Period 1940 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Motorcycle
Mark likes the idea that Harley-Davidson enthusiasts can actually see some of his rare, period-accessories being used on this restored motorcycle rather than locked away.
MARK Austin has built and restored a lot of motorcycles in the past 40 years, and over the years, collected a lot of accessories and memorabilia as well. Recently, he was working on this 1940 model and decided instead of a ‘technically correct’ restoration, he would put the bike together adoring it with a number of rare period-accessories from his collection.
Mechanically, the bike is a stock 1940 FL. 1940 was a ‘first year’ for a number of changes — the fuel shut-off rod, cats-eye dash, oval footboards, and the first metal tank-badge to name a few. This version has all of these plus some.
Adding a lot more chrome than the Deluxe Solo Group offered by Harley-Davidson was easy once it was decided to accessorise it to the max.
The original handlebars gave way to period Flanders bars with genuine Flanders dog-bone risers. The grips are Chicago Cycle Supply. The bird on the front fender is a genuine Harley-Davidson accessory. The shroud on the rear view mirror is by Beck and the headlight visor with high-beam indicator is of unknown manufacture.
While on the front-end, check out the front brake — it is electrical! Yes, a company called Empire Electric Brake Company made them with the idea that female riders who had difficulty pulling on a front brake could use one of theirs which can be pulled on with just one finger. It’s called The Magdraulic Empire Electric Brake.
“Having tried it on the bike in the Great Race in the Snowy Mountains,” says Mark, “it does work!”
Also on the front forks is a very rare, springer front-lock.
Further back are an original pair of Buco saddlebags with Buco chrome spats to mount them on the rear fender. These large chrome covers were found in a swap-meet in New York and resurrected from an ‘as found’ condition.
The engine was rebuilt to stock specifications with just an Andrews cam and a trick air-cleaner made from an original siren.
A rear bumper and seat by Harley-Davidson, and Chicago Cycle Supply kicker and shift-knob, complete the picture.
Mark decided this was enough so he finished the bike and put it on the starting line for the Great Race with 50 run-in miles on it and it performed as it should and finished with 500 miles up!
No sooner was the bike finished than Mark embarked on a 1937 Knucklehead project along with a number of restorations for his long list of friends.
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