My jaw almost dropped when I spotted these two ladies kick-starting their vintage gems at a gas station in Sturgis this year. My first response should have been to grab my camera. But I stood there, with other onlookers, watching these women smiling and kicking those classic motors over, again and again. As I approached them, I knew there had to be a story behind those smiles.
Meet Bonnie Evans, owner of this '39 Indian Chief, and Devah Walkem, owner of this '39 UL Harley-Davidson. Now, kick back folks, 'cause there are more similarities between these ladies than the coincidental year of their classic machines. Bonnie and Devah have a classic comradeship, spanning over 20 years of being friends as well as riding crime partners. I should say they unintentionally stir up a little trouble on the roads. Those two riding down Main Street in Sturgis and blowing kisses will attest to it. Their exuberance was all in the name of fulfilling a vow.
In the beginning of their friendship, Bonnie and Devah vowed they'd ride their '39s together down Main Street during the Sturgis Rally before they reached *! years old (age is a sensitive subject with some women, folks). Lo and behold, these ladies finally rode down Main Street together at this year's Sturgis Rally-similarly, my first year riding and going to Sturgis. We exchanged stories...laughs, and they gave me tips (and ear plugs) for being out on the road. I eagerly listened to Bonnie and Devah share those good ol' riding stories, and most importantly, the bikes they did it on.
Whether it's rebuilding Bonnie's "eternal love" or restoring Devah's special "Beatrice," Wymond Walkem, owner of Walkem's Cycle in Ontario, Canada, is responsible for both. Bonnie's Indian found its way to Wymond, according to her, "after several failed attempts for somebody to get it right." Bonnie initially purchased the Chief incomplete basket case in the late '80s. After gathering parts for a while, she then went through several shops, until finally stopping at Walkem's Cycle. Shortly thereafter, Bonnie then met Wymond's wife Devah, and "the rest is history" they said.
As mentioned earlier, Bonnie's Indian came to Wymond as a basket case. The project started with Wymond restoring the 74ci motor, as well as lowering the compression to accommodate Bonnie's light weight, changing from a points to an electronic ignition, and fitting on an S&S Super E carb. The rigid frame and the leaf-spring frontend are stock. How do these two hardcore components work for Bonnie? "I have to be very careful of bumps at all times," Bonnie said, "because of the rigid frame/frontend combo." She added, "The frontend gets thrown around a lot, but I've gotten used to it. If I'm going to hit a bump, I stand up and hope for the best." Would Bonnie have it any other way? "Hell no," she said."I love it!" Notice Wymond's handmade Indian head embedded on the fuel tank over BMW Blue paintwork by Walkem's. In fact, Wymond has had his hands on practically every inch of this Indian. "I've been almost everywhere on this bike," Bonnie said, "and it still runs like a charm."
Of the choices out there, why did these women choose classic bikes? Bonnie's part Indian, and fell in love with Indian motorcycles from a former acquaintance who owned one. As for Devah, some women go for diamonds, but she "went for a classic bike." "Why not?" Devah asked. "What more could a girl ask for?" Now, asking for her bike to meet certain specifications had Wymond's work cut out for him.In the past, Devah knew she'd get a Harley-Davidson, but she had a tough time finding one to fit her. With Devah's tiny frame and light weight, she was requiring a small bike with a lightweight frontend and a low seat height. "Knowing how to ride is one thing," Devah said, "but being able to handle your bike with total ease is another story." With that in the forefront of Wymond's mind, he got to work modding the flathead to fulfill Devah's wishes. One of the greatest modifications for Wymond on this bike was modifying it for a four-speed tranny and electric starter as well as hydraulic brakes. After Wymond rebuilt the 80ci motor, he then finished it off with a set of handmade fishtail pipes. The hand-painted H-D logo over Walkem's black and antique white paintjob enhances the classic character of this bike. So, what more could Devah ask for? "Nothing," she said. "I've been riding Beatrice for 17 years, rigid and all, all over the USA." Devah added, "I have no intention of stopping."
After we said our good-byes in Sturgis, I watched Bonnie and Devah load up on those classic bikes, then ride away. But before they had left, we made a little pact. We would all cross paths again and ride...at least before we were *! years old.
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