++++11111 .. Thanks for posting !!!!!

 

flat side fuel tanks had a 7-8 year run in the 80's. there were ordinary hardware store light switches on my 85 model too.

 

Also in regards to fuel delivery:

Electronic Fuel Injection or EFI made its debut in the Electra Glide as an option in 1995 and was available in the Road King one year later. Magnetti Marelli EFI ran from 1995-2001. In 2002 Harley switched to EFI from Delphi.

 

I think it's worth mentioning that the early "tour glide" models were much more unique than just the frame mounted fairing. They also had different triple clamp geometry and much more lean angle than the Electra glide. They were an incredible handling motorcycle. I don't believe the modern "road glide" shares those same traits other than the fairing design.

 

all the touring models evo onward have this same reverse fork front end

Mike

 

Thank you for the correction! What about the lean angle being greater, is that fact or fiction?

 

Love this thread! Since 1965 EG's have been the flagship of the MOCO.

 

In the early 80's the tour glides had a totally different frame than the electra glides, with a rubber mounted motor and tranny. The 82-up FXRs were based upon that frame. That frame was eventually used across the board for all touring bikes, including the Electra Glide. I think 1984 was the last year for the old frame? Your picture of the 1984 EVO bike shows the new frame.

The touring bikes had two other big improvements before the electric leg in 1965:
Duo Glide - added rear suspension in 1958
Hydra Glide - changed front springer fork to hydraulic in 1949, making the 48 panhead springer a one year only model too.


Of course all Harleys were 'touring bikes' until the k-models in 1952, previewing the sportster of 1957

 

Misguided as it may have been, no discussion of the 'Electra Glide' family would be complete without touching on the 'Harley/Vetter Liberator'. Harley-Davidson offered the Liberator package as a factory dealer installed option from '74-78. It was a Porta-Potty looking fairing, with a complete dashboard including an AM/FM radio. The immense size of it brought the EG close to a half ton in weight, and did a lot to stimulate the then available S&S Stroker kits to better motivate these barges. The MOCO styling dept., wanting to put their hand print on the monstrosity, even went so far as to specify a GM transit bus headlamp assembly for the fairing! I must admit I had a '78, and once it was stripped down, that S&S Stroker made some impressive Shovel power. I don't know how many they sold, but I do know that 'ELVIS' had one, a '76, and it's still on display at Graceland. (Below)




ELVIS' - '76 ELECTRA GLIDE -'LIBERATOR'

 

So the Tour Glide started off with it's own frame and then later the Electra Glide and Road Glide used the same frame? Interesting but I'm having a hard time finding references to support that. I don't doubt it but I'd like to be sure.