VL Question

[jeffrro1]

know this might be a stupid question but I am an Indian guy trying to educate myself of some of the old Harley stuff.

Here is the question. On the VL stuff is the frame stamped with a number that matches the engine cases? I know on some of the old stuff only the motor was stamped. So could I tell if a VLH motor was in a VD frame?

I am trying to purchase a copy of the VL restoration guide to educate myself but thought I would throw it out there.

Thanks
Jeff

Would also like to hear peoples opinion what would be the best year for the vl and why?

[Chris Haynes]

VL's had no numbers on the frame. The engine was the only serial number on the motorcycle.

[Rollo]

As Chris said there are no numbers on the frames to match them to a motor unlike my 36 Chief which is numbers matching. I was told Indian started that as early as 1923 but I'll let the Indian experts step in on that. I have 3 VL's and like them all. 1- 33 VLD and 2-36 VLH's. It is nice to have the 80" motor in the VLH's but the 33 can keep right up until you max out some where near 80 mph according to the common thought out there. I don't run mine anywhere near that hard but for around town or nice country ride and up to about 50-55 they are great! To me the 30's are the zenith of early motorcycle design and both Indian and HD had the best looking paint and graphics even by todays standards IMHO!

Tom (Rollo) Hardy
AMCA #12766

[Steve Slocombe]

Dear Rollo, you won't hear me disagreeing. The 1933-36 Art Deco Harleys have that in-your-face paintwork that I think looks even better than the later bikes. As to speed, the bikes were probably undergeared for dirt roads, with 22 and 23 tooth drive sprockets. You'll find they will pull a 25 tooth sprocket today and cruise that much faster. Remember Harley took an early VLD up to 104 mph to claim the AMA production bike speed record, probably in 1932. And a September 1935 Universal newsreel shows California Highway Patrol VLs being tested to make sure they did 100 mph. Check out my ad on the back cover of the latest AMCA mag if you want to join in a re-enactment.

[Chris Haynes]

a September 1935 Universal newsreel shows California Highway Patrol VLs being tested to make sure they did 100 mph.

Like this?

[Steve Slocombe]

Dear Chris, Oh yes, just like that! Note the one-year 1935 air intake, but still with the front toolbox. The new 1935 standard rear toolbox would foul the right hand rear Hedberg siren, made in California, so Harley must have modified the CHP bikes accordingly. Anyone out there with a decent Hedberg siren for me?

[c.o.]

Dear Rollo, you won't hear me disagreeing. The 1933-36 Art Deco Harleys have that in-your-face paintwork that I think looks even better than the later bikes. As to speed, the bikes were probably undergeared for dirt roads, with 22 and 23 tooth drive sprockets. You'll find they will pull a 25 tooth sprocket today and cruise that much faster. Remember Harley took an early VLD up to 104 mph to claim the AMA production bike speed record, probably in 1932. And a September 1935 Universal newsreel shows California Highway Patrol VLs being tested to make sure they did 100 mph. Check out my ad on the back cover of the latest AMCA mag if you want to join in a re-enactment.

[Steve Slocombe]

Dear Cory, thanks for that 32 seconds of pure pleasure. I've got five of my ten 1935/6 CHP bikes built, with number six on track for year end. I've made a batch of 27 tooth drive sprockets for them, and my Dutch friends are reporting 160 kph/100 mph using them on their 1935 VLs.