![Harley Davidson FLHT Electra Glide](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Harley_Davidson_FLHT_Electra_Glide.jpg)
The Harley-Davidson FL is a model designation used on
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson, Inc. (H-D, or simply Harley) is an American motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1903, it is one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depressi ...
motorcycles
A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...
since 1941. The FL prefix is mostly applied to Harley-Davidson's large-framed bikes, including the current
Touring series, and also the
Softail
A softail (shortened form of ''soft tail'') motorcycle intentionally looks like vintage motorcycles with a rigid hard-tail frame that has a triangle of steel tubes at the rear axle, like on a bicycle frame, but on a Softail these tubes are ...
series, especially those with traditional styling, 16-inch front wheels, and either Springer forks or large-diameter telescopic front forks.
Early FL models
The FL was introduced to the Harley-Davidson model line in 1941. It used a version of the "
Knucklehead"
OHV
An overhead valve (OHV) engine, sometimes called a ''pushrod engine'', is a piston engine whose valves are located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier flathead engines, where the valves were located bel ...
engine that powered the EL in form. The FL shared its frame with the EL and with the U and UL, which used a 74 cubic inch
flathead engine. The FL replaced the UH and ULH, which used the same frame with flathead engines.
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p. 95
The FL continued relatively unchanged until 1948, when it and the EL were given redesigned "
Panhead
The panhead is an overhead-valve Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine, so nicknamed because the rocker covers resembled cooking pans. The engine is a two-cylinder, two-valve-per-cylinder, pushrod V-twin, made in both 61 c.i. (EL) and 74 c.i. (FL, ...
" engines of the same capacities as before. These engines had several improvements over the earlier "Knuckleheads", including self-adjusting hydraulic lifters and aluminum cylinder heads to reduce weight and improve cooling.
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pp. 134-135 The U and UL flathead twins were discontinued in 1948, leaving the OHV EL and FL models as Harley-Davidson's large-frame motorcycles.
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p. 141
Hydra-Glide
In 1949, a year after receiving the "Panhead" engine, the FL was given a new front suspension featuring hydraulically damped telescopic forks, replacing the leading link spring suspension of the time.
These forks were standard on all big twin models for 1949, including the E, EL, F, and FL.
Harley-Davidson offered the spring suspension units on these models
and recommended their use on sidecar combinations, because the hydraulic forks did not have enough
trail
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. ...
to allow the combination to be stable enough for safe operation.
During their debut model year of 1949, Harley-Davidson referred to their new suspension systems as the "hydraulic front ends". Harley-Davidson's marketing department promoted the new suspension systems by renaming the big twin models "Hydra Glide" for the 1950 model year. This was Harley-Davidson's first departure from its policy of using alphabetic lettering to identify its models.
This name would change twice in the history of the basic large-framed E and F series models, each time signaling an improvement in the bike's technology.
In addition, the Glide ending would be used on other models, based on both and FL and FX formats.
In 1952, the Hydra-Glide's transmission standard hand-shift/foot-clutch was supplemented by the optional foot-shift/hand-clutch. The original format continued to be offered as an option until 1978.
1952 was also the last year of the EL, making the FL the last remaining large-frame model.
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p. 150
Although the 1903 founding is now the basis for "Anniversary Models", Harley-Davidson's 50th Golden Anniversary was celebrated in 1954 with special paints and badges on the front fender. The first year of production was 1904.
A more highly tuned engine with high-compression heads, higher-lift cams, and polished ports, was offered with the FLH version of 1955.
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p. 164 The FLH designation has continued up to the present.
Duo-Glide
![Harley-Davidson Duo Glide 1961](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Harley-Davidson_Duo_Glide_1961.jpg)
The FL model was given a new frame in 1958. This frame included a rear swingarm suspended by a pair of coil-over-shock suspension units. In honor of this fully suspended chassis, the FL's model name was changed from Hydra-Glide to Duo-Glide.
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p. 186
Unlike OHV configuration, aluminum heads, and telescopic-fork front suspension, however, this improvement in technology was applied to the small-frame bikes first, the K-series having received rear suspension in 1952.
