“ I like using my bikes – running them or racing them . If I can ’ t ride it , well , I don ’ t want to own one like that !
Despite the bike ’ s rarity , Lange believes in riding his bikes and having fun with them , and he recently won best burnout at the High Voltage Show with the ’ 46 H-D Factory Racer . the Mama Tried show started up . I ’ m a lifetime invitee to the show , so I cleaned it up , took it there , and people loved it . I ’ ve been taking it and showing it everywhere since .”
Beyond Mama Tried , he ’ s shown the bike at Sons of Speed , and the bike recently won the Best Vintage Bike award at the High Voltage Show in Milwaukee .
The bike looks beautiful , but we had to know what it ’ s like to ride it . “ It ’ s exhilarating ,” Lange responded enthusiastically . “ The power the bike has is a cool feeling . People think the engine is just a H-D 45 , but the factory race motor is triple the horsepower of a regular H-D 45 , so the sound and feel are totally different . It has a close-ratio threespeed gearbox , so you ’ re shifting much quicker and you can feel that horsepower .”
Even though the bike is a rare find , Lange is all about having fun on it . “ I raced it at the Davenport Half-Mile when I built it back in ’ 86 . And recently at the High Voltage show , there was a burnout contest … and I won best burnout ! I ’ m not afraid to abuse my bike . I like using my bikes – running them or racing them . If I can ’ t ride it , well , I don ’ t want to own one like that !”
We agree ! Ride ’ em , don ’ t hide ’ em !
40 | JANUARY 2021 | THUNDERPRESS . NET