I worked at a motorcycle shop back in the 60's and saw a photograph of this same motorcycle, and somehow I got it and it is still hanging in my bedroom. I have always wondered if it was just yard art, or if it really ran and drove. You have answered that question I asked over 60 years ago. What a awesome creation, and to wonder how long did it took to fabricate this machine? Thom
The original story was in easy rider magazine he lived in Green Bay and would ride it to Oklahoma in the middle of the night police shot him on his property
@@slickdoglong3669Why did they shoot him? Like, the _real_ story. How would I look up information about the situation? I don't think googling 'Bill RoaDog death, which is all I know, will come back with great results.😢
I am 72 years old and I am from Croatia. I have seen the picture of this monster in Yugoslavia newspaper when I was maybe 17 years old and I have never forget this motorcycle.
Honestly, this is one of the best things ive seen this year!! I saw something about the Roadog years ago when all those chopper shows were on tv. Even internet searchs said very little, and the bike was supposedly in a collection. So not just finding it but riding it too, less "training wheels", that experience had to be without words!! Thank you for this!!
I was about 12 years old when I learned about Roadog and Wild Bill.. i saw a picture of it in an encyclopedia and i imagined myself riding it.. then i closed the book and thought I'd never see it or hear it ride.. Thanks to this video, I heard it and saw it in action.. and who better to ride it than someone I hold in such high regard.. Sean.. you "rock" brother.. much love..
Omg. You read encyclopedias? Miss those days. Mine were a cheap set from the 80s my mom brought home from work. Remember alot of crazy stuff in them. Didn’t see this though, or remember. Must be 30s or 40s lol
@@sukaenacornelius9285 as true as bob.. it was the Merit Students Encyclopedia set.. to make a short story long, it reached us via an auction bundle.. sure enough, you'll see Wild Bill sitting on The Roadog, and then some normal bikes if you looking up Motorcycle..
@@secondhandbikers so freaking awesome. I think I had the “world” brand. Actually learned long form division from there, it was much more understandable in the books. Had some southwestern encyclopedias too. My parents still have them in Florida, US. Will definitely grab the M book out and see next visit. Already have a few others i want to see. Just curious. Are you 80s/90s kid?
@@sukaenacornelius9285 early 80's.. was introduced to bikes at a very young age.. badly need to get one again cos it's the only thing that soothes my mind and soul.. I often sat with an encyclopedia or the Oxford Thesaurus while having breakfast or lunch..
I saw Bill and that bike twice at my grandparents bar in the early 70s in Ishpeming Michigan . I talked to him myself both times he was nice to me . I was 8 years old .
I'm not a motorcycle guy but this video put a smile on my face... the amazing story of the bike and how it was put back on the road was fantastic. Well done, guys!
What a freakin' beast!! I actually saw a poster of this thing at a couple of dealerships in the past, but never really gave it a thought. You've got a significant piece of American motorcycle history there Sean! Glad you guys actually got it running and rode it for a while!😄🤩👍👍
Dude, this is actually a great episode. It seems like you have taken a step up in production. I love the history and seriousness and story driven episode, not just a "we bought the cheapest/most expensive thing on Amazon". Those videos could be done with anyone with a camera and money, and everyone owns a camera, they're just too broke to do it. This is different, this has history and a story behind it. Buy more one of a kind things with a story, these rare gem videos are awesome!!! God bless brother. I'd like to refer to ROMANS 12:9 for a second with you. "Cling to what is good". These videos are great for you, cling to this style of production.
I don't think it's stupid. But I wonder how many beers it took to build it. The engineering is on a whole nother level. If Johnny Cash’s “One Piece at a times” Cadillacs title weighed 20 pounds. How would you even class this monster?😄
That passage is about morality, not things you like. It's not a good idea to take bible verses out of context, many grifters and servants of satan do so to confuse and mislead people. When we do it in innocence, like you did, we make it harder to spot the liars.
I remember seeing this bike in the Guinness Book of World Records back in the 80s. I was just a little kid then, but man did that bike leave a lasting impression on me! Thank you for doing this video, I always wondered what happened to Road Dog.
@@BikesandBeards my 1st time seening it ( or a really good clone but kinda dowt it, probably the original as its just to weird for most to copy and hard as well to copycat ) was after work and at the/my miss's/her-girl-friend's/partners home being on the front steps/front-yard going down us30 in overton NE heeding to Kearney ne and thinking o that's clever but ugly 🤮 and "rat-rod themed 🐀", didn't know that it's a 50/60's historically important and $$$ bike or the man behind it ect, and yes im in a similar situation career wise so i can respect him as a millwright and temptation to transform myself into a full mechanical engineer in the automotive industry or areo-space industry with the goal of mars/going to space/prestige ( and $ ) that comes with those types of achievements sorry im a proper crocker/indinan/v6/vavllacary-or-v8 ( insert 426/or/440 here ) type individual, and my 1st/only bikes so far are KX125 1990-95*? ( sold it to pay for my wedding 👰ring lolz after high school graduation day/same month ) brain fart-year and my dad's/borrowed goldwing 80's/90's GL1800? gone/sold for mom's kitchen table lolz 😂something about her worrying about me being injured or dad dieing/her being a ( late-90's/2000's ) widow with kids anyways im more into car's/hot-rod's currently as motorcycles 🏍aren't something i have room for ( Idaho/Utah/Montana/Portland-ect* 😉 apartment +roommates and winter and outside only parking ect nowadays, in 2013~ it was different for me as i had a lexington/Lincoln ne rented-home with a small 1-car/tin-Lizzy garage unheated and could actually have seen myself ride/motorcycle to work ect ) and the bigger thing is $$$ so my 60 charger and k1500 win for now
It deserves a place in history and recognition in the motorcycle world. The builder drove it 20,000 miles the first year he built it. I'd imagine it's like flying a plane at ground level. Something has to come from the thought of the first of the boss hoss. I've always wanted something insane like that, I would be buried sitting on it after the accident.
Sean, I’ve got an idea for you. We have a legendary motorcyclist / snowmobile racer / drag racer up here in Mn named Marv Jorgensen. The guy is the Evel Knievel of the Midwest. I think it would be awesome if a TH-camr with your level of nostalgia and motorcycle knowledge would do a interview with Marv. He was a Boss Hoss dealer and still rides like a teenager running from the law as he moves through the retirement years. It would be great for us to hear his story and have it in a digital memory bank for all future generations.
