Last week we started this line of posts with Important Harley-Davidsons Throughout Time – a Big List Part A and promised you that we would work on the conclusion of that post this week. So without any more hesitation here is more of that post as AMERiders gives you more Important Harley-Davidsons Throughout Time, with our Big List Part B. We left off telling you about the F-Head engine, so let’s continue on with the next paragraph that we have ready for you which starts to actually tell you about the list of motorcycles.
Sport Model
Years: 1919-1923
Engine Offerings: 580cc/37ci
Known Suffixes: Model 19W
Reasons to Love: The Model 19W introduced new technology into the lineup and eventually evolved into the famous Army motorcycle, the W-Series.
Model W: Also known as the Sports Twin, the Model 19W was built as a middleweight-sized bike and an entry-level model with the purpose of enticing new riders and increasing the motorcycling market of the day. The Sport featured Harley’s first flat-twin engine and a trailing-link front fork suspension.
The Sports Twin set speed records on runs across the country. Although, like many models of the time, poor American sales led to the end of production after only four years. Not to be confused with the later W-Series, which featured the now famous 45ci flathead.
D-Series – “45” Solo
Years: 1929-1932
Engine Offerings: 45ci
Known Suffixes: DL, D, Model 29D, Model 29FD, Model 30D, Model 30DL, Model 30DLD, Model 31D, Model 31DL, Model 31DLD, Model 32D, Model 32DL, Model 32DLD, Model 32D, Model 32DLD, Model 32DL, Model 33D, Model 33DL, Model 33DLD,
Reasons to Love: Built as the entry-level, lightweight model to compete with the Indian Scout.
The year after Harley introduced the two-cam engine, Harley built the D-Series to compete with the Indian Scout. The motorcycle introduced the side valve 45ci V-twin known as the “45” and later nicknamed the flathead. Introduced in the WR racing bike, it proved to be solid and reliable and Harley settled into consistent production and models. Flathead v-twins were also available in 61ci and 74ci displacements throughout the same model years. The 45ci bikes looked very similar to their larger displacement siblings, but the easiest way to tell them apart is that the “45” has the final drive chain on the right instead of the left like a modern Sportster. Which is why we added it to our Important Harley Davidson Big List Part B.
R-Series “45” Solo
Years: 1932-1936
Engine Offerings: 45ci
Known Suffixes: R, RL, RLD; Model 34RL, Model 34R, Model 34RLD, Model 35RL, Model 35R, Model 35RS, Model 35RLD, Model 36R, Model 36RLDE, Model 36RS, Model 36R
Reasons to Love: New styling that made Harley a staple of Americana. Perseverance through the Great Depression.
A replacement for the D-Series, the R series was a step in the evolution from the D to the W. No major technical changes were introduced for the R, but it was a significant motorcycle for Harley as it helped the company survive the Great Depression. Styling changes like Art Deco style badging and paint helped sales.
W-Series
Years: 1929-1973 (according to Harley, variations of the engine were sold until 1973, primarily in the Servi-Car trike).
Engine Offerings: 45ci
Known Suffixes: Model W “45” solo, Model WL sport solo, Model WLD “45” solo, WR, Model 37WL, Model 37WLD, Modwl 37WLDR, Model 37W, Model 37WS, Model 38WLD, Model 38WL, Model 38WLDR.
Reasons to Love: After the war, thousands of WLAs were sold off in surplus, which helped start the chopper movement since they were plentiful and cheap.
This was the final model to receive the 45 (minus the H-D Servi-Car which we’re not talking about here). A high compression option was available at the time. During war production, the WLA was built for military use and was essentially the only version built. Close to 60,000 units were produced for U.S. military use and for export through the Lend-Lease program during the War.
The UL
Years: 1937-1941
Engine Offerings: 74ci, 80ci
Model Suffix: U, UL, ULH, UH, UHS, US,
Reasons to Love: While these side valve/flathead engines were still being used in the UL for a while after the introduction of the Knucklehead, they did bring with them some updated technology like a recirculating oiling system, a good reason to add them to our Important Harley Davidson Big List Part B.
