FrankS
Registered User
WWII Harley.
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Did Harley actually make a horizontally opposed twin?
Could this instead be a Russian Ural?
cincyMAT
Member
Did Harley actually make a horizontally opposed twin?
Could this instead be a Russian Ural?
Harley made this as a copy of the BMW's the German Army used. It even has a shaft drive. About 1000 were made for the US Army. I took this photo at the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie, NC. I have a book around here somewhere that details the production and why the army wanted such a motorcycle. Here's one that is even stranger. Indian made this to compete for the same contract Harley was after. It's a Model 841. the Y style cylinders reminds me of a Moto Guzzi.

BobYIL
Well-known
gary2881
Established
FrankS
Registered User
Harley made this as a copy of the BMW's the German Army used. It even has a shaft drive. About 1000 were made for the US Army. I took this photo at the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie, NC. I have a book around here somewhere that details the production and why the army wanted such a motorcycle. Here's one that is even stranger. Indian made this to compete for the same contract Harley was after. It's a Model 841. the Y style cylinders reminds me of a Moto Guzzi.
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Cool. Never too old to learn.
I've got a couple of originals.

gary2881
Established
I saw this at a bike show, I don't know its history. 1942 Harley originally WWII.
Gary

Gary
gary2881
Established
Horton ?
I don't know, but this is the strangest Fetherbed Norton that I have ever seen.
Yes, that is a flathead Harley engine.
Gary
I don't know, but this is the strangest Fetherbed Norton that I have ever seen.


Yes, that is a flathead Harley engine.
Gary
bigeye
Well-known
The boxer flatheads were "XA"s as Gary said. No, I've never seen a '45' in a featherbed, but I think nearly every motor has been tried in it.
Dunstall fairing on the R100?
.
Dunstall fairing on the R100?
.
cincyMAT
Member
Horton ?
I don't know, but this is the strangest Fetherbed Norton that I have ever seen.
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Yes, that is a flathead Harley engine.
Gary
Maybe a Narley? Either way it's amazing how people love to customize motorcycles.
ThangNguyen
Established
Boston Police

bigeye
Well-known
Great shot, Thang. Swinging a leg over that hoss looks like it might be an effort for the aging Erik Estrada.
I had a '69 Baltimore County Police (Special) Harley with sidecar for awhile. Flew it over to England and rode it around Europe. Sold it in Zurich. First hours in Britain were a bit of a circus, but it was a great summer.
- Charlie
I had a '69 Baltimore County Police (Special) Harley with sidecar for awhile. Flew it over to England and rode it around Europe. Sold it in Zurich. First hours in Britain were a bit of a circus, but it was a great summer.
- Charlie
T
tedwhite
Guest
Fine shot, Thang. However, in CA or AZ the officer would be put on leave until he lost a substantial amount of weight. Or maybe reassigned.
Penny Lane
Hopelessly Citrophile
Horton ?
I don't know, but this is the strangest Fetherbed Norton that I have ever seen.
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Yes, that is a flathead Harley engine.
Gary
[pedant] Indian V-twin, more likely. Also note the round Indian badge on the tank [/pedant]
Derk
nekrataal
Newbie
gary2881
Established
How about a different V Twin.
Minolta SRT 101 K64
Gary


Minolta SRT 101 K64
Gary
More to my taste!How about a different V Twin.
Minolta SRT 101 K64
Gary
Of course, the odd Vincent engine wound up in a featherbed frame, too; the ultimate featherbed transplant? There is a strong Australian connection to the Vincent but I expect anyone reading this discussion probably already knows that.
Regards,
Brett
gary2881
Established
I like this one.
Gary


Gary
mynikonf2
OEM
I like this one.
Gary
Me too! Beautiful, & a blast to ride, no doubt.
John Robertson
Well-known
A rel nice Harley Hummer, it, the BSA Bantam, Russian Minsk, and a Yamaha were all copies of a 1939 DKW. I had the 175 cc Bantam, a nice little bike, and my first of many at 16 years old (sheds a tear !!)Harley 125S
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My last in 1999 was a BMW R100 GS identical to the one in front of the parliament buildings in Budapest (BobYIL's posting ) sheds another tear, arthritis forced me to give up the bikes
Pirate
Guitar playing Fotografer
Berlin, two summers ago
Neustadt, Germany

Neustadt, Germany



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