I thought the road dog was housed at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa Iowa? I saw and took pictures of it there. The museum recently closed which may explain the availability of the bike.
It's actually true! The prophecy has been fulfilled!!! Most manliest motorcycle ever, I'm about 99.7% Sean's beard grew 1 inch as soon as he sat on that bike... 😂
I am a retired Army 1SG (w/the MOS 52E) after retiring I was a field service technician for Detroit Diesel. I only worked on marine generators, land based generators and marine propulsion units. I always found that a crescent wrench and a hammer/bigger hammer always got the job done. Unless the engineers on the M/Y and Super Yachts were around. 👍🤙🤙🤙
The Roadog. Insane. You sure got the attention of folks at Wheels Through Time. Matts such a great guy and always so positive and helpful. Congratulations on your purchase.
I had the Roadog poster in my shop for years. I looked at it so long that vertical photos and posters didnt make sense to me anymore. When you have to landscape a motorcycle picture to even attempt getting the true length in the photo, you know you have a road train. I am pretty sure the Roadog, JJ El Diablo and Indian Larry with Daddy-O were the only posters framed that followed me in all my shops for every move. They still reside in my home shop. Good find Sean.
You gotta admit that Orange County Choppers make really nice motorcycle themed flower, lawn and vegetable garden art. 😂 I know a guy who attached his mailbox to a bike he bought at OCC at the end of his driveway. 😂 The OCC warranty expired before it reached the end of the driveway, so the guy improvised the use for his OCC junk pile. It's now a mailbox holder decoration. 😅
*I sat on this bike in 2000 (Chicago). Buzz was in the other room and I jumped on.* *Torque effect steering issue is well known in helos and balanced on a twin rotor (spinning opposite). You might be able to mount an opposite side dummy driveshaft that spun opposite direction to balance that out. Maybe it's a simple design like a drill or angle grinder hidden in the frame with a flexible shaft (mandrel) extension driving another unconnected shaft on the left side.*
I don’t see it as a part of motorcycle history, I see it as the creation of a confused individual. Someone obviously wanted a car, but just didn’t know that they could use more than 2 wheels. It isn’t fast, doesn’t handle good, doesn’t look cool, isn’t comfortable to ride or anything that is important in a motorcycle. It’s the dumbest failure at making a motorcycle in recorded history. It has no value except for showing how dumb the creator was.
I am using this to help me. I know this video is only 2 month old, but for 5 months I have thought of this motorcycle, but postponed looking up video's on this motorcycle, but my life changed 3 days ago, and now more than ever, this video can help me, because this motorcycle takes me back to my teenage years, and I can really rally race, and live vicariously through my heart. Have a Beautiful Day!!! Lightworker and Energy Healer, Kelly
I’m so happy for you man. Building your legacy like this. Hopefully I can run into you at wheels through time at some point and shake your hand. You’re a inspiration. So is Matt.
My father in law met Bill several times while he worked at a hydraulic shop in Brookfield Illinois. He would stop in for supplies or to fix something and show them the bike and talk about it for quite a while. In the mid 90’s, I was at a toy run in Batavia Illinois and Wallneck’s brought it on a trailer and fired it up. Pretty wild to see in person!
THAT was fantastic. I remember seeing Wild Bill's picture decades ago, I can't believe the AWESOME bikes you "stumble" on to. RIP Dale from Wheels Through Time, Matt's doing a great job carrying on the legacy!
Some guys take their TH-cam money and waste it on a super car and run it through a cornfield, others buy big bore elephant guns that are painful to shoot. But not Sean, he buys motorcycles that are almost impossible to ride. Love it, keep it up.
Discover your channel recently and i'm just loving it ! I'm not an ultimate motorcycle fan, but the way you present, the content, everything makes it to me very enjoyable to watch ! Thanks ! Love from France.
Super Cool to share this with Mat, and it was good to see Buzz and Trudy! We all shake our head when special memories are born. Wish I could have been there. Thanks for keeping this Bike alive and filming it.
I remember seeing pics of this bike 40 years ago, might have been in easyrider mag, utter legend. One of your best videos ever, glad Roadog is in good hands.
Wild bill was a good friend of mine. He built a few bike engines for me. He was the king of I35. We made many runs from Larado tx to Grand island Nebraska and there we would redistribute to other bikers. This is how it got around a long long time ago.
Seeing you and Matt on that mythical unicorn brought a little tear to my eye. Good job telling the story and keeping some intrigue. Some things are better kept as legends!
When I was 14YRS old my cousin 16 yrs in south western Penna where we grew up at for some long forgotten reason we was driving on Pa Turn Pike travellIng west just beyond the last tunnel and that thing pulled up a beside us not in a hurry, slowly passing. It was like seeing a dragon ,we didn't have words for it and just to hard to explain to anyone later. It was many years until we found out what passed us by,
id have to say matt is one of the nicest people i have seen on youtube. he just seems like it would be a joy to be around him, even if it was only for 10 minutes. and sean and matt together, they look like they have known each other most of their lives!
Re: :scariest. Absolutely, I was uneasy just watching you plus that busy road! I think most of us have seen that iconic photo. Thanks for preserving history. The bike belongs in a museum. Have your fun with it and then think about donating it for future generations to admire . Thanks!
He was going to slow, I understand the caution, but at a point you are just increasing the risk of something happening. Like anything on a bike, commit, and there is a speed to do it at.
I'm so glad these legendary pieces of history will not be shoved in some garage of a private collection not to be seen on the road again! CONGRATULATIONS on your new acquisitions. I hope too see more videos of them in the future. The history, and the bikes themselves, are very awesome, and actually works of art. Bill's story, up until his premature demise, is extremely interesting. What an Engineer and Fabricator he was!
This video was just suggested to me.... What a blast from the past. I bought my first car from Buzz back in 1994. It was a 1978 Buick Electra 225. He showed me his garage full of bikes, along with this bike on a trailer in his driveway. It definitely looks better today than I remember it! Glad to see it moving!
I really enjoy your videos of you and Matt together....now that you are in Tennessee it's not that far away.... Wheels Through Time is an incredible place ....it's a shame Dale isn't there to share in these wonderful memories/videos with you guys.
