harley-Davidson introduced their signature "tear drop" gas tanks the following year.
Kanter had originally purchased the motorcycle as a non-operational decoration for his office, but a friend offered to get the bike running again -- an offer that was too sweet to pass up. When he got it started, the bike smoked quite a bit, mostly likely due to "oil in the sump that has to burn off," according to Kanter.
Even with the smoke, the sight of the nearly 100-year-old motorcycle revving and running again is enough to make any gear head smile.
Watch the video below to see the beautiful Harley roar back to life, and make sure to share if you're a fan of these classic machines.
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