Soggy Ride Produces a Vintage Harley Sprint

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

It was a soggy morning for a ride that got wetter as the day progressed. After having our requisite breakfast at Toymaker’s Cafe in Falls Village, I suggested to riding compatriot Gary Randall that we take the scenic route to Norfolk on some roads that I had never been on – Under Mountain Road off of Route 63 to Canaan Mountain Road, then right on Wangum Road (alongside Wangum Lake) to Mountain Road.

Much of the route over the mountain is unpaved, which made the ride even more rustic and enjoyable. Being lean on dirt riding experience, I kept reminding myself to loosen my grip and let the bike find its own way a bit, and to let engine braking handle the speed on downhill sections. Can’t wait to ride those roads again.

Once in Norfolk, we headed north on Route 272 into Massachusetts. Our normal Sunday morning ride takes us to Kent where we always grab a coconut macaroon as a breakfast dessert. With thoughts of “no macaroon today” throbbing in my head, I pulled over in Southfield and suggested sampling a sweet at the Southfield Store. The blueberry tart didn’t disappoint and Gary was equally pleased with the chocolate cake.

As we were getting ready to leave, Brien Hadley walked up and asked about our bikes. Brien’s a stonemason who lives across from the Southfield Store. He reported owning a Harley-Davidson Sprint and said he’d be glad to show it off.

After retrieving a board on which to rest the ride-side kickstand (top picture), he pulled the Sprint from the garage, explaining that the bike was momentarily sidelined because a spring connecting the throttle cable with the throttle had come off the day before and that he didn’t have the dexterity to fix it. Handling huge piece of stone, no problem, but not tiny motorcycle parts.

He was able to fire it up, though. The Sprint started on the second kick and idled nicely – even if he couldn’t rev it. Brien’s Sprint is a 1966 model that he picked up last year for what he said was a very low price.

Harley imported and sold the Sprint between 1961 and 1974, having bought 50 percent of of Italy’s Aermacchi motorcycle company in 1960. Between 1961 and 1969, the Sprint featured a 250cc, horizontal single engine.

In 1969, the power plant was upped to 350cc and remained that size until 1974 when the Sprint was discontinued.

Before departing Brien’s, I went inside in his house and checked the radar on his computer. Heavier rain was heading our way, so after seeing the Sprint we decided to sprint back down Route 272 to Torrington and on home. The riding gear is now hanging to dry and a hot shower to warm up is needed.