What do the FL/FX/FLST..FLH.. stand for
#31
07-23-2015, 04:40 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
Edited to add: when I get some time, I'll add in my recollection of the evolution (no pun intended) of the model numbers. When you see that, they actually make sense and you can see how they (sometimes repeatedly) changed their minds on the patterns.
Last edited by Halojumper; 07-23-2015 at 04:53 PM.
#32
07-23-2015, 05:52 PM
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The "FL" doesn't have anything to do with floorboards. The "F" is the engine series - overhead valve 74", 80", 88", 95", etc. Before the "F" was the "E" series - overhead valve 61". And the "E" and "F" coexisted for some few years. The "L" was added to the "E" and "F" to indicate a higher compression ratio. Then the "H" was added to the "FL" to indicate even higher compression. Later the "L" differentiates between a wide-type front forks vs. the narrow-type front, as in the original Super Glide (FX), a stripped down garbage barge with a Sportster front end. Now it appears that the "L" is simply an artifact, left over from history, LOL!
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; 10-14-2015 at 03:55 PM.
#33
07-23-2015, 06:45 PM
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#35
07-24-2015, 10:50 AM
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THANK YOU! 
For years I've been trying to figure out what all the fluxy-wuxy flibbertygibbit stood for
Last Fall when I was coming home from a week long road trip, I stopped at a local watering hole. It was cold and windy (Oct in the Tetons) and as I was de-layering myself to use the mens' room, a nice fella asked me what I was riding. Told him a Goldwing. He said didn't have nearly the weather protection on his bike, and had put it away for the winter. I asked him what he rode, and he gave me the "FXLEHEODHEIOT" thing.
Now I can handle someone saying "Electraglide, Softail, Sportster, etc" but throw the alphabet at me and I'm completely lost. It's kind of like asking what kind of car someone drives and they spit the VIN at you
Thanks for the code
For years I've been trying to figure out what all the fluxy-wuxy flibbertygibbit stood for
Last Fall when I was coming home from a week long road trip, I stopped at a local watering hole. It was cold and windy (Oct in the Tetons) and as I was de-layering myself to use the mens' room, a nice fella asked me what I was riding. Told him a Goldwing. He said didn't have nearly the weather protection on his bike, and had put it away for the winter. I asked him what he rode, and he gave me the "FXLEHEODHEIOT" thing.
Now I can handle someone saying "Electraglide, Softail, Sportster, etc" but throw the alphabet at me and I'm completely lost. It's kind of like asking what kind of car someone drives and they spit the VIN at you
Thanks for the code
#36
10-14-2015, 07:23 AM
Stage II
Harley Davidson Motorcycle model designator letters are explained below..
X - Sportsters. These descend from the K series, 1952-56
XL- Series started in 1957. They are "unit construction" (engine & transmission share a common case)
L - High compression (7.5:1 in 1957)
H - Starting in 1958 came the XLH, meaning Higher-power or High-compression (9:1) or Hot .
C - Also in 1958 was the XLCH. The C was intended to mean "Competition".
CR- Cafe racer style, with bikini fairing.
LT- Touring, with bigger tank, thicker seat, and hard bags.
The first letter of the model designator reveals the engine series:
G - Servicar three wheeler, 1932 to 1972
E - Overhead valve 61 cubic inch "big twin" (Engine/trans separated)
F - Overhead valve 74,80 or 88 cubic inch "big twin"
FL - 80 to 96 cubic inches or higher Evo or TwinCam engine and a fat front tire.
K - Side valve 45 and 55 cubic inch sports bike that replaced the WL in 1953 and was replaced by the Sportster in 1957. It had many design features that were carried over to the Sportster.
U - Side valve 74 or 80 cubic inch "big twin"
V - Side valve 74 cubic inch made prior to 1936
W - Side valve 45 cubic inch made 1934 to 1952
X - Sports and special construction. Applied to 1918-1922 opposed twin Sport, 1944 military opposed twin, and 1957 to present Sportster.
The second letter of the model designator reveals the Front end (except sportsters)
X - Narrow tire and sport forks.
L - Wide front tire and Hydra-Glide front forks.