In 1937 Harley introduced the UL model with available in 74ci and 80ci V-twins. The previous models featured total-loss oiling systems, ran hot, and mostly miserable and unreliable. The 45ci introduced a smoother running engine and more reliability, but it wasn’t until the big-twins of the UL, which used a dry sump lubrication system, that real reliability and cooler operating temps were now common.
The new UL also featured a four-speed transmission and forged aluminum heads with deeper cooling fins. Brass spark plug inserts were added to address the former engines’ problems of stripping threads. Customers could also opt for optional silicon aluminum heads. These big twins were popular, but when the war broke out production stopped on civilian models and focused instead on WLA models for the military efforts.
The Modern Era – Knuckles, Pans, Shovels, and Sportsters
The EL
Years: 1936-1952
Model Suffix: E, EL
Engine: 61ci, 74ci
Reasons to Love: The EL-series is not only beautiful, but it marked the birth of Harley’s modern era with the introduction of the Knucklehead, the company’s first overhead-valve V-twin.
Introduction of the first overhead-valve (ohv) V-twin from Harley-Davidson brought Harley-Davidson into the modern era of motorcycle design and engineering. While the first EL was good, Harley constantly tinkered with it over the years to improve power and performance. According to some historians, almost every part on the EL-series was changed between its first year to its last.
In 1941, the EL got bigger with the introduction of a 74ci version of the Knucklehead along with more engineering improvements across the line. Like other models, the outbreak of WWII meant new civilian EL models became very scarce, which is why we added them to our Important Harley Davidson Big List Part B.
K-Model Sportster
Years Built: 1952-1956
Engine Offerings: 45ci, 750cc, 888cc
Known Suffixes: K, KK, KR, KH, KGK, KRTT, KHRTT,
Reasons to Love: Just like the very first Harley-Davidson, the first K-Model was built with the essence of a race bike. Also, Elvis.
In an effort to stay competitive in the face of stiff competition from the Brits, Harley-Davidson needed something lighter and sportier than their heavy 45ci flatheads and even heavier EL-models. Starting with the bottom end of a 45ci flathead engine, Harley engineers designed a case to house the transmission for a lighter weight and more condensed package. This was similar to the unit construction power plants of the Triumphs and BSAs that were all the rage with the kids. (Remember, Marlon Brando’s Johnny rode a Triumph in The Wild One -Ed.) The company added aluminum heads with fins for cooling to their new engine, then built a lightweight, narrow chassis around it all. The engine performed well and the bike was lightweight, narrow, and easy to ride. It was also the first Harley-Davidson to feature suspension on both wheels – Hydraulic forks on the front and exposed shocks on a swingarm in the rear. Good enough for Elvis? Good enough for our Important Harley Davidson Big List Part B.
With all this engineering, Harley-Davidson birthed not just a sporty street cruiser but its next race bike as well. The K-model became the platform for flat tracker and road racers of the era and evolved into the XR bikes of later years.
Sportster XL
Years Built: 1957-current
Engine Offerings: 750cc, 883cc, 1000cc, 1200cc
Known Suffixes: XL, XL883, XL883C, XL 883L, XL883R, XL1100, XL1200, XL1200C, XL1200R, XL1200S, XLCH, XLCR, XLH, XLH883, XLH883R, XLH1200, XLH1200S. XLS, XLX, XR1000, XLRTT,
Reasons to Love: Economical, easy to maneuver (for a Harley), and the basis for many factory built race bikes like XR flat trackers, road racers and the cool cafe model (XLCR). Economical is a great reason to add this to our Important Harley Davidson Big List Part B.
If you’ve ever heard, “Oh yeah, my friend just bought a Harley, way cool, it’s a… I can’t remember,” chances are it’s a Sportster. Considered Harley-Davidson’s entry-level bike, the Sportster line has always been kind of in its own world within the Harley family. A separate engine line that’s visually similar to that of its bigger brothers, but a unique tightly packaged drivetrain nonetheless. The XL Sportster has put countless new riders on Harley’s and has produced some of the coolest, most eye-catching customs the company ever produced. Which is why we are adding it to our Important Harley Davidson Big List Part B.
