We see a few classic Harley-Davidson motorcycles cross our desks at Barn Finds, but there have only been three older than this 1919 Model 19F. Its history is unclear, and its story is made more challenging because the seller acknowledges they aren’t an expert on the subject. However, it is virtually complete and could be a rewarding restoration project for a passionate enthusiast. The Harley is listed here on eBay in Phoenix, Arizona. Bidding sits below the reserve at $15,000, although there is time for that situation to change.
The seller is a novice with classic motorcycles, but my research suggests this is a 1919 Harley Model 19F. The resources I accessed for the information are credible, so I have willingly stuck out my neck with the call. However, if I’m wrong, I’m happy to be corrected by someone more experienced on the subject. It is virtually complete, and while the steel components like the fenders and fuel tank have accumulated dents and imperfections, there is no evidence of rust. The frame looks solid, and the machine’s aged appearance means the new owner might opt for preservation over restoration. There will be a shopping list of parts because this survivor is missing items like its original lights. The seat is intact, and it looks pretty serviceable. Classic motorcycle restoration projects don’t appeal to everyone, but they are a practical consideration for enthusiasts with limited workshop space. Whatever path the new owner chooses, they won’t need acres of floor and bench space to bring this Harley back from the edge.
Harley-Davidson introduced its “Big Twin” engine to its model range in 1914. The “F-Head,” also known as the Intake Over Exhaust version, remained available until 1929. This Harley features what is believed to be its original motor, with a capacity of 61ci and a power output of 8.68hp. The power was fed to the road via a three-speed transmission, with the company deciding that the impressive low-end power and torque delivery didn’t justify any extra gear ratios. It is unclear when this beauty last fired a shot in anger, but the indications are the period can be measured in decades. It is missing a selection of parts, including the throttle cable, rear brake rod, shift rod, shift lever, and shift gate. The winning bidder must also source gas caps, wiring, and gas and oil lines. However, the seller indicates the engine turns and it has good compression. Budgeting for a rebuild would be wise, but reviving this engine may not cost a fortune.
It is common to see classic cars from the early decades of the 20th Century appear for sale, but it is rarer to see motorcycles from the same period. That makes this 1919 Harley-Davidson a treat, and the seller has been rewarded with thirty-one bids at the time of writing. That total will surely rise, but speculating on a sale price is challenging due to the lack of previous listings for similar machines. It will be fascinating to gauge your thoughts on the subject and to see whether any readers can score a bullseye with their estimate. So, over to you.
What a fascinating old bike! Man, talk about a satisfying diy project ! These things were pretty simple to work on, most guys who rode bikes in those days worked on their own stuff, a trend that has endured for some. I fix everything I can on my 94 Fatboy, currently working on installing a new throttle cable and taillight. I’d be like a kid on Christmas morning every time I walked into my shop and my eyes fell on this old gal! But I have a strong feeling that it ain’t going to be that cheap toward the end of this auction…
I remember when I was 12 (1963), my father was looking for an old car and we went to a guy’s place in Chicago who had a large garage filled with teens and twenties motorcycles. I mean maybe 50-80 of them. He told my dad he could have his pick if he bought a Model A he had for sale. My dad refused because he didn’t want a Ford and said the motorcycles were worthless and always broke down………..yikes dad.
That’s why these are so rare, once they became outdated they were considered worthless junk. Most went to scrap drives. About 15 to 20 years ago we were at a motorcycle show where an old guy in his 80’s had a Harley about this vintage. He bought it running condition in 1940, said he paid 40 dollars for it. His friends laughed at him for paying so much for old junk. He kept all these years because he just thought it was neat. Another older guy I used to talk to told me in the 50’s he bought a running Indian Chief for 10 bucks from the foreman of local farm. His father made him take it back, because he got ripped off.
After a recent health scare, my 2 wheeled days are over, so they can ask the moon on this stuff. Not that there was a remote chance of me on one of these relics anyway. A very limited audience. On a recent tour of vintage bikes that came through town, not many looked like they were having a good time. The “van/chase trailer” was full, I bet, and not all breakdowns. So many older vehicles are still useful, old farm tractors, boats, planes, cars, and of course, that A-car, but an antique motorcycle really should be in a museum. We probably won’t hear as many stories as the old trucks, mostly because, the operators of these machines, were usually young single hooligans that somehow made it through the war, but died early anyway leaving no trace.
Howard, I am sorry to hear of your recent health scare and the subsequent end of the two wheel days. I went through the same thing a few years back, choosing to let my 76 rice burner (purchased new) slip through my fingers, but it was simply the right thing to do. Nowadays, that just leaves my Trek, pedal powered bike for my two wheeled entertainment.
Hi 370, thanks for the concern. I was actually on my bicycle when I passed out, and down I went. I always wore a helmet on my motorcycles, but a bike? Pfft,,well, I found out a 4 foot fall at 3 mph does a lot of damage. So, wear a helmet, all!
I know of an un-restored Harley sidecar body from this period if you’d be more comfortable on three wheels…
The con to this bike is parts availability. The pro to this bike is that when it was built all the parts were made by basic machine tools or by hand.
This means that anything missing can be made provided you find a competent machinist.
Also, the tolerances will be far more generous than a modern machine.
You might make money on this project but the right owner won’t want to sell- they will be an enthusiast.
Many machinist will volunteer there skill and time just to be a part of a project like this.
While the seller admits to not being an expert in anything they sell (good excuse if someone has a complaint), they certainly are not a novice when it comes to classic motorcycles.
Almost everything they sell is pre-50’s Harley / Indian.
