What kind of bike is this?

 Al Capp included pictures of a bike in his Li'l Abner strip:

   http://www.comics.com/comics/lilabner/index.html

Anybody have an idea what kind of bike it's supposed to be? (Note: I'm
referring to the strip dated 9/20/54.)

--
Regards from John Corliss BS206    

 

Based on the shape of that rear shock it might be an Indian Chief - pre 1946
I believe. If so I doubt it could be picked up as shown in the 3rd frame.

On second look - scrap the Indian thought as the passenger foot pegs are
much too high.

 tg wrote:

Yeah, pretty much what I was thinking. I think old Al probably was
combining features.

I've been looking for a clear view of the engine for the last couple of
days (biker "Frankie" was introduced on 9/02/54), but the best view so
far is the first frame in today's strip. Hard to tell which side the
chain's on. Seems to show the chainguard on the left side, but no chain.

--
Regards from John Corliss BS206

 tg wrote:

Actually, that "shock" really isn't a shock, it's just a couple of
coil springs.  It was introduced in 1940 on the Chief and 4-cylinder
bikes, the same year as the skirted fender started, and in 1941 on
the Scouts, and continued on through the end of production.  The
post-war vertical twins and prototype 4-cylinder bikes also had a
similar rear suspension; I don't know if that was just springs or
if it included a shock absorber.  The Moto Guzzi-style military
841 model also had this style rear suspension.

I think the bike in the cartoon is just a generic motorcycle, with
some similarities to Indian (rear) and HD (front), but not intended
to be any specific model.


Steve Liggett  BS#117 SENS DOF#35
'46 Indian Chief
'66 CL160
'99 XL1200S
'00 FLTRI

 

it's a 50's bobber, looks like an Indian that's had a pillion added with
high mount passenger pegs. very west coast styling.

--
Easy, #39
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the
black flag, and begin to slit throats." H.L. Menken