Servi-Car (three wheeler) produced from 1937 to 1973. Tend to be 'sport model' bikes, often narrow and performance oriented. Includes Super Glide and Dyna series, as well as others. Depending on the year FL the engine could be a Knucklehead, Panhead, Shovelhead, Evo, Twin Cam, Milwaukee-Eight etc.īig Twin, 73 cubic inch and larger engines. The 74 cubic inch engines were from 1941 to 1982. X = Narrow Tire and Sport Forks (16” front wheel)īig Twin, overhead valve, 61 cubic inch Knuckleheadīig Twin, 74, 80, 88, 107 etc cubic inch engine.L = L stands for large, this means for wide front tire and Hydra-Glide style front forks.*This excludes the Sportster & V-Rod Models The first two letter blocks lets you know whether your bike is set up for the narrower 16-inch front tires, or a wider fork for 19” or 21” wheels. The models below cover many years, from 1918 to modern day Harley-Davidsons. What do the first letters in a Harley engine mean? This is quite straight-forward, with the first letter representing which engine is in the particular model in question. Enjoy! The First Two Letters - Engine Designations Towards the end you will find some examples, as well as a quick reference guide for the most common late-model Harley Davidson model abbreviations and full names. Our goal was to offer up a solid, overall view of Harley-Davidson model codes over the years, without getting too granular and confusing to the layman. It covers the vast majority of models, though there are some gaps for special outfitting of limited model motorcycles. The key to deciphering these Harley model abbreviations is understanding the sequence of the letters.īy reading the basic knowledge below, we hope to help you be comfortable in identifying types of Harley-Davidson motorcycles simply by knowing what the model code is and find for your best Harley Davidson Sportster Parts for Your Custom Bikes.Īlso, this guide can be used for identifying early models up to current day designations. Each has a set of features that makes them unique. The modern Harley Davidson is made up of 5 major houses: Touring, Softail, V-Rod, Dyna, and Sportster. Use your Harley-Davidson model codes to find guaranteed-to-fit parts for your bike. Harley-Davidson applies a letter to help designate the main components, and even accessories, that a certain model is outfitted with. What do the letters in Harley-Davidson models mean?

Harley davidson model numbers decoder