When you wake up and your first thought is "I got to write this down & draw it while it's fresh" is true passion. This is what the John Harman thoughts, imagination and brain did, while sleeping. It was still working. That is something you have or don't. He did and I thank him for it! It's what David Mann did in paintings, that John did in metal. That is a high praise! 😢 DK, ASE Master Tech since 78.
I bought a Harmon front end in 1974 put it on 39 Knuck ride it to Los Angels and back from Oklahoma. I still have the front end on a hard tail frame with an Evo engine now. Also right before I came back to Oklahoma in 1969 or so my brother- in law painted my 48 Ford four door season at Denver Mullins dad home shop. Fun time of life.
Chris Cornell had the soul of a 70's gospel singer with the depth of a Great Songwriter and lyricist like Dylan. The similarities between Chris Cornell and Bob Dylan are more then just their lyrics, it is also they have mothers that are semetic. Anyway, yeh Harmons designs are excellent.
I had the pleasure of having some old Harman parts passed down through the years from my grandfather and father am in the process of finishing up a custom build with one of his frames and front ends can not wait. Peace love God Bless
I didn,t know the Harman story until now,Shifter from Australia brought over a couple of 120 cuin Harman motors in bikes to New Zealand in the early 90s for the City of Cycles motorcycle show in Auckland they were a very impressive engine,I always knew they were something special,THANKYOU FOR THE STORY AND VID,GREAT COMMENTARY , VIDEOGRAPHY AND EDITING,BEST WISHES TO YOU ALL,FROM, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐👍👍👍👍👍✅✅✅✅✅❤❤❤❤❤💯%
I just watched your video and it was so moving You friend John sounds like he was a real good friend So sad he passed so early Your video really touched me thinking back in the day Thanks for sharing God Bless Rip John
All is not lost. There is freedom today. Just keep your business to yourself. Do what you want just do talk about it. long as you ain't hurting nobody what does it matter.
I used that same front end on a 30 over chopper I built. Met Jesse James once at S&S 50th in Lacrosse, WI. got a picture of him holding my son, about a year old at that time. He's 13 now..Anyway was a really cool expeirence, enjoyed being in the show. Bike came out awesome, love that front end..😁 great video...
I started my career in 79 as v-twin engine and chopper builder and John Harmon was a big inspiration for myself and a fellow brother of mine,in our day John was the man! R.I.P. BROTHER
The clean and sleek look to front end...makes you say wow.. looks like a piece of art....wish I could've drank some good beer and talked bikes with that guy ...he is clearly missed. Would love too hear some more stories about this awesome dude.
I'm riding my Harley 40 years, I never heard of this genius And you my love we're on that Hartail? I know he opened it up He trusted his work,What did your family say When you pull up in front of your house? I bet your Is the Lordwas i Having ittle problem one day ,he said I need a professional . Wow what a story thank you for sharing
Very nice video. I proudly own a harman chopper, original harman frame and fork 1974 building, 1949 panhead engine, coming from Bone's Legacy collection.
5 ปีที่แล้ว
What did you pay for that thing? Must have been a pretty penny!!
I knew John in the early 60s went to the same high school in Carmichael cal. . Great guy , he had built a auston healy sprite with a small block chevy in it . He inspired me to build a 27 t bucket roadster , and he had a real nice 23 t bucket. I think about John often.
I remember John Harmons Legacy, I grew up in Roseville, CA. My father bought a Harmon Bike It had a Rigid Frame and Girder forks. I remember my father entered it in the Sacramento Autrama and won a trophy on it. Next to the bike I currently own, which is a 2008 Big Dog Ridgeback, that John Harmon bike was the Coolist Bike I'd ever seen. I never met John But have lots of respect for this man. John Harmon R.I.P. You Rocked! 3:)
Found an early Harmon big block catalog from the old daze and thought I'd check to see if there were any videos by chance. That's cool. Thx. for putting together a tribute video for John...Ride on...
