1947 FLH Sports Knucklehead Power and a Sidecar
We’re also fond of the classic springer front end seen on this beautiful vintage Harley.
Here at H-D Forums, we have a bit of a sidecar fetish. We can’t explain why, exactly. We just think that they look neat, and they always look the best on classic bikes. It adds that little bit of extra cool factor to an already gorgeous piece of Harley history.
Honestly, though, we can understand why they’ve fallen out of favor. They’re big and bulky, and they drastically change the handling of your bike. Most of our passengers tell us they prefer riding on the back, anyways. That doesn’t make us like them any less, though.
Recently, we were scanning listings for Mecum Auctions’ upcoming Las Vegas Motorcycles 2020 auction. The auction, which runs from January 21 through 26, has some incredible bikes available. Most of them are museum quality, and many of them are Harleys.
That’s how we found this 1947 Harley-Davidson FLH. It’s beautiful, it’s red, and, most importantly, it’s got a sidecar. Harley-Davidson fans will recognize the “FL” model code denoting a large-frame touring bike. If nothing else, the sidecar is a great place to store extra luggage on a long trip. Think of it as a really big saddlebag.
The auction listing is pretty thin on details, but, thankfully, we know our way around old Harleys. Being a 1947, this is the last year that the FL models were fitted with the Knucklehead engine. Debuting in 1941, the FL Knuckleheads were supplanted by Panheads starting in 1948.
1947 was also the second-to-last year for the springer front suspension. In 1949, a year after adopting the Panhead engine, the FL received the Hydra-Glide front end. Hydraulically damped telescoping front forks replaced the classic springer front end design. This resulted in superior handling at the expense of style, according to some.
For fans of the classic, original FL design, this bike would be an ideal addition to their two-wheeled fleet. It’s fresh off of a restoration, and the cool sidecar is just icing on the cake. With red paint and tons of shiny chrome, it would be an excellent centerpiece for anyone’s vintage motorcycle collection.
Photos: Hemmings
