2003 Harley-Davidson FL Ultra Classic Electra Glide
Engine 45º Air-cooled Twin Cam 88® (vibration isolation-mounted)
Harley-Davidson FL is a model designation used for Harley-Davidson motorcycles since 1941, when F referred to the new large capacity 74 cui (1200cc) variant of the V-2 Overhead valve engine (″Knucklehead″) that was introduced in 1936 as Model E with 61 cui (1000cc). The presence of an additional letter L indicated higher compression, offering more power but requiring higher octane gasoline. In 1950s, the low compression version was discontinued, and in 1952 also the low capacity EL, making FL the standard engine and model designation for decades to come.
Until the 1970s, all Harley-Davidson bigtwin FL models came with a front wheel that had the same size as the rear wheel, 5.00-16, and with large fender and wide fork to match, often combined with fairing, bags and additional chrome accessories as ″full dresser″. Customers often slimmed down the factory FL to create a ″bobber″ or even ″chopper″, removing the fender, the sheet metal and big head light, even adding slim 3.00-21 front wheels from other makes, or the whole fork of the smaller Harley-Davidson Sportster XL models that were introduced in 1957.
