Harley-Davidson’s Model F Is a Design Icon

Harley-Davidson Model F Knuckleheads, like this one recently for sale on eBay, represent the best of classic American design. They were built from 1941 through 1947 and are highly coveted.

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Compromised Production

Introduced in 1941 as a big brother to the legendary 61-cubic-inch E/EL—L indicating a high-compression example—the F retained Harley-Davidson’s spectacular 1930s styling. Harley engineers were responding to requests from police departments for an alternative to the more powerful 74-cubic-inch Indian Chief.

Harley-Davidson matched the Indian’s engine capacity while applying engineering improvements to the oiling system, crank pins, clutch, and pistons. The new model was a hit. It quickly became a sales leader. Then, just as quickly, H-D halted production.

War Baby

Harley-Davidson sold almost 2,500 examples of the Model F before America’s finest manufacturing organizations had a more pressing call to answer. In H-D’s case, the military’s need for the super-reliable, smaller WLA model meant that Harley-Davidson stopped production, as it did for their civilian machines.

Production resumed after the war. Although the F/FL model became a mainstay for decades, 1947 was the final year for models with the Knucklehead V-twin motor.

For 1948, H-D released the new Panhead motor with aluminum cylinder heads, self-adjusting lifters, and some cooling enhancements. Soon after, hydraulic forks and a steady stream of developments saw Milwaukee gradually modernize its offerings. This small production window makes the Knucklehead version special.

Design Icon

Harley-Davidson created a design icon with this motorcycle. The front fender sets the tone with its ornate brightwork and auxiliary light unit. There’s nothing subtle about the way it’s draped over the front wheel as it flares out at the bottom. That feature captures the era. H-D knew how to build a gorgeous motorcycle.

You can see the workings of the “springer” front suspension behind the flowing fender. It looks great but was replaced with superior hydraulic technology a year later. Although tastefully adorned with the old H-D badge and that spectacular speedometer, the tank’s shape is ordinary. The hand shift, accompanied by the foot-operated clutch, is next to it on the left. That’s another area where the ’47 scores major cool points.

The saddle and rear fender continue the late-deco styling and are mounted on a rigid frame. This means there is no clutter where rear dampers would have been mounted. The only comfort afforded the rider over rough surfaces comes from the spring beneath the seat.

Perhaps the days of riding one of these across the country are in the past, although it seems that if you wanted to take in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in one journey, this example seems up to the task.

Just Right

From the final year of production, this 1947 Harley-Davidson Model F on eBay seems to have been well maintained and used often. The listing boasts a raft of correct H-D parts used in its maintenance and confirms that all relevant numbers match. Scan the photos, and the bike seems just right for one that’s been loved and used but not restored.

The seller mentions that the bike has been good for “weekend rides.” Dare you take it a little further?