S168 1962 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER XLCH Between 1952 and 1956, Harley-Davidson produced the K models to combat the smaller, more nimble European bikes, particularly those from England. Inexpensive and sporty, they appealed to a younger crowd who had been turning larger bikes into smaller ones by cutting and welding, merging parts and essentially making a motorcycle Hot Rod. The bikes from Europe were often factory Hot Rods and ready to go zipping all over town right off the showroom floor. While the K-line from Harley-Davidson was a great first step, the Sportster was the bike that showed the world the company was dead serious about competing. The first Sportsters used many components from the K-line, including the fenders, large gas tank, frame and front suspension. They were powered by a more modern, more powerful and smoother-operating 54 CI overhead-valve engine, unlike the K bikes, which used a 45 CI flathead/side-valve engine. The new engine was known as the ironhead, because it was capped with cast iron cylinder heads, NO RESERVE and was in service until 1985, with 1986 seeing the introduction of Harley-Davidson’s new Evolution engines. For 1958, Harley- Davidson introduced the XLCH, or Sportster Competition Hot, a bike that offered the best of all worlds. It featured the new domed pistons, larger valves and a higher-compression engine, all spelling higher performance. This 1962 XLCH wears Serial No. 62XLCH4923 and hails from the George Schott Collection. Sporting an older but well-kept restoration, this is one of less than 2,000 built in 1962, making it a tremendously rare treat in the motorcycle world. Powered by the 900cc V-Twin engine with a magneto ignition, factory-ported heads and a 4-speed manual transmission, it’s finished entirely in black with a two-tone black and white seat. The look is rounded out by the right amount of chrome and polished components throughout, giving it a remarkably simplistic look, exactly what the Sportster was supposed to be—simple, efficient, fun, quick and agile.
