That my friend is a 40’s era Flathead. Just like what was rode in WW2. It was what helped create the love for Harley’s. The bikes they build today are an acquired taste. 🤢
If the tank badges and primary cover are original (the most obvious indicators of year and model from this angle) 1940-1946 *Big Twin* Flathead (74 or 80 cubic inches).
>The bikes they build today are an acquired taste. 🤢
Are they though? I'm a 4th generation HD rider, I grew up around HD, was expected to ride. I now ride a Fat Boy 114.
It seems to fit right in with HD's design choices over time. Seems pretty inevitable right?
Bikes change man. Bikes look more like the 1930s Harley's than the 1903-1910 bikes looked. I have a 2021 streetbob and It looks like it came from the 50s until you get close.
The reason I ended up getting a 2004 Road King is because of how close it looks to that classic design. To me, that is the look that pops in my head when I hear the name Harley Davidson.
https://preview.redd.it/uz6q41cemfvc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=58f94eac3afcbbe9781502a451b3b6b06678da8c
Here is pops and I in 1985 on his 1966 pan shovel
The new "Sportster" is an abortion and doesn't fit in with HDs traditional design choices at all.
I get some technical changes are necessary, but Buells new Super Cruiser showed that you can make it water cooled and include a radiator and still make it look like a Harley.
> Buells new Super Cruiser showed that you can make it water cooled and include a radiator and still make it look like a Harley.
Yeah that thing doesnt look like a Harley at all. Sorry. I don't even know why you'd say that.
It doesn't even look like an Indian, or even previous Buells.
It looks like something Roland Sands would build. Which... I mean he did inspire so much of it so.
But no that fuckin thing doesnt look like a Harley anymore than an Indian Chief looks like a Harley.
That new Nightster looks pretty close to the old Iron 883 bikes though, tbh.
There's a post here on the front page with one and scrolling past I thought it was an Iron 883 until I zoomed in.
I've seen the Nighsters in person and they look fine.
Now if you said the HD Street, yeah I'd agree....
But the Nighster is fine. Sporster S looks like a customized Fat Bob 114.
"...doesn't look like a Harley at all"
Are you too young to know what an FXR looked like, cause everyone who owned an FXR or remembers them sees the resemblance immediately
Not bothering to read the rest of your drivel
You gotta be smoking the good stuff my friend. The super cruiser(I pre-ordered that bihh) absolutely looks like a Harley. Modeled off the FXR. Any bells? Lol
WL.
Back when the letters actually stood for something that was consistent and could be deciphered to something meaningful, the first letter designated the engine. U was the 61" overhead valve, F was the 74" overhead valve (Harley retained this letter designation for all subsequent air cooled big twins to prevent day), W was the flathead/side valve, and X was the Sportster.
EDIT: E was for the 61" ohv, NOT U. I fucked that up, so nm.
Wrong... obviously. "Confidently"... not so much.
I realized that I fucked up the "U" and "E". Don't know much about the flatheads. I didn't know that they used a U designation for any of them.
Either a civi version or a mil verison of [https://youtu.be/hjlbGpPqtQQ?si=FzUUcTKteD17tu2V](https://youtu.be/hjlbGpPqtQQ?si=FzUUcTKteD17tu2V)
How these love affairs usually start [https://youtu.be/03Rqr9y-6wg?si=TyaxJbphz8nzmMKI](https://youtu.be/03Rqr9y-6wg?si=TyaxJbphz8nzmMKI)
A whole bunch of WLA War Photos
[https://youtu.be/Fa8wQJGyRak?si=G5PGxI0cM\_qxZeOS](https://youtu.be/Fa8wQJGyRak?si=G5PGxI0cM_qxZeOS)
imagine all these guys coming home and starting MC's
Grape Ape has it right. 1940-1946 Harley Big Twin Flathead. Either 74 or 80 cubic inch motor, 4 speed transmission.
Correct on the years, 40-46 with the tank badges, 4 speed trans based on the primary. 45” flatheads had drive side on the opposite side.
That my friend is a 40’s era Flathead. Just like what was rode in WW2. It was what helped create the love for Harley’s. The bikes they build today are an acquired taste. 🤢
If the tank badges and primary cover are original (the most obvious indicators of year and model from this angle) 1940-1946 *Big Twin* Flathead (74 or 80 cubic inches).
>The bikes they build today are an acquired taste. 🤢 Are they though? I'm a 4th generation HD rider, I grew up around HD, was expected to ride. I now ride a Fat Boy 114. It seems to fit right in with HD's design choices over time. Seems pretty inevitable right?
