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Waiting To Be Dressed For Success
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1965 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide
Michael Schulte
04/01/2007
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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.
www.harley-davidson.com
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