Did I miss you giving out the specs? Engine, manufacturer, displacement, carburetor? Shorter version of that bike and my neighborhood with a GM 350 mounted sideways. Kickstand on side of motor block. Killer bike, great video.
This was so cool!!!! Looks like you had fun! I want to thank you for that verse you posted in your vid. I have been dealing with a lot lately, and that verse came right on time! Thank you for all that you do and for your vids! May God continue to bless you!
Epic episode as usual. Love Roadog but I can't tell you how much I love seeing Maggie Valley every time you go visit Matt. My grandparents lived here when I was a kid and some of my fondest memories are right there in town. Can't wait to get back up there some day, especially to check out Wheels Through Time!!
Just seen this episode and as soon as it started to rumble to life i had a HUGE smile on my face after a really crappy day so a really big thank you to BAB'S. Peace out brother and keep sunny side up. kind regards Daz and my Dog Max from the East coast of the UK
Turning left vs turning right - gyroscopics. It will always turn easier in the direction of engine rotation. Loving the concept and execution of Roadog
Most auto engine crankshafts turn counter-clockwise when viewed from the rear looking directly at the flywheel. That would mean turning left is in the direction of crankshaft rotation. At 11:15 you can see the crankshaft spining toward the left (counterclockwise) if you are facing forward.
Imagine dropping by Wheels Through Time and finding Sean and Matt working on this thing. Watching Matt ride that thing was awesome. Sean should have gotten on the back...it's a two seater.
Me and my buddy were there too. We rode from SC to see the museum. I didn’t get to watch the filming as much as I would have liked cause the museum was awesome.
I have watched sooo many of your videos. 1st I want to say that I have loved every single video. They are fun, I have learned a ton. However this video has to be (by far) the coolest, most fun video to date. The history, your friends bringing together their knowledge to get involved and work on this. This was such a fun entertaining video. Thank you all for this, it really made my day and put my into a great mood🙌
Great way to start a Friday! I knew Jack Parham had one of the Roadogs and figured it would rot there in the museum. I'm glad you were able to rescue it and get it running. You may have even made Jay Leno jealous. I'm sure he would have wanted it. Good job!
@@robcreel4257Yeah, Jack was always a nickname for John. But my uncle was JACK by birth (christened as such) and my aunty insisted on calling him John because that was the "proper" name... drove us mad! 😂😂
Amazing. Regarding the feeling of being off-center... This is one of those rare situations that your programmed-in sense of balance isn't accurate. Once you let that go, and used visual cues, the RoaDog was rideable. Congratulations to you and everyone who contributed to this project, is is oh so worth it, as would be agreed by motorcycle enthusiasts the world over. YAY!
Needs to be in a Mad Max movie Gaslands written all over it, just saying, awesome stuff loving it 😊❤🎉 Cheers 🍺🍻🍺🍻KC Cradle Mountain Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺🤝🇺🇸👍✌
I’m sitting in Frankfurt airport waiting on a flight and this is the best way to wait. Seeing Sean and Matt ride Road dog is an amazing thing to see. Do a road trip with Matt now, please.
Oh man, ive seen pics of this beast pop up on the internet for years! This is so cool seeing it on the B&B channel with all the history, mechanics and character of this machine on full display!
Very cool Sean, one of your all time great conquests I think. You and Matt are now officially in the smallest and most selective motorcycle club in the world, those who have ridden the RoadDog, Congrats!!
I remember reading about Road Dog in Cycle World magazine more than once. I do wonder what would have happened to the U.S. touring motorcycle if Gelbke had lived. He was just starting initial production of the revised machine, which was shorter, lighter, and just as capable as a gas-sipping long-haul ride.
Sean, thank you for the amazing bike stories you keep sharing. What an incredibly insane bike this is, I do envy you people in the States for still being able to put this monstrosity to the streets and take it for a spin, 'cause german authorities would never let that happen. In germany we have this guy that goes by the name of Rötger "Brösel" Feldmann, who is not only the artist of the "Werner" comic books and movies series, but also a full-on lunatic when it comes to building motorcycles from scratch. You should have a look at the "Satte Literschüssel", a bike with a 1000ccm engine that has a wooden frame and a shovel head for a seat, as well as the "Red Porsche Killer", a drag racing bike with 152 bhp built in 1988 and the "Dolmette", which is powered by 24(!!!) synchronized chainsaw motors. Even though the videos about Brösel and his builds are in german they might be worth taking a look at for bike-crazed people like there are in this community. Greetings from Germany.
My gosh, that put a smile on my face! I've been knowing about Wild Bill and RoadDog since the late sixty's. He also had a line of bikes for sale called the Gelbke Four, and there is at least one still in existence. Wild Bill would ride RoadDog and those riding with him couldn't keep up! He rode it fast. The engine was a four cylinder called an iron mike. Would love to see that bike in person some day. Bucket list 😁😎
This was such a fun video to watch. I'm kinda new to motorcycles (didn't grow up in the MC Co culture and started riding in my late 50s) but I love the stuff you guys do. I'm really gaining an appreciation or fascination for these old machines.
Awesome video as always brotha!! That bike is a behemoth!!! Love that all your videos have a bible verse in them!! Keep up the great work and killer content!! God bless you and your family!
I saw this bike once in Peoria Illinois. It wasn't running at that time. It was on a trailer. The owner was accepting donations for a badly needed restoration. I can say the bike looks so much better in your video than it did when i saw it. I believe it has four hydraulic jacks that will hold the bike up when you pull up to a stop.
Saw this thing in up close and in person at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa a few years ago. It's a complete heap. The welds look like they were all done with a stick welder and bubble gum. Terrifying piece of motorcycle history that I wouldn't ride if you paid me. Too bad the museum had to close, but it's good to see this get a new life.
Weld quality doesn’t matter as much when you have that much steel. A bad weld will still have a considerable safety margin. Bill did serious miles on it. I would be far more concerned with the geometry and basic handling issues.
SUPER! Thank you so much for this! You guys rock and this makes so much fun to watch! PLease keep up the good work and stay as sympathetic as you are! 🙂
That bike is important to motorcycle history. I do believe that should be an a museum and that just hidden away by one person. I can’t stand seeing rich people take work and hoarding them and hiding them just for their own pleasure when they should be shared with the world.
