This 1954 Harley-Davidson FL is One Sweet Panhead

FL’s from the 1950’s were undoubtedly some of the coolest bikes to ever roll out of a Harley-Davidson production facility. The big frame bikes made for some great cruisers, and their lower compression and mild engines made them perfect for everyday riding.

1954 was a special year for H-D, marking their 50th anniversary. To celebrate that monumental achievement, they fitted a gold medallion to the front fender, which was a cool and rather tasteful touch. While the medallion affixed to this beautiful ’54 FL is the original, the rest of the bike has undergone a significant restoration.

Professionally built by Steve Barber of “The 74 Shop” in Saugerties, NY, the old Panhead has been put back together using a ton of NOS parts. Everything was repainted and re-chromed, and a mere 90 miles have been logged since completion.

The Speed King saddlebags are a cool touch, and they are in fact original as well. The only parts that aren’t either original H-D or NOS, are the exhaust, gas cap, wiring harness, cables, and fork tin. That means this is one of the most correct, and definitely one of the nicest ’54 FL’s around!

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.