I rode a '52 pan FLH for 8 years. Sold it not too long ago. When I would start this bike in a public place I was amazed how many people just wanted to see an FLH kickstarted. Hell this bike was made 13 years before the first electric start Harley. How many of you have kickstarted a big twin.

 

Many years ago & glad they went away...still have marks/sores on my ankles from them.

 

I had a '78 shovel Low Rider with both a kick and electric start and I usually kicked it in public. Showing off when younger. Also used to have to kick a pan semi chopper. A girl friend had a Sportster XLCH that she could kick start as well as any guy.

 

PRO had a Shovel back in 81 that was kick start only. It Whipped my *** on occasion. Definetly had its combination to get started, hot and cold. Personally I don't miss it at all.

 

Many, but the biggest pain in the butt for me was a '57 XLCH with a magneto.

Biq Twins were easy by comparison. Not nearly as finicky,

 

I had a 58 Flh, blue over white. The shin killer.

 

Left side kicker on my SG man that hurts

 

Everytime the weather is bad I remember those days. Each bike had its own quirks about what was needed to make it start on any given day.

 

Had a W and a FL at one time, neither had electric start and both had a bad attitude. The W put me over the bars when I was a little less large.

 

I owned 1949 "45" (750cc) in the early 70's. Kick start was the only way to start it. Electric start? Not in 1949!