Video: Up Close and Personal With a ’63 Duo Glide
Grab a cup of coffee, turn up your speakers, and listen to this old Panhead purr.
Depending on where you live you may be looking at the end of the 2019 riding season. The sad ritual of winterizing your bike, hooking up a battery tender, and throwing a cover over it is probably our least favorite day of the year.
Thankfully, YouTube is there to get us through those long, cold, lonely winter months without riding. The vast, varied YouTube motorcycle community can fulfill your insatiable need for motorcycle noises on any given day, keeping us sane as temperatures drop and the roads get covered with corrosive salt.
Even if you live in a place where it stays warm year-round, though, there’s a lot of cool stuff to keep you occupied during your downtime. This video from Granny’s Garage should make just about any Harley fan happy.
The bike in the video is a 1963 FLH Duo Glide, an early, unfaired touring bike whose modern equivalent would be a Road King. The video begins with the bike being kick-started. Such a large displacement engine needs a lot of force to be kicked over. For those of us who don’t own vintage Harleys, seeing someone actually stand on the kicker and balance themselves before kicking down with all of their might is an impressive sight.
This FLH Duo Glide is powered by the classic, beloved Panhead engine. Its name comes from the shape of the rocker covers, which resemble round baking pans.
As the camera moves around the bike, exploring the details of this classic Harley-Davidson, we can hear the engine loud and clear. It’s got a mellow idle that’s a bit lazy and choppy. Hearing the Panhead breathe through a pair of fishtails is a real; treat, especially when the bike revs up.
In sharp contrast to its tone at idle, the Duo Glide sounds smooth and composed when it’s revved up a bit. It’s such a pleasant sound that we could listen to it all day. In fact, it makes us want to swing a leg over and sneak one last ride in before winter.