Stan DeShaun...Used to make Girder front Ends out of his Shop in Vallejo Cali....Stan was one of those Small Shops like John's...I loved going in there and he'd turn you loose to Dig through his Shop looking for who knows what...This was back in the Early 70s...Arlen had one of those shops in San Leandro on East 14..I miss those Shops but at 65 I'm still Riding a 07 Streetglide with 60 Thou and they don't break Down much but back then you'd go to a Shop like John's and Spend $50 and now you go to the Dealer and Spend $300...🤔🤔🤔🤔I think of those Days all the time....I started out at 12 Riding a Yamaha 80,Bsa 441, Yamaha 360 MX, 69 Sport ,74 Shovel and a few others and Now my 07 Streetglide and Probably my Last Bike do to Health reasons...But who Knows....🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Stan DeShaun built a 80" stroker lower end for my '57 pan. His shop was on DeShaun Way. Watched him fire up his HD overhead cam dragster with rollers under the rear wheel. That thing reved quicker than any big twin at the time. This was in the late '60s. The shops on Valencia St., S.F. happening then. Years ago I heard Stan had a museum in Oregon.
Extended forks were done out by Motorcycle state inspection. I was on the verge of buying an Easy Rider Bike/ Captin America replica then it struck me, oh shit! that fucking inspection. With all the smokies in my town I wouldn't make it 10 miles down the highway!
Bought a Harmon front end from John around 1975 + -swear it was out of a little shop in Stockton had to modify it a couple times for a 64 900 sportter magnitobest thing was the front end great man great man
@@chopperman8042 I think they have dug us all too deep to ever be like it was in the 70s n 80s brother! These kids now a days with the phones for best friends n none of them are building anything with their hands....sad
@Conan-the-Barbarian Bryant-420 I hear ya but the key word being a "few"....guys who build and fabricate....dying breed and art! Once Gen X is gone....its over....besides everythings going electric....ill pass on that lol
I bought 2 Harman motors from John, Grand Prix racing a street version 120 cu in and a race version . I still have the the 120 sold the 132 to West coast choppers a few years back. John also made me a drag bike frame for a 5 speed maybe his first . Gary Stroud 219-464-8391
God I love these choppers. Except I don't have enough money to buy one. I will buy one of those one day. They re worth giving a try. They look devilishly good.
Where did those days go well hopefully they will never return. Harman's motorcycles would look and go much better with good reliable Yamaha V twin engine.
What a great story Plain and simple and that was a genius I don't think He did it for the money. Never heard of him , Today were Subject to Orange County chopper And Jesse James I don't care what they say about him I don't like one bite that he Built. And you sweetheart no disrespect you hung on the back of that Hard tail, I know he open that bad boy up , running like a free train.
HI HE WILL BE MIST . HE WAS A ASOME FABCATER AND BIKE BILDER I WOULD HAVE LOVE TO HAD THE PRIVLIED TO HAD ONE BUT THAT MY DREEM.IS LEGSEY WILL LIVE ON GOD BLESS GARY
Rob Baughman 1 minute ago Roger, I’m not an expert by no means, the best answer I have is that the rear tire pushes the motorcycle. The transfer of power, from the engine to the ground is done through the rear tire.
Rip old buddy,at least he was alive in a time of true bad ass bikers not in the midst of this PC culture bull shit.I bet he knew his gender and his role in this world.he is missed
Im 76 yrs old and a much younger Jessie James has become my hero the older he gets,his wide range of skills hes mastered is insane,ive mastered 3 of the skilled trades Jessie has mastered but it took me 50 yrs ,im always amazed how hollywood will no longer make tv shows about what Jessie James is currently interested in over political correctness bullcrap ,anybody else long to see Monster Garage and his Bike Shop show brought back along with his custom firearm & silencer business ?
When you wake up and your first thought is "I got to write this down & draw it while it's fresh" is true passion. This is what the John Harman thoughts, imagination and brain did, while sleeping. It was still working. That is something you have or don't. He did and I thank him for it! It's what David Mann did in paintings, that John did in metal. That is a high praise! 😢
DK, ASE Master Tech since 78.
I bought a Harmon front end in 1974 put it on 39 Knuck ride it to Los Angels and back from Oklahoma. I still have the front end on a hard tail frame with an Evo engine now. Also right before I came back to Oklahoma in 1969 or so my brother- in law painted my 48 Ford four door season at Denver Mullins dad home shop. Fun time of life.
I was born in 74' my first car was a motorcycle! Great comment man!
Fear No EVO 🇺🇸
Chris Cornell had the soul of a 70's gospel singer with the depth of a Great Songwriter and lyricist like Dylan. The similarities between Chris Cornell and Bob Dylan are more then just their lyrics, it is also they have mothers that are semetic. Anyway, yeh Harmons designs are excellent.