Years Built: 1971-2017
Engine Offerings: 1200cc, 80ci, 1310cc, 1,340cc, 1,450cc, 1,584cc, 1,690cc,
Known Suffixes: FX, FXE, FXD, FXD35, FXS, FXDL, FXEF, FXDF, FXWG, FXDWG, FXDWGI, FXB, FXDC, FXDG, FXDS-CON, FXDX, FXDXT, FXLR, FXS, FXSB, FXR, FXRT, FXRP
Reasons to Love: Marketed as Harley’s first factory custom to capture the growing Chopper movement. A solid mid-range line with the power of a big twin and the handling of a Sportster. (Also, a super sweet boattail rear end and swingin’ red, white, and blue paint job -Ed.)
Designed by Willie G. Davidson, the idea behind the FX-series seems so simple in retrospect: take the light handling front end from a Sportster and mount it on a full size touring bike frame. Enter the Superglide. FX was short for Factory Experimental, as the bike was a response to the wild late-60s custom scene. Introduced only a few years after Billy and Captain America stormed on to the big screen in Easy Rider, the FX Superglide was a huge and instant success. Cap inspired? Yep we are adding this one to our Important Harley Davidson Big List Part B.
If the Sportster is a Miata in terms of avoidable performance in the H-D realm, then the Superglide was a Corvette. This simple action of stripping down a touring bike introduced a new category of motorcycle and probably attracted as many new riders as the Sportster. The FX platform evolved constantly over three decades until it was axed for 2018, and was arguably one of the most constantly updated models in the Harley-Davidson lineup. The Superglide finally brought Harley into the good graces of new motorcycle reviewers and meant real competition against the Japanese brands.
The Superglide name came and went over the years, but the FX prefix for the line remained. The FX Superglide was eventually replaced by the FXR, the one-percenter club member’s bike of choice. The Superglide remained alongside the FXR for a few years, gaining a small, single tank and dropping the two-piece tank and dash combo.
The Superglide was eventually discontinued due to the introduction of the Evolution engine in 1984. The Dyna platform then replaced the FXR, in 1991, and while all three motorcycles have very different engineering and designing features, they all share the FX prefix and DNA. It’s pretty and sleek to another reason to add it to our Important Harley Davidson Big List Part B.
FX/FL Softail
Years: 1984 to current.
Engines: 1200cc, 80ci, 1310cc, 1,340cc, 1,450cc, 1,584cc, 1,690cc,
Known Suffixes: FXCW, FXCWC, FXST, FXSTB, FXSTBI, FXSTC, FXSTD, FXSTS, FXWG, FLST, FLSTC, FLSTF, FLSTFI, FLSTN, FLSTS, FLSTSB, FLSTSC
Reasons to Love: Comfortable, classically styled, and offered in a huge variety of styles. Hardtail looks with modern performance.
The looks of a hardtail with the ride and comfort of a modern motorcycle, the Softail platform was a revelation in 1984. Built to look like Harleys from the 40s and 50s, the Softails’ rear suspension featured hidden shocks underneath the bike mounted to a triangular-shaped swingarm and fat hydraulic forks up front. Softail engines were hard mounted to the frame – unlike the FX/Dyna series where the engine was isolated from the frame by rubber vibration dampers – and the bikes had a reputation of being slow and rattly.
Despite this rough-riding reputation, Softails steadily grew into one of the most popular and diverse of Harley’s lines. They inhabited a middle ground in the big twin family between the performance-minded FX/Dyna line and the comfortable road going couches of the FL touring line. Throughout the Softail’s original 32-year run, the line produced some of Harley’s most iconic modern bikes such as the Fat Boy, the Heritage Softail Classic, and the Deuce. Iconic means it gets added to our Important Harley Davidson Big List Part B.
FL Touring
Years: 1941-present
Engines: 1200cc, 80ci, 1310cc, 1,340cc, 1,450cc, 1,584cc, 1,690cc, 61ci, 74ci,
Known Suffixes: FL, FLH, FLHX, FLHRS, FLHPI, FLHR, FLHRCI, FLHS, FLHT, FLHTC, FLHTK, FLHTCSE, FLHTPI, FLHTCUI, FLHTCUSE, FLHXXX, FLT, FLTC, FLTCU, FLHTCUTG, FLTR, FLTRI, FLTRX, FLTRSEI
Reasons to Love: The Harley-Davidson FL Touring models have been comfortable touring cruisers and the most quintessential Harley of the modern era.