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p. 158
Electra-Glide
![harley](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Harley.electraglide.750pix.jpg)
The third and final change given to the name of the basic FL model would occur in 1965, the final year of the "Panhead" engines. These last "Panheads" were the first "big-twin" Harley-Davidson engines to be equipped with electric starters, the
Servi-Car
The Harley-Davidson Servi-Car was a three-wheeled utility motorcycle manufactured by Harley-Davidson from 1932 to 1973.
Concept and uses
The Servi-Car was designed during the Great Depression when Harley-Davidson was desperate to expand its produ ...
having received electric start the year before. This innovation for Harley-Davidson was greeted with the new model name of Electra Glide.
In 1966, the "
Panhead
The panhead is an overhead-valve Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine, so nicknamed because the rocker covers resembled cooking pans. The engine is a two-cylinder, two-valve-per-cylinder, pushrod V-twin, made in both 61 c.i. (EL) and 74 c.i. (FL, ...
" gave way to the "
Shovelhead", gaining a ten percent increase in power in the process.
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p. 206
A fork-mounted
fairing became available on Electra Glides in 1969. This became unofficially known as the "batwing" fairing.
[ The A-Z of Harley-Davidson Part Two] Although the batwing fairing was an easily removable option on early Electra Glides, it was not removable on later machines, as the instruments were moved from the fuel tank into the fairing.
![Harley Electra Glide](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Harley_Electra_Glide.jpg)
The FL frame was the basis for the
1971 FX Super Glide. The FX mated the FL frame with the forks of the XL Sportster, with buckhorn handlebars and a large fibreglass tailpiece completing the Super Glide specification.
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p. 234
The FL was given a front disc brake in 1972.
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p. 244
The three-speed plus reverse option was discontinued in 1977.
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p. 258
A 1977
Harley-Davidson Confederate Edition
The Harley-Davidson Confederate Edition was a cross-range limited edition motorcycle made by Harley-Davidson in 1977. It was released following the successful manufacture of the Liberty Edition to commemorate the United States Bicentennial in 1976 ...
of the FLH Electra Glide that featured commemorative paint and tank and fender decals was produced. The unit production was in such low volume numbers - only 44 - as to make it one of the rarest of the company's motorcycles.
An engine was made optional on the Electra Glide in 1978. However, the FL designation was not changed as a result.
By 1981, the 80 cubic inch engine was the standard engine; the engine being discontinued.
[ The A-Z of Harley-Davidson Part Three]
The low-compression FL engine was discontinued in 1979, as was the option for hand-shift/foot-clutch transmission controls.
Tour Glide
The FLT Tour Glide was introduced in 1979 as a 1980 model.
[ ''Harley-Davidson Buyer's Guide: 1984-2011'', p. 22] Sold alongside the existing FLH Electra Glide, the FLT had a larger frame with rubber engine mounts, a five-speed transmission, the engine, and a frame-mounted fairing. In order that the FLT frame, which was larger and heavier than the large and heavy FLH frame, would handle acceptably, the front forks were given radical steering geometry which had them mounted behind the steering head, with the frame behind the steering head being recessed to allow adequate steering lock.
The FLHT was introduced in 1983. This was an Electra Glide based on the FLT Tour Glide frame, but using the Electra Glide "batwing" fairing instead of the Tour Glide frame-mounted fairing.
The police version of the FLHT is the FLHTP.
Except for the base FLH, all 1984 FLs were equipped with the new rubber-mounted Evolution engine and a five-speed transmission.
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p. 273
All "Shovelhead" engines were discontinued by the 1985 model year.
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p. 274 In that year, the four-speed solid-engine-mount FLH was modified to accept rubber mounting and the Evolution engine. The FLH was discontinued in 1986; all Touring models thereafter used the FLT/FLHT frame.
The FLT Tour Glide, which introduced the current Touring frame, was dropped from the lineup in 1996. A smaller version of the frame-mounted Tour fairing would return with the FLTR Road Glide in 1998.
The
Evolution engine
The Evolution engine (popularly known as Evo and sometimes as Blockhead ) is an air-cooled, 45-degree, V-twin engine manufactured from 1984 by Harley-Davidson for the company's motorcycles. It was made in the displacement for Harley-Davidson ...
was replaced by the
Twin Cam 88 engine on all large-framed Harley-Davidson motorcycles in 1999.
The Twin Cam engine was enlarged from 88 cu.in. to 96 cu.in. in 2007.
