Harley makes a BMW??

Night Train · 01-26-2013, 01:53 PM

Some of you may of heard of this attempt by Harley to produce a shaft driven motorcycle based on the BMW R71 during WWII. The opening shot of one jumping a sand dune must have never been set to the Army, because that has me sold on the XA...

The Harley-Davidson XA

gplutt · 01-26-2013, 02:02 PM

Both Indian and HD built bikes like that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_841

ttpete · 01-26-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gplutt

Both Indian and HD built bikes like that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_841

I owned an 841 in the 1960s. Rode it daily.

LI LT Owner · 01-26-2013, 03:48 PM

If you ever have a chance, check out the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley. They have a number of them on display that still run.

Awesome collection of rare American made motorcycles and memorabilia.

http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/

Night Train · 01-26-2013, 04:27 PM

I've been to Wheels Through Time quite a few times, it's only about four hours away from my house. Great place to go.

Canuman · 01-26-2013, 04:41 PM

If you had a couple of those stashed in the back shed, you wouldn't need to win the lottery! They make most "rare" bikes look common by comparison.

bk brkr baker · 01-26-2013, 08:31 PM

Turn about is "fair play".

ML WYDELL · 01-27-2013, 06:03 AM

Would love to have an XA in the collection. WHEELS THROUGH TIME is an awesome place to visit.

danedg · 01-28-2013, 07:55 AM

groop · 01-28-2013, 08:32 AM

Harley's submission to the desert warfare campaign. Horizontal twin for superior cooling. Shaft drive for sandy environments. No idea why it didn't catch on other than the war was coming to an end.

ttpete · 01-28-2013, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groop

Harley's submission to the desert warfare campaign. Horizontal twin for superior cooling. Shaft drive for sandy environments. No idea why it didn't catch on other than the war was coming to an end.

I can use one word to say why: Jeep. Anybody who could drive a car could operate one without special training.

danedg · 01-28-2013, 10:14 AM

They only made 1100 of 'em. The Army paid close to $30M to develop it. The average cost/ bike was like $30K each.

Jeeps were less expensive...

In color from Motorcyclepedia...

bk brkr baker · 01-28-2013, 07:17 PM

anonny · 01-28-2013, 08:14 PM

Thats an interesting lever just ahead of the right foot peg, dual range transmission?

ttpete · 01-29-2013, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anonny

Thats an interesting lever just ahead of the right foot peg, dual range transmission?

Makes it easier to find neutral. The early BMWs also had them. All Harley did was copy the BMW engine.

01-26-2013, 01:53 PM	#1
Night Train ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: North Carolina Oddometer: 102	Harley makes a BMW?? Some of you may of heard of this attempt by Harley to produce a shaft driven motorcycle based on the BMW R71 during WWII. The opening shot of one jumping a sand dune must have never been set to the Army, because that has me sold on the XA... The Harley-Davidson XA

01-26-2013, 03:48 PM	#4
LI LT Owner Wrong Island, NY Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Middle of Suburban Hell- Long Island, NY Oddometer: 1,236	If you ever have a chance, check out the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley. They have a number of them on display that still run. Awesome collection of rare American made motorcycles and memorabilia. http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/ __________________ Rob VB 2003 BMW K1200LT 2002 BMW R1150R My Blog- Kickin' Tires and Telling Lies

01-26-2013, 04:41 PM	#6
Canuman Cheese, Gromit? Joined: Jun 2008 Location: The Palace of the People, VT Oddometer: 3,278	If you had a couple of those stashed in the back shed, you wouldn't need to win the lottery! They make most "rare" bikes look common by comparison. __________________ We have no resources. We produce nothing. But...we have plenty of MEAN. Fearless Leader Motorcycle Racks Handmade in the US! Support a fellow Rider! Dual Sport Luggage Racks for: DRZ-S, SM and E, DR 650 and KLR650: http://www.moto-racks.com

01-26-2013, 08:31 PM	#7
bk brkr baker Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Oddometer: 4,134	Turn about is "fair play". __________________ RR's Catnip Hill to Peoria ___Loopin' Seattle to WestFest It started with some beers __1500 miles to the Dentist Skeedaddle to Seattle______ A 30 year old on a Three Flags Run

01-28-2013, 07:55 AM	#9
danedg Horizontally Opposed Joined: May 2008 Location: U-puku-ipi-sing Oddometer: 5,287	__________________ '65 R60/2 '68 R60US '74 MG Eldorado '95 R100M

01-26-2013, 02:02 PM	#2
gplutt Adventurer Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Seattle, WA Oddometer: 61	Both Indian and HD built bikes like that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_841

01-26-2013, 04:27 PM	#5
Night Train ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: North Carolina Oddometer: 102	I've been to Wheels Through Time quite a few times, it's only about four hours away from my house. Great place to go.

01-27-2013, 06:03 AM	#8
ML WYDELL NED Joined: Apr 2009 Location: Looking for fuel Oddometer: 315	Would love to have an XA in the collection. WHEELS THROUGH TIME is an awesome place to visit.

01-28-2013, 08:32 AM	#10
groop So much to ponder Joined: Jun 2007 Location: oc, ca Oddometer: 2,551	Harley's submission to the desert warfare campaign. Horizontal twin for superior cooling. Shaft drive for sandy environments. No idea why it didn't catch on other than the war was coming to an end. __________________ Originally Posted by DR. Rock once you leave the pavement, it's like entering a parallel universe... a wormhole in both space and time... sometimes you won't believe you're still in the United States, or in this century.

01-28-2013, 10:14 AM	#12
danedg Horizontally Opposed Joined: May 2008 Location: U-puku-ipi-sing Oddometer: 5,287	They only made 1100 of 'em. The Army paid close to $30M to develop it. The average cost/ bike was like $30K each. Jeeps were less expensive... In color from Motorcyclepedia... __________________ '65 R60/2 '68 R60US '74 MG Eldorado '95 R100M danedg screwed with this post 01-28-2013 at 10:29 AM

01-28-2013, 07:17 PM	#13
bk brkr baker Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Oddometer: 4,134	__________________ RR's Catnip Hill to Peoria ___Loopin' Seattle to WestFest It started with some beers __1500 miles to the Dentist Skeedaddle to Seattle______ A 30 year old on a Three Flags Run

01-28-2013, 08:14 PM	#14
anonny What could go wrong? Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Beautiful Revelstoke BC Oddometer: 4,956	Thats an interesting lever just ahead of the right foot peg, dual range transmission? __________________ Kawasaki H1 build thread 71- 450 Honda CL re & re Just another pathetic sheep following the herd

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