how many 52 hand shift were made

[flat-happy]

since 52 is the first year of foot shift bikes how many were actually made and how many were hand shift? the books i have only show FL as 5554 and FS as 186 for production numbers. were both available as foot or hand shift? we just got this one off ebay and i'm wondering it it is considered FS because of the tank shifter. it is a 4 spd not 3-R. any help is appreciated

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

[Rubone]

flat-happy,
I am not aware of any published figures that break down hand and foot shift numbers. What i know from talking with older dealers years ago when I owned and was restoring a '52 with foot shift was that it was too new for many folks who looked at it skeptically and did not order it. Also most police departments did not use it. The FS was strictly for sidecar bikes. The FLs and ELs were no more than about 50% foot shift that first year. As time went on it caught on and by the late 50s most new models sold were foot shift, but it was slow to be accepted. Without real factory records there is no way to tell. Since the one you are dealing with is 4 speed I don't believe tit could have been an FS. As far as actual numbers, who knows. Look at the numbers for '55 where it is actually broken down as 3273 foot shift and and 1869 hand shift. A ratio close to 60/40. And try to imagine a new and untried technology. The die-hard guys would shun it!
Robbie

[Rooster]

Congratulations on the excellent purchase, Flat-Happy!! I was watching that one with great interest. Looks like a fine specimen!

[bmh]

Nice looking machine for sure. My notes show 3351 FLF or footshift models vs. 1986 FL or handshift models for 1953 production. Nothing for 52 or 54 though. My uncle Welby always said the footshift caught on real quick with the hooligans. Police and Shriner's were a different matter.

[Chris Haynes]

FS designated a bike that was equipped with Sidecar Gearing. It had nothing to do with hand or foot shift. I notice that machine is an F. Where did FS come in? BTW, FS was not on the number boss. The S was an in house code.

[flat-happy]

Congratulations on the excellent purchase, Flat-Happy!! I was watching that one with great interest. Looks like a fine specimen!

hi rooster---i'm going up to pick it up in the morning for my buddy who is putting the collection together. still need a 37 38 43 and 44. any for sale? did i just hijack my own thread? sorry

[Chris Haynes]

hi rooster---i'm going up to pick it up in the morning for my buddy who is putting the collection together. still need a 37 38 43 and 44. any for sale? did i just hijack my own thread? sorry

Vintage Motorcycles Northwest in Spanaway, WA has a lot of motorcycles for sale. They did have two complete sets of 1936-1947 Knuckleheads at one time.

[Fiskis]

A model FS does not have the "S" in the serial number as noted above. "S" is for sidecar. Formerly "F" was the low compression and "FL" was the medium compression motor. To my understanding, in 1952 they did not offer the "F" anymore without the sidecar. I have a 1952 FS with four-speed handshift. The motor sprocket had 19 or 20 teeth. The original pistons had low domes, otherwise I have not seen any difference from the FL. Your serial begins with 52FL which can be seen in one of the ebay pictures.

I can imagine that they sold FL:s with sidecars, too, but "The Legend" only gives production numbers for FS rigs. I see in the ebay pictures that your bike has the stainless upper triple tree cover without holes for the fork tube top nuts. The frontfork might then be an adjustable sidecar fork. So your bike might be a "52FLS". Or motor swap. Anyway it is a great bike with beautiful patina.

[flat-happy]

A model FS does not have the "S" in the serial number as noted above. "S" is for sidecar. Formerly "F" was the low compression and "FL" was the medium compression motor. To my understanding, in 1952 they did not offer the "F" anymore without the sidecar. I have a 1952 FS with four-speed handshift. The original pistons had low domes, otherwise I have not seen any difference from the FL.

I can imagine that they sold FL:s with sidecars, too, but "The Legend" only gives production numbers for FS rigs. I see in the ebay pictures that your bike has the stainless upper triple tree cover without holes for the fork tube top nuts. The frontfork might then be an adjustable sidecar fork. So your bike might be a "52FLS". Or motor swap. Anyway it is a great bike with beautiful patina.

fiskis----good eye on the tin----that's why i started this whole thread---i was hoping someone would notice that!!! i drove to chicago last night and brought it home. i got in at 2AM. it started in 1 prime kick and 1 kick with the key on and ran and drove perfectly

[flat-happy]

Vintage Motorcycles Northwest in Spanaway, WA has a lot of motorcycles for sale. They did have two complete sets of 1936-1947 Knuckleheads at one time.

thanks chris---i flew up there and looked at the remaining set.---bunny has changed her mind on selling them. i didn't get to see the first set and don't know where they went. i hope they are better than the remaining set. they're beautiful to look at from 10 feet away but when you look at them closely, at least 7 of the 12 have the wrong frame. lots of repop stuff on all of them and all frames forks cylinders and cyl heads are powdercoated not painted. at a firm price of $565000 for 12 bikes----well that was just not possible. heck the 36 was 36EL13** and didn't have sidecar loops on the frame

[flat-happy]

Congratulations on the excellent purchase, Flat-Happy!! I was watching that one with great interest. Looks like a fine specimen!

well tom if you need any specific pix of anything let me know. i think for the most part this bike is original. it appears that the rear fender and the left gas tank are original paint too but who knows. it has the same cam cover i sent to you. hope everything is moving along ok on that 52 buddy

[Fiskis]

fiskis----good eye on the tin----that's why i started this whole thread---i was hoping someone would notice that!!! i drove to chicago last night and brought it home. i got in at 2AM. it started in 1 prime kick and 1 kick with the key on and ran and drove perfectly

I like the idea of starting the bike 2 AM. One neighbor has a hopped up Corvette and another a boat with two big block 454:s. So nice when we all start up our toys after the winter.

Interesting to know if the fork under the tin is the sidecar version.

[Chris Haynes]

heck the 36 was 36EL13** and didn't have sidecar loops on the frame

Like the one in this factory photo?

[flat-happy]

yes chris exactly like that but that is a lower number and no one i've talked to believes any were actually produced without loops and i've looked at over 30 1936's with a lower vin and all had sidecar loops. the pic you show is a 1935 prototype of a 36 and the motor number 36el1288 with partial frame has sidecar loops

[Rooster]

well tom if you need any specific pix of anything let me know. i think for the most part this bike is original. it appears that the rear fender and the left gas tank are original paint too but who knows. it has the same cam cover i sent to you. hope everything is moving along ok on that 52 buddy

Thanks, Stillman. Heck, you could burn up a couple rolls of film just taking pictures of everything, and that would be a very valuable resource for me on my own '52 project! I'm getting some cash built back up, the motor rebuild/restore is next. I'll give you a call sometime......