# The Fonz's Bike
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fonzs-bike/364623
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [July 15, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fonzs-bike/364623 "2006-07-15T16:30:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fonzs-bike/364623/1 "2006-07-15T16:30:45Z")
What kind of motorcycle did the Fonz ride around on in _Happy Days_?
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### Author:  [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fonzs-bike/364623/2 "2006-07-15T16:33:50Z")
IIRC, it was a mid-50’s Triumph. Can’t say which specific model, though.
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### Author:  [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fonzs-bike/364623/3 "2006-07-15T16:40:04Z")
Using Jet Jaguar’s post as a jumping off point, I found [this](http://ask.yahoo.com/20030716.html) page.
According to their research, Fonzie rode a Harley (either a Sportster or a Knucklehead) early on, and later switched to a ‘pre-unit 500 Triumph twin’.
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### Author:  [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fonzs-bike/364623/4 "2006-07-15T16:42:06Z")
> [@Tengu](#):
>
> a ‘pre-unit 500 Triumph twin’.
Actually, rereading, they’re not sure which kind of Triumph it is. (Although no model is mentioned other than the pre-unit 500 Triumph twin.)
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### Author:  [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fonzs-bike/364623/5 "2006-07-15T17:21:15Z")
I decided to do some searching, and found [this article about an automotive museum](http://info.detnews.com/joyrides/story/index.cfm?id=592) which includes a photo of Fonzie’s bike, which is part of their collection. It’s a custom Triumph, and the caption mentions he rode a Harley in early episodes.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fonzs-bike/364623/6 "2006-07-15T21:45:54Z")
ISTR that British bikes had the throttle on the left. (I could be mistaken, though.) IIRC this was used in an episode where Fonzie proved he couldn’t have snatched a woman’s purse with his left hand while riding his motorcycle because he could not have sped away if his hand wasn’t on the throttle.
Do I recall correctly?
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fonzs-bike/364623/7 "2006-07-15T22:17:50Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#):
>
> Do I recall correctly?
Sort of. Fonzie was on the jury for a pursesnatching case and used that as proof that the defendant was not guilty.