(FX originally meant "Factory Experimental" The first one was the Super Glide FX)
The third letter of the model designator reveals the frame style:
D - "Dyna" frame (with the rubber mounted motor)
HT - "Highway Touring" frame
ST - "Softail®" frame
The next letter(s) indicates the model bike within the frame family:
A - Military (Army) version (except GA, Servicar without tow bar)
B - Battery start (early models), Belt drive (early 80's) Black paint.(1995-6 model, the Bad Boy)
C - Classic, Competition, Custom, various others meanings.
D - Dyna, the newest frame and engine mount design.
DG - Disc Glide
E - Electric start
F - Foot shift (when the standard was hand-shift) and now "Fat Boy®"
H - varied between High performance and Heavy duty.
I - Signifies Fuel Injection.
L - Big fat front tire
LR- Low Rider (though many Low Riders don't include LR in the model ID)
N - Nostalgia
P - Police version
R - Rubber mounted engine (some models) racing version (other models)
ST- Soft Tail, Softail®
S - Springer
S - (without following T) Sports version
T - Touring
WG - Wide Glide
X - Sportster or sportster-type front end and Skinny front tire
Copied from here
X - Sportsters. These descend from the K series, 1952-56
XL- Series started in 1957. They are "unit construction" (engine & transmission share a common case)
L - High compression (7.5:1 in 1957)
H - Starting in 1958 came the XLH, meaning Higher-power or High-compression (9:1) or Hot .
C - Also in 1958 was the XLCH. The C was intended to mean "Competition".
CR- Cafe racer style, with bikini fairing.
LT- Touring, with bigger tank, thicker seat, and hard bags.
The first letter of the model designator reveals the engine series:
G - Servicar three wheeler, 1932 to 1972
E - Overhead valve 61 cubic inch "big twin" (Engine/trans separated)
F - Overhead valve 74,80 or 88 cubic inch "big twin"
FL - 80 to 96 cubic inches or higher Evo or TwinCam engine and a fat front tire.
K - Side valve 45 and 55 cubic inch sports bike that replaced the WL in 1953 and was replaced by the Sportster in 1957. It had many design features that were carried over to the Sportster.
U - Side valve 74 or 80 cubic inch "big twin"
V - Side valve 74 cubic inch made prior to 1936
W - Side valve 45 cubic inch made 1934 to 1952
X - Sports and special construction. Applied to 1918-1922 opposed twin Sport, 1944 military opposed twin, and 1957 to present Sportster.
The second letter of the model designator reveals the Front end (except sportsters)
X - Narrow tire and sport forks.
L - Wide front tire and Hydra-Glide front forks.
(FX originally meant "Factory Experimental" The first one was the Super Glide FX)
The third letter of the model designator reveals the frame style:
D - "Dyna" frame (with the rubber mounted motor)
HT - "Highway Touring" frame
ST - "Softail®" frame
The next letter(s) indicates the model bike within the frame family:
A - Military (Army) version (except GA, Servicar without tow bar)
B - Battery start (early models), Belt drive (early 80's) Black paint.(1995-6 model, the Bad Boy)
C - Classic, Competition, Custom, various others meanings.
D - Dyna, the newest frame and engine mount design.
DG - Disc Glide
E - Electric start
F - Foot shift (when the standard was hand-shift) and now "Fat Boy®"
H - varied between High performance and Heavy duty.
I - Signifies Fuel Injection.
L - Big fat front tire
LR- Low Rider (though many Low Riders don't include LR in the model ID)
N - Nostalgia
P - Police version
R - Rubber mounted engine (some models) racing version (other models)
ST- Soft Tail, Softail®
S - Springer
S - (without following T) Sports version
T - Touring
WG - Wide Glide
X - Sportster or sportster-type front end and Skinny front tire
Copied from here
#37
10-14-2015, 10:41 AM
Outstanding HDF Member
According to my registration papers, I have a FLHX and an FXDBP. I call 'em Glide and Bob. And the P on the Bob sure ain't 'Police' - somehow that designates one of the Factory Customs...so why it's not an FXDBF or FXDBC or FXDBFC I got no clue...
"I ride a Harley Davidson FLXHWHYTHEHELLDOESITHAVETOBESOCOMPLEX."
"I ride a Harley Davidson FLXHWHYTHEHELLDOESITHAVETOBESOCOMPLEX."
#38
10-14-2015, 10:42 AM
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#39
10-14-2015, 10:52 AM
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#40
10-14-2015, 04:08 PM
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