AMCA Jan/Feb 2023 magazine 1960 FLH

[KNUCK]

Not sure where tomfill was going with that but here is an example of senior first Original paint unrestored 1958 Panhead judged at Cali Dixon meet a few years back, non virtual I might add.

[Rubone]

Not sure where tomfill was going with that but here is an example of senior first Original paint unrestored 1958 Panhead judged at Cali Dixon meet a few years back, non virtual I might add.

That one's got a few non standard bits on it, what did it score?

[D.A.Bagin]

Not sure where tomfill was going with that but here is an example of senior first Original paint unrestored 1958 Panhead judged at Cali Dixon meet a few years back, non virtual I might add.

Boy, that sure brings up memories. I purchased my first HD in late 70 off a used car lot by the Little Ferry circle in NJ. It was EXACTLY like this one. Calypso red and Birch white for the princely sum of $740.00. Beat him down from $800.00. It was a 12 year old bike then. Well, girls liked choppers and I liked girls. With the help of David Sarafan I rebuilt it in 89-90 as a 58 rider with all the OEM stuff I got when I raided my brothers garage after he bobberized his 64. Still have it.

[Architect]

Regardless of how a machine is judged, I have been surprised to see so many "100 Point" bikes recently. As someone with a very critical eye for my area of expertise, I find it hard to understand that nothing was wrong with a XX year old machine. Not trying to stir the pot or anything, but being realistic there is always something you can find, perhaps minor but it is there. 100 Points to me would be a bike from the Archives that left the assembly line and went into climate control storage and comes out only to be wiped down and shown. Everything else will have inaccuracies, minor or not.

I applaud all that attempt and succeed at restorations, just have an issue buying into 100 Points, my opinion. Perfection is a goal, but not achievable.

[tomfiii]

Things have gotten better ,but I am talking of back in the 70's and 80's when a lot of bikes in motorcycle magazines were pawned off as restored bikes with too much chrome.

[KNUCK]

That one's got a few non standard bits on it, what did it score?

That bike scored 98 1/14

[Steve Slocombe]

Dear All, I pulled the paperwork on that 60FLH to find it has been judged three times at Wauseon by reliable team leaders and now sits in Winners Circle at 98.25 points. The judges deducted as Big Lake Bob's list, so mostly too much chrome and polishing. If there is an incorrect rear chainguard then our judges missed it in the 20 minutes we are supposed to have for judging each bike, and I refer you to the Disclaimer. For Knuck I can say Virtual Judging was a service we offered to owners during Covid, and tried hard to avoid putting bikes into Senior or Winners Circle without boots on the ground judging. As I said earlier, video does not always do a good job on paintwork and finishes. Virtual Judging has now ended.

This particular 60FLH motorcycle can keep coming back to receive Winners Circle awards as long as it maintains 85 points. Returning WC motorcycles are now considered for display, so do not need to be started. If the machine wants to try for the new 98 point Marque Excellence award, then it needs to run and 7 photos need to be submitted in advance for scrutiny by Marque Specialists.

Thanks Big Lake Bob for your comments, and I urge you all to put your knowledge back into the Club by joining the judging teams and trying to preserve our little bit of automotive history.

[Speeding Big Twin]

I agree the chain guard appears to be the -63 style. My H-D catalogs list #60302-63 and I imagine the standard version was black. It’s also interesting that my catalogs indicate this type of chain guard can only be used on 63-later models. This would suggest that the -63 chain guard cannot be used on 58–62 models unless something is altered/changed.

Re the master cylinder cover, a chrome version is listed in The Legend Begins under supplementary equipment for 1964–65 while for 1966 it is listed under optional custom features. In each listing it is #41737-63 but I don’t see it in Legend listings for 1963. Given the # suffix is -63 perhaps the cover was introduced for mid-63/late-63?

My 1941–84 FL catalog also lists #41737-63 but says it is a master cylinder cover kit and it consists not only of the cover but also washer #6701. (I do not know what the washer is for.)
Eric

[Omarttentmaker]

I agree the chain guard appears to be the -63 style. My H-D catalogs list #60302-63 and I imagine the standard version was black. It’s also interesting that my catalogs indicate this type of chain guard can only be used on 63-later models. This would suggest that the -63 chain guard cannot be used on 58–62 models unless something is altered/changed.

Re the master cylinder cover, a chrome version is listed in The Legend Begins under supplementary equipment for 1964–65 while for 1966 it is listed under optional custom features. In each listing it is #41737-63 but I don’t see it in Legend listings for 1963. Given the # suffix is -63 perhaps the cover was introduced for mid-63/late-63?

My 1941–84 FL catalog also lists #41737-63 but says it is a master cylinder cover kit and it consists not only of the cover but also washer #6701. (I do not know what the washer is for.)
Eric

I wonder if the washer went behind the head of the bolt that goes through the rear hole in the master cylinder. I surmise this because the bolt itself has a non-standard 1/2" hex head. Unsure why the factory made this bolt that way, and I was surprised the first time I saw one.

[BigLakeBob]

I agree the chain guard appears to be the -63 style. My H-D catalogs list #60302-63 and I imagine the standard version was black. It’s also interesting that my catalogs indicate this type of chain guard can only be used on 63-later models. This would suggest that the -63 chain guard cannot be used on 58–62 models unless something is altered/changed.


Eric

I believe the issue with the -63 chain guard being used on '58-'62 is the brake cylinder style with the bleeder coming straight out as opposed to the -63 cylinder with the angled bleeder. The -63 guard has a protrusion to clear the angled bleeder.

PS, so possibly the chain guard has been altered or this '60 has the wider '63 style brake set up. Great bike, didn't really mean to pick it apart, just wondered why it was stated as so factory correct.

Steve, Thanks for taking the time to follow up on this. Hope you're in FL enjoying what looks like great weather.

[duffeycycles]

The '60 swing arms bent easily & may have been changed as well.The next style had reinforcements where the early one bent.

[KNUCK]

When you look at my 1958 FLH original example compared to the 1960 example, both with the same points, I think I know which one is what I would call an unrestored original. Still wonder how the 1960 can even be in the unrestored class when the restoration obviously has began.

RIP virtual judging!!

[T. Cotten]

RIP virtual judging!!

That puts an end to the "Attracting younger people" question as well, Folks.

....Cotten