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Harley Davidson Sportster
In 1957, a new Harley-Davidson model the Sportster
took the motorcycle world by storm that continues today.
The 883cc Sportster, with its overhead valve engine and integral 4-speed
transmission, gained rapid acceptance on America's roads and is generally
acknowledged as the first of the superbikes.
The Sportster was an instant success
listened to the market. The first XL was almost a junior FLH, but
when the dealers and the market asked for speed and sport,
the factory listened and offered the
Sportster XLC, a stripped XL for desert racing, and the Sportster XLR, a
mix of XL and KR parts, and they topped the mix with the awesome Harley Sportster XLCH, an
instant classic.
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Harley Davidson Sportster |
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The First Harley Davidson Sportster XL, the 1957 Sportster, mimicked the look of the K-series, the first XL Sportsters big fuel tank and headlight made for no mistaking the new Sportsters heritage.
it look like a distint realative to the FL series. most of the XL was just like the The Harley Model KH, as in suspension, unit construction, and so forth.
LEFT
Picture of
a Harley Davidson Model K the first Harley Sportster XL would inherit many
of it's looks from the
Model K. But that would change over time.
click on image to enlarge
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But a closer look revealed that the OHV engine was a lot more different
from the K or KH than it looked. The Sportsters engine displaced
883 cc, again like the KH, but the XL had overhead valves, a higher
compression ratio, bigger bore and shorter stroke, all of which meant
more power and performance.
The 55-cubic-inch (883cc) overhead-valve XL was the lone American entry
in what 'some call the beginning of the superbike class'. Descended directly
from the K model, the new Sportster was all Harley, yet trim.
With no added baggage and clean lines some feel the look of the sportster stands as one
of the best looking HD motorcycles ever manufactured. The no frills appearance
clearly announced the mission of the sportster, to haul ass, a straight-line
sprinter, in that role it was the class champ.
RIGHT Image
from a 1960 Harley Davidson brochure showing the 1960 Harley Davidson Sportster
XLH click on image to view an enlarged version
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Harley Davidson Sportster New Tank Logo |
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The Sportster XL New Logo,
New tank emblem is round Lucite disc, with 2 red and 2 silver or gold quadrants with red
"Harley Davidson" name. This was HD's first use of plastic for emblems.
The new tank logo is designed by a moonlighting Willie G who was fresh out of
design school
and hadn't yet joined the company.
LEFT
This circular logo was fitted to the first Sportster and the first
Duo-Glide. Two-toned paint was used on Sportster fuel tanks in 1957 and 1958.
click on image to enlarge
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The now famous peanut Sportster gas tank adorned with the just as famous
Sportster script. The tank may be the most enduring thing to come from
Harleys two-stroke days since the tank was originally on the 125cc Model S.
LEFT
The Model S was the source for the peanut gas tank. Image of a 1947 two-stroke
single model S.
click on image to enlarge
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Harley Davidson Sportster XLR |
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The Harley Davidson Sportster XLR,
The Sportster continued its evolution with The XLR, which was built for TT scrambles racing. At a glance the R
appeared to be simply an XLCH sportster stripped for competition, but the engine
had a number of differences. The only obvious hint was the magneto
mounted ahead of the front cylinder, rather than on the right side.
The XLR ran ball bearings at the crankshaft ends and different heads,
flywheels, cams, pistons and valves. The motors were good for about 80
horsepower and the bike weighed little over 300 pounds.
The XLR engine was produced in limited numbers, probably fewer than
500 in a ten-year period.
LEFT
Picture of
a Harley Davidson Model K the first Harley Sportster XL would inherit many
of it's looks from the
Model K. But that would change over time.
AS WITH MOST IMAGES click on image to enlarge
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Harley Davidson Parts and Accessories |
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Harley Davidson parts and accessories
have become a important ingredient in the success of
both the company and dealers. The fact Harley formed
A separate parts and accessories department as early as 1912 proves
just how early Harley and the Davidson's realized the importance of these
items.
Arthur Davidson warned dealers that the company would not tolerate
affixing non Harley aftermarket parts on H-D bikes.
The Motor Company's reputation for durability and
performance helped Harley-Davidson stand out in
an increasingly crowded field of motorcycle manufactures.
He knew insisting on genuine parts and accessories would maintain that hard earned reputation.
RIGHT Arthur Davidson is featured in a 1924 Harley Davidson parts and accessories mailing sign up form
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FREE OFFER Extremely Rare 1917 Harley Davidson Brochure |
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This is a very rare Harley Davidson Motorcycles brochure
covering the full motorcycle lineup for 1917. Of the three dozen or more books
I own covering the Harley Davidson
Motorcycle Company not a single one has any images from inside
or outside of this brochure
Recently I became aware of just how rare this Harley brochure is. One of the items you receive
when becoming a member of the official Harley Davidson Museum is the book: 100 Years of Harley-Davidson Advertising. Surprisingly the book
doesn’t have a single image of what is easily the most beautiful engraved color
lithograph art work to ever grace a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Brochure.
Since no other publication ever displayed this, I wasn’t surprised when not a single image from this brochure could be found
in the official Harley Davidson Museum, which BTW is beautifully decorated from top to bottom with Harley Davidson advertisement material.
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Download one of the rarest Harley Davidson
Brochure FOR FREE
The download includes large desktop sized wallpapers of the color
lithograph cover and center spread along with the other full page images that
grace this rare brochure. Yours absolutely free for just signing up to HarleyDavidsonMuseum.com
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Harley Davidson Museum
Photos |
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New standard colors introduced in 1933 ushered in a new era in
Harley gas tanks
Harley gas tanks
. Combining intricate
tank logos and hand-painted pin striping the
Harley gas tank
became works of art.
