Harley Knuckleheads Proving to be Goldmines Online
H-D’s legendary bike is becoming an increasingly popular collector’s item. And this 1939 example proves why!
It took some time, but we’re finally beginning to see underappreciated bikes like the Knucklehead gain ground on the collector market. Prices are beginning to soar as nice examples of the breed prove to be relatively scarce. So when we spotted this fine 1939 Knucklehead while perusing eBay, we knew it was worthy of the spotlight.
An older restoration, this vintage Harley still looks fantastic. And, most importantly, all the numbers match. The engine, transmission, and primary received a rebuild at the time of the resto, but the bike sat idle on display for several years. The seller does claim that it runs, however, so they clearly stored it properly while it served as eye candy.
A few non-original parts have made their way onto the vintage Knucklehead, but not too many. They include the speedometer, seat, wiring harness, and taillight. The 1939-only transmission comes with the bike, but has been replaced with a more traditional 4-speed. But the new owner might appreciate the lack of a neutral gear between 2nd and 3rd.
Harley only produced 2,965 Knuckleheads in 1939, and far fewer than that still exist today. Combine that with the uniqueness of this one-year only configuration, and you’ve got a bike destined to become a future collector’s item. All of which makes this unique and well-preserved example worth eyeballing. Because one day, we imagine the vintage Harley market will look a whole lot like the collector car market. And by then, bikes like this clean Knucklehead will be unreachable for the vast majority of collectors!
