Hi,

My hog is an FLHTK. But I was wondering if anyone knew how it developed in such a cryptic style?

Like: What does the F stand for?

 

go to google, it's a long story, partial;

F means big twin--- was 74"
E was 61", big twin
X- sportster
H meant high compression
W was flathead 45"


mike

 

So for me:
F = big twin
L = ?
H = high compression
T = Touring?
K = ?

 

Try this.
http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/harley_models.html

 

http://www.factoryfat.com/hdbikemodels.html

Basicly it's:
FL - a fat front tire with the bigger forks for the front end
HT - "Highway Touring" frame
K - Limited

But the Street Glide is "FLHX" so I guess they not only stripped the bike down to make it sleaker,
they also stipped the named down just using the "H"

 

You can also look up your VIN number:

Harley Davidson VIN Decoding:

First Digit:
Market Designation
1 = Domestic
5 = International

Second & Third Digit:
HD = Manufacturer and Make
Harley Davidson

Fourth Digit:
Motorcycle Type
1 = Heavyweight
2 = Middleweight
(901 cc and larger engine displacement)

Fifth & Sixth Digit:
Model Designation
BH = FXST – Softail Standard
BJ = FLSTC – Heritage Softail Classic
BK = FXSTC – Softail Custom
BL = FXSTS – Softail Springer
BM = FLSTF – Softail Fatboy
BN = FLSTN – Softail Deluxe
BP = FXSTSB
BR = FLSTS – Heritage Softail Springer
BS = FXSTD – Softail Deuce
BT = FXSTB – Softail Nighttrain
BV = FXSTI – Softail Standard (fuel injected)
BW = FLSTCI – Heritage Softail Classic (fuel injected)
BX = FLSTFI – Softail Fatboy (fuel injected)
BY = FLSTSCI
BZ = FXSTSI – Softail Springer (fuel injected)
CA = XL883
CJ = XL883 Custom
CG = XL1200 Custom
CL = XL1200 Roadster
CM = XL883L
DA = FLT 82-83
DA = FLHTP Police Windshield
DB = FLTC
DD = FLHT – Electra Glide
DH = FLTC w/ Sidecar
DJ = FLHTC
DK = FLTC Shrine
DM = FLTCU
DP = FLHTCU
EA = FXR
EB = FXRS
EC = FXRT
ED = FXRP Police Windshield
EF = FXRP Police Fairing
EG = FXRS-SP
EH = FXRD
EJ = FXRC
FB = FLHR-I – Road King (fuel injected)
FC = FLHTCU-I – Ultra Classic Electra Glide (fuel injected)
FD = FLHR – Road King
FE = FLTCU-I
FF = FLHTC-I – Electra Glide (fuel injected)
FG = FLHTCU-I – Ultra Classic Electra Glide w/ Sidecar (fuel injected)
FH = FLHP-I Police
FJ = FLHP Police
FK = FLHTC-I Shrine
FL = FLHTCU-I Shrine
FM = FLHTP-I Police
FN = FLHPE (Japan)
FP = FLTR – Road Glide
FR = FLHRC-I – Road King Classic (fuel injected)
FS = FLTR-I – Road Glide (fuel injected)
FT = FLHPE-I
FV = FLHT-I
FW = FLHR-I Shrine
FX = FLHRS – Road King Custom
FY = FLHRS-I – Road King Custom (fuel injected)
GD = FXDL – Dyna Lowrider
GE = FXDWG – Dyna Wide Glide
GG = FXDS Convertible
GH = FXD - Dyna
GJ = FXDX – Super Glide
HA = VRSCA – V-Rod
JA = FXSTB-I – Softail Nighttrain (fuel injected)
JB = FXSTD-I – Softail Deuce (fuel injected)
JD = FLSTN-I – Softail Deluxe (fuel injected)
SG = TLE Police
SH = RLE Police

Seventh Digit:
Engine Type
A = VRSCA 98 HP HDI only V = Carbureted
W = Fuel Injected

Z = VRSCA Eighth Digit:
Introduction Date & Special Models
1 = Regular Intro Date
2 = Mid-year Intro Date
3 = California Model
4 = Anniversary Model

Ninth Digit:
VIN Check Digit
Varies; can be 0 through 9, or X.

Tenth Digit:
Model Year
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
X = 1998
Y = 1999
Z = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005
6 = 2006
7 = 2007

Eleventh Digit:
Assembly Plant
Y = York, PA
K = Kansas City, MO

Twelfth Digit - Seventeenth Digit:
Serial Number

 

..if you just go back say to the 60's and 70's you can kind of see the way the letters developed a little, if you go way back there is stuff not used anymore, like WL...UL..JD those were models in the 20's through 40's...but basically the way it's been in modern times is..the F means Big-Twin..the L designates the width of the front end..L= wide legs...X means skinny leg, hence the FLSTF(Fatboy)...and the FXST(Softail)...the H is Highway and then whatever follows the H or X is the actual model of that type of bike..

 

X can also mean 'custom" nothing to do with forks

it is alphabet soup

my 53 FLF the 1 st F is 74", the second F is foot shift ( which was an option starting in '52, standard was hand shift)

mike

 

..yup that's true, but that's why it can just become a huge tangled mess if you start looking at exceptions to the rule...the modern system was created by ***** G when they came out with the first Factory "custom" Harley which was the 71 Super Glide..that bike was basically an FLH that they put a Sportster front end on,(plus the infamous Boat-Tail rear fender)...so they called it the FX to show the Narrow-Glide front end of a Sportster was on it..then they carried the X over into the Softail line in 84....