Unknown Bike Identity
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Novice
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Unknown Bike Identity
This photo is of my grandfather who passed some years ago. When he returned from the war this was the first thing he purchased. I have not idea what it is or what year. I'd like to find out as much as possible about the bike and even the cars behind him. Anyone have any ideas?
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 21
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Unknown Bike Identity
This photo is of my grandfather who passed some years ago. When he returned from the war this was the first thing he purchased. I have no idea what it is or what year. I'd like to find out as much as possible about the bike and even the cars behind him. Anyone have any ideas?
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Oklahoma City
Looked it up in my History of H-D book. That would be 1942 Model XA.
I found an online article about them. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1942-h....htm/printable
I found an online article about them. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1942-h....htm/printable
Looks like the Harley XA. They made them for the WW II but it ended about the time they got the bugs worked out, so they canned it. I think.
During World War II, the U.S. Army asked Harley-Davidson to produce a motorcycle as good as BMW's side-valve R71. So Harley copied the BMW, simply converting metric measurements to inches, and produced the shaft-drive 750cc 1942 Harley-Davidson XA. Even though about 1,000 were made, the motorcycle never saw service.
The car is a 42 ?? Desoto
During World War II, the U.S. Army asked Harley-Davidson to produce a motorcycle as good as BMW's side-valve R71. So Harley copied the BMW, simply converting metric measurements to inches, and produced the shaft-drive 750cc 1942 Harley-Davidson XA. Even though about 1,000 were made, the motorcycle never saw service.
The car is a 42 ?? Desoto
Last edited by 77HDFX; Aug 12, 2010 at 09:21 AM.
Stage II
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Extremely rare, notice the plunger style frame, was also shaftdrive, and only 500 made for the army messenger corp, I had a BMW boxer years ago I set up with fatbob tanks, solo saddle, etc. had a lot of guys look real hard to see ifthis was what I was riding, lol
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Man that was quick. Thanks so much for the fast reply and info on the car. Now to see how realistic it would be to find a 42 XA for sale. I bet I'm in for a rude awakening.
Sorry for the double post of this to the forums.
Sorry for the double post of this to the forums.
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Man that was quick. Thanks so much for the fast reply. Now to see how realistic it would be to find a 42 XA for sale. I bet I'm in for a rude awakening.
Sorry for the double post of this to the forums.
Sorry for the double post of this to the forums.
Trending Topics
They have a couple XA's in The Wheels Through Time. Saw them back in April.
The car looks to be a 42 DeSoto
The car looks to be a 42 DeSoto
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