Shaft drive Harley?

Eye_m_no_angel · 06-25-2012, 02:14 PM

You betcha. They made one 70 years ago. In 1942 the US Army specified they wanted a shaft drive motorcycle so Harley was sent some BMW's and Zundapps that were captured from the Germans in North Africa. What they produced was the XA model, basicaly a direct copy of the German machines, with a horizontaly opposed boxer engine and a shaft drive

(Indian also produced one, but it didn't get as far along in developement and looked more like an Italian bike.)

Harley made about 1000 completed bikes, but by that time the Army realized that the Jeep would work best in the role the bikes were intended for, so they cancelled the order. Harley then went into talks with Willy's Overland to use the XA engines in a proposed ultra-light, air-droppable version of the Jeep to be issued to Airborne forces. The war ended before that project was completed though.

LWRider · 06-25-2012, 04:13 PM

I like those XAs. Wheels Through Time, in Maggie Valley NC, has one.

One thing that I really noticed from walking around WTT is how many completely different kind of bikes H-D produced, not the same old, same old--dirt bikes, hill climbers, etc. H-D even played with the idea of an electric bike, way before it was the rage.

Cheers,

Mike

LWRider · 06-25-2012, 04:14 PM

Ya know, now that I look at it it appears that may not be an XA but looks a lot like the horizontally opposed V-Twin ala Moto Guzzi! But it proves my point.

sanford · 06-25-2012, 04:30 PM

great old bikes, I'm pretty sure my local HD may have a few in their in shop museam, will check next time in, good post., I like looking at vintage but not riding them likely

V8Thrasher · 06-25-2012, 08:34 PM

Very cool, thanks for that Eye!

cmonSTART · 06-25-2012, 08:44 PM

Ya, thanks for that Eye!

Castle81 · 06-25-2012, 10:22 PM

O.o

LWR, pic #1 is an Indian 841. Cant read the plaque by it. Did Wheels mis-catalog that?

Eye_m_no_angel · 06-25-2012, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWRider

Ya know, now that I look at it it appears that may not be an XA but looks a lot like the horizontally opposed V-Twin ala Moto Guzzi! But it proves my point.

I think that's the Indian version Mike! I've never seen a picture of a surviving one, just drawings and such. (And I damm sure missed it when I was at WTT.) Awesome man! Thanks!

CaptCrashIdaho · 06-25-2012, 10:51 PM

Who says history ain't fun?

aaronrkelly · 06-26-2012, 02:34 AM

The Nova V4 Harley was to be shaft drive as well.....

http://www.bikerenews.com/AntiqueBikes/CodeNameNova.htm

LWRider · 06-26-2012, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castle81

O.o

LWR, pic #1 is an Indian 841. Cant read the plaque by it. Did Wheels mis-catalog that?

Nah, must be my memory. I was sure I had seen the boxer H-D there, but put up the wrong pic I guess. Dale would not mislabel that, for sure.

cmonSTART · 06-26-2012, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronrkelly

The Nova V4 Harley was to be shaft drive as well.....

http://www.bikerenews.com/AntiqueBikes/CodeNameNova.htm

Looks a bit like a Honda V-Max.

Dodsfall · 06-26-2012, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmonSTART

Looks a bit like a Honda V-Max.

The V4 Magna came out a few years later than the Harley prototype. I don't know if that's where the idea came from or not.

Eye_m_no_angel · 06-26-2012, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronrkelly

The Nova V4 Harley was to be shaft drive as well.....

http://www.bikerenews.com/AntiqueBikes/CodeNameNova.htm

I had forgotten about that one. Was it ever actualy built, or was it just a wooden mock-up?

Eye_m_no_angel · 06-26-2012, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodsfall

The V4 Magna came out a few years later than the Harley prototype. I don't know if that's where the idea came from or not.

A lot of Japanese bikes did copy thier styling from Harley over the years.

LWRider · 06-26-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmonSTART

Looks a bit like a Honda V-Max.

Yep, except it is a Yamaha (Star).

I found Wheels Through Time's pic of their XA:

Cheers,

Mike

06-25-2012, 04:13 PM	#2
LWRider Challenged Mechanic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lake Wales, FL Posts: 2,321	I like those XAs. Wheels Through Time, in Maggie Valley NC, has one. One thing that I really noticed from walking around WTT is how many completely different kind of bikes H-D produced, not the same old, same old--dirt bikes, hill climbers, etc. H-D even played with the idea of an electric bike, way before it was the rage. Cheers, Mike __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

06-25-2012, 04:14 PM	#3
LWRider Challenged Mechanic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lake Wales, FL Posts: 2,321	Ya know, now that I look at it it appears that may not be an XA but looks a lot like the horizontally opposed V-Twin ala Moto Guzzi! But it proves my point. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

06-25-2012, 08:34 PM	#5
V8Thrasher Shattering The Skies Above Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: City of Angels Posts: 663	Very cool, thanks for that Eye! __________________ Go Heavy, High Reps Don't Impress

06-26-2012, 02:34 AM	#10
aaronrkelly Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: southern Iowa Posts: 2,457	The Nova V4 Harley was to be shaft drive as well..... http://www.bikerenews.com/AntiqueBikes/CodeNameNova.htm __________________ Cadillac Roughnecks MC

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06-25-2012, 02:14 PM	#1
Eye_m_no_angel Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 4,252	Shaft drive Harley? You betcha. They made one 70 years ago. In 1942 the US Army specified they wanted a shaft drive motorcycle so Harley was sent some BMW's and Zundapps that were captured from the Germans in North Africa. What they produced was the XA model, basicaly a direct copy of the German machines, with a horizontaly opposed boxer engine and a shaft drive (Indian also produced one, but it didn't get as far along in developement and looked more like an Italian bike.) Harley made about 1000 completed bikes, but by that time the Army realized that the Jeep would work best in the role the bikes were intended for, so they cancelled the order. Harley then went into talks with Willy's Overland to use the XA engines in a proposed ultra-light, air-droppable version of the Jeep to be issued to Airborne forces. The war ended before that project was completed though.

06-25-2012, 04:30 PM	#4
sanford Banned Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 988	great old bikes, I'm pretty sure my local HD may have a few in their in shop museam, will check next time in, good post., I like looking at vintage but not riding them likely

06-25-2012, 08:44 PM	#6
cmonSTART Rider of old stuff Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Antrim, NH Posts: 816	Ya, thanks for that Eye!

06-25-2012, 10:22 PM	#7
Castle81 Severed Head Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: White Settlement, TX Posts: 378	O.o LWR, pic #1 is an Indian 841. Cant read the plaque by it. Did Wheels mis-catalog that?

06-25-2012, 10:51 PM	#9
CaptCrashIdaho Safety Hooligan Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SW Idaho! Posts: 1,681	Who says history ain't fun?