1950 Harley-Davidson FL Panhead Hydra Glide Review
The 1949 introduction of a telescopic front fork was thought to be a reaction, at least in part, to the mechanically modern British bikes that were dominating the American market in the late 1940s. American servicemen's exposure to British-built bikes during World War II meant that BSA, Triumph, Norton, etc. found a ready market when they were exported in quantity soon after the war, accounting for close to 40 percent of new motorcycle registrations in the USA by 1950. The threat was all too apparent to Harley-Davidson, who saw a similar decrease in numbers between 1948 and 1950, and lobbied for an increase in government tariffs on imported motorcycles. The effort was unsuccessful, but it was a close-run thing - the request was only defeated by a 4-to-2 vote. With no government support, Harley had to look at improving their products to remain competitive with the imports. The panhead had already set the standard, which the 'Hydra-Glide' telescopic fork front end continued.
Widespread acceptance of the 'Hydra-Glide' front end was enough for Harley to use the feature as the model name across all big twins so equipped. For 1950, a redesign enabled the trail to be adjusted for sidecar applications, while the 'Hydra-Glide' name was also stamped onto the upper fork legs for the first time. The Hydra-Glide was so popular it made further production of the springer front end unviable, so Harley dropped it from the options list across both 74ci and 61ci v-twins for 1950. This in turn meant the 'big twin' model range was trimmed dramatically. In terms of the 74ci 'F' Series v-twins, seven variants in 1949 were trimmed down to three, comprising the standard compression 'F' and high compression 'FL' models, as well as a standard compression version with sidecar-specific gearing, known as the 'FS', all of which were equipped with the Hydra-Glide front end as standard. Of the three, the FL, with its higher compression engine, was the more desirable, as it produced more power. In fact, the high compression model was so popular that the standard compression variant was dropped by the end of the year. And just as the 61ci 'E' Series v-twins outsold the 45ci 'W' Series, the "bigger is better" culture in the US - and the fact that a 74ci F Series cost only US$15 more than a 61ci E Series - meant that the 74ci v-twins outsold the 61ci models to the point that the smaller capacity v-twins were dropped altogether by the end of 1952.
Despite these updates, "old" technology, in the form of the foot clutch/hand change gear shift, and the rigid rear end remained. A hand clutch/foot change wouldn't become an option until 1952, while the rigid frame remained standard until the arrival of the full suspension 'Duo-Glide' in 1958.
Engine updates for 1950 were minimal, consisting primarily of changes to the aluminium alloy cylinder heads and larger intake porting, which increased power by 10 percent. This change required recalibration of the 1 ½ inch carburettor to suit. This not only improved throttle response, but allowed for quicker tuning and was such a success that Harley offered these units as exchange upgrades across all relevant models. A revised oil filter, repositioned to reduce vibration, was also introduced for 1950. Minor changes were made to other engine components, with the only other major mechanical change of note being the switch from a fishtail-type exhaust (also referred to as a rocket-fin exhaust) to a "Mellow-Tone" exhaust with a rounded end. The name came from the deeper, more mellow exhaust note it gave compared to the preceeding unit. Appearance-wise, the Mellow-Tone was finished in the same heat-resistant silicon black paint, but an optional chrome finish was also available.
From the factory, the 1950 F Series panheads were available in four standard colours: Brilliant Black; Ruby Red; Riviera Blue; and Police Silver, the latter only available for Police-delivered bikes. Cost optional colours included: Metallic Green; Flight Red; Azure Blue; and White. As per previous years, a variety of 'Equipment Group' options were offered. Some of these accessory packages were specifically designed for Police or sidecar use, with the rest offering a range of dress-up items. For example, the US$95.50 'Deluxe Solo Group' included things like saddlebags, 5.00 x 16 inch wheels, side stand, a bunch of chrome trim items, and a coloured ball for the top of the hand shifter. Appearance changes from 1949 were very minor, and included things like a different seam style on the optional Deluxe Solo Seat. Similarly, the optional saddlebags were mildly-modified versions of the previous year's bags, while smaller saddlebags which had been introduced on the 1950 45ci v-twins were also available as an option on the E and F models.
FLs comprised the bulk of 74ci units produced in 1950 - 7,407, compared to only 544 FS models. The popularity of classic Harley panheads, as well as knuckleheads and even shovelheads, doesn't show any signs of waning and has ensured there a still a number of these classics in circulation today. The real trick is finding one in original, or at least close to original, spec. Most examples for sale now have been modified in some way, whether through the fitting of later model Hydra-Glide/Duo-Glide/Electra-Glide features or the addition of aftermarket and custom components. They're not the most practical bikes for regular or distance riding, but in terms of appearance and that all-important Harley sound, an early 74ci FL panhead is pretty hard to beat.
SPECIFICATIONS - 1950 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra-Glide
Engine: 74ci OHV four stroke v-twin.
Bore/Stroke: 3 7/16" x 3 31/32" (87.3 x 100.8mm)
Compression: 7.0:1 (FL), 6.6:1 (F)
Power/Torque: 53hp @ 5200rpm / N/A
Fuel System: Single 1 ½ inch carb
Cooling System: Air
Electrical System: 6 volt
Transmission/Drive: 4 speed manual/chain drive
(optional 3 speed available)
Front Suspension: Telescopic forks
Rear Suspension: Rigid
Front Brake: Drum
Rear Brake: Drum
Front Tyre: 3.00 x 16 inch
Rear Tyre: 3.00 x 16 inch
Dry Weight: 560lb (240kg)
Length: 92" (2337mm)
Width: 33" (838mm)
Wheelbase: 59 ½" (1511mm)
Fuel Capacity: 3.75 gal (14.2 lt)
Top Speed: 155 kph
