What year is this flathead

[Jerry Wieland]

This summer when at a car show with my 1941 HD OHV an old gentleman came up and started telling me about his first bike that he bought in 1958. He told me that he remembered it as a 1947 Eighty but if it is trimmed right it definitely is not. He sent me this blurred picture and said it is the only image he has of it.

I think it is a mid 1946 74SV and I will leave my reasons for that conclusion until late but would definitely like to hear what anybody else has to say about it and what vintage they think it might be.



Jerry

[Chris Haynes]

Tanks ETC. Could have been changed. The last 80's were built in '41. But by the time that picture was taken it could have been made into an 80. Many people generalize and refer to any U model as an 80.

[koanes]

I'm thinking 41. The ride control is wrong for 46 and riders of the earlier bikes would upgrade to shock absorbers but I doubt many went back to friction disc.

[c.o.]

I would go with '41 as well. I was also under the impression that some folks scrapped their shock absorbers and went back to the friction disc. That's what happened to my '48.

[Chris Haynes]

Looks to be a 1947 type dash.

[Jerry Wieland]

Chris I looked at the dash but it is really hard to tell if it is 47 or not. I thought maybe it was 46 because it looks to me like there is a little more trail on the front fork than what my 41 FL has and that is something I have noticed on mid 46 and newer bikes using a 30 degree frame. Even though the bags are not stock they use the 4 mounting bolts and I think 41 still had 5 - of course we haved all seen the swiss cheese looking side panels on OEM fenders. It also still has a beehive tail light (please forego the lecture here Chris). Are the heads aluminum - from my observation most 41's had aluminum and most later UL's had cast iron.

I did wonder about it have a slider vs hydraulic shock but sliders were still available.

Jerry

[BNSONS]

Even after the shock came out you could still order the ride control (sliders) from the factory & just pay the difference between them.
Dave

[jwl]

I have 2 pretty darn original 41's. 1 is an FL, the other is a U. Neither of them has either a ride control or a shock. I know they are too early to have a shock but the absence of the ride control or studs to mount the ride control make me believe that they both came from the factory this way. Makes the ride kinda bouncy. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!