The year 1965 was pivotal for Harley-Davidson. The venerable Panhead engine delivered its swan song, making way for the Shovelhead era. The company went public on the stock market. Most import-antly, The Motor Company christened the industry’s first full-dress touring horse, the Electra Glide.
The pioneer of long-range freedom machines debuted with the last of the 74-inch Panheads, though it was the first FL Harley to feature an electric starter. However, a vestigial kicker remained.
Photograph courtesy of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.
The granddaddy of dressers didn’t exactly roll off the floor equipped for long-range duty. Essentially a Duo-Glide with an “Electric Leg” and a five-gallon Turnpike tank, the Electra Glide’s touring accessories were strictly add-ons. Once the windshield was attached and saddlebags bolted on, the big, slow-revving twin brought distant horizons within reach. Sure, handling was dubious and the front brake had all the squeeze of a Paul Lynde handshake, but the Electra Glide was a bike for getting into fourth gear, ticking off county lines and looking damn good in the process.
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