The 1947 Harley-Davidson WL is a civilian version of the renowned 45 cubic inch (\(750\text{cc}\)) flathead V-twin motorcycle, celebrated for reliability and style postwar. It features a hand-shifted three-speed transmission, Springer forks, and a rigid rear frame, often with a two-into-one exhaust and distinctive fishtail muffler

Post-War Civilian Duty: Following World War II, the WL resumed production for civilians, offering a reliable, economical "45" that had proven itself in military service.

"45" Legacy: The WL was a continuation of the 45 cubic inch line originating with the 1929 Model D, often called the "workhorse" of the Harley lineup.

Distinction from WLA: While the 1947 WL was a civilian bike, it shared much of its rugged design with the wartime "WLA".

Performance: The engine was renowned for its tuneability, with its sibling—the WR—dominating flat-track racing during the late 1940s. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Usage & Starting The bike is started using a kickstarter and a Linkert carburetor. Proper starting involves a specific procedure: setting the choke/carburetor, adjusting the ignition timing (retarding it via the grip), and using the hand-shifter to place the bike in neutral

Harley-Davidson designed a new 45-cubic inch V-twin engine with a side-valve, or “flathead,” cylinder head configuration, in contrast to the prior F-head design. Taking pains to avoid any risk of patent infringement arising from similarities to Indian’s design, Harley-Davidson contracted the design of its cylinder heads to the well-respected Harry Ricardo. Upon completion, the new engine was mounted within the same frame used by the 21-cubic inch Model B single-cylinder motorcycle, and by virtue of the engine’s displacement, the new model was simply referred to as the “Forty-Five” or “45.”

Introduced in 1929, nearly 7,000 45-powered Harley-Davidsons were sold. Solo variants remained in production through 1952, while the three-wheeled Servi-Car continued until 1973, finding great acceptance in such cities as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. During World War II, Harley-Davidson produced over 88,000 45-powered models. Renowned for their simplicity, reliability, and durability, these machines introduced motorcycling to thousands of servicemen who became loyal customers after the war. Easily tuned and responsive to modifications, 45-powered Harley-Davidsons also dominated flat-track racing during the late-1940s through the early-1950s, solidifying Harley-Davidson’s performance legacy.        SOLD AS IS