Ok.... I know this is a stupid question, however; I am new to HD. I just purchased a 09 Heritage Classic the model # is FLSTC what does the FL stand for?

 

Beats me. Mine's a FLSTF and I don't know what it means. Other than it's a Fatboy.

 

fl means your bike has a fat tree trunk style front end and a softail with an fx in the moniker means it has a skinny not narrow front end . its alot more complex also. because some narrow front ends are skinny too . stick around a while you ll get.

 

fl means type of front end st means softail and f means fatboy

 

Alphabet Soup - A Quick Guide to Model Names and Designations for Harley-Davidson ® Motorcycles.
The model names shown here are registered trademarks of Harley-Davidson Motor Company.

FL 4-Speed Dresser® FXR Rubber Mount Super Glide
FLH 4-Speed Electra Glide® FXRS Low Rider
FLHR Road King® FXRS-CON Low Rider Convertible
FLHRCI Road King® Classic FXRS-SP Low Rider Sport Edition
FLHS Electra Glide® Sport FXRT FXR Touring
FLHT Electra Glide® Standard FXS Low Rider/Shovelhead
FLHTC Electra Glide® Classic FXSB Lowrider Belt®
FLHTCUI Electra Glide® Ultra Classic FXST Softail®
FXSTB Night Train®
FLST Heritage Softail® FXSTC Softail® Custom
FLSTC Heritage Softail® Classic FXSTD Softail® Deuce™
FLSTF Fat Boy® FXSTS Springer Softail®
FLSTN Nostalgia® FXWG Wide Glide®
FLSTS Heritage Springer Softail®
XL 4-Speed Sportster®
FLT Rubber Mount Dresser® XL883 Sportster® Hugger
FLTC Rubber Mount Dresser® Classic XL883C Sportster® 883 Custom
FLTCU Rubber Mount Dresser® Classic Ultra XL883R Sportster® Race Replica
FLTR Road Glide® XL1100 Sportster® 1100
FLTRI Road Glide® w/ Genuine Access. XL1200 Sportster® 1200
FLTRSEI Screamin Eagle Road Glide® XL1200C Sportster® 1200 Custom
XL1200S Sportster® 1200 Sport
FX Superglide, Kickstart XL1200R Sportster® Roadster
FXB Sturgis® Belt XLCH 4-Speed Sportster®, Kickstart
FXD Dyna Super Glide® XLH 4-Speed Sportster®, Electric Start
FXDG Dyna Glide®/Sturgis® XLH883 883 Hugger
FXDL Dyna® Low Rider XLH1200 1200
FXDS-CON Dyna® Convertible XLH1200S Sport
FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide® XLS 4-Speed Sportster® Roadster
FXDX Dyna Super Glide Sport® XLX 4-Speed 1000cc Ironhead
FXDXT Super Glide "T" Sport XR1000 XLH with XLR Heads
FXE Superglide Electric Start
FXEF Fatbob® VRSCA V-ROD™ (anodized finish)
FXLR Low Rider/Special Edition VRSCB V-ROD™ (black finish)

 

FL is basically a touring front end, ST= soft tail, and the almighty C= classic.
Back in the old days fl use to mean engine size. EL was a 61 ci 1050 cc engine and the fl was the 1200 cc 74 ci. If I remember correctly there may have been a flh that had a better cam. They just keep throwing these letters around to confuse us. Fortunately we all know what our own bikes are.
Ron fxstc.

 

I just read the 100 year history of Harley Davidson. Here is the official answer from Harley.

FL = Fat fork large frame

I will bet you my 08 Cross Bones that is the answer. The book is an awesome read for every Harley owner!!!!