Harley Davidson VL With A Leather Kidney Belt
I don’t have any information on this one, but just looking at this vintage photo you can see what looks like a 1931 Harley Davidson VL motorcycle with a happy young man showing off a very nice studded leather kidney belt.
This is another one of those old Harley Davidson pictures I have received from Restoman.
This is a picture of his dad when he was in high school.
I don’t know about you, but I would have loved to have a motorcycle like this to ride to high school.
Produced from 1930 to 1936 the VL was the top of the line for Harley Davidson.
The specs:
• Engine Type V-Twin
• Cylinders Two
• Displacement 74 cubic inches
• Bore & Stroke 3.4″x4.0″
• Carburetor Linkert
• Ignition Battery & Coil
• Transmission 3-speed, with reverse
• Forks H-D spring fork
• Brakes Drum, front & rear
• Tire Size F 4.00×19,-R 4.00×19
Ride Safe.
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You know, that isn’t such a weird idea. I know a couple of long distance riders that use the dock lifting belts. They tell me that it does wonders. I have not tried it myself yet…
Cool pict and yah, that lad does look damned happy. I think I would look happier on that hog if I had it today.
Comment by FLHX_Dave — September 23, 2009 @ 11:54 am
Interesting photo of a VL. I notice that doesn’t look like a standard VL front fork. More like a 1920s “JD”-era what they called the “Castle Fork.” The springs are all enclosed in those two tubes rising up on each side of the headlight. Maybe the bike had a front end “whoops” before Restoman’s dad acquired it, or after, and it was repaired with what was available. Kind of neat!
Comment by Sarge — September 29, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
Being accustomed to the later 74 inch engines which had a bore and stroke of 3 7/16″ x 3 31/32′ I was forced to look up the VL spec thinking you had mis-stated them. According to Inside Harley Davidson by Jerry Hatfield, the VL bore and stroke was 3.423″ x 4″. It looks like you were correct (rounding off to 3.4), though it also states that the motor was “advertised” as 3 7/16′ bore. Interesting that they came up with an oddball size like 3.423; very close to 87mm, but not quite that either.
Comment by St. Lee — September 30, 2009 @ 11:41 am
Wow ..i bet the old days was cool..great pic.
Comment by Harley Davidson Dealers — October 29, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
[...] makes kidney belts so historically interesting is that they were one of the first articles of riding wear that were [...]
Pingback by Motorcycle Kidney Belts With Some Harley History | Electra Glide In Blue — March 30, 2010 @ 7:04 pm