For some of us in northern climates, the motorcycle season is winding down too quickly. However, this 1948 Harley Davidson is ready to roll and take you through the end of the summer and into the fall. Found here on eBay with an a current bid over $19,000, the reserve hasn’t been met. Located in Holden, Missouri, this bike is a really cool cruiser.
The ad is a little bit mysterious regarding the history of the bike. It supposedly has the original 77cc Panhead engine and “From the carburetor down it appears to be correct. The bike has the correct forks, gas tank, instrument panel, front fender, steps, and more.” However, the frame is said to be a 1949. So why were all of these original parts placed on a later frame?
You have to love the look of this bike. Everything is worn just right and it has a ton of soul. What do you think? Is this your style or do you prefer a ton of flash and shiny paint? Let us know.
“…What do you think? Is this your style or do you prefer a ton of flash and shiny paint? Let us know.”
no, this is it. Since U ask.
For daily driver U can give me a late 60s XL.
Visiting a friend in Tucson at that time he let me drive his. It:
rode like a bike should,
drove like a bike should,
sounded like a bike should,
looked like a bike should…
Never mind, I better stop. The others (most, not all), meh…
Thnx MD, good pic, write up, find.
I think you mean 74 cubic inches, not 77 cc. It’s either a 60 or 74 ci
61 or 74… EL or FL/FLH.
I like old cars and viewing old bikes.
I ride a motorcycle with disc brakes and all the current safety features except ABS which in the future will be on the bike.
This persons hope to have cash on flip again is sweet but not with all the safety and agility for me. Drop twenty on a new Indian dark horse or chieftain with all the toys and a windscreen that auto adjust and bank the difference to use on a Route 66 trip across the USA with much cash leftovers.
FYI If you want a Harley-Davidson spend 15 more for new.
This bike was built back when the men where men, the wimmin where men and the sheep where nervous! Remember, this is a website for classic vehicles, not an advertisment for the newest, latest and greatest. Yeah, money could be better spent if you’re looking for a cross country cruiser that you want to use in today’s world but again, this is a site for classics.
I could (and did ) take long tours on my ’52 Black Shadow with no problems. It kept up with modern machinery without working up a sweat. Much cooler than the newer Harleys or latest iteration of Indian. Folks buy these because they don’t want to be part of the”herd”.
Classic Steel! I think you need to fact check your prices for Harley Davidson and Indian. Does anybody on here check facts before they spout off!
How true! Unfortunately my first born son has already reached the age of majority, it would be very difficult to have him give over his life so Dad could own one of those contraptions.
Back in my teen years, I bought a basket case 48 (at least that was what the title showed) at the urging of a friend. It was a hodge-podge of parts from various years and even had a couple of Indian parts in the various boxes.
Took some time to assemble what I had and modifying it (meaning we chopped it) to personalize it drawing on help from a number of people. Only had it a couple of years but while I did I felt like I had the world by the tail. It was a one-of-a-kind chopper that loved the highways.
This one looks pretty good but it’s out of my league pricewise. I also have not been on a bike in over 40 years and current drivers out there scare the heck of me in relation to bikes. Only if I was in some non-populated area would I consider getting back on a bike.
I had a tank shift WLA 45 when I lived in Los Angeles. If you’ve not ridden one of these, the cool factor was off the chart…the pleasure factor of riding that heavy slog with a foot clutch and tank shift didn’t even register. And that was a 45.
This 74 is suited for small towns and open roads.
My old 1949 45 with a servicar trans with reverse, to a real trick to back up!
45 on the back of the International!
Great stuff lowbusman! Thanks for the photo! Ride on.Take care, Mike.
While I’m not a big fan of vintage motorcycles, especially $20 thousand dollar beaters, this is really cool, but again, the price bums me out. Who knows why it has the equipment it does, lot happens in 60 years. Wouldn’t take much to make this old gal lookin’ sharp again, and would probably cruise fine. Bikes should look nice, not ratty. Sends a clear message what the owner is like. Like the over priced cars, I’d have to think there’s better ways to spend $20g’s, motorcycle wise. ( For me, it would be a classic Z-1 and newer Sherpa dirt bike) Don’t forget, when done, it’s still an old bike. Hope your right leg is strong( it will be when this thing won’t start) There was an old saying with older Pans, “if it didn’t pop on the 2nd or 3rd kick, we may need the chase van”.
@Howard A – No truer words, sir… No truer words…
For a while, I had a 1976 Sportster XLCH. OK, I was young and stupid. The lack of electric start didn’t worry me at all, until it did.
One time, I counted 32 kicks until it started. I lost at least 2 pounds in the process. If I had had another kicker on the other side, I could’ve PEDALED it to where I was going, and gotten there sooner.
At another time, I learned the hard way that you don’t put the pedal under the arch of your boot… you kick from the ball of your foot. That little piece of education cost me a sprained ankle that wouldn’t fit into a boot for 2 weeks.
Of my 11 lifetime motorcycles, it was the first, and last, Harley.
Thumbs up to you.
I think that particular ailment is called sportster ankle or knee. Never wear knee high moccasins either oh you’ll look cool riding but when the kicker slips and it will it’ll hurt real bad. Once I replaced the tilison carb with a mikuni 2 kicks and it fired that helped with the cool factor too.
XLCH= Extra Large Charlie Horse
XLCH = Xtra Loud Crank Harder
X-tra Light Chick’s Harley. Gave you both a ‘thumbs up’.
@wheel man – Mine had the Mikuni carb upgrade, too. Thumbs up.
BTW – Call it anything you like, kickback is painful and dangerous. Non-electric Harleys should come with a PROMINENT warning label.
They don’t kick back when the point gap and timing are set properly. On the big twins prior to 1965 that includes manually retarding the spark before attempting to kick start.
@Stu – Thank you. Good information… just 42 years and 10 motorcycles too late. Gave you a thumbs up for possibly helping someone else.
As an aside: My Husqvarna 390 was a 2-stroke, and (if the gas/oil mixture was pretty close) it always started on the first kick. That was truly a powerful dirt bike. I miss it, sometimes.
I’ve probably owned 50 motorcycles since 1966. Not one Harley. Ridden a few. Passed a few. Could never justify the prices or hoopla. Stigmas are problematic.
I think this was on American Pickers awhile back
Close, I think it was an older Knucklehead, same color and condition. We can thank American Pickers for jacking the prices up on these. Somebody ( with deep pockets) went for it.
The prices have been high long before American Pickers!! I guess you haven’t been paying attention. American Big Vtwin prices have been up there since the 80’s. But I guess it is easier to blame someone or a tv show!!
I could (and did ) take long tours on my ’52 Black Shadow with no problems. It kept up with modern machinery without working up a sweat. Much cooler than the newer Harleys or latest iteration of Indian. Folks buy these because they don’t want to be part of the”herd”.
I had a ’48 WL (45) as one of my first bikes. Easy to kick over with a 5/1 compression ratio. Not fast but a cool ride.
Wow! Keep it for that!
Ended: Aug 05, 2018 , 7:00PM
Current bid:US $23,235.00
Reserve not met
[ 172 bids ]