The 1938 Harley - Davidson UL bike was one of the innovative example Harley offered as the company made its big comeback from the doldrums of the Great Depression .
After retrieve from a difficult period in the early thirties , Harley - Davidson was poised to fake forrader with a complete lineup that include 11 different models . It was built around " Big Twin " engines of 61 , 74 , or 80 cubic inches , all of which shared several constituent .
However , the 61 - cubic - inch cinque - twin was the illustrious " Knucklehead " with overhead valves , while the 74- and 80 - cubic - column inch V - twins had side valve .
The 1938 Harley - Davidson UL motorcycle was a Sport Solo good example with a 74 - cubic - inch flathead powerplant .
flathead had been modernized in 1937 with the acceptation of the recirculating inunct system introduced on the Knucklehead the class before , and in 1938 gained more subtle changes : Higher handlebars resulted in a more comfortable riding position , the instrument panel was simplified by replacing the ammeter with a red monition lamp and the vegetable oil - pressure gauge with a green lamp , and new colouration and striping were made available .
Surprisingly , Big Twin flatheads remained in the Harley line for a dozen years after the launching of the famed Knucklehead overhead - valve models .
And the smaller 45 - cubic - inch flathead V - twin continue to power three - wheeled Servi - Cars into the 1970s – both indication that many riders continued to admire the inherent simplicity of the flathead design .
Continue to the next page for more picture of the 1938 Harley - Davidson UL motorcycle .
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1938 Harley-Davidson UL Pictures
The 1938 Harley - Davidson UL bike , with its 74 - cubic - inch powerplant , carried on the tradition of flathead engines that would last for a dozen more age at Harley .
