46 knucklehead vin vs production date

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May 18, 2022 | 07:39 PM

hellonewman

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46 knucklehead vin vs production date

My 46 EL is a 6200 series vin and I want to know where that would fall in the production range with the other bikes. 1946 was an odd ball bike because production was delayed due to a strike and other suppliers were also on strike. GM was and they supplied the lights, Production for 46 started the end of October 45 rather than Sept 1st and finished in October 46. Buddy seats, batteries and chain were short in supply and chrome was limited due to the war just ending. So my bike will be a plain jane build, considering going grey because red and grey were the only choices the beginning of 46 then came blue later and black at the end of 46 as an unlisted option. Green wasn't unfortunately so I can't go with that, Cruiser Green was what I settled on until I did some more reading.

So depending on where my bike falls in the production run determines some of the available choices, chrome parts in particular. Can anyone help?

May 19, 2022 | 01:43 AM

Speeding Big Twin

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Via email I'll send copies of sales orders for five 1946 Knuckles. Four mention deluxe buddy seats. One requested a chrome group if available. Another one requested a chrome group but later it was crossed out. Also remember bikes didn’t always leave the factory in numerical order as far as SNs are concerned.
Eric

May 19, 2022 | 06:21 AM

hellonewman

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Thank you, thats great information! One of your examples is 10 away from mine numerically. All of the examples in the 6200's and greater are after Jan 46 which is a critical date for some of the finishes.

Thanks again Eric.

Last edited by hellonewman; May 19, 2022 at 06:22 AM.

May 19, 2022 | 06:22 AM

Architect

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1946 is tough, wide range of variations from the beginning until the end of the production year. Plain Jane sounds great until you find out the black parts are harder to find than chrome. I wish you luck, but I would just paint her the color I wanted, of course year appropriate.

I hear those bikes look good in black!?!?!?!?!?

May 19, 2022 | 06:25 AM

hellonewman

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Black was an option, it could end up that color, dont know yet. The tank badge colors leave a lot to be desired as well. Now picture a black bike with no chrome, a black air cleaner and black gas caps, it'll look like the bike was dipped in black paint.

May 19, 2022 | 06:31 AM

Architect

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Those painted tank badges go for all of the money as well. I like the blue ones on a blue bike, but you are down the VIN # rabbit hole. I sincerely wish you luck.

Maybe you need to start going to meetings or something!?!??!

May 19, 2022 | 07:14 AM

hellonewman

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The order dates at the dealers as of Jan 46 works outs to delivery dates from April-July 46 putting mine in the mid-late 46 range. Its really all I can go by unless HD has records for my bike, which is unlikely but possible. This means I can run a chrome air cleaner, spirals, shifter and gate, gas caps, fender tips etc. Black rims, no fender trim, no fender light, painted tank badges and a black tail light housing. The std grey paint was dropped before my bike came to be. The 48 is going blue so I can't go blue on this bike.

Last edited by hellonewman; May 19, 2022 at 07:37 AM.