Putting extensive videos and deep dives on it online like this are the next best thing. More access to more people. There are few museums that actually put good quality videos online for people that can't travel to them
You have one of the best channels I've ever run across. Love motorcycles, though I've never ridden. Currently building a motorized bicycle (not the same, I know). I just want you to know you and Craig are my favorite motorcycle content creators.
That's a very crazy bike. I can't wait to see you try to ride it. The scariest bike I ever owned was a Suzuki 550 GT, 3 cylinder 2 stroke or the 500 Huskervarna Stadium bike. Riding that engine at least once is a wonderful experience people can only imagine or dream about. Super cool to share with us.
Fuel Moto is 14 minutes south of me & Doc's Harley Davidson is 19 minutes north of me. I frequent both establishments. Doc's is an amazing place & I have family who rent out areas for private parties with bands. They have such cool bikes from all throughout history. Mainly all HD bikes of course. An airplane with a radial engine with all jugs from the various generations up to EVO
I worked at Doc’s Harley in WI and he had the Roadog there in his collection. They filmed an episode of “What’s in the Barn” at the dealership. Very cool to see it again, but I know it was running in 2016 or 2017 because the owner of the dealership was riding it around the property.
I've got that image in my shop. I bought it out of Walneck's - I miss that publication. If I remember correctly it was a platform Goelbke used to create the Goelbke Autofour. I think he made and sold about 7 or 8 of them. As the story goes, he wanted to build reliable bikes that people could take on long journeys.
Love your work usually Sean but this was just great. I just felt good about the world when I finished watching this. There was a lot of community getting this thing running, and the history was really really interesting. So much ingenuity on display. Would have loved to have been one of those Harley guys at the end although if I had been I would have crashed mine. How do you process seeing something like that on the road? Thanks for making my evening so much better!
That motorcycle was in a museum in Maquoketa Iowa that recently close and sold all the stuff inside, I personally saw it this summer, the label with the museum auction barcode can be seen on the head lamps when the new battery and switch is being tested.
Two RoaDogs were built. I saw the other one on display at the Field Museum in Chicago sometime in the '90s. It's presently in the motorcycle museum whose collection it came from for that display at Field.
Dec 12 2013 it was ridden. I do remember seing it on some show. I'm sure the info is out there and someone will reach out to you through the magic of youtube. Thanks for all your video's You give a lot of us a lot of joy.
Swear to god you look exactly like a guy I was friends with while attending MMI. The familiar feeling made me go through your past vids, and I gotta say you have some sweet content! Subbed!
My grandfather wrote for Walneck's Magazine so neat to see you talk about it! His name is Jerry Barnett they even published a book of his motorcycle stories.
When I saw the photo I realized I had seen it before and thought the guy sitting on it was out of his mind; then I realized he probably was. This is the coolest video you've done so far. Wow!
Ive been meaning to go to Wheels Through Time, I live 30 minutes away. Also I recognized Ghost Town in the Sky parking lot immediately. Cool to have you here visiting Haywood County, wish I would have known.
I worked at a motorcycle shop back in the 60's and saw a photograph of this same motorcycle, and somehow I got it and it is still hanging in my bedroom. I have always wondered if it was just yard art, or if it really ran and drove. You have answered that question I asked over 60 years ago. What a awesome creation, and to wonder how long did it took to fabricate this machine?
Thom
The original story was in easy rider magazine he lived in Green Bay and would ride it to Oklahoma in the middle of the night police shot him on his property
@@slickdoglong3669Why did they shoot him? Like, the _real_ story. How would I look up information about the situation? I don't think googling 'Bill RoaDog death, which is all I know, will come back with great results.😢
@@slickdoglong3669why?
@@mrtechie6810seems like a question you could answer using the very internet that you're already on.
@@KenanTurkiyeprick.
I am 72 years old and I am from Croatia. I have seen the picture of this monster in Yugoslavia newspaper when I was maybe 17 years old and I have never forget this motorcycle.
thats awesome. god bless you brother.
💪🤗
Wow 👍🏻
With me it is pretty much the same, except I am from Germany. I am 60 years old.
👍
Honestly, this is one of the best things ive seen this year!! I saw something about the Roadog years ago when all those chopper shows were on tv. Even internet searchs said very little, and the bike was supposedly in a collection. So not just finding it but riding it too, less "training wheels", that experience had to be without words!! Thank you for this!!
I was about 12 years old when I learned about Roadog and Wild Bill.. i saw a picture of it in an encyclopedia and i imagined myself riding it.. then i closed the book and thought I'd never see it or hear it ride..
Thanks to this video, I heard it and saw it in action.. and who better to ride it than someone I hold in such high regard.. Sean.. you "rock" brother.. much love..
Same here,i Saw It in a local motorcycle magazine for unique and historical bike
Omg. You read encyclopedias? Miss those days. Mine were a cheap set from the 80s my mom brought home from work. Remember alot of crazy stuff in them. Didn’t see this though, or remember. Must be 30s or 40s lol
@@sukaenacornelius9285 as true as bob.. it was the Merit Students Encyclopedia set.. to make a short story long, it reached us via an auction bundle.. sure enough, you'll see Wild Bill sitting on The Roadog, and then some normal bikes if you looking up Motorcycle..
@@secondhandbikers so freaking awesome. I think I had the “world” brand. Actually learned long form division from there, it was much more understandable in the books. Had some southwestern encyclopedias too. My parents still have them in Florida, US. Will definitely grab the M book out and see next visit. Already have a few others i want to see. Just curious. Are you 80s/90s kid?
@@sukaenacornelius9285 early 80's.. was introduced to bikes at a very young age.. badly need to get one again cos it's the only thing that soothes my mind and soul..
I often sat with an encyclopedia or the Oxford Thesaurus while having breakfast or lunch..
I saw Bill and that bike twice at my grandparents bar in the early 70s in Ishpeming Michigan . I talked to him myself both times he was nice to me . I was 8 years old .
Wow that’s amazing
Bill said it rode so nice down the road you could shave while riding down the highway
I think the engine was green like the fenders when I saw it , I don't remember any red at all
Ishpeming. Not far from where I live now. Da yoopers tourist trap was fun when I went through as a kid.
@@poopsmith6853 my grandparents bar is now the American legion post 114. That's where I saw the bike and that's where I grew up
It's crazy when he was in the parking lot. As he drove away. The rider got smaller but the bike didn't. That thing is huge.
