All In The Tilley Family

Talk about Harley-Davidson running through your veins …

- Dean Trenwith

Don Tilley had no choice but to have an early interest in motorcycles – he was born with the gene that yearns for the freedom and satisfaction that only two wheels can offer.

You see Don’s grandfather Walter Tilley owned a bike (Don’s not sure of the make) with a large wicker basket sidecar, which was the main means of transport for Don’s grandparents. Needless to say, not many families’ owned a car in those days.

When Don’s father Des was a young married man he purchased a 1947 Harley- Davidson Knucklehead and added a sidecar to transport Don’s mother about. This was again the main means of transport until Don’s mother was pregnant with Don. Then Don’s grandmother declared that there was no way her future grandchild was going to ride in a sidecar, so the bike was sold in favour of a car.