The official innovation of the 1936Harley - DavidsonEL motorcycle was a number anti - climactic , consider the rearing meditation that preceded it .

Harley monger got the facts at their annual pattern in December 1935 , and , although not as godforsaken as the rumors had predicted , the 61 - three-dimensional - in EL nevertheless set new standard for Harley - Davidson – not to note the repose of the motorcycle industry .

Most of import was the 5 - counterpart ’s electrical switch from a flathead excogitation to overhead valve . Due to the resulting form of the new cradle encompass , the engine was dubbed " Knucklehead " by owners , a moniker by which it is still fondly known today .

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Equally significant was the new recirculating oiling organisation that eliminated the messiness and inconve - nience of the previous " full release " setup .

Unique to the 1936 EL are the rock ‘n’ roll musician - scape covers and atmosphere intake . The timing caseful cover was vary three time during the model class , each plan a bit fluent than the last .

Fuel tanks were welded and much sleeker than earlier instance , and the storage tank - rise instrument bunch started a styling trend that retain to this day .

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Despite the efficiency advantage of the EL ’s overhead - valve arranging , Harley - Davidson continued to sell flathead pentad - twin bike for many years to come .

But the EL would go on to become one of the most popular Harley - Davidson models of all time , and its overhead - valve engine established a configuration that has been used for all the company ’s five - twins ever since .

For more pictures of the 1936 Harley - Davidson EL motorcycle , go to the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .

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For more great motorcycle articles and pictures, check out:

1936 Harley-Davidson EL Pictures

The 1936Harley - DavidsonEL bike introduced change that would determine the future of motorcycle design . Among them were change to the rocker - shaft masking and air breathing in .

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