I'm not a motorcycle guy but this video put a smile on my face... the amazing story of the bike and how it was put back on the road was fantastic. Well done, guys!
What a freakin' beast!! I actually saw a poster of this thing at a couple of dealerships in the past, but never really gave it a thought. You've got a significant piece of American motorcycle history there Sean! Glad you guys actually got it running and rode it for a while!😄🤩👍👍
Dude, this is actually a great episode. It seems like you have taken a step up in production. I love the history and seriousness and story driven episode, not just a "we bought the cheapest/most expensive thing on Amazon". Those videos could be done with anyone with a camera and money, and everyone owns a camera, they're just too broke to do it. This is different, this has history and a story behind it. Buy more one of a kind things with a story, these rare gem videos are awesome!!! God bless brother. I'd like to refer to ROMANS 12:9 for a second with you. "Cling to what is good". These videos are great for you, cling to this style of production.
Thanks my friend
I don't think it's stupid. But I wonder how many beers it took to build it. The engineering is on a whole nother level. If Johnny Cash’s “One Piece at a times” Cadillacs title weighed 20 pounds. How would you even class this monster?😄
That passage is about morality, not things you like. It's not a good idea to take bible verses out of context, many grifters and servants of satan do so to confuse and mislead people. When we do it in innocence, like you did, we make it harder to spot the liars.
I remember seeing this bike in the Guinness Book of World Records back in the 80s. I was just a little kid then, but man did that bike leave a lasting impression on me! Thank you for doing this video, I always wondered what happened to Road Dog.
Thanks for watching
BOOM!! thats where I also first saw it.
Not only is a road trip a requirement, you need to do the four corners on it.
@@BikesandBeards my 1st time seening it ( or a really good clone but kinda dowt it, probably the original as its just to weird for most to copy and hard as well to copycat ) was after work and at the/my miss's/her-girl-friend's/partners home being on the front steps/front-yard going down us30 in overton NE heeding to Kearney ne and thinking o that's clever but ugly 🤮 and "rat-rod themed 🐀", didn't know that it's a 50/60's historically important and $$$ bike or the man behind it ect,
and yes im in a similar situation career wise so i can respect him as a millwright and temptation to transform myself into a full mechanical engineer in the automotive industry or areo-space industry with the goal of mars/going to space/prestige ( and $ ) that comes with those types of achievements
sorry im a proper crocker/indinan/v6/vavllacary-or-v8 ( insert 426/or/440 here ) type individual, and my 1st/only bikes so far are KX125 1990-95*? ( sold it to pay for my wedding 👰ring lolz after high school graduation day/same month ) brain fart-year and my dad's/borrowed goldwing 80's/90's GL1800? gone/sold for mom's kitchen table lolz 😂something about her worrying about me being injured or dad dieing/her being a ( late-90's/2000's ) widow with kids anyways im more into car's/hot-rod's currently as motorcycles 🏍aren't something i have room for ( Idaho/Utah/Montana/Portland-ect* 😉 apartment +roommates and winter and outside only parking ect nowadays, in 2013~ it was different for me as i had a lexington/Lincoln ne rented-home with a small 1-car/tin-Lizzy garage unheated and could actually have seen myself ride/motorcycle to work ect ) and the bigger thing is $$$ so my 60 charger and k1500 win for now
@@irvhh143 that's sad...and a terrible waste. Can't believe the cops shot him.
It deserves a place in history and recognition in the motorcycle world. The builder drove it 20,000 miles the first year he built it. I'd imagine it's like flying a plane at ground level. Something has to come from the thought of the first of the boss hoss. I've always wanted something insane like that, I would be buried sitting on it after the accident.
Sean, I’ve got an idea for you. We have a legendary motorcyclist / snowmobile racer / drag racer up here in Mn named Marv Jorgensen.
The guy is the Evel Knievel of the Midwest.
I think it would be awesome if a TH-camr with your level of nostalgia and motorcycle knowledge would do a interview with Marv.
He was a Boss Hoss dealer and still rides like a teenager running from the law as he moves through the retirement years.
It would be great for us to hear his story and have it in a digital memory bank for all future generations.
That sounds more like an idea for you
This was one of the scariest bikes I had ever ridden. Who thinks I need to road trip this bike ?
I would definitely watch a " Roadog Road Trip" video!
Absolutely not I like your videos lol and want to keep watching them
YES
#25 on trending, congrats!
would not want to miss a road trip with it ! Awesome video ! Crazy machine !
I thought the road dog was housed at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa Iowa? I saw and took pictures of it there.
The museum recently closed which may explain the availability of the bike.
They closed the museum and auctioned the bike 😢
It's actually true! The prophecy has been fulfilled!!! Most manliest motorcycle ever, I'm about 99.7% Sean's beard grew 1 inch as soon as he sat on that bike... 😂
Hahaha at least an inch
Seems to me that it was the same when he got off it as it was when he got on... Maybe it was not the beard that grew :D
That is pretty wild. I hope the owner of the other bike reaches out and you are able to get the 2 of them back together again.
For a race, of course. We have to know which one is faster.
Of course lol
@@fenrir7969 if Matt was riding the other one, id have to put my money on him to win. Sean is a great rider but Matt is fearless!
I am a retired Army 1SG (w/the MOS 52E) after retiring I was a field service technician for Detroit Diesel. I only worked on marine generators, land based generators and marine propulsion units. I always found that a crescent wrench and a hammer/bigger hammer always got the job done. Unless the engineers on the M/Y and Super Yachts were around. 👍🤙🤙🤙
Ok.
Two really genuine good guys w/ a father looking down on his son with a huge smile. RIP Dale . Thanks for another great video + scripture
The Roadog. Insane. You sure got the attention of folks at Wheels Through Time. Matts such a great guy and always so positive and helpful. Congratulations on your purchase.
I had the Roadog poster in my shop for years. I looked at it so long that vertical photos and posters didnt make sense to me anymore. When you have to landscape a motorcycle picture to even attempt getting the true length in the photo, you know you have a road train.
I am pretty sure the Roadog, JJ El Diablo and Indian Larry with Daddy-O were the only posters framed that followed me in all my shops for every move. They still reside in my home shop. Good find Sean.
