1954 fle

[snyder3244]

Hi, I am looking at a 1954 FLE. I am not very knowledgeable and would appreciate any information I could get on what the FLE designation means. Thank you!

[Ronnie W]

FL is a standard Big Twin (1200cc) engine. The FLE is the same motor with a milder cam and a smaller carb (from the discontinued EL motors or 1000cc) intended for traffic work and escort work with a hand shift. The foot shift would be FLF or FLEF. I hope this helps.

[snyder3244]

This bike is a toe shift but the tanks are not original. Do you know if this was a police bike? Thank you for the help.

[cdndewey]

Chances are it was a police bike. The FLE's from what I remember were a four year only designation 53-56. The F at the end, although denoting a footshift, was not stamped on the VIN. It was primarily used on order blanks when ordering a new bike.

[snyder3244]

Thank you! Does anyone know who many they made. Does this make it worth more or less than an FL or FLH?

[cdndewey]

Well I been routing around my library and wasn't able to come up with to much. There were over 4,000 panheads produced in 54 and the FLE retailed at $1,015.

[Rubone]

Does this make it worth more or less than an FL or FLH?

Simple answer...NO. In comparable condition they are all the same value wise.

[c.o.]

In '55 it seems they were produced in the mid 800 range and in '56 it was a little under 700. I don't have any info for '53 or '54 but there couldn't have been a ton of them built.

[Rubone]

In '53 and '54 more were sold than in later years as people who preferred the characteristics of the 61 were attracted to them. They were available to any buyer and not just Police, and not all Police departments bought them. Some liked the higher performance of the regular FL. It seems like at least a third of the '54 models that come up for sale are FLEs. By '55 and '56 the FLH was coming into its own and the FL became the new FLE replacement.
Robbie

[c.o.]

In '53 and '54 more were sold than in later years as people who preferred the characteristics of the 61 were attracted to them. They were available to any buyer and not just Police, and not all Police departments bought them. Some liked the higher performance of the regular FL. It seems like at least a third of the '54 models that come up for sale are FLEs. By '55 and '56 the FLH was coming into its own and the FL became the new FLE replacement.
Robbie

This is why it's important that you hang around here Robbie. I learn something pretty much every time you post. I've never ridden an E model but am curious as to what the appeal was to those that chose them. A smoother running engine comes to mind.