The 2008 Crossbones

Harley-Davidson's Cross Bones is one of the Softail's new additions based on the pre-war bobbers.
Key features include:
An air-cooled, 1,584cc Twin Cam 96B powerplant that produces 87.9 ft-lbs of torque at 2,750 rpm
A six-speed Cruise Drive transmission
An adjustable sprung solo seat that sits as low as 26.6 inches
Straight shot exhaust with chrome slash-cut mufflers
A 200mm rear tire
Gloss Black cat-eye tank console with a new speedometer face
Weighing 737 lbs in "running order," the Harley-Davidson Softail Cross Bones isn't the nimblest of motorcycles, but its bobber styling cues and retro details effectively reinforce the nostalgic style that typifies the Harley-Davidson brand.
The Cross Bones boasts ape-hanger style handlebars, springer front suspension with leading link forks, and a considerable height of 49.4 inches.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

Harley-Davidson Softail

THE SPRINGER SOFTAIL CLASSIC
The Harley-Davidson have designed the softail frameto look like the hardtail bikes of the past, while still accomadating the comfort of rear suspension. The shock absorbers are positioned along the axis of the motorcycle, smartly tucked away under the transmission.
There are several Harley-Davidson models with the Softail frame, including the Softail Standard, Custom, Springer Softail, Heritage Softail, Heritage Springer, Night Train, Deluxe, Deuce, and Fatboy. These motorcycles have the same engine, transmission and frame with the exception of the Deuce.The engines on these softail models arn't rubber mounted,as this led to more vibration.To compensate for this, current Softail models use a counterbalanced version of the Twin Cam engine instead of the regular Twin Cam engine used in the Touring and Dyna models
The Softail range is the only range of Harley-Davidson motorcycle that offers a choice of front suspensions within the range.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

The "Harley" Buell

The Buell Motorcycle was founded by Erik Buell and became linked with Harley-Davidson in 1993, and has been owned by the Motor Company since 1998.
The Bikes being of a radical design employing only the changes for the riders enjoyment and not for changes sake.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

The Harley Big V-Twin Engines

From 1914-29 they produced a F-head 1,000 cc engine, and also from 1922-29 was a 1,200 cc.
The Flathead engine was from 1930–1948 and a 1,200 cc also from 1935-41 was a 1,300 cc.
The Knucklehead,from 1936-47 produced a 1,000 cc, and from 1941-47 a 1,200 cc model
Then the Panhead,from 1948-52 had a 1,000 cc block, and from 1948-65,it was a 1,200 cc
The Shovelhead in 1966-85,made a 1,200 cc engine and a engine of 1,345 cc since late 1978.
The Next engine was the Evolution also known as the"Evo" and "Blockhead" from 1984-99,1,340 cc
The Twin Cam 88 the "Fathead" from 1999–2006,had the 1,443 cc engine
The Twin Cam 88B was a counter balanced version of the Twin Cam 88 2000–2006,was a ,1443 cc model
Next was the Twin Cam 96, 2007–present, 96 cubic inches (1,584 cc)
Afterwards was the Twin Cam 103, 1999–2006, 2009, 103 cubic inches (1690 cc) Twin The latest is the Cam 110, from 2007–to date, 110 cubic inches of "UMPHH" at 1802 cc for C.V.O. models bikes.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

The Early 90's Harley's

In 1990 Haley Davidison introduced the "Sturgis" model,which had a dualbelt drive also with the introduction of the "Fat Boy" machine,Harley lead the market in the heavyweight (over 750 cc) division. At the time of the Fat Boy model introduction a story rapidly spread that its silver paint job and other features were inspired by the World War II American B-29 bomber.In 1994 the FXR frame was replaced with the Dyna frame,although it was revived briefly in 1999 and 2000 for special limited editions.
A Harley logo edition of the Ford F-150 was introduced in 1999 updating each model through to today.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