You gotta admit that Orange County Choppers make really nice motorcycle themed flower, lawn and vegetable garden art. 😂 I know a guy who attached his mailbox to a bike he bought at OCC at the end of his driveway. 😂 The OCC warranty expired before it reached the end of the driveway, so the guy improvised the use for his OCC junk pile. It's now a mailbox holder decoration. 😅
Congrats Sean! Some might not get it… But this is part of American motorcycle history! 🇺🇸🇺🇸
yeah, I wouldn't crow about that tbh
@@BN1960 it’s like getting a old car from history
*I sat on this bike in 2000 (Chicago). Buzz was in the other room and I jumped on.*
*Torque effect steering issue is well known in helos and balanced on a twin rotor (spinning opposite). You might be able to mount an opposite side dummy driveshaft that spun opposite direction to balance that out. Maybe it's a simple design like a drill or angle grinder hidden in the frame with a flexible shaft (mandrel) extension driving another unconnected shaft on the left side.*
I don’t see it as a part of motorcycle history, I see it as the creation of a confused individual. Someone obviously wanted a car, but just didn’t know that they could use more than 2 wheels. It isn’t fast, doesn’t handle good, doesn’t look cool, isn’t comfortable to ride or anything that is important in a motorcycle. It’s the dumbest failure at making a motorcycle in recorded history. It has no value except for showing how dumb the creator was.
@@adamr9215 found the guy who's GF he stole XD
Love all of the people helping. Looks like everyone had a great time.
I am using this to help me. I know this video is only 2 month old, but for 5 months I have thought of this motorcycle, but postponed looking up video's on this motorcycle, but my life changed 3 days ago, and now more than ever, this video can help me, because this motorcycle takes me back to my teenage years, and I can really rally race, and live vicariously through my heart. Have a Beautiful Day!!! Lightworker and Energy Healer, Kelly
I’m so happy for you man. Building your legacy like this. Hopefully I can run into you at wheels through time at some point and shake your hand. You’re a inspiration. So is Matt.
My father in law met Bill several times while he worked at a hydraulic shop in Brookfield Illinois. He would stop in for supplies or to fix something and show them the bike and talk about it for quite a while. In the mid 90’s, I was at a toy run in Batavia Illinois and Wallneck’s brought it on a trailer and fired it up. Pretty wild to see in person!
THAT was fantastic. I remember seeing Wild Bill's picture decades ago, I can't believe the AWESOME bikes you "stumble" on to. RIP Dale from Wheels Through Time, Matt's doing a great job carrying on the legacy!
Some guys take their TH-cam money and waste it on a super car and run it through a cornfield, others buy big bore elephant guns that are painful to shoot. But not Sean, he buys motorcycles that are almost impossible to ride. Love it, keep it up.
You bashing whistling diesel and Kentucky ballistics? Lol
@@zandersmith2466pretty sure those were both direct @ them lol. Way too specific
Just saying
Super cars corn fields I only know of one
How is Kentucky wasting money when that’s the content he makes😭😭
I'm extremely excited that it's gonna stay at Matt's museum. That's American motorcycle history in one exhibit. Thanks for picking it up!
Discover your channel recently and i'm just loving it ! I'm not an ultimate motorcycle fan, but the way you present, the content, everything makes it to me very enjoyable to watch ! Thanks ! Love from France.
Super Cool to share this with Mat, and it was good to see Buzz and Trudy!
We all shake our head when special memories are born.
Wish I could have been there.
Thanks for keeping this Bike alive and filming it.
I'm amazed that you actually pulled that one off. I hope you loan it to Wheels Through Time when you're done with it. It deserves to be shared.
I love how this bike was able to gather so many people around it. The sheer amount of positivity surrounding it is so nice to watch.
I remember seeing pics of this bike 40 years ago, might have been in easyrider mag, utter legend. One of your best videos ever, glad Roadog is in good hands.
Wild bill was a good friend of mine. He built a few bike engines for me. He was the king of I35. We made many runs from Larado tx to Grand island Nebraska and there we would redistribute to other bikers. This is how it got around a long long time ago.
Redistribute what?
@@SixOhFiveNewspaper
@@SixOhFive Bibles, of course.
Wow it takes like 10 guys to replace 1 Craig 😅
Holy heck, Sean! That's a huge piece of biker history. This is amazing.
Ugh
Seeing you and Matt on that mythical unicorn brought a little tear to my eye. Good job telling the story and keeping some intrigue. Some things are better kept as legends!
When I was 14YRS old my cousin 16 yrs in south western Penna where we grew up at for some long forgotten reason we was driving on Pa Turn Pike travellIng west just beyond the last tunnel and that thing pulled up a beside
us not in a hurry, slowly passing. It was like seeing a dragon ,we didn't have words for it and just to hard to explain to anyone later. It was many years
until we found out what passed us by,
That thing is surprisingly QUIET. Wasn’t expecting that. Crazy😳
4 bangers for ya 😂
The exhaust is longer in this bike then the car it was originally designed for lol
I still can't figure out why this guy thought that was the best long haul bike its a handful heavy an under powered
@@adamthomas4638 sounds like a perfect idea! I did a cannonball in my truck without ac in May Missouri made my windshield green 😂😂
@@adamthomas4638 I'm assuming most of his long haul riding was out west lol
id have to say matt is one of the nicest people i have seen on youtube. he just seems like it would be a joy to be around him, even if it was only for 10 minutes. and sean and matt together, they look like they have known each other most of their lives!
Hanging out with Matt is always a blast, and he is genuinely that awesome
@@BikesandBeards get the original Boss Hoss and I will be impressed
Re: :scariest. Absolutely, I was uneasy just watching you plus that busy road! I think most of us have seen that iconic photo. Thanks for preserving history. The bike belongs in a museum. Have your fun with it and then think about donating it for future generations to admire . Thanks!
He was going to slow, I understand the caution, but at a point you are just increasing the risk of something happening. Like anything on a bike, commit, and there is a speed to do it at.
The one thing I really like about Sean is his messages are positive, not heavy or negative. It helps make it easier to understand and receive.
sometimes not so accurate but nobody is perfect, yeah a little hard to take sometimes but whatever
I'm so glad these legendary pieces of history will not be shoved in some garage of a private collection not to be seen on the road again!
CONGRATULATIONS on your new acquisitions. I hope too see more videos of them in the future.
