The result was over 12,000 Panheads sold in 1948 and close to 100,000 units sold over the next 18 years.Įlvis Presley owned a Harley Panhead, and so did Jerry Lee. Veterans loved the upgrade, and so did every other Harley-Davidson admirer. It was better than the Knucklehead and was especially notable on long rides. Riders were able to exploit the Panhead's impressive chassis and suspension construction. The Panhead gave people exactly what they asked for: a comfortable and touring-ready Harley-Davidson. The returning veterans and American motorcycling enthusiasts craved more: more power, more comfort, and more riding dynamics. Its predecessor, the Knucklehead, was a 'rough' machine primarily built to aid in the war. The Panhead gave America a taste of comfortable motorcycle cruising. The power demands and the oil passageways meant that the manufacturers had to change the bike's bearing sizes and oil pumps with every batch. Still, no one anticipated how they would adjust to extensive use. Since the aluminum cast head and oil pumps were newly designed, Harley-Davidson may have tested them for pre-production purposes. The other adjustments do not fall under the category of upgrades they mainly were required adjustments. The Harley-Davidson Panhead was not a motorcycle designed for races but became more endearing with the extra horsepower and brakes. Some were innovative upgrades like the increased horsepower in 1960 and the hydraulic drum brakes of 1958. While the bike was already a beast on the road, there would be hiccups.īetween its debut and its final production lap in 1965, the Panhead got over six adjustments to its components. It was the first time Harley-Davidson explored their bike at this power, with many improvements to match the new roads. While the Panhead created an excitingly new road experience, you can also call it an experiment. To achieve this, they modified the top half of the Panhead's push-rod V-Twin to be more refined. The engineers at Harley-Davidson wanted to give what American riders wanted in the 1940s-more power. The first-gen Panheads were technically improved versions of the iconic Knuckleheads. It would seem Milwaukee is home to the most extensive bike brand of that time. Between 19, the Harley-Davidson brand grew from selling three bikes in their first year to selling 31,163 units in '48. Harleys have been the pride of Milwaukee and even America for several decades because of the extensive design of these two-wheeled wonders. It is no news that the whole idea of modern motorcycles originated from Milwaukee we are not talking about the 1885 Daimler and Maybach Reitwagen or any of those first-generation "riding cars." The Harley-Davidson was the first expression of how the motorcycle industry was supposed to look, but the Panhead seemed to be an exception to that glory. Related: Check Out This Epic 1949 Harley-Davidson Panhead Hot Rod The Most Underrated Motorcycle Of The 1940s Behind the rumbling V-Twin love, the bobber craze, and the iconic history of Harley-Davidson is the Panhead that gave America its very own motorcycling movement. It was the first machine that gave a sense of expression and adventure to enthusiasts craving to experience something unique. The Panhead has single-handedly captivated Americans to hop onto a motorcycle. All the fame that this Harley enjoys is for a very strong reason. Today, the Panhead is one of the most sought-after classic Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and prices can shoot over $80,000 with ease for this 75-year-old motorcycle. We give you a more detailed insight into the American motorcycling icon. It even made Indian Motorcycles sweat with the level of performance and flexibility offered. We have updated this article with more cool information as to why the Harley-Davidson Panhead is one of the most influential motorcycles in America.
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