| During the years between 1964 and 1966, Harley | | | | that was so popular with police departments. Though |
| Davidson really built some great motorcycles that had | | | | a curb weight of more than seven hundred pounds |
| some really impressive features that consumers have | | | | restricted performance somewhat, the Electra-Glide |
| continued to enjoy. The 1964 Harley-Davidson XLCH | | | | was a popular touring mount in its day, as the electric |
| Sportster motorcycle's impressive 883-cc V-twin | | | | starter alleviated the problem of having to kick start |
| engine out-powered most competitors during that | | | | the big V-twin, which had become no easy task. |
| era. The 1965 Harley-Davidson FL Electra-Glide | | | | The 1966 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra-Glide |
| motorcycle was the last Harley fitted with the | | | | motorcycle's smoother-running, more powerful |
| venerable pan-head engine and the first big Harley | | | | shovel-head engine replaced the pan-head engine, |
| with an electric start, which made this combo a highly | | | | which gave this motorcycle sixty horsepower. In |
| coveted collectible. For Harley Davidson, 1965 marked | | | | 1965, Harley-Davidson introduced an electric-start |
| the end of an era. | | | | version of the big FL series, dubbing it the |
| The Electra-Glide, with its electric starter, made its | | | | Electra-Glide, which was still powered by the |
| debut, but it would be the last year for the famous | | | | pan-head engine. This big Harley was now carrying |
| pan-head V-twin that was introduced in 1948. That | | | | not only the additional weight of the inevitable |
| engine had received some modifications over the | | | | factory and owner installed accessories, which made |
| years, a significant one coming in 1963 with external | | | | it more plentiful by a switch from six-volt electrics to |
| oil lines that improved lubrication to the cylinder heads. | | | | twelve volt, but also the pounds added by the new |
| Along with the electric starter came the twelve-volt | | | | starting hardware. |
| electrics to replace the previous six-volt system, | | | | Although the pan-head engine had served well during |
| which in turn brought a bigger battery hidden | | | | its lengthy tenure, owners were begging for more |
| beneath a large battery case on the right side. That, | | | | power. For 1966, Harley released an updated version |
| along with the bold "Electra Glide" script on the front | | | | of the 74-cubic-inch V-twin by mating new aluminum |
| fender, makes it easy to distinguish this model from | | | | shovel-head cylinder heads to the iron barrels, |
| earlier FLs. | | | | horsepower increased by five. The smoother, |
| Some Electra-Glides had the standard exhaust | | | | running, more powerful shovel-head engine was a |
| system that had both cylinders exhausting to the | | | | welcome relief. The weight of the FLs had crept up |
| right into a single muffler. This was optional as a | | | | to nearly eight hundred pounds, and the extra power |
| dual-muffler system where the exhaust from the | | | | was appreciated by owners. Yet, despite the greater |
| front cylinder exited to the right, while that from the | | | | power and escalating heft, FLs were still slowed by |
| rear cylinder exited to the left, both terminating in | | | | drum brakes front and rear; it would not be until 1972 |
| their own distinctive "fishtail" muffler. Also optional | | | | that a front disc would appear. |
| was the old hand-shift and foot-clutch arrangement | | | | |