Wow, a real survivor! I’m just enthralled by its beauty! Find all of the missing bits, get it safely running/ridable and don’t you dare restore it. Too many historical bikes get restored to as new and IMHO, that ruins them.
Im with you. Keep it original. I don’t have anything that old, but I do have a ‘66 BMW R27 that I rebuilt the engine on but left all the tin with its original bumps and bruises. I think it pisses off the BMW crowd because I left it the way I found it, at least appearance wise, and they tend to like them fully restored and pristine. Yawn!
Speaking of the BMW crowd… I’m not putting them down as I have friends that ride them but yeah, some are ornery as they look down their noses. I suppose that could be said for all of the brands.
I have a friend, John, in Sioux Falls who frequents garage sales. He gets there early looking for oddities. A few years ago, he came across an older lady who was selling her late husband’s ‘junk’. John had scored a Cub airplane wheel w/tire and as he was leaving asked about motorcycles or parts. Good thing he asked as she said yes, her husband had an old motorcycle in a shed behind the house. “Go and have a look” she said. Upon first inspection, John thought it was a BMW, but it was not. No, no, much rarer, at least in this area. Turns out it was a Japanese made Marusho, a 1965 500cc. She said it hadn’t run in decades and why would John want it? He said he loves a challenge. So, he bought it for a dollar a cc. He’d never had a BMW or the like before this so online research was in order. Long story short, after careful prep and some odd parts from me, he was riding it around the block. The Cub wheel and tire now resides on the rear of his 1948 Cushman Airborne.
Resto? No! Just get it running.
15K seems low for this.
Howard A – A health scare is the exact reason I learned to ride a motorcycle at age 59! When my physician seemed to indicate I might be facing a terminal condition, the concept of risk, or fear of being killed or majorly hurt just simply disappeared so I bought the first of a string of motorcycles. That was 11 years ago and I managed to ride 60,000+ miles in ten years with no incidents or accidents. After realizing my physician was wrong I continued to ride up until very recently when I sold my third “last motorcycle” yet every once in a while I am so tempted to buy one more “last motorcycle.” I still get my two wheel experiences in on a lesser level – I ride an e-bike about 80 – 100 miles a week, and with the right selection of gear ratio and battery assist, I still get a good work-out in! As I sit this I”m contemplating the logistics of riding US 101 down the Oregon Coast next summer.
Maybe the owner should contact, Dale’s Wheels Through Time, motorcycle museum in Maggie valley, N.C. I think they’d be VERY interested in this bike. It’s an awesome motorcycle museum that restores bikes from any era. They call it, the museum that runs. About every half hour or so, they start an old, restored bike up . VERY cool place.
Robert, did you ever see the TV show that featured Dale, his son, and the museum? It was a really interesting show but I think only lasted a couple of seasons.
Even tho the head honcho went for his last ride they still may be interested in this old timer, https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2021/02/10/motorcycle-world-mourns-the-passing-of-dale-walksler/ Rest in Peace Dale Walksler & Ride Free
Hat an interesting old machine. A dear friend of mine spent 20+ years collecting parts for 1936 Harley. Once he had all the parts he was thrillled to send it a friend to build the bike. The evening it came home, he called me so excited, I had to come over for its maiden ride. I did, and after we both rode it up and down the street, the painful realization was that it was a slow, difficult and uncomfortable machine to ride, not really suited for riding in todays world. He was so very disappointed the 20+ years of effort and searching for only correct parts for his bike netted a truly disappointing machine ride. It literally was like driving a tractor. This too belongs in a museum as riding it I suspect would be a complete let down….
I ride a 1936 harley vld, and i can tell you: its fine for todays traffic, it did not have the comfort of a modern bike but the big solo seat sits very well, and with its 1200cc its fast enough.
So, iam not understand why these old bikes only good for museum display. They build to ride!
I had a 1919 Harley J Model with sidecar. It was previously owned by the legendary Bud Ekins and ridden in a movie by Keith Carradine. It was unrestored and had fantastic patina – I took it to the Quail Motorcycle Gathering in Monterey and it was given the FIVA “Best Preserved Motorcycle” award. Later I shipped it to a collection in Australia.
Dale Wexler at Maggie Valleys Wheels thru Time antique motorcycles may have the parts to complete this and get it running again
FYI…Dale Walksler started Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, SC. I visited several years ago. Maggie Valley is a beautiful area amidst the Smoky Mountains. I rented a log cabin for a couple days. First night a moose reportedly walked through the yard. Anyway, Dale passed in 2021. His son Matt is keeping the pistons pumping at the museum. I highly recommend the trip and stay in Maggie Valley if you are even a bit interested in motorcycles. Even better if you take your bike and ride in the Smoky Mountains while there.
Here’s a bike that would be welcome at my place. This would’ve been replaced by the JD that came out in the 20s. The valve arrangement stayed for a few years, right up to ‘29 anyways.
Back in ‘81 I met a couple of retired ‘Booze Fighters’ from CA down in Sturgis. They rode a pair of JDs with side cars, the wheels of which were linked to the main chassis. The wheel leaned with the bike making the machine easier to corner. I met those guys in Sweetgrass a while later as they were riding to an all HD show in Calgary Canada. Quite the pair; they were in their mid-60s back then….
In the 60s I bought a 1941 Harley 45 out of a junkyard for $50. Took very little work to get it going, and I hid it in a tall hedge since my parents would have killed me if I brought it home. Later traded it for an almost-new Fiorelli 10- speed, which I rode thousands of miles and kept for 50 years. HD tank shift and clutch pedal were not fast, but fun!
Sold $19,500.