Harley Davidson in the Early 80's

1982 Harley Davidson

1981 saw AMF selling the company to a group led by the grandson of the co-founder William A Davidson and Vaughn Beals for $80 million.
The US International Trade Commission imposed in 1983 a 45% tariff on imported bikes over 700 cc to protect Harley-Davidson,as they claimed the japanese were dunmping bikes in their country.
Rather than trying to match the Japanese, the new management deliberately exploited the "retro" appeal of the machines, building motorcycles that deliberately adopted the look and feel of their earlier machines and the subsequent customizations of owners of that era. Many components such as brakes, forks, shocks, carburetors, electrics and wheels were outsourced from foreign manufacturers and quality increased, technical improvements were made, and buyers slowly returned. To remain profitable Harley continues to increase the amount of overseas-made parts it uses, while being careful not to harm its valuable "American Made" image.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

Harley's struggles in the 50's-60's

1952, Harley applied for a 40% tax on imported motorcycles,also Films coming out of hollywood tarnished harley's image with their movies about biker gangs in the 50's thro' 60'."Harley-Davidson" for a long time was synonymous with the Hells Angels and other outlaw motorcyclists.
In 1969, AMF (American Machinery and Foundry) bought the company, streamlined production, and slashed the workforce. This tactic resulted in a labor strike and a low quality of bikes. The bikes were expensive and inferior in performance, handling, and quality to imports from the far east. Sales & quality plummeted, and the company almost went bankrupt.The "Harley-Davidson" name was mocked as "Hardly Ableson", "Hardly Driveable," and "Hogly Ferguson",and the nickname "Hog" became pejorative.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

Harley and the "Model 125cc"

Harley Davidson in 1948 released the "Model 125" at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin factory. However, technically speaking , this was a small , sturdy , light weight , two-stroke motorcycle, of 125 cc displacement. The Model 125's design, was actually a similar to the German motorcycle manufacturer DKW , whose engineering designs were forfeited to the allies, as a result of World War 2 reparations , at the conclusion of World War II. Other manufactures also benefited from DKW's slightly altered designs, including Britains BSA, with their range of Bantam models
When Harley introduced the Model 125. Its engine was of two stroke design, which meant the operator had to mix oil, with the gas. This was a first for Harley! Failure to properly mix the oil with the gas, was sure to cause engine failure! It produced 3 horsepower, and featured a girder-type front end ,with a front suspension that consisted of large rubber bands. It was touted by Harley, to get 90 miles to the gallon! Due to its low, initial price, and its economical price to operate, the 125 cc was a very popular choice, with many groups, including paper boys, farmers, beginners, and even veterans returning home, after the war, who had limited income! It was a popular addition, to the 1948 Harley model line-up.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com

WW2 and the Harley Davidson

Harley-Davidson again produced large numbers of motorcycles for the US Army in World War II and resumed civilian production afterwards, producing a range of large V-twin motorcycles that were successful both on racetracks and for private buyers.
Harley-Davidson, on the eve World War II, was already supplying the Army with a military-specific version of its 45" WL line, called the WLA. (The A in this case stood for "Army".) Upon the outbreak of war, the company, along with other manufacturing enterprises, shifted to war work. Over 90,000 military motorcycles, mostly WLAs and WLCs (the Canadian version) would be produced, many to be provided to allies.
Harley produced the WLC for the Canadian military.Shipments to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program numbered at least 30,000. The WLAs produced during all years of war production would, unusually, have 1942 serial numbers. Production of the WLA stopped at the end of the war, though it would resume production from 1949 to 1952 due to the Korean War.
The U.S. Army also asked Harley-Davidson to produce a new motorcycle with many of the features of BMW's side-valve and shaft-driven R71. Harley largely copied the BMW engine and drive train and produced the shaft-driven 750 cc 1942 Harley-Davidson XA. Due to the superior cooling of an opposed twin, Harley's XA cylinder heads ran 100 °F (55 °C) cooler than its V-twins.[22] The XA never entered full production: the motorcycle by that time had been eclipsed by the Jeep as the Army's general purpose vehicle, and the WLA—already in production—was sufficient for its limited police, escort, and courier roles. Only 1,000 were made and the XA never went into full production. It remains the only shaft-driven Harley-Davidson ever made.

Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com