Military Sportsters

[Pynzo]

Does anyone have pics of Army model Sportsters?

[Speeding Big Twin]

The picture below is from Ride Free Forever: the legend of Harley-Davidson, Volume I. However, there are errors in both volumes so I can’t confirm the accuracy of either the picture or the caption (notice it says XLH but maybe should say XLA?). Other unconfirmed info from the opposite page includes: ‘Some 418 Sportsters were supplied for Shore Patrol (SP) duties in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In 1967, the U.S. Army ordered another batch of KH and FL (FLH) Solos for military service, primarily for escort duties and Military Police use at European U.S. bases in Belgium and the Netherlands. On the other hand, the military prototype XLA offered by Harley-Davidson, which was originally due to be launched in the 1970s, never really left the starting blocks.’

Production figures for 1957â€"1969 in The Legend Begins mention only two years for the XLA: 418 built for 1957; and 100 built for 1964.     Eric

[Pynzo]

Thanks! I had a Camoflage Paint Manual when I was in the Army, and it had detailed drawings of a '57 XLA and the proper camo pattern for the bike. Wish I still had a copy!

[Speeding Big Twin]

Pynzo, I saw this on eBay and remembered your thread.     Eric



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_rdc=1&item=320429064267&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm38%26_nkw%3D320429064267%26_fvi%3D1&viewitem=#v4-35

[Pynzo]

Thanks again!

[Speeding Big Twin]

Update: At reply #1, I named the book that was the source of the picture I posted there and I also mentioned that there are errors in both volumes so I couldn’t confirm the accuracy of either the picture or the caption. In a current discussion on the CAI forum, Bruce Palmer has informed me that the bike is not a 1964 XLH but is in fact a 1965 XLA.     Eric

[garyajaz]

1968 i was in fort ord calif for basic training.
saw M.P.'s riding sportys.  cool i though
i was going to M.P. school next.
after the AIT they gave me a 6 cyl manual three speed ford.
DAMN....
then off to the nam where  i got a jeep...
double damn..
around that time, maybe 1967 the santa cruise PD were using sporties also....they looked good..
checked files.  no pix..

[garyajaz]

M.P. bike
and a new washington p.d. bike

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[midcitysaint]

Frickin sexy....dang I miss my Sporty more and more every day.  I'm thinking an Ironhead might be in the near future..that and a divorce when I get it.   

[garyajaz]

then theer is always this guy

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[midcitysaint]

then theer is always this guy

That guy is my hero.