A Purist's 1965 Harley Panhead with Sidecar In Salmon Pink
Motorcycles & ATVs
Motorcycles
The 1965 Panhead recently offered on eBay shines in its perky salmon-and-white paint scheme. The seller purchased this stunning bike in 2017 from the Las Vegas edition of the prestigious Mecum auction - opens in new window or tab.. However, good enough wasn't, so the owner replaced all the aftermarket parts with genuine OEM or New Old Stock - opens in new window or tab. (NOS) pieces. The result is a beauty that's 100-percent true to what rolled out of the factor a half-century ago.
- The Harley gleams in fresh chrome.
- The seat and windshield bag are among those NOS parts.
The 1965 LH 1020 model sidecar, also dressed up in a matching salmon shade, is a delightful bonus. The sidecar is ready to haul a companion—human or canine.
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Matching Numbers and the Right Options
The Panhead was introduced in 1948. It's a two-cylinder V-Twin engine with overhead valves—with 61 cubic-inch and 74 cubic-inch options. These engines ran until 1965 before getting replaced by the Shovelhead in 1966. These big twins saw nearly a four-inch stroke. The compression was 8.0:1.
The Panhead is a highly sought-after variant of vintage Harley-Davidsons. The nickname comes from the shape of the rocker covers, which resemble a cooking pan. Earlier models were known as "Knuckleheads" due to their rockers looking like the knuckles of a fist. Later models are referred to as "Shovelheads" because their rockers have a rounded shape like a garden shovel.
This '65 Electra Glide shows 71,286 on the odometer. The 1965 model was the first year that FLH-designated bikes included an electric start. As a result, the eBay bike starts upon demand.
Panhead exhaust systems had two options: dual mufflers or a single muffler. The bike for sale on eBay has the single muffler option. In addition, it features the standard hand clutch rather than the optional hand shift/foot clutch option.
The FLH has a clean Michigan title with matching numbers. The NADA guide pegs the pricing for this model, without the sidecar, at $30,665, when in excellent condition. Hagerty comes in at about $26,000 without the sidecar. So the healthy Buy-It-Now price of $38,750 for this motorcycle (with sidecar) looks about right.
Panhead Innovations
The Panhead era saw many upgrades, including alloy cylinder heads. Hydraulic tappets prevented the frequent valve adjustments from the past. Panhead bikes also brought:
- Hydraulic drum brakes
- External oil lines
- Hydraulic telescopic forks replacing the springer front ends
- 12-volt electrics (by 1965)
- An electric start (with kickstarter remaining as an option)
By 1960, the claimed output of a Panhead was 60 horsepower with 70 pound-feet of torque. These bikes still had the 4-speed transmission.
The weight of an FLH from 1965 is about 720 pounds, with a wheelbase of 59.1 inches. The fuel capacity is 4.23 gallons. Modders chopped up many of these bikes, and some, like the "Captain America" bike and the "Billy Bike" in Easy Rider, became famous. See: "Our Four Favorite Outlaw Biker Movies - opens in new window or tab.."
Despite the attention garnered by those famous modified bikes, many of them remain in beautiful stock condition like this particular FLH. It's located in Connecticut, and the seller asks for it to be picked up. So if you like the real thing, with a sidecar to sweeten the deal, this 1965 Panhead could be your next ride.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.