1912 Harley-Davidson Single Belt 500cc Motorcycle (Project)

Description

With a history dating back to 1903, America’s oldest motorcycle manufacturer was founded in a wooden shed in Milwaukee, Illinois by William S Harley and Arthur Davidson.  Early production models were closely related to the 1903 single-cylinder prototype and despite the introduction of a V-twin in 1909, one lungers remained popular, with annual production reaching around 4,000 units.  The basic F-head design remained largely unchanged until 1913, consisting of a cast aluminium crankcase with plain big-end bearings and a single-piece iron cylinder head and cylinder barrel with a tapered iron piston.  The inlet over exhaust valve layout remained unchanged until 1908, when some adjustment was allowed for and displacement increased from an initial cubic capacity of 405cc to 440cc in 1905, further raised to 495cc in 1909.  Lubrication was a gravity-fed so-called “total loss” system and transmission via a direct belt-drive arrangement that was adjustable from 1911 onwards.  Like most motorcycles of the era, the Harley was a primitive machine, with no self-starter available until 1906 and lighting equipment only arrived in the final year of production, with the introduction of an acetylene system.  The earliest Harleys had no suspension whatsoever other than the sprung saddle but from 1907 the Sager front fork afforded the rider some relief.  While most Harley-Davidsons of the era were finished in black, pale grey with red pinstriping became an option from 1906 and earned the nickname “The Silent Grey Fellow”.  All Harley singles share the same attributes of simplicity, reliability and good economy and they remained integral to the company’s success well into the 1930s.