Description
1950 FL Harley Davidson Panhead
Professionally built via my own vintage motorcycle business, Skinny Choppers in North Yorkshire. It has undergone a huge amount of work, engine & gearbox rebuild, Cannonball Electric starter with starter button, rewired to 12V in vintage cloth wiring and loom, E-Spark electronic ignition, N1 Shifter in gearbox, Pro Clutch. Vintage look with modern upgrades for reliability. Meticulously maintained, full spec below...
Engine
Original 1950 FL Panhead 74ci 1200cc (perfect orginal VIN and matching numbers). Full engine rebuild (1, 000 miles ago), all new bottom end bearings, new crank pin, new pistons, new valves, valve springs, rebuilt rocker arms, new rocker box covers, std heads, new pushrods tubes, rocker covers, rebuilt s&s carburetor, rebuilt oil pump. (Photos available of full rebuild). Includes correctly titled V5 in my name.
Cannonball Electric Starter (Costs £5000)
This is by far the best electric starter on the market. The Cannonball Stealth Starter system by W&W Cycles Germany converts the classic kick start-only motorcycle to electric start yet still retaining a working kickstart. Push the button to fire it up (heavy duty push button underneath the tank in easy reach whilst sat on the bike). Due to the system’s low profile, the overall appearance of the bike remains virtually unchanged and most people don't even notice the starter! (See pics). As mentioned the starter button has been wired through the neutral switch for safety reasons so the bike can't start accidentally in gear. The electric start is also super useful with tank shift as hills stalls are soon recovered with the push of a button! Costs around £5000 including professionally fitted as it requires alterations to gearbox and other upgraded parts.
Gearbox
4 speed gearbox fitted with Baker Drivechain N1 Shifter Drum. This changes the stock 1N234 shift sequence to 4321N (neutral all the way up). This is very helpful for faster tank shift set-off because you just stomp down on the shift lever from neutral to upshift. The other benefit from this set-up is that the "all the way forward" neutral makes quick stops safer. The gearbox also has lots of upgraded internal parts including Cannonball heavy duty throw out bearing and kickstart shaft, and also has the vintage pig snout kicker cover and Faber brass kicker pedal.
Frame
Built by Roland Dintor in Germany. High-end reproduction frame with casting numbers, steering lock and even the welds are copied from the exact year frame! Looks just like an original frame.
Gas Tanks
OEM 1947/ 48 Harley Davidson Knucklehead/ Panhead Gas Tanks. The tanks are the best examples I could find. No bondo or dents. I had them professionally blast etched, zinc etched and etched primed inside and leak tested by Andy over in Pickering and they look like new. Professionally painted by paint by Matt in Leeds in silver with gold swoosh in keeping with the brass theme with OEM brass tank badges. No stone chips or scratches! Mint Condition. The shifter gate is a custom made straight slot in brass with an OEM chrome patina shifter lever and fuel valve with viton tip.
Speedo and Dash
The speedo is OEM (correct for '48 to 52') and rebuilt by John Bordas in the States and showing just over 1, 000 miles! The dash is also OEM with a perfect OEM GEN/ OIL glass and fitted with a neutral light switch so the bike cannot be started in gear with the electric start for obvious safety reasons. Fitted with a nice brass Briggs & Stratton period ignition switch with keys.
Fenders, Bags, Trims & Taillights
The rear fender is made by The Cyclery with exact shaping and 3-piece construction (spot welded side panels) of the original factory part. The rear light is OEM Tombstone with original glass and OEM rear chrome bumper with nice patina. The front fender is by Cannonball and has a more sporty cut down look. OEM front and rear fender eagle trims. The front is brass and looks amazing and the rear is also brass chromed over the top. The saddle bags are nice soft leather which I converted and attached the half moon plates and decorated with vintage brass stars.