They aren't bike's, they're works of art.☘☘
Rip
I had the pleasure of having some old Harman parts passed down through the years from my grandfather and father am in the process of finishing up a custom build with one of his frames and front ends can not wait. Peace love God Bless
I didn,t know the Harman story until now,Shifter from Australia brought over a couple of 120 cuin Harman motors in bikes to New Zealand in the early 90s for the City of Cycles motorcycle show in Auckland they were a very impressive engine,I always knew they were something special,THANKYOU FOR THE STORY AND VID,GREAT COMMENTARY , VIDEOGRAPHY AND EDITING,BEST WISHES TO YOU ALL,FROM, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐👍👍👍👍👍✅✅✅✅✅❤❤❤❤❤💯%
John Harman and Sugar Bear. My favorite styles of long bikes. Period. I would love to see the crazy shit he'd be able to come up with today.
we need more John harmans walking the earth. great talent my favorite style of choppers 🤘
I just watched your video and it was so moving
You friend John sounds like he was a real good friend
So sad he passed so early
Your video really touched me thinking back in the day
Thanks for sharing
God Bless
Rip John
I would have loved to of lived back then so much more freedom.
All is not lost. There is freedom today. Just keep your business to yourself. Do what you want just do talk about it. long as you ain't hurting nobody what does it matter.
@@bigwu100 EXACTLY.
I used that same front end on a 30 over chopper I built. Met Jesse James once at S&S 50th in Lacrosse, WI. got a picture of him holding my son, about a year old at that time. He's 13 now..Anyway was a really cool expeirence, enjoyed being in the show. Bike came out awesome, love that front end..😁 great video...
I started my career in 79 as v-twin engine and chopper builder and John Harmon was a big inspiration for myself and a fellow brother of mine,in our day John was the man!
R.I.P. BROTHER
This guy was my hero as a kid, my Shovel will never be as clean as his bikes, but whilst he still inspires us, John lives!
The clean and sleek look to front end...makes you say wow.. looks like a piece of art....wish I could've drank some good beer and talked bikes with that guy ...he is clearly missed. Would love too hear some more stories about this awesome dude.
I recall reading that article about the 120ci shovel head engine. RIP Mr Harmon, you were a true enthusiast.
John was a true visionary and it is a real shame that he left this world too soon.
when America was america
Indeed. GReat america
I hear you brother! Seems like things are getting worse. Cheers and God Bless
So glad to stumble upon this video. Great stuff. Thanks for posting
Just came across this video. Awesome. The good die young. The best die younger. Quite a legacy.
I'm riding my Harley 40 years, I never heard of this genius And you my love we're on that Hartail? I know he opened it up He trusted his work,What did your family say When you pull up in front of your house? I bet your Is the Lordwas i Having ittle problem one day ,he said I need a professional . Wow what a story thank you for sharing
I can’t watch this enough. Great tribute to John. Gone to soon
Very nice video. I proudly own a harman chopper, original harman frame and fork 1974 building, 1949 panhead engine, coming from Bone's Legacy collection.
What did you pay for that thing? Must have been a pretty penny!!
I was good up until the good dad part, mine left me at 12 & him at 42 his 55FLH is all I got now with a lifetime of memories💙
I knew John in the early 60s went to the same high school in Carmichael cal. . Great guy , he had built
a auston healy sprite with a small block chevy in it . He inspired me to build a 27 t bucket roadster , and he had a real nice 23 t bucket. I think about John often.
Hey Rob! , Thanks for sharing this great story .
I remember John Harmons Legacy, I grew up in Roseville, CA. My father bought a Harmon Bike It had a Rigid Frame and Girder forks. I remember my father entered it in the Sacramento Autrama and won a trophy on it. Next to the bike I currently own, which is a 2008 Big Dog Ridgeback, that John Harmon bike was the Coolist Bike I'd ever seen. I never met John But have lots of respect for this man. John Harmon R.I.P. You Rocked! 3:)
Found an early Harmon big block catalog from the old daze and thought I'd check to see if there were any videos by chance.
That's cool. Thx. for putting together a tribute video for John...Ride on...
I'm lucky enough to live down the street from where his original shop was in Roseville California
I have often wondered what part of Roseville he was in as I grew up in Roseville and I had No clue?
