Restored 1958 Harley-Davidson FLH Duo-Glide is a Gem

Project Gem

On the hunt for a Panhead project, JC Larson knew that this 1958 Duo-Glide was going to be the one. New to riding vintage iron, Larson promptly swung a deal that included delivery to his house three hours away. Once home, Larson's wife immediately named the new machine 'Ruby' after seeing it in the sunshine.

Photos courtesy of Baggers Magazine

Classic Troubles

For a sixty-year-old motorcycle, Ruby was in good shape — at least externally. Larson explained that after a lot of cleaning and polishing, “She looked a lot better than she ran! There were several mechanical issues: transmission not working properly, intake leaks, carburetor float sticking, hard starting, serious oil leaks, major valve train noise, and oil consumption issues.”

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Duo School

Unlike maintenance on his Street Glide and Springer Softail, Ruby was a whole new learning curve. Determined to make Ruby's restoration a DIY project, Larson went to school on the internet, learning as much as he could from forums and videos. After countless hours of study, Larson stated that the ongoing education process turned out to be one of his favorite aspects of the build.

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Problem Solver

Ruby's mechanicals got sorted out with a few updated parts. The tank-shift and transmission that had once daunted Larson was sorted out with a set of Andrews gears, and a refreshed stock clutch. For a smoother ride, the primary chain was replaced with a Tech Cycle belt. The 74 cubic-inch motor received a set of STD heads, and the Linkert carburetor was rebuilt.

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Duo Firsts

The 1958 Duo-Glide was Harley-Davidson's first Big Twin to get a rear suspension. Along with the new shocks came a swingarm frame. The old mechanical rear brake linkage was upgraded to a hydraulic setup. The oil tank was redesigned, along with the now iconic teardrop toolbox. An optional dual exhaust was made available, but Ruby sports the right side only, stock 2 into 1 system.

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Background Changes

Repainted from the stock Calypso Red and Birch White, Ruby's eye-popping color is due to a coat of Red Metallic & Pearl White. Big Twin tank emblems were the same for 1957 and 1958, except for a red background in 1957, and a gold one in 1958. Unchanged from previous years, the Stewart Warner speedometer sported italic 'Day-Glo' green numbers with a gold painted center.

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Shapely Bagger

Adding just the right curves to Ruby's back end are a set of Royalite Bubble Bags. The distinctive design was first introduced on the 1952 K Model, and made available for Big Twins in 1954. Starting in 1957, the stylized oval and arrowhead 'jet' logo was used. All the original Royalite bags are identifiable by a Harley-Davidson logo and a Canadian patent stamp on the bags.

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Starter Knee

Ruby was built as a rider. To that end, Larson installed a Tech Cycle electric-start kit. Being a few years older than Ruby, Larson was not about to let his knees and a high compression engine get in the way of riding. The Duo-Glide is an iconic design that paved the road for all other modern touring motorcycles. Lucky for Larson, it is a road Ruby still rides.

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For help with routine maintenance and repairs, visit the HD Forums How-To section.