The art deco-inspired designs demonstrated the creativity and skill
of the company's employees. The tradition of developing new gas tank
designs to accompany changing paint schemes became a trademark of
Harley-Davidson style. |
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By 1906 the motorcycle industry was already beginning to
experience furious competition.
The Harley Davidson Motor Company's reputation for durability and
performance helped Harley-Davidson stand out in
an increasingly crowded field of motorcycle manufactures.
Model: Model 2, 26.8ci (440cc) F-head single
Price: $210
Production: 50
Colors: Black with Gold pinstriping, Renault Grey with Red pinstriping
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1907 Harley Davidson 1907 Model 3 Atmospheric-Valve Single
The year 1907 was a milestone for Harley-Davidson.
The company incorporated in September, selling its
first stock to employees and board members. That
November the founders rented a booth at the Chicago
Auto Show to recruit dealers, offering price breaks as
a lure: $30 for every fifth bike ordered.
The 1907 bike cost $210. It could travel over 500
miles on one tank of oil, a feature tested personally by
co-founder Arthur Davidson when he rode a 1907 model to New England
to recruit even more dealers.
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Model: Model 3, 26.8ci (440cc) F-head single
Price $210
Production: 150
Colors: Renault Grey with Red pinstriping, Black
Specification: Sager front fork used, otherwise as 1906 |
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1909 was the first year Harley-Davidson released
more than one model, adding its first twin-cylinder
engine. However, the first twins were recalled,
so single-cylinder bikes like the Model 5 remained
the mainstays.
Model 5 - 30ci (500cc) single, 28in wheels, battery ignition Price $210
Model 5A - 30ci F-head single, 28in wheels, magneto Price $250
Model 5B - 30ci F-head single, 26in wheels, battery ignition Price $210
Model 5C - 30ci F-head single, 26in wheels, magneto Price $250
Model 5D - 50ci (819cc) F-head V-twin, magnet Prices Price $325
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1916 Harley Davidson Model J with Package Truck |
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Introduced in 1915 as an addition to the successful sidecar line.
The Harley Davidson Side Van was basically a wooden box on a sidecar chassis,
with a hinged top for loading, and proved very popular with commercial users.
Among the Harley factory options was your own company's sign written name
on the box, at 10 cents per letter, and a folding top and side
curtains to protect the rider from the elements.
Model:
Harley Davidson
Delivery Van
17-M
Price:
$70
Model:
Harley Davidson
Delivery Van
17-N
Price:
$72
1915 Production:
98
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From the beginning Harley-Davidson motorcycles had been used by police departments. The U.S. Postal Service also found them to be
a much better solution for rural routes then horses. An early Harley brochure promotes a
relatively new use in the below text:
Fire Department Service Comparatively new in this service, the motorcycle has One large city in the middle
west in which motorcycle equipment is being used has
been able to extinguish 70 per cent of its fires by
means of the motorcycle equipment before the heavy
apparatus arrived. |
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Home
Harley Gas Tank Picture History
Harley Servi-Car Trike
Harley Davidson Sportster
Harley Davidson Accessories
Harley Model List
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Harley 1957 Models
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Harley 1958 Models
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Harley 1959 Models
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Harley 1960 Models
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Harley
Sportster XLCH |
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In 1959
Harley Davidson
introduce the XLCH in 1959.
The ad goes on to say:
Drags! Scrabbles! Trials! Endures! Climbing! Anything! You name it ...
you ride it ... the Sportster "CH" loves it! Here is the sporting SPORTSTER ...
ready to take a challenge ... willing to meet any odds . .. and always
able to win. The Harley-Davidson SPORTSTER CH comes equipped with
headlight, tail-light, trip-o-meter speedometer and hi-flow muffler.
For all-around riding (on or off the road), the Harley-Davidson SPORTSTER CH
can't be beat! Put one through its paces ... get a test ride thrill, today
Harley Davidson parts and accessories
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Model K |
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Harley Model K
In 1952 the aging HD 45 WL, which had been in the line since the
Thirties, was dropped in favor of an all new HD motorcycle
called the Model K. Powered by an all-new 45 cubic inch side-valve motor.
With the motorcycles new sleek, sporty (pre sportster)looks and features that included an integrated four-speed
foot-shift transmission, hand-operated clutch, hydraulic-suspension
front and rear. the Model K represented the most modern and technologically advanced
Harley-Davidson ever produced.
The Harley Davidson Model K was an instant success on
the streets, and its sporty racing brothers, the KR and KRTT, were equally
successful on the nation's race tracks.
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Harley Davidson
Aermacchi |
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In
1960 Harley Davidson buys half interest in Aermacchi of Italy and imports the Sprint, a 250cc 4-stroke single
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Harley Servi-Car |
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1932 Model G Servi-car Side Valve V-Twin
Servi-Car model production began in 1932 and ended 41 years later. Conceived as
the "ideal commercial vehicle," the
Motorcycle Trike
proved
popular with police departments. |
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Harley Sportster |
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The
Harley Sportster
era begans in 1957 when Harley Davidson introduced an overhead-valve,
54-cubic-inch engine (883cc). Before that, Harley motorcycles were side-valves
(Flatheads). In 1957, Harley Davidson released the
overhead-valve cylinder heads, which gave the motorcycle increased
horsepower and performance. Today there are many iterations of the Sportster.
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