Where are all those bikes that where made in the 70's? I sure would like to have one.
th-cam.com/video/SOcNkjUCZ-8/w-d-xo.html
I'd love a panhead chopper
Choppers
Stan DeShaun...Used to make Girder front Ends out of his Shop in Vallejo Cali....Stan was one of those Small Shops like John's...I loved going in there and he'd turn you loose to Dig through his Shop looking for who knows what...This was back in the Early 70s...Arlen had one of those shops in San Leandro on East 14..I miss those Shops but at 65 I'm still Riding a 07 Streetglide with 60 Thou and they don't break Down much but back then you'd go to a Shop like John's and Spend $50 and now you go to the Dealer and Spend $300...🤔🤔🤔🤔I think of those Days all the time....I started out at 12 Riding a Yamaha 80,Bsa 441, Yamaha 360 MX, 69 Sport ,74 Shovel and a few others and Now my 07 Streetglide and Probably my Last Bike do to Health reasons...But who Knows....🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
keep on riding brother nice little story , i am 42 building my second bike, started riding a little late in life at 20 years old.
Stan Dishong could get a knucklehead to haul ass.
Gotta give a tip of the hat to Windy Lindstrum and Cliff Self of Oakland and Hap Jones of San Francisco too.
Stan DeShaun built a 80" stroker lower end for my '57 pan. His shop was on DeShaun Way. Watched him fire up his HD overhead cam dragster with rollers under the rear wheel. That thing reved quicker than any big twin at the time. This was in the late '60s. The shops on Valencia St., S.F. happening then. Years ago I heard Stan had a museum in Oregon.
Wonderful video of one of the foremost pioneers in Chopper Land, thanks for this video.
His greatest legacy is that he was a great father to his son.
That is true for all good fathers and mothers!
Great story I love it.
My buddy just scored a hermen motor for 1000 bucks there still out there
Thanks John for your gift's
Great information of a profectionist thank you very much for this vid
Amazing ..bikes ..so classic ..Viva California ..
Great video. Wish I could of hung out with him.
I did , he was a great guy
The more valuable John Harman got , was his Wife, company him everywere and support him permanent. Thanks for this great historical clip.!
A great pioneer !
"Iron American Dream" on TH-cam.
Iron and Steel that's what makes life real.
I've always wondered why no one else kept that front end alive. I well remember seeing the ads in Street Chopper.
Extended forks were done out by Motorcycle state inspection. I was on the verge of buying an Easy Rider Bike/ Captin America replica then it struck me,
oh shit! that fucking inspection. With all the smokies in my town I wouldn't make it 10 miles down the highway!
Bought a Harmon front end from John around 1975 + -swear it was out of a little shop in Stockton had to modify it a couple times for a 64 900 sportter magnitobest thing was the front end great man great man
Internal springs
very , very good !!!
Nice Bikes
The good ole days of this country are over! RIP Mr Harmon!
Trump is trying to bring it back
@@chopperman8042 I think they have dug us all too deep to ever be like it was in the 70s n 80s brother! These kids now a days with the phones for best friends n none of them are building anything with their hands....sad
Yeah real sad......what happened?
@@1941392 Technology! Double edge sword!
@Conan-the-Barbarian Bryant-420 I hear ya but the key word being a "few"....guys who build and fabricate....dying breed and art! Once Gen X is gone....its over....besides everythings going electric....ill pass on that lol
Really cool 😎 video 👍🏻🤘🏻
good video
"pro chopper" hell yeah
R.I.P. John Hartman.
Access on you tube "The BPM's". It's a great biker song. You'll adore it.
Great story, sad ending.
Wouldve been better without Jesse James
Ride on 👍☮️🏁
Access on you tube "The BPM's". It's a magnificent biker song from Easy Rider. Adore it.
Legacy Lives On!!!
Nice bikes ! A good man gone waaaaay to soon !
Way ahead of his time.
@2:07, is that Grass Valley? I just moved there.
I bought 2 Harman motors from John, Grand Prix racing a street version 120 cu in and a race version . I still have the the 120 sold the 132 to West coast choppers a few years back. John also made me a drag bike frame for a 5 speed maybe his first . Gary Stroud 219-464-8391
John Harmon,,and John Britten somewhere in the Universe talking about making the ultimate machine,,,.