Harley-Davidson has used the FL name since 1941. FL’s were much the same as their EL, U, and UL siblings, and were powered by the Knucklehead ohv v-twin. The FL series remained largely unchanged until 1948 when the Panhead engine was released. In 1949, just a year after getting the Panhead upgrade, the FL series’ old-timey leading link springer front end was replaced by a set of modern hydraulic forks, thus giving birth to the famous Hydra-Glide.
In 1958, the FL Hydra-Glide got a radical redesign that introduced a rear suspension consisting of a swingarm and twin shocks. The name was changed from Hydra Glide to Duo Glide (Duo, two, two suspensions…get it?) and a legend was born. A few years later in 1965, the Duo Glide was replaced with the Electra Glide, which featured the first electric starter (again, get it? Eh?) on a Harley-Davidson big twin bike. Harley’s iconic batwing fairing was introduced as an option for the Electra Glide in 1969 and was initially easily removable, unlike today’s permanently affixed fairings. FLs got a front disc brake in 1972, and over the next few decades went through a number of transmission, engine, and electrical system upgrades.
Today, the FL lineup consists of Harley’s big-time baggers and touring models. From the stylish Road King bagger to the unique Road Glide (My personal favorite Harley tourer -JM) to the high-end, eye-watering expensive Ultra Limited, Harley’s touring bikes carry on the proud tradition of powerful and comfortable FL tourers. This tasty one gets added to our Important Harley Davidson Big List Part B.
VRSC – V-ROD
Years: 2002-2017
Engine Offerings: 69ci water-cooled Revolution v-twin, 76ci water-cooled Revolution v-twin.
Known Suffixes: VRSC1 VRSCA, VRSCAW, VRSCB, VRSCD, VRSCDX, VRSCF, VRSCSE, VRSCSE2, VRSCR, VRSCX, VRXSE
Reasons to Love: Harley made a great attempt at producing a modern, well-engineered V-twin. The V-Rod is reminiscent of the beginning days when Harley thought of racing first. Also, Porsche DNA.
Ah, the V-Rod. Developed in the late-90s/early-aughts to compete against ever faster muscle bikes like Yamaha’s savage V-Max, the V-Rod was always an oddity in the Harley-Davidson family. Developed around the newly built, Porsche-designed Revolution engine, the V-Rod was initially a major success and received high marks from the motorcycling press. The Revolution was a 60-degree, water-cooled v-twin that performed, unlike anything Harley had ever produced. The design included a hydro-formed frame and under seat fuel tank for a low center of gravity. It performed well, but it was sadly discontinued (along with its Dyna cousins) with the introduction of Harley’s new 2018 models. Its a beauty and will be missed which is why it gets added to our Important Harley Davidson Big List Part B.
XG Street
Years: 2014-present
Engine Offerings: 500cc, 750cc
Known Suffixes: XG, XG750R, XG750G, XG750
Reasons to Love: The XG is Harley-Davidson’s modern attempt at capturing the youth market with a sporty, small displacement bike. The XG harkens back to the K-model in that it’s an inexpensive, nimble, and fun motorcycle that exists largely outside of Harley’s established lines. Like the K-model, it’s also the base for the company’s modern flat track race bike.
When it was released, the XG was Harley-Davidson’s first all-new model in 13 years, the first sub-1000cc production engine in decades, and the least expensive offering in the lineup. Originally the Street was built for the Indian and European markets, where the 500cc or 750cc motorcycle sales have been booming for over a decade. Eventually, the 500cc model was brought to The States and was first introduced as the go-to bike for Harley’s in-house riding school. Once established in the Learn to Ride program, the XG was then made available to moto-journalists and the public. Soon thereafter, the 750 model appeared in American showrooms and the rest is history.
In Conclusion
Whew, that’s a lot of bikes. As you can see, Harley’s model history is kind of convoluted. That’s to be expected in a company with such a long history and so many fantastic bikes in its portfolio. If we missed anything or you think we left out, leave us a comment here or even on facebook.
~And as always…
~Live Free Ride Hard~
~AMERiders
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