"Experimental"? Anyone know anything about this?

[frichie68]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/28466125711...i52ENpYWFvTRuY

[EricOlson]

I've seen it listed various times over the last few years. There was some discussion about it on this forum back in 2019. Here's the thread: https://forum.antiquemotorcycle.org/...totype-ohv-h-d

[frichie68]

I thought it could be a scam is why I posted it.

[exeric]

The OHV '45' is featured in Jerry Hatfield's book, Inside Harley Davidson'.

[kitabel]

Another example of H-D management inventing expensive new products... without a market.
That bike costs 90% as much to produce as a knuck with no advantage, and not price competitive with the Scout.
New idea of an "entry level" bike: a 750 Sportster, an even bigger mistake. Costs 99% as much to produce.

[JoJo357]

I've watched this Motorcycle since it appeared a couple of years ago. It has had a slurry of controversial listings associated with it's eBaYstatus. It bops from anywhere in the low 100 Grand, to as high as a 1/4 million. It sold a few times supposedly on eBaY. Here's a current *(2-12-2022)* 'SOLD' from a short period ago. And...if You look at the going current ad, it-----> https://youtu.be/ZBAijg5Betw

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284636681762?hash=item4245ab1622:g:YUIAAOSwNwxh-r4a&nma=true&si=AtM6ewRDZekPBwnV6qW%2FkD7bhRE%3D&o rig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2 557

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284661257119?hash=item424722139f:g:YUIAAOSwNwxh-r4a&fbclid=IwAR1zitW-7wAWIm8g2WwGFT1sSvi726tkwkA_4jT7WqV2Ti52ENpYWFvTRu Y

*M.A.D.*

[exeric]

Kitabel,very good points and I have wondered what the true bottom line (and justification) was for Harley-Davidson's 45, and Indian's Sport Scout. I've had a number of Chiefs, and considering my current experience with a '41 Sport Scout, I think Indian had to lose their shirt on that adventure. Glad they did it for the sake of posterity, and those of us that love old motorcycles, but still seems like a mistake.

[kitabel]

Both companies felt there should be an entry level bike that could carry double, and cruise at highway speed. There was no way the big bike could be sold cheaper.
Class C racing made them competitors for performance instead of only sales volume and price.
I had a '42 Sport Scout Bonneville: FDB407.

[exeric]

Again, good observations, Kitabel. I can only imagine the stress for management at H-D, Indian, and Excelsior to try and predict market strategy. Excelsior beat them all to the punch with the hot-rod Super X in 1925 and that seemed to be the challenge for the big 2. However, Excelsior needed the Super X to replace the antiquated Big X so their motive was honest, and pure. H-D, and Indian only had 30.50s to compete with Excelsior's 45 invention so I wonder if the big 2 were intimidated by the Super X? As an entry level bike, I think the early Scout, and H-Ds 30.50 made a lot more sense from a marketing point of view, cost justification, and even more for new consumer riders.

[bobbyt]

The Indian Scout was launched in 1919 (as a 1920 model) and had a displacement of about 37 inches (~600 cc); Harley's Sport, introduced about the same time displaced about 35 1/2 inches (a little less than 600cc). The Scout was introduced as a solo machine according to the factory, with the big twin for sidecar use. This might be a reflection of the attitude of it designer, as Franklin was from the other side of the pond. The export market was surely a consideration for the Scout; early ads highlight Indians world trade.