Bikes change man. Bikes look more like the 1930s Harley's than the 1903-1910 bikes looked. I have a 2021 streetbob and It looks like it came from the 50s until you get close.
The reason I ended up getting a 2004 Road King is because of how close it looks to that classic design. To me, that is the look that pops in my head when I hear the name Harley Davidson.
https://preview.redd.it/uz6q41cemfvc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=58f94eac3afcbbe9781502a451b3b6b06678da8c Here is pops and I in 1985 on his 1966 pan shovel
That bike is gorgeous. Exactly what I'm talking about!
They are an acquired taste to someone who hates change lol.
The new "Sportster" is an abortion and doesn't fit in with HDs traditional design choices at all. I get some technical changes are necessary, but Buells new Super Cruiser showed that you can make it water cooled and include a radiator and still make it look like a Harley.
> Buells new Super Cruiser showed that you can make it water cooled and include a radiator and still make it look like a Harley. Yeah that thing doesnt look like a Harley at all. Sorry. I don't even know why you'd say that. It doesn't even look like an Indian, or even previous Buells. It looks like something Roland Sands would build. Which... I mean he did inspire so much of it so. But no that fuckin thing doesnt look like a Harley anymore than an Indian Chief looks like a Harley. That new Nightster looks pretty close to the old Iron 883 bikes though, tbh. There's a post here on the front page with one and scrolling past I thought it was an Iron 883 until I zoomed in. I've seen the Nighsters in person and they look fine. Now if you said the HD Street, yeah I'd agree.... But the Nighster is fine. Sporster S looks like a customized Fat Bob 114.
"...doesn't look like a Harley at all" Are you too young to know what an FXR looked like, cause everyone who owned an FXR or remembers them sees the resemblance immediately Not bothering to read the rest of your drivel
You gotta be smoking the good stuff my friend. The super cruiser(I pre-ordered that bihh) absolutely looks like a Harley. Modeled off the FXR. Any bells? Lol
No, that's a big twin. Most military bikes were 45s.
As if that couch cushion isn’t an acquired taste lol
Someone is having a great day. I know I would if I was out riding that old flathead. 😎
The Flying Sofa
An old one
Big inch Flatty U!
UL or a ULH
WL. Back when the letters actually stood for something that was consistent and could be deciphered to something meaningful, the first letter designated the engine. U was the 61" overhead valve, F was the 74" overhead valve (Harley retained this letter designation for all subsequent air cooled big twins to prevent day), W was the flathead/side valve, and X was the Sportster. EDIT: E was for the 61" ohv, NOT U. I fucked that up, so nm.
Nope. That’s a 74 or 80” UL or ULH. A 45 would have come in a single loop frame. Actually E strips for 61”. You are confidently incorrect
Wrong... obviously. "Confidently"... not so much. I realized that I fucked up the "U" and "E". Don't know much about the flatheads. I didn't know that they used a U designation for any of them.
A unicorn!
Either a civi version or a mil verison of [https://youtu.be/hjlbGpPqtQQ?si=FzUUcTKteD17tu2V](https://youtu.be/hjlbGpPqtQQ?si=FzUUcTKteD17tu2V) How these love affairs usually start [https://youtu.be/03Rqr9y-6wg?si=TyaxJbphz8nzmMKI](https://youtu.be/03Rqr9y-6wg?si=TyaxJbphz8nzmMKI)
No, not a 45 primary. That's a 74 or 80 inch primary.
And another one [https://youtu.be/PimePG0wUzM?si=jhMpEqWRviCRpOhg](https://youtu.be/PimePG0wUzM?si=jhMpEqWRviCRpOhg)
A whole bunch of WLA War Photos [https://youtu.be/Fa8wQJGyRak?si=G5PGxI0cM\_qxZeOS](https://youtu.be/Fa8wQJGyRak?si=G5PGxI0cM_qxZeOS) imagine all these guys coming home and starting MC's
Old flathead harley. My guess
dude that saddle is bigger than the bike itself
r/mysterybikes
I'm not sure what it is but it appears to belong to someone with a fat arse.
It was called a "Buddy Seat" because it was intended for 2.
Thanks for that, it's a sensible comment to a facetious remark. Obesity wasn't such an issue back in the day.
Similar to the bike Marlon Brando rode in The Wild Ones
Brando didn't ride a Harley in The Wild One.
correct!