History of the Harley-Davidson Sportster XL - Ep.2: 1956-1958 Conception, Birth and First Year

[@beanhat]

Clicked on this video because I just bought a 1999 XL1200, ended up learning massive amounts of history. Great series.

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Thanks for the video praise Bean - always nice to be so encouraged, thank you. The Sportster will probably always be a loved favourite of mine and I really enjoy 'spreading the happy' in my videos. :-) Many thanks again Bean - and enjoy your Evo Sportster, Chris

[@yahyatarfah]

Ian from Saudi Arabia and I was looking for some information about my Sportster and I found so much information about my bike. This video deserves to be global for all the owners. Well done 👍

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Many thanks for being so supportive mate. It's much appreciated. :-) Cheers, Chris

[@pastorbobncc365]

Chris absolutely love the history of the UK and the sportster, I have a 1974 XLH, have a blessed week my friend.

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Thanks Pastor Bob - I trust you'll have an equally blessed week. Cheers, Chris

[@felkikid]

Can't wait for future expansions to this series! Im subscribed and excited for future videos!

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Morning (again) Nathan, and thank you (again). You're an absolute gent! As it happens, I should be finishing episode 3 next week... give or take. It's turning into a much bigger project than I had first thought, but it is rewarding (if not lucrative!). Anyway, I just wanted to emphasise my grateful thanks to you Nathan. It's so nice when someone says nice things - especially on the interweb. Cheers mate, Chris

[@Fast48-1]

Excellent series!! Another XL fan here!!

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Hi Henry - thank you for saying such a nice thing! I'm glad you're enjoying my efforts. Cheers Chris (another XL fan...)

[@ISEEORBS]

I want a series over my 99' 883 . Haha. Love that little girl.

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Morning Orb viewer - I'm getting to the '99 models! (Not quickly, but I am...) Cheers, Chris

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Thanks again Jabes - I wouldn't have spotted the sound problem for ages, so you really helped me out. Cheers, Chris

[@JohnPeterson-f5u]

You got me hooked brother. I have been riding a Harley-Davidson Sportster since 1984 ( First one was a Roadster XLS 1984) wish I had never sold that one !

[@JohnnyRebKy]

My neighbor showed me his 2001 sportster 883 yesterday. Man it brought back so many good memories! My first bike was a brand new 883 in 2003. Vivid black 100th anniversary. I was 19 years old and had a blast on it. Rode it many years but then traded it off for a Dyna wide glide which was also awesome but didn’t handle near as well. I always missed the nimbleness of the sporty. Today I got a nice heritage softail I ride but seeing the neighbors old 883 has got me remembering the old days of being young on a sportster 😂. I got half a mind to buy one as a second bike

[@chrisoftheot6272]

I understand that Johnny - I never stopped missing my Sportster either... Cheers, Chris

[@noahwail2444]

I think you miss a very important part; The engine and gearbox was a unit, not two parts like all other Harleys.

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Morning Noah - I seem to have let this post slip by, my apologies. I do mention the unit construction in episodes 1 and 3. Episode 4 will be coming, but things are difficult here just now as Anna is not doing well at all; she's had health problems for years. Thanks for the information on engine knocking & petrol additives too - all very interesting (& surprising). Cheers, Chris

[@ordinaryman1904]

Tears of sadness filled my eyes when I learned of Queen Elizabeth’s passing. She had become an integral part of my life, as I saw her face nearly every time I picked up a gold or silver coin. I grew to love her, as she represented wealth and longevity, with her image pressed into bullion coins issued by the UK and the Commonwealth.

[@rickvia8435]

Ha ha - 18:18 combustion chamber "disturbingly phallic..."

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Yes, that was disturbing indeed. I didn't really notice it until I watched the video back. (I found a solution later!) Cheers, Chris

[@onerider808]

Another well-done episode. I appreciate the British perspective, and how you acknowledge national bias while leaving your reporting unbiased. Seems to add to the credibility somehow, without the hyperbole which might come from an American talking about iconically American bikes.

[@browngreen933]

A few more details about the never produced KL. Rather than an "almost" overhead cam engine, it was a HIGH cam OHV engine with the chain-operated camshaft set high in the V between the 60 degree cylinders. The generator was also chain-driven. Because of the camshaft position, there were overheating problems. At the same time the pushrods were only a couple inches long, so it could Rev higher than the Big Twin 74 OHV Panhead. The KL valve springs were of torsion type like a safety pin. They gave trouble too. I believe both heads and cylinders were aluminum, the latter with iron sleeves. It was supposed to be the ultimate sports bike motor. Too bad it didn't work out.

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Morning Brown - yes, I can see that a 'high' cam would have been a better description. (Hoping for the 'ultimate sports bike motor' to be a side valve seems a bit silly. OHV for the XL is much more betterer...) You have some really detailed knowledge of the KL, Brown. Are you a Harley mechanic from back in the day? Or maybe you've got the Herbert Wagner book (H-D 1930-41)? I mentioned it in the video, and the price, 'cos when I looked on Amazon, there was only 1 available and it was £200. (Today, of course, there are several for around £20. I feel rather embarassed now...) Financially, things are tight here in Blighty so I can't spend any more on books - though I'd love to get more Harley tomes and Mr. Wagner seems to have written several. Anyway, I'm going to start on episode 3 soon, so I'll see what else I can dig up. Thanks again 'cos you're really helped. Cheers Brown, Chris

[@browngreen933]

@@chrisoftheot6272 My information on the KL comes from a 2-part article written by that same author Herbert Wagner that you mentioned. It's titled, "Secrets of the Sportster" and appeared in The Antique Motorcycle magazine, Winter 2007 and Spring 2008 issues. There was more information on the KL in that article than I've seen anywhere else -- plus a few photos. He actually spoke to guys at HD who worked on it.

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Afternoon Brown - thanks for the Antique Motorcycle pointer: the website looks good. I can't do the $60 sub at the moment, but in the future, I will. It looks like a superb resource. I'd never heard of Mr. Wagner before you pointed out the whole KL malarkey. I even got permission go splash out 20 quid for his Harley 1930-41 book. Excellent! His knowledge and passion are wonderful. Plus, he seems to have lived in Wisconsin, near Milwaukee, and spoken to every aged Harley rider there abouts. Wonderful stories and information. The 'collective memory' he tapped into is just priceless. Wonderful stuff. I've only just started reading it but am loving it. So, once again Brown, my sincerest thanks to you as I would never have discovered these tresures without you. Thank you mate! Cheers, Chris

[@JamesHolbrook-eh5sp]

There's also a story I've heard that says that the design of the Yamaha Virago of the early 1980s was actually stolen from Harley by a disgruntled employee who was being laid off. As the Ironhead was well over 20 years old by this time, it's entirely possible. The Model K wasn't a complete waste of money though. I don't know if you covered it but it really found its feet in racing including winning the Daytona 200 numerous times as well as a lot of AMA titles. Not bad for a cranky ol' flathead.

[@jerryjones2818]

Hey, they got the Sportster facing the right way this time.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

The Cap America bike was a replica mot the real thing. 2 biles were stolen and 2 were wrecked.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

There were always black MC clubs.

[@grfwarblehjhj1259]

One more comment for the algorithm

[@Tcup1982]

Petrol head😂❤

[@chrisoftheot6272]

Glad you ❤ it Tcup :-)

[@gigi9467]

This is joke right?

[@martinrice9190]

What a load of rubbish we have here.