Low Miles 'Pay-As-You-Ride' 1934 Harley VLD

Troubled Times

American businesses in the early 1930s were suffering financially, Harley-Davidson included. By 1933, motorcycle sales had bottomed out and the Milwaukee factory was operating on a two-day workweek. Among the many storied bikes in the Motor Company lineup, the V-Series Flathead helped weather those troubled times. The hot 1934 VLD eventually emerged as a bestseller, but not without its own issues.

Photos courtesy of Saratoga Automobile Museum

Reworked Crank

Introduced in 1929, just months before the stock market crash, the Model V was immediately problematic. The 74 cubic-inch Big Twin was meant to replace the highly successful J-Series but lacked power due to an undersized crank. It was recalled almost immediately and retrofitted with a larger flywheel, cases, and a new frame to accommodate the changes.

Dire Stage

To the displeasure of dealerships, dismantling and rebuilding the ill-designed Model V came at their expense. Produced until 1937, the history of the V Model is often overshadowed by the dire times and its subsequent iteration—the successful and more widely-recognized Model U. It also shared the stage with its smaller, 45 cubic-inch counterpart, the problem-free and more affordable Model D.

Cuts Advantage

In what is probably a bit of blurred folklore by now, Harley-Davidson's 'founding-four' considered closing shop, given the state of the economy. Instead, they chose to scale back, abandoning their industrial engine production, laying-off workers, slashing salaries, and canceling the racing program. Despite all the cuts, the MoCo still had a slight, but historically obscure advantage compared to most other manufacturers.

Funded Liberty

'Family' is core to Harley-Davidson motorcycle ownership, and although a touch abstract, it is a welcoming sentiment. In a more concrete manner, family was literally one of the key factors that helped the Motor Company through the tough financial times of the 1930s. Family-funded, and without stockholders, Harley-Davidson had far more liberty in its decision-making process than its counterparts.

Match Machine

The VLD was Harley-Davidson's performance bike of the day. New low-expansion aluminum alloy pistons, coupled with redesigned cylinders and heads fed by a Y-shaped intake manifold translated into a 36 horsepower machine. The Model V was finally a match to its predecessor, the ever-popular 1928 JDH—notably the Motor Company's first twin-cam machine, and considered by some to be a 'superbike.'

Potential Plans

Performance aside, the VLD broke Harley-Davidson's trend of painting all their bikes olive green. A range of two-tone color schemes was made available, but even more critical was the introduction of Pay-As-You-Ride finance plans. The Art Deco-styled machine moved within the reach of potential owners and the VLD became a success, with approximately 7500 machines sold in 1934.

Refreshed Ride

The 1934 VLD pictured here originally belonged to Francis Romaine. After he passed away in 1978, it was sold to a collector. While it has been refreshed, the paint, factory decals, and accessories are all original—even the rare 'air flo' air cleaner and chrome exhaust. With 7897 miles on the odometer, this hot bike is ready to ride, payment notwithstanding.

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