Recognize a 1949 Panhead with a Springer fork

[eongaro75]

Hi guys, First of all, thank you for the support you can offer me

I need your help identifying this 1949 Panhead. The engine number indicates a ’49 Year, but it actually has a Springer fork installed
The gearbox is marked K8, and the heads are also stamped 48 – K8, but the engine number is a 49E…..
The engine number 8124 seems too high to be an early series (though I might be wrong), and I haven't found any “P” to understand whether it was originally a sidecar.

The frame has the horn mounts, in the frame and shows XE-35F number 17.

My question is: could this be one of the Panhead produced using leftover parts from the factory?
Or was the Springer fork added later over the years?
Are there other ways to figure out if this ’49 Panhead came from the factory with a Springer front end?

Kind regards
Enry

[Rubone]

Hello Enry. The sales order forms for '49 show the first order form dated 9-1-49 with the option of ordering the Spring Fork. The second one dated 10-15-49 has that option removed. However, being that your engine is a "E" model, which were almost exclusively for sidecar use, and also if it was an export model I would guess that it was delivered with that fork originally. The low compression 61" engine was not popular in the USA and is rarely seen however was used for export due to the poor gasoline available in the European countries back then. The high serial number for that model also points to a special order most likely for export.
What gearbox is in it?
What engine sprocket does it have?
Ciao,
Robbie

[eongaro75]

Thank you very much, Robbie, you’ve been very kind.

The transmission is a 4-speed.
If I remember correctly, the sidecar models had a 3-speed with reverse.
The sprocket, if I counted correctly, should be 22/23 teeth, and I can confirm that the engine is a 1000cc.

So based on your information, this could be a bike that actually left the factory with this configuration.
My fear is that it may have been put together using parts from other motorcycles.
Prices here have gone through the roof — the owner wants $57,000, and I’m not sure the bike is truly AMCA 100-point quality.

Ciao
Enry

[droptopford]

Can't see much in that postage-stamp size pic of the bike Enry (VIN pic is great) but from what is visible, it looks good. A 'P' would make things easier of course, but it's not a requirement to prove factory Springer.