Unfaired Glides
![Harley-Davidson Road King Custom 2006](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Harley-Davidson_Road_King_Custom_2006.jpg)
An unfaired version of the FLH Electra Glide, known as the FLHS Electra Glide Sport, was available from 1977 to 1984. the early versions had two into one cigar mufflers then were replaced by staggered same side duals. An unfaired FLH Electra Glide was reintroduced as the FLHS Electra Glide Sport again in 1989 through 1993, the FLHS Electra Glide Sport was eventually replaced by the FLHR Road King in 1994, which continues to the present day.
2009 Touring chassis
For the 2009 model year, Harley-Davidson redesigned the entire touring range. The changes included a new frame, new swingarm, a completely revised engine-mounting system, 17-inch front wheels for all models except the Road King Classic, a fuel tank, and a 2-1-2 exhaust. The changes result in greater load carrying capacity, better handling, a smoother engine, longer range and less exhaust heat transmitted to the rider and passenger.
Tri-Glide Ultra Classic
Also released in the FL Touring range for the 2009 model year was the FLHTCUTG Tri Glide Ultra Classic, the first three-wheeled Harley-Davidson since the
Servi-Car
The Harley-Davidson Servi-Car was a three-wheeled utility motorcycle manufactured by Harley-Davidson from 1932 to 1973.
Concept and uses
The Servi-Car was designed during the Great Depression when Harley-Davidson was desperate to expand its produ ...
was discontinued in 1973. This model features a unique frame and a 103 cid engine exclusive to the trike.
2009 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic
FL Softails
Harley-Davidson introduced the Softail
A softail (shortened form of ''soft tail'') motorcycle intentionally looks like vintage motorcycles with a rigid hard-tail frame that has a triangle of steel tubes at the rear axle, like on a bicycle frame, but on a Softail these tubes are ...
chassis in 1984.Mitchell
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* Mitchell, Northern Territo ...
p. 272 The original Softails used the small FX telescopic forks, but the FLST Heritage Softail with large FL telescopic forks was introduced in 1986. The FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic, with large front forks and retro styling, was in production by 1988.Mitchell
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p. 277
Other Softails with big forks followed, including the 1990 introduction of the FLSTF Fat Boy and the 1993-only FLSTN "Cow Glide".Mitchell
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p. 311Mitchell
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p. 288 The base FLST Heritage Special was discontinued in 1991. The FLSTN was continued after 1993 without the bovine motif as the Nostalgia model until 1996, it was replaced by the FLSTS Heritage Springer IN 1997. The Heritage Springer was produced through 2003, with the FLSTSC Springer Classic introduced in 2005. The Heritage Springer and Springer Classic are designated as an FL despite using Springer forks instead of the large FL telescopic forks.[2007 Harley-Davidson Softail Springer Classic specifications]
In 2000, all Softails, including the FL models, were switched from the Evolution engine
The Evolution engine (popularly known as Evo and sometimes as Blockhead ) is an air-cooled, 45-degree, V-twin engine manufactured from 1984 by Harley-Davidson for the company's motorcycles. It was made in the displacement for Harley-Davidson ...
to the counterbalanced Twin Cam 88B engine specially developed for the rigid engine mounting in this frame. The FLSTN designation returned in 2005 with the Softail Deluxe.[2007 Harley-Davidson Softail specifications]
FLD Dyna Switchback
Harley-Davidson introduced the FLD Dyna Switchback in 2012. Designed to be reminiscent of the late 1950s Duo Glide models, the Switchback is the first Dyna platform motorcycle from Harley-Davidson to use an FL front end, and is marketed as a convertible model, with removable saddlebags and windscreen allowing the user to easily convert the bike for touring use.
See also
*List of motorcycles of the 1940s
This a listing of motorcycles of the 1940s, including those on sale, introduced, or otherwise relevant in this period.
Motorcycle
* Acme motorcycle (1939–49)
* AJS 18
*AJS 7R
* AJS Model 16
* AJS Model 20
*AJS Porcupine
*Ariel Red Hunter
*A ...
*List of motorcycles of the 1950s
This a listing of motorcycles of the 1950s, including those on sale, introduced, or otherwise relevant in this period.
* AJS 18 (1949-1963)
Notes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Harley-Davidson Fl
FL
Cruiser motorcycles
Motorcycles introduced in the 1940s