| Harley introduced the first of its J model F Head, | | | | convenience when changing the rear wheel. |
| V-twin motorcycles as a 1915 model. It was a 61 | | | | 1924 finds the addition of the aluminum alloy pistoned |
| cubic inch, F-head, V-twin engine with a three-speed | | | | E series Harleys. The line up includes the JE, JES |
| transmission and electric lighting. It was the only year | | | | Sidecar, JD, JDS Sidecar, JDCA *aluminum alloy |
| model to feature the Remy Model 15 | | | | piston) and JDSCA Sidecar. The JE and JES priced |
| magneto-generator with vacuum-operated battery | | | | dropped to $320, the JD and JDS increaed to $335, |
| cutout. The J Model Harley retailed for $310, making it | | | | and the JDCA and JDSCA sold for $345. Harley sold |
| the most expensive Harley motorcycle on the | | | | 4,994 JE models, 2,995 JD models, 3,034 JDCB |
| market at the time. Harley built 3,719 Model J | | | | models and 3,014 JDCA motorcycles (including and |
| motorcycles in 1915. | | | | original pint one thet I own). This was the only year |
| The price for the 1916 Harley J dropped $15 from | | | | Harley used the large box shaped muffler. |
| the previous year to $295, and sales climbed to | | | | In 1925 Harley offered the JE, JES Sidecar, JDCB and |
| 5,898 motorcycles. There were some subtle changes | | | | JDCBS Sidecar motorcycles. The JE models retailed |
| over the previous model, including gas tanks with | | | | for $315 and sold 4,114 motorcycles. The larger |
| rounded edges, wider front forks, stronger wheel | | | | displacement JD series price was $335 and Harley |
| rims and an improved front wheel hub, and an | | | | sold 9,506 of them. The new Harley J frame lowered |
| upgrade to the Remy Model 250 generator with | | | | the saddle three inches compared to earlier years. |
| mechanical switch. This was the first year | | | | Harley moved to larger and rounded teardrop gas |
| Harley-Davidson stamped the model year into the | | | | tanks and added wider but smaller diameter tires to |
| engine identification number. | | | | gave the Harley JD series a huskier look. Color |
| 1917 saw the Harley J increase back to the original | | | | choices did not change since 1917 - anything the |
| 1915 price of $310 as sales soared to an impressive | | | | customer wanted, as long as it was Olive Drab. |
| 8,527 Harley J motorcycles sold. Options included a | | | | The 1926 Harley line up for the J series motorcycles |
| Schebler Deluxe carburetor, 26 inch wheels, choice of | | | | did not change - the proven 4 remained - the 61 |
| Goodyear Blue Streak or Firestone Non-Skid tires and | | | | cubic inch J Solo & JS Sidecar - which retailed at |
| either the Troxel Jumbo saddle or Troxel Wizard | | | | $315, and the larger and more expensive 74 cubic |
| saddle. | | | | inch JD Solo and JDS Sidecar which sold for $335. |
| In 1918 the Harley J was renamed the J-Solo. The | | | | The smaller J motorcycles sold 3,749 and the larger |
| price climbed to $320 as sales trimmed to 6,571 | | | | and more expensive JD Harleys sold 9,544 about the |
| motorcycles. | | | | same as the previous year.It was the first year |
| In 1919 Harley-Davidson added the JS Sidecar Twin | | | | Harley offered a muffler cutout to deflect the |
| to the J Solo motorcycle for the street and on the | | | | exhaust gasses away from the rider. These models |
| specialty side - the JA, JB, and JF motorcycles. The | | | | also featured a switch panel with a key lock and |
| JA featured the Harley A motor, the JB featured a | | | | control levers. |
| Harley B motor, and the JF featured a "500" motor. | | | | The line up did not change for Harley in 1927. The |
| The J-Solo and J Sidecar each sold for $370 and sold | | | | same four J and JD models for the street but |
| 9,941 machines between the two. | | | | several new ones on the specialty side. They included |
| 1920 was the year Harley expanded the J series to | | | | the Harley JK Special Sport and the Harley JDL both |
| include the J-Solo and JS-Sidecar (which now has | | | | with generator ignition. in 1927 Harley sold 3,561 J |
| sidecar gearing) plus the JF ("500" motor), JB (B | | | | models for $310, and 9,691 JD motorcycles for $320. |
| motor), JE (E motor), JA (A motor), and the first JD | | | | Harley introduced the "wasted spark" ignition this |
| with the larger 74 cubic inch F-Head V-twin as well as | | | | year with the distributorless ignition using a circuit |
| a sidecar version - the JDS. The J and JS sold for | | | | breaker and single coil to fire both spark plugs at the |
| $395 and Harley sold 14,192 J model motorcycle. | | | | same time. |
| 1921 saw more larger displacement JDs move into | | | | The J models dominated Harley's offerings in 1928. It |
| the line up, which consisted of the J Solo, the JS - | | | | icluded the following: J Solo, JS Sidecar, JX Sport |
| Sidecar, JD Solo and JDS - Sidecar on the street side, | | | | Solo, JXL Special Sport Solo, JH (61 cubic inch 2 cam), |
| and on the specialty side the JA, JDA, and JE. The J | | | | JD Solo, JDS Sidecar, JDX Sport Solo, JDXL Special |
| and JS models sold for $485, and the JD and JDS | | | | Sport Solo, JDH Solo (74 cubic inch 2-cam). Costs |
| sold for $520. Sales declined to 45,26 J models, and | | | | were $310 for the J, JS, & JX models, $320 for |
| 2,321 JDs. The Harley "A" motor was specified as a | | | | the JD, JDS, and JDX models, $325 for the JXL, $335 |
| high speed Police model. The "B" motor was a high | | | | for the JDXL, $360 for the JH and $390 for the JDH. |
| compression motor for high altitude use, and the "E" | | | | 4,184 Harley J models sold and an impressive 11,007 |
| motor was a special racing one. | | | | JD motorcycles too. This was the year Harley |
| The J Solo, JS -Sidecar, JD Solo and JDS - Sidecar | | | | introduced the front brake and the hot rod 2-cam JH |
| machines continued in production as 1922 models, as | | | | and JDH models. |
| did three specialty models - the JA, JDA and JE. | | | | 1929 was the last year for Harley to sell the J series |
| Prices dropped considerably to $365 for the Harley J | | | | motorcycles. In 1929 Harley offered the following J |
| and JS, and to $390 for the JD and JDS. Production | | | | series models: J Solo, JH 2-cam Solo, JS Sidecar, JD |
| dropped considerably also to only 3,183 Harley J | | | | Solo, JDS Sidecar, JDH 2-cam Solo. Harley also |
| motorcycles and 3,988 Harley JDs. | | | | offered the JXL, JDXL and JDF motorcycles. The J |
| The line up stays about the same in 1923 with the J, | | | | series sold for $310, The JD models for $320 and the |
| JS, JD and JDS. Specialty models are the JDA, JE and | | | | JDH sold for $370. All told they sold 13,068 J and JD |
| JDCA. Prices continue to drop to $305 for the Harley | | | | series motorcycles in 1929. It was the only year the |
| J and JS and to $330 for the JD and JDS. Sales | | | | J series were factory equpped with the dual bullet |
| increased tio 4,802 Harley J motorcycles and to an | | | | headlights, the electric switch panel and ammeter on |
| impressive 7,458 Harley JD motorcycles. The hinged | | | | the handlebars, and the 4 tube "Pan o' Pipes" exhaust |
| rear fender was added to these motorcycles for | | | | muffler set up. |