1965 Harley-Davidson 1,200cc FLH Electra Glide

• Last year of the Panhead; first year of the Electra Glide
• Purchased in the USA in January 2020
• Recently recommissioned
• One year only 12v electrics and electric start

By the late 1940s the Knucklehead was beginning to show its age, prompting Harley to engage in a wholesale revision for 1948 in the form of the Panhead, so called because of the rocker covers' distinctive shape. While the engine's bottom end remained fundamentally unchanged, the top end gained aluminium cylinder heads and those famous rocker boxes. Oil lines were internalised and hydraulic valve lifters adopted, an innovation that greatly reduced tappet noise and simplified maintenance. Maximum power went up to 50bhp in the 74ci FL, but the main advantage of the many improvements was greater reliability.

The 'Panhead' featured a new 'wishbone' frame incorporating bowed front down-tubes, and in 1949 gained an hydraulically damped telescopic front fork, becoming the 'Hydra-Glide', though this name was originally applied only to the fork and did not become an official model title until 1951/1952.

The advent of hydraulically damped rear suspension in 1958 saw the Panhead renamed 'Duo-Glide', while with the addition of 12-volt electrics and an electric starter in 1965 it became the 'Electra Glide'. This would be a one-year-only specification, as the Panhead was superseded by the Shovelhead for 1966, making the '65 Electra Glide of particular interest to collectors.

This rare '65 Electra Glide was purchased from a Las Vegas auction in January 2020; and then shipped to the UK, recommissioned, and registered for use (paperwork on file). The vendor advises us that the paintwork is original apart from the glassfibre rear panniers, which were professionally pinstriped together with a matching crash helmet which is included in the sale. The vendor describes the Harley as in amazing, mostly original and unmolested condition, even down to its Goodyear Harley-Davidson whitewall tyres. The only notified deviation from factory specification is the carburettor. Accompanying documentation includes a current V5C and bill for £854 relating to a general service and overhaul of the electrical system.
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