Ever Seen a Rear Crash Guard on a 1941 Harley?

David Larson of Larson MasterWorks in North Dakota is a purveyor of fine antique motorcycles. He also takes commission-based work. The 1941 Harley-Davidson WL currently for sale on eBay is on consignment from a client in Kansas City.

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Incredible Collection

Larson said his client is putting together a museum and has gathered an “incredible collection” of motorcycles from the ’20s to the ’60s. Apart from one BSA, the collection is all American. As the museum becomes more focused, some bikes don’t fit the profile. This 1941 Harley-Davidson WL is one of them.

A Harley-Davidson collector in Kansas owned the bike before Larson’s client. He restored vintage Harleys on his farm as a hobby. The WL will need some recommissioning before it can hit the streets again.

The previous owner drained the fuel tank in order to display the bike indoors. While this is a good policy, now, the bike won’t run. Larson tried fresh fuel. It kicked over with strong compression but wouldn’t start.

As WLs are among the most famously dependable bikes ever made, a thorough service will likely rectify this starting issue. Harley-Davidson service manuals and charts are available on eBay.

Interesting Options

Larson is enthusiastic about the WL’s patina and originality:

It was painted some time ago, but the hardware is all original: the headlight, the front ride control, the toolbox. It is very, very original and has clearly always been in one piece.

The 1941 Harley-Davidson WL’s options are arguably the most interesting pieces of weathered hardware. Larson explains:

In the late ’30s, dress-up items became popular. This bike has the rear crash guard and Hollywood handlebars, which are very hard to find today.

Army Tough, Even in Russia

Harley-Davidson introduced the WL in 1937. Its reputation for strength and reliability led to a contract with the US government to supply its wartime motorcycles. During World War II alone, H-D delivered 90,000 WLAs (the A stands for “army”).

The Canadian Army spec’d its own version of the WLA. H-D also built bikes for the South African army and even the Soviet Union under the 1941 Lend-Lease Act. Some 30,000 WLAs made their way east of the soon-to-be Iron Curtain. It is thought that the spread of WLAs around the world contributed to Harley-Davidson’s staunch international following.

Indestructible

The WL and WLA were designed to be worked on with modest skills and simple tools. They were widely considered to be borderline indestructible—equally formidable on the battlefield and highway.

Today, the WL is American motorcycling royalty. Unmolested examples are getting hard to find. What would Larson do if the WL were his? He said:

Good question. It’s so original, I just couldn’t restore it. Maybe find someone to add patina to the paint so it matches the bike’s condition.