Springfield Motorcycle Show 2010
2nd Place – Peoples Choice, Best in Show

Black Betty – 1948 Harley Davidson, Model F – Panhead Bobber
Owner Paul "Wizard" Jaeger
Wizard Cycle Service & Supply – Westfield, MA

Black Betty is approximately 80% original parts. The only major non OE parts are the transmission, which is 1970 HD, and the fuel tanks that are 1960. The frame is 1948 (one year only frame), the springer frontend is also original equipment (last year springer). The engine's lower end is 1960 (Due to severe damage) the rest of the engine is 1948, and was rebuilt in 2009 by Wizard Cycle Service. The electrical has been converted to a 12 volt system, from the original 6 volt. The bike is still stopped??? With the original drum brakes.

The theme is "Classic Harley Bobber"

From a technical point of view, a Bobber can be defined as a motorcycle of which all components which do not contribute to speed and acceleration have been removed

"bobbing" goes back to the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's, to the days of classic Dirt Track Racing, Road Racing and Hill Climbing events. At the time there was no big after sales market like we got right now and the most effective way to increase performance was to shed as much weight as possible.

It was that during those days guys would ride their bike to work during the week, and during the weekend they would ride it to a motorsports event, open the tool box, strip off all ballast from the bike, and participate in the race ! After the race they would put all parts back on again to make the bike street legal. That is, if the bike had not been crashed during the race.