c1948 Harley-Davidson FL Panhead 1200cc Motorcycle

Description

Harley Davidsons 1948 FL motorcycle introduced a number of changes over the preceding Knucklehead, updates that showed the company wasn't resting on its laurels. Changes came thick and fast in the postwar years. The year 1948 saw the opening of a huge new engine production facility in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a few miles west of the Milwaukee facility.But that year's biggest news came in the form of Harley's new FL model with its "Panhead" V-twin.Replacing both the 61-cubic-inch overhead-valve Knucklehead and the 74-cubic-inch flathead V-twins, the overhead-valve Panhead was available in the same two displacements and incorporated several improvements.Beneath its roasting-pan-shaped rocker covers (from which it got its nickname) lay aluminum heads that were lighter and provided better cooling than their cast-iron predecessors. Hydraulic lifters reduced valve noise and eliminated most adjustments, while longer engine life was achieved with an improved oil circulation system.There were other changes as well. More chrome trim pieces gave the bikes a fancier look, with a steering-head lock added in case the extra flash attracted the wrong kind of attention.A latex-filled saddle was optional, as were eight equipment packages that let buyers tailor an FL to their own tastes. Harley-Davidson sold a record 31,163 units in 1948.