Who are the original owners of the Panhead?
The ’65 FLH owned by Buzzz Richardson and the ’57 FL of Mike Javernick, both residents of Cañon City, Colorado, are fine examples of original Panheads. Brian Blades This article was originally published in the August-September 1998 issue of Cycle World’s Big Twin magazine.
When did they change from Knuckleheads to Panheads?
That first FL in 1948 was based on the reliable transmission and bottom-end of the EL, but the “Knuckleheads” were replaced with massively finned cast-aluminum heads that could radiate and dissipate heat much more efficiently. The new engine also was equipped with an uprated oil pump to improve cooling and lubrication.
When did the Panhead replace the Shovelhead?
The leaner, more-powerful Shovelhead would replace it in 1966. In the Sixties, the ready availability of used Panheads was a boon for the chopper movement. Indeed, the Pan’s greatest fame would come as a chopper, as the “Captain America” bike in the movie Easy Rider.
When did the first Panhead motorcycle come out?
The first Panhead—or model FL, available in both 61- and 74-cubic-inch models—arrived in dealers’ showrooms in 1948, just in time to be a major part of the postwar motorcycle boom. A generation of young servicemen had grown up on the battlefield, some of them having ridden Harley’s WLA 45-inch military model in combat.
When did the hand shift Panhead come out?
Hand-Shifters on the Panhead The hand shifter-foot clutch combination was first used by Harley-Davidson in 1915, and the hand-operated clutch first appeared with the 1952 Panhead. Before the 1952 model year, Harley-Davidson used only a left-foot clutch to disengage the drivetrain, and a left-hand tank shifter to select gears.
What was the displacement of a panhead engine?
Panhead E and EL Engines The Panhead E and EL engines had displacement of 61 cubic inches and generated 8.77 horsepower. All F and FL engines were 74 cubic inches and had bore and stroke of 3.4 inches by 3.9 inches. The FLH-model panhead engine was available to riders from the 1955 model year through 1964.
When did Harley Davidson stop making tank shift Panheads?
Before the 1952 model year, Harley-Davidson used only a left-foot clutch to disengage the drivetrain, and a left-hand tank shifter to select gears. The reversed arrangement was introduced as an option, and both versions were available on the Panhead until production discontinued in 1965.
What was it like to ride a panhead in the 1940s?
Panheads have a style all of their own and capture what it meant to ride a motorcycle in the 1940s. The crazy low stance and gorgeous fenders make it a classic example of looking like you’re going fast even when standing still, and it’s a shame to consider the dire straits Harley is in when they once made iconic bikes like this.