The history, and the bikes themselves, are very awesome, and actually works of art.
Bill's story, up until his premature demise, is extremely interesting.
What an Engineer and Fabricator he was!
This video was just suggested to me.... What a blast from the past. I bought my first car from Buzz back in 1994. It was a 1978 Buick Electra 225. He showed me his garage full of bikes, along with this bike on a trailer in his driveway. It definitely looks better today than I remember it! Glad to see it moving!
😂 That is the ONLY bike two men can ride on together without people laughing 😂
I am pretty positive society doesn't care about two dudes riding a bike. It 2023 not the 1990's
@@DPRKSupremeLeaderKim These kind of riders usually aren't very liberal.
@@DPRKSupremeLeaderKim it will forever be called peter packing and it will forever be gay.
Maybe in your world, here you go, have a Bud Light.@@DPRKSupremeLeaderKim
@@daleyfun2247It's ok to be gay. Besides, bikers and bears are basically indistinguishable
I really enjoy your videos of you and Matt together....now that you are in Tennessee it's not that far away.... Wheels Through Time is an incredible place ....it's a shame Dale isn't there to share in these wonderful memories/videos with you guys.
Did I miss you giving out the specs? Engine, manufacturer, displacement, carburetor? Shorter version of that bike and my neighborhood with a GM 350 mounted sideways. Kickstand on side of motor block.
Killer bike, great video.
This was so cool!!!! Looks like you had fun! I want to thank you for that verse you posted in your vid. I have been dealing with a lot lately, and that verse came right on time! Thank you for all that you do and for your vids! May God continue to bless you!
God works in mysterious ways
Epic episode as usual. Love Roadog but I can't tell you how much I love seeing Maggie Valley every time you go visit Matt. My grandparents lived here when I was a kid and some of my fondest memories are right there in town. Can't wait to get back up there some day, especially to check out Wheels Through Time!!
Just seen this episode and as soon as it started to rumble to life i had a HUGE smile on my face after a really crappy day so a really big thank you to BAB'S. Peace out brother and keep sunny side up. kind regards Daz and my Dog Max from the East coast of the UK
Turning left vs turning right - gyroscopics. It will always turn easier in the direction of engine rotation. Loving the concept and execution of Roadog
There is more than one mechanic in the world, was looking to see if someone besides me picked up on that. Good job.
Or would it be the opposite? For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction.
Most auto engine crankshafts turn counter-clockwise when viewed from the rear looking directly at the flywheel. That would mean turning left is in the direction of crankshaft rotation. At 11:15 you can see the crankshaft spining toward the left (counterclockwise) if you are facing forward.
Imagine dropping by Wheels Through Time and finding Sean and Matt working on this thing. Watching Matt ride that thing was awesome. Sean should have gotten on the back...it's a two seater.
Someone didn’t watch through the end of the video…
Me and my buddy were there too. We rode from SC to see the museum. I didn’t get to watch the filming as much as I would have liked cause the museum was awesome.
I have watched sooo many of your videos. 1st I want to say that I have loved every single video. They are fun, I have learned a ton. However this video has to be (by far) the coolest, most fun video to date. The history, your friends bringing together their knowledge to get involved and work on this. This was such a fun entertaining video. Thank you all for this, it really made my day and put my into a great mood🙌
Great way to start a Friday! I knew Jack Parham had one of the Roadogs and figured it would rot there in the museum. I'm glad you were able to rescue it and get it running. You may have even made Jay Leno jealous. I'm sure he would have wanted it. Good job!
John Parham
@@Ari-pw6nu he also went by Jack.
@@robcreel4257Yeah, Jack was always a nickname for John. But my uncle was JACK by birth (christened as such) and my aunty insisted on calling him John because that was the "proper" name... drove us mad! 😂😂
Amazing.
Regarding the feeling of being off-center... This is one of those rare situations that your programmed-in sense of balance isn't accurate. Once you let that go, and used visual cues, the RoaDog was rideable. Congratulations to you and everyone who contributed to this project, is is oh so worth it, as would be agreed by motorcycle enthusiasts the world over. YAY!
That and you have the jacks…
Needs to be in a Mad Max movie Gaslands written all over it, just saying, awesome stuff loving it 😊❤🎉
Cheers 🍺🍻🍺🍻KC Cradle Mountain Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺🤝🇺🇸👍✌
Absolutely legendary! So glad you guys documented this!!
I’m sitting in Frankfurt airport waiting on a flight and this is the best way to wait. Seeing Sean and Matt ride Road dog is an amazing thing to see.
Do a road trip with Matt now, please.
Oh man, ive seen pics of this beast pop up on the internet for years!
This is so cool seeing it on the B&B channel with all the history, mechanics and character of this machine on full display!
Very cool Sean, one of your all time great conquests I think. You and Matt are now officially in the smallest and most selective motorcycle club in the world, those who have ridden the RoadDog, Congrats!!
Agreed, I think more people have walked on the moon, [12] than have ridden that bike.
I remember reading about Road Dog in Cycle World magazine more than once. I do wonder what would have happened to the U.S. touring motorcycle if Gelbke had lived. He was just starting initial production of the revised machine, which was shorter, lighter, and just as capable as a gas-sipping long-haul ride.
Sean, thank you for the amazing bike stories you keep sharing.
What an incredibly insane bike this is, I do envy you people in the States for still being able to put this monstrosity to the streets and take it for a spin, 'cause german authorities would never let that happen.
In germany we have this guy that goes by the name of Rötger "Brösel" Feldmann, who is not only the artist of the "Werner" comic books and movies series, but also a full-on lunatic when it comes to building motorcycles from scratch. You should have a look at the "Satte Literschüssel", a bike with a 1000ccm engine that has a wooden frame and a shovel head for a seat, as well as the "Red Porsche Killer", a drag racing bike with 152 bhp built in 1988 and the "Dolmette", which is powered by 24(!!!) synchronized chainsaw motors. Even though the videos about Brösel and his builds are in german they might be worth taking a look at for bike-crazed people like there are in this community.
Greetings from Germany.
My gosh, that put a smile on my face! I've been knowing about Wild Bill and RoadDog since the late sixty's. He also had a line of bikes for sale called the Gelbke Four, and there is at least one still in existence. Wild Bill would ride RoadDog and those riding with him couldn't keep up! He rode it fast. The engine was a four cylinder called an iron mike. Would love to see that bike in person some day. Bucket list 😁😎
well, it does look like it was made for a 7'2 guy, lol. Controlling it probably wasn't an issue for that guy.
