What kind of bike did the Fonz ride? Happy Days

yahpete · 06-28-2006, 07:33 AM

This is a really retro question about a show from the 70s. Who can tell me what the Fonz used to ride in this famous tv series?

LiViN's Easy · 06-28-2006, 08:33 AM

"Aaaay!"

I don't know but he is one the best Characters EVER! Fonz Rules......Ever heard that Smash Mouth Song I think from the Fu Shu Mang album called "The Fonz" http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/cl...122618-1450328 To hear 30seconds

WOAH!

yahpete · 06-28-2006, 08:36 AM

I went to the site but couldnt get a free sample. I remember Fonz with babe in each arm. A very good actor he was.

LiViN's Easy · 06-28-2006, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yahpete

I went to the site but couldnt get a free sample. I remember Fonz with babe in each arm. A very good actor he was.

Ive seen atleast 75% of the episodes on Nick @ night and other channels and im only 20

. For the audio you got to use the RealPlayer the mediaplayer doesnt launch for some reason.

LiViN's Easy · 06-28-2006, 08:41 AM

BINGO!

http://ask.yahoo.com/20030716.html

..............in the early shows, the Fonz rode a Harley Sportster, and in the later shows, he rode a "pre-unit 500 Triumph twin."

And finally, at Google Groups, a thread about the Fonz's motorcycle of choice confirms that one bike was a Triumph, but posters here say the other bike was a Harley Davidson Knucklehead rather than a Sportster.

So the general consensus is that Arthur Fonzarelli had some sort of Triumph and some sort of Harley, but as for exact models, we may never know precisely what he rode. Too bad his bikes aren't in a museum like his leather jacket.

Drifter · 06-28-2006, 08:41 AM

BSA Starfire 250... I think.

Edit: nevermind. link above clarifies.

yahpete · 06-28-2006, 08:45 AM

Ok I will give it a go. On the rare occasion when you saw the fonz on his bike, I could not make out what it was. Did the production team go to much trouble for authenticity I wonder.

yahpete · 06-28-2006, 08:58 AM

I appreciate the site. thanks.

RayOSV · 06-28-2006, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiViN's Easy

BINGO!

http://ask.yahoo.com/20030716.html

..............in the early shows, the Fonz rode a Harley Sportster, and in the later shows, he rode a "pre-unit 500 Triumph twin."

And finally, at Google Groups, a thread about the Fonz's motorcycle of choice confirms that one bike was a Triumph, but posters here say the other bike was a Harley Davidson Knucklehead rather than a Sportster.

So the general consensus is that Arthur Fonzarelli had some sort of Triumph and some sort of Harley, but as for exact models, we may never know precisely what he rode. Too bad his bikes aren't in a museum like his leather jacket.

Running the risk of knowing anything about Harleys, a Knucklehead refers to the type of heads on the engine (as opposed to the later pan head). They may have put a knucklehead engine in Sportsters of the era in the show, but I'm not interested enough to research it.

OTOH, my memory of Harley "technology" may be faulty.

yahpete · 06-28-2006, 09:20 AM

It would be easy to get an obsession with what the Fonz rode.

yahpete · 06-28-2006, 09:30 AM

i've seen one site that claims Fonz rode the same type of bike as Steve McQueen in The Great Escape. A 1961 650 cc Triumph without the german markings. There is the site that says he was on a Harley Sportster and later a pre unit 500cc Triumph. I have no idea what pre unit means.

LiViN's Easy · 06-28-2006, 10:18 AM

"Overall, the Fonz drove a variety of models including Harley Panhead, Harley Knucklehead, Harley Sportster, Triumph 500 CC Twin, Trophy 650 CC and a BSA."

ahahaha check this out.... one of the post says fonzie rules

http://www.motor-forum.nl/forum/topic.php/111437/1
Some other pictures in there of his bikes also.

*EDIT* Check out this site http://www.motor-forum.nl/forum/topic.php/111437/1

He even had his own arcade game! woah!

snigg · 06-28-2006, 10:27 AM

cs636 · 06-28-2006, 10:34 AM

It's not Henry Winkler, it's forever The Fonz. But that changed when I saw him in that movie Waterboy wearing high heeled pumps and a dress talkin to his grandma on a disconnected phone. That was a low point for The Fonz.

Remember when he jumped the shark?

Drifter · 06-28-2006, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yahpete

i've seen one site that claims Fonz rode the same type of bike as Steve McQueen in The Great Escape. A 1961 650 cc Triumph without the german markings. There is the site that says he was on a Harley Sportster and later a pre unit 500cc Triumph. I have no idea what pre unit means.

Pre-unit is a reference to unit construction, a drivetrain design philosophy adopted by (British and probably other) manufacturers right around 1970. Prior to unit construction, bikes had separate crankcases and transmissions. Unit construction combined the crankcase and transmission housing into one casting. Look at late 60s Triumphs vs. early 70s Triumphs, or look at modern Sportsters vs. modern big twins and the difference will become evident.