ROBERT D. DIEGAL COLLECTION When this stunning Harley-Davidson FLH Electra-Glide rolled out of Milwaukee in 1967, the Motor Company further refined its identity as the quintessential American motorcycle brand. With the closure of its main rival, Indian, in 1953 and the subsequent flood of imports from British and Japanese manufacturers in the 1950s and 1960s, Harley-Davidson stood alone as the world’s largest builder of large, comfortable, cruising V-twin motorcycles. Though the brand had diversified its lineup to include machines like the lovable Hummer, Aermacchi-built Sprint and its line of OHV middleweight Sportsters, Harley-Davidson’s bread-and-butter remained its big twin touring machines. With the introduction of the famed Knucklehead in 1936, Harley set the mold for modern American motorcycles from that point on, improving the concept with modern technology like hydraulic forks, rear suspension and electric starters to remain relevant in an ever-evolving postwar motorcycle landscape. In 1965, Harley introduced the Electra-Glide, the company’s first big twin equipped with an electric starter system and the successor to its popular first full-suspension model, the Duo-Glide, from 1958. The following year, in 1966, the Electra-Glide received a new set of heads, scaled up from its popular Sportster model, closing the chapter on the beloved Panhead era and ushering in the age of the Shovelhead. While brands like Honda and Triumph catalyzed a renaissance in American motorcycles by focusing on modern features, advanced manufacturing techniques and catering to new riders, commuters and the emerging off-road interest, Harley remained the machine of choice with an untouchable heritage. This gorgeous sparkling burgundy and white FLH Electra-Glide rolled out of Milwaukee in 1967 into a crowded market but remained America’s undisputed king of the road. It features a grunty 74 CI (1,200cc) air-cooled OHV V-twin, a 4-speed foot-shifted gearbox and a 12-volt electric system with a pushbutton starter. Few machines were as heavy, but few machines were as comfortable, with a twin-shock rear suspension and hydraulic telescopic forks. Moreover, few motorcycles of the mid-1960s could match the level of style with Harley’s shimmering two-tone paint schemes, whitewall tires and decadent amounts of chrome. In 1967, this stunning FLH Electra-Glide was a machine that didn’t just carry its rider down the road—it carried the spirit of American motorcycling into a new era, blending tradition, innovation and unmatched style that is undeniably Harley-Davidson. F101 1967 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra Glide
