| Harley Davidson FL 'Knucklehead' |
  Even as the economic boom of the 20s transformed into financial despair the next decade, Harley Davidson remained a force. Watching its competitors one by one fold around them, Harley survived due to the courage and vision of its founders, answering the gloomy forecast by forging ahead with new ideas. And while Harley knew its Flathead V-twin was not yet outdated its wasn’t a leading design, nor was it fast enough to cause the excitement H-D was looking to generate. Enter the E-model of 1936; the patriarchal foundation of the Harley Davidson twin.Originally released displacing 61-cubic inches (1000 cc) the EL was bumped up to 1200 cc in 1941 and re-badged using the ‘F’ designation. The all iron engine benefitted from a circulating, pressurized oiling system (previous designs featured gravity-fed, full-loss oiling) with lubricant held in a horseshoe-shaped tank that wrapped around the frame under the seat. Speaking of that, the chassis was stronger too, and while retaining the springer fork/sprung seat design of previous models, in time Harley beefed the frame to a point where it was more than up to the rigors of sidecar use. Of course, the aviation-inspired OHV system allowed better breathing and a myriad of tuning options, putting Harley back in a position of performance and technological leadership.   Nicknamed the Knucklehead due to the clenched-fist appearance of its rocker-boxes, Harley’s new OHV was an off the bat, over-the-fence hit. Without realizing, Harley’s designers captured the public’s imagination and inspired trends with the machine’s full, valenced fenders and teardrop fuel tank. Handsome from any angle, the ‘Knuckle’s’ powerful, life-like engine melded with its clean, flowing lines to create an instant classic. Copied endlessly ever since, Harley’s EL/FL serves as the foundation to the world’s population of motorcycle fans and admirers. Nolan Woodbury |
