Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.harley
From: Bruce Bryner <BBry...@iusb.edu>
Date: 1999/02/27
Subject: HD tidbits from 1903
HD tidbits from 1903
[ You mean, someone might actually buy one of these? ]
The first 'production' model was the 1903 24.74ci, 405.41cc, F-Head
single. There were 3 made, and selling price was $200.
[What!! You paid FULL retail! Yuppie wannabe!]
It was painted "Piano-Finish Black" w/Gold double pinstripping and red
lettering. The pinstripping and tank logo was done by Aunt Janet
Davidson. The gas tank was sorta steel buckled over the top frame cross
member.
Features included: Automatic inlet valve engine w/ 3" X 3.5" bore and
stroke, 51" wheelbase, 185 lbs, 21.5" seat height,
2-ply belt final drive to back wheel hub, (the manual drive was chain),
loop frame, [with a fancy curved front down tube midyear: the first mid
production improvement],
3 coil suspension saddle,
chrome-nickel exhaust valves, [more poser crap... just like the other
nickle plated parts and "polished" aluminum cases.],
vacuum operated inlet valves,
ball bearing rear hub,
iron pistons, step joint piston rings,
exposed exhaust valve springs, 2" case studs, drip feed and hand pump
motor lubrication as main lubrication,
[aka, "Total Loss" oil system. Really.],
one piece cyclinder, tapered pistons,
clutchless single speed leather belt driven tranny,
28" tires w/spoked wheels,
1 & 3/8" filler caps,
3.75" wide fenders,
three plate battery,
60 degree seats on exhaust valves, 0 degrees on automatice inlets,
2 piece automotive style connecting rods w/bolt on lower ends,
standard bicycle diamond frame with triangular tool kit, [kinda FXR like
if you ask me].
The first bike was actually the second prototype. The second and third
would not be completely finished until 1904.
The first buyer was a Mr. Meyer, who supposedly rode it for 6,000 miles before selling it George Lyon, who sold it to Louis Fluke at 21,000 miles, who transferred it to Gerge Sparrow, who took it up to 83,000 miles, [rumor is that he took it to work everyday, and so quickly accumulated the mileage]. In 1913, HD would advertise that this first machine would top 100,000 miles, and that the original bearings were still in tact and that no major components had been replaced. [It was probably then that HD realized the value in replacement parts sales, immediately began production on parts that barely met specs so that failures were iminent and profits would increase,.. or not. <eg>].
***tidbits taken from various sources.
Bruce
The Journey IS the Reward.
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