Nice
can't believe there are some thumbs down - really ? what a great man
🇳🇿New Zealand🇳🇿 1st Time I heard of HARMON was the Engine 110cc stock in BIG RED ARLEN NESS BALANCE SO SMOOTH🇺🇸🇺🇸
Google "The BPM's Jeff Morris Official Video." It's a great biker song from Easy Rider. You'll adore it.
access "judge rex d. stacey." then see that judge go mental and in a cartoon moon
Google "The BPM's Jeff Morris Official Video." It's a great biker song. You'll love it. Give it a chance.
God I love these choppers. Except I don't have enough money to buy one. I will buy one of those one day. They re worth giving a try.
They look devilishly good.
Black-Metal-Mark-666
You don’t “buy” a chopper you build them.
@@abehatt7887 Im no mechanic and I have zero experience. PS buying different parts is time consuming and I live a busy life. I work.
I was reading the wrong magazines, I guess I was too far north.
Now i know what my next bike will be!
I bet this is where Paul Cox got his design cues for those gerder front ends he does because they look remarkably the same
I did see 1 SOHC CB750 engine in there.
What’s the other song that plays 6:36 to 7:30?
That's when life was life real that's where you should do get on your motherfuking bike ride man there was no commercialize people
Damn.........
Only the good die young...
TRUE BIKER!
where did those days go?
Nipps took over the chop image cheaper and more of them?
Where did those days go well hopefully they will never return. Harman's motorcycles would look and go much better with good reliable Yamaha V twin engine.
Holly smokes 120 cub inch back in 70s ....shit an get it ...bet that was fast times
Harley Davidson's are a beauty.
What a great story Plain and simple and that was a genius I don't think He did it for the money. Never heard of him , Today were Subject to Orange County chopper And Jesse James I don't care what they say about him I don't like one bite that he Built. And you sweetheart no disrespect you hung on the back of that Hard tail, I know he open that bad boy up , running like a free train.
Ride Choppers or GTFOH! RIP TO A LEGEND....
MONTY Montgomery I proudly wear my shirt that reads " Ducati if you ride , choppers if you ride AROUND !! No thanks !
Deades ahead of his time
Were is the full vid
HI HE WILL BE MIST . HE WAS A ASOME FABCATER AND BIKE BILDER I WOULD HAVE LOVE TO HAD THE PRIVLIED
TO HAD ONE BUT THAT MY DREEM.IS LEGSEY WILL LIVE ON GOD BLESS GARY
Can u tell me the name of the first song that was played
th-cam.com/video/KO6odc5VJmY/w-d-xo.html
who knows the name of the song?
it goes perfectly with the video
chris cornell Sunshower
Thank u
@@schaefferryan150 missing chris and john. both were grear american
How did you get 120Shovel??
Tell me one thing why front tyre is thinner and behind tyre is strong and bigger
Rob Baughman
1 minute ago
Roger, I’m not an expert by no means, the best answer I have is that the rear tire pushes the motorcycle. The transfer of power, from the engine to the ground is done through the rear tire.
I reckon God wanted John to build him a custom chopper.
0-o
Wtf man....
120 ci that's crazy
Listen to a great biker song! Google "The BPM's Jeff Morris Official Video."
🇳🇿❤🇺🇸
Did Jesse James ever finish that bike? The one in the beginning.
Not a cookie cutter definitely a real build. Wonder if he could do it?
Yes it showed him riding it.
His cases were made of Swiss Cheese ,impossible to mirror polish them .I know me and my Brother fucked engine up trying to make it shine .🤬
Rip old buddy,at least he was alive in a time of true bad ass bikers not in the midst of this PC culture bull shit.I bet he knew his gender and his role in this world.he is missed
Im 76 yrs old and a much younger Jessie James has become my hero the older he gets,his wide range of skills hes mastered is insane,ive mastered 3 of the skilled trades Jessie has mastered but it took me 50 yrs ,im always amazed how hollywood will no longer make tv shows about what Jessie James is currently interested in over political correctness bullcrap ,anybody else long to see Monster Garage and his Bike Shop show brought back along with his custom firearm & silencer business ?
Not sure but...John Harman first started as Jesse James...and Harley Davidson was built not by Harley but by Harman...😉😎💩
Honda riders downvoted this.
Fuk cancer ride on forever brother