Faber Cycles Handlebars, Top Fork Clamp and Risers
Fitted with Stubby Speedster handlebars by Faber Cycles which I've converted to work on an S&S carb with a standard pull throttle. The control wires run through the handlebars. The top fork clamp is bronze cast and the Stelling & Hellings risers are also bronze by Faber Cycles.
Wheels, Forks and Brakes
The wheels are new 18" Star Hubs with KHW stamping and new Super Classic Shinko tyres. Samwel springer chrome forks with ride control and Samwel dual leading shoe springer front brake and a rear mechanical brake by W&W. The brake lever is by The Cyclery and a very nice reproduction of the 40's brake seen on Knuckleheads. Also, has a Delco Remy Horn and correct headlight/ horn mounting. Clutch, Primary & Footboards
Fitted with a Performance Pro Clutch by Rivera Primo. This combinedwith the N1 Shifter makes operating the tank shift as smooth as butter! It's the best combination for tank shift with the N1 Shifter makes operating the tank shift as smooth as butter! It's the best combination for tank shift with ratchet top. The primary drive is belt drive by Rivera Primo. The footboard tops are custom made polished stainless with Harley Davidson engraved.
Headers and Mufflers
The header pipes and mufflers are by Gasbox in the States. I've converted the headers to 3 bolt flanges so they are fixed nice and tight no leaks. The muffler is the rocket fin seamed version by Gasbox which is an authentic reproduction of the original muffler with correct details like the spot-welded bottom seam. These are very hard to tell from the factory equipment and accepted by the AMCA on restored motorcycles. Both the headers and muffler have been professionally ceramic coated in graphite black which is much more hard wearing and doesn't flake off like paint.
Carb & Air Cleaner
The carb is S&S Super E and has been fully rebuilt and has a quick release plug for draining float bowl, a custom made air cleaner cover by Tom Fork in Japan. The finned design matched the fins of the cam cover.
Seats, T-bar and Lights
Super narrow sport solo seat with OEM under-the-seat '49 guide lights which I've wired up to the rear brake light. The T-bar is OEM.
Ignition, Generator and Wiring
Fitted with an E-Spark electronic ignition (so no points and condenser to worry about), Accel coil and leads which makes kick starting easy should you wish to kickstart the bike. The bike has been completely rewired with vintage wiring and cloth loom. All done properly (crimped, soldered and heat shrunk) and the bike has been converted to 12V with a Cycle Electric Generator.
Battery & Box
Fitted with a 12 Cell Antigravity Lithium battery and housed in a Cannonball battery box and lid with brass wing nuts and vintage cloth wiring tucked inside the horseshoe oil tank. The battery box has a lower section which houses the Cannonball electric starter relay. All done properly.
Windshield & Lights
Fitted with a Hanson Roll-Up Windshield with an extra set of clamps which allows the windshield to be fitted to the narrower Faber speedster handlebars. In its lower position the screen tucks on the handlebars and you are "in the wind", but rolled-up it almost provides the protection of a regular windshield. Fitted with Springer headlamp, visor, bar and spotlights all fully working.
Footclutch
OEM Rocker Pedals - nice condition and works great.
Other Parts
Crash Bars front and rear powdercoated black, wrecking crew chain guard, 40's vintage mirror, NOS vintage rear mud flap with jewels. I do also have the original 1950 front and rear heads and also some other OEM accessories which can be available at extra cost.
Riding Tank Shift
If you've never ridden a tank shift foot clutch, this particular setup with the N1 Shifter and straight slot gate is easier and safer to learn. Heal down to disengage the clutch and toe to go! All the way forward on the shifter lever for neutral. And if in a panic, you can disengage the clutch by pressing the pedal down on your heel. There's no advance and retard to worry about and the throttle operates like a normal bike.
Price
Asking price: £27, 500 with spec above. Serious offers only please - I may swap out parts to reduce the price. eg. swap out the OEM speedo for a replica, Fabers Handlebars, bronze top clamp and risers swapped out for cheaper bars set, remove Hanson Windshield, OEM fender badges for repop etc. Depends on the buyers budget. Call: the details below.