Gelbke was Bill's last name?
German, Eastern European ancestry?
His parents know Albert Einstein in late 1930s?
Iron Duke.
@@rhigh100 correct,my bad.
27:43 this cut was really funny, we saw you struggle to do literally anything then, boom matt straight up rolling on that like it's nothing
So unexpected, yet so hilarious lol
This was such a fun video to watch. I'm kinda new to motorcycles (didn't grow up in the MC Co culture and started riding in my late 50s) but I love the stuff you guys do. I'm really gaining an appreciation or fascination for these old machines.
Always awesome when Matt shares his knowledge.
Awesome video as always brotha!! That bike is a behemoth!!! Love that all your videos have a bible verse in them!! Keep up the great work and killer content!! God bless you and your family!
I saw this bike once in Peoria Illinois. It wasn't running at that time. It was on a trailer. The owner was accepting donations for a badly needed restoration. I can say the bike looks so much better in your video than it did when i saw it. I believe it has four hydraulic jacks that will hold the bike up when you pull up to a stop.
Saw this thing in up close and in person at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa a few years ago. It's a complete heap. The welds look like they were all done with a stick welder and bubble gum. Terrifying piece of motorcycle history that I wouldn't ride if you paid me. Too bad the museum had to close, but it's good to see this get a new life.
I made the trip there in May. A wonderful but sad experience knowing they were closing 😢
Weld quality doesn’t matter as much when you have that much steel. A bad weld will still have a considerable safety margin. Bill did serious miles on it. I would be far more concerned with the geometry and basic handling issues.
Motorcyclist Magazine did an article on this bike in 1995 written by Frank Burns or Mitch Boehm. Fascinating article.
It was a great article.
SUPER! Thank you so much for this! You guys rock and this makes so much fun to watch! PLease keep up the good work and stay as sympathetic as you are! 🙂
That bike is important to motorcycle history. I do believe that should be an a museum and that just hidden away by one person. I can’t stand seeing rich people take work and hoarding them and hiding them just for their own pleasure when they should be shared with the world.
Putting extensive videos and deep dives on it online like this are the next best thing. More access to more people. There are few museums that actually put good quality videos online for people that can't travel to them
Now this is a legendary status video! 😮
You have one of the best channels I've ever run across. Love motorcycles, though I've never ridden. Currently building a motorized bicycle (not the same, I know). I just want you to know you and Craig are my favorite motorcycle content creators.
You guys have no idea....I have wanted to own this bike since I was a little boy. Every since I saw that photograph of Wild Bill.
Hands down the best scooter story EVER! Thanks bearded one!
Matt is the KING for being one of the first dudes to master the Road Dog. Awesome Mathew.
he really is
This is one of the coolest episodes you've uploaded. Thanks for chasing down the roaddog and sharing it with the world
Awesome video, always love the videos with Matt involved! He is such a wealth of knowledge and genuine guy!!
That's a very crazy bike. I can't wait to see you try to ride it. The scariest bike I ever owned was a Suzuki 550 GT, 3 cylinder 2 stroke or the 500 Huskervarna Stadium bike. Riding that engine at least once is a wonderful experience people can only imagine or dream about. Super cool to share with us.
The image of all those people moving that beast of a bike will live with me forever, what a crazy machine it is.
this looks like somthing from a mad max movie
Fuel Moto is 14 minutes south of me & Doc's Harley Davidson is 19 minutes north of me. I frequent both establishments. Doc's is an amazing place & I have family who rent out areas for private parties with bands. They have such cool bikes from all throughout history. Mainly all HD bikes of course. An airplane with a radial engine with all jugs from the various generations up to EVO
World's first two wheeled lorry.
🏆So damn cool🇺🇲you should have been riding it back🦋✌️
Fun Fact: "Road Dog" is what we call my ex wife... 😂😂😂
Let the fact that this rides better than the Orange County Chopper bikes sink in lol
I worked at Doc’s Harley in WI and he had the Roadog there in his collection. They filmed an episode of “What’s in the Barn” at the dealership. Very cool to see it again, but I know it was running in 2016 or 2017 because the owner of the dealership was riding it around the property.
I've got that image in my shop. I bought it out of Walneck's - I miss that publication. If I remember correctly it was a platform Goelbke used to create the Goelbke Autofour. I think he made and sold about 7 or 8 of them. As the story goes, he wanted to build reliable bikes that people could take on long journeys.
Love your work usually Sean but this was just great. I just felt good about the world when I finished watching this. There was a lot of community getting this thing running, and the history was really really interesting. So much ingenuity on display. Would have loved to have been one of those Harley guys at the end although if I had been I would have crashed mine. How do you process seeing something like that on the road? Thanks for making my evening so much better!
That motorcycle was in a museum in Maquoketa Iowa that recently close and sold all the stuff inside, I personally saw it this summer, the label with the museum auction barcode can be seen on the head lamps when the new battery and switch is being tested.
Two RoaDogs were built. I saw the other one on display at the Field Museum in Chicago sometime in the '90s. It's presently in the motorcycle museum whose collection it came from for that display at Field.
15 minutes in and still no mention of the hydraulic cylinders on it. I suspect it's to help hold it upright at stops.
Dec 12 2013 it was ridden. I do remember seing it on some show. I'm sure the info is out there and someone will reach out to you through the magic of youtube. Thanks for all your video's You give a lot of us a lot of joy.
Swear to god you look exactly like a guy I was friends with while attending MMI. The familiar feeling made me go through your past vids, and I gotta say you have some sweet content! Subbed!
My grandfather wrote for Walneck's Magazine so neat to see you talk about it! His name is Jerry Barnett they even published a book of his motorcycle stories.
When I saw the photo I realized I had seen it before and thought the guy sitting on it was out of his mind; then I realized he probably was. This is the coolest video you've done so far. Wow!
Ive been meaning to go to Wheels Through Time, I live 30 minutes away. Also I recognized Ghost Town in the Sky parking lot immediately. Cool to have you here visiting Haywood County, wish I would have known.
Way back I rode one of the last years Wild Bill rode a couple hundred miles with him in South Dakota. The man’s a legend. God bless you!