Early Prototype K

Production K Models

Early Prototype K

Postby hennesse » Tue Aug 20, 2019 10:36 pm

Here is a very early prototype K that I found on the Facebook : Harley K Model page.

There are sooo many things different from a production K - but I thought I'd let you figure them out. Let the dissection begin!

prototype-2.jpg
Early Prototype K
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Re: Early Prototype K

Postby jawinks1952K » Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:33 pm

Looks just like my scan that I posted to FB a while back. It was from an obit in the Milwaukee Journal a few years back.
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Re: Early Prototype K

Postby Rubone » Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:51 pm

hennesse wrote:Here is a very early prototype K that I found on the Facebook : Harley K Model page.

There are sooo many things different from a production K - but I thought I'd let you figure them out. Let the dissection begin!

prototype-1.jpg

Not a "prototype" but just a test mule. H-D was well known for trying to disguise test bikes to deceive the public while they worked on development.
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Re: Early Prototype K

Postby jawinks1952K » Tue Sep 07, 2021 8:59 pm

Kind of considered the terms interchangeable. I named the file “prototype” when I scanned it. Seems pre production based on kickstand and rear fender for example. Looks cool! I was surprised to see this in the paper as I had never seen another photo of a K like this and I have a lot of books on the subject!
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Re: Early Prototype K

Postby hennesse » Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:36 pm

I was surprised that nobody took me up on the "dissection challenge" for all this time.

To me, this looks like a K - front end, headlight and handlebars, motor, frame - but the swingarm suspension is "under development". The frame does not have the mounting ears for the fender supports - so no fender supports. The fender appears to be attached to the swingarm, so the fender will move with the swingarm. And the rear stand (gosh, that was not such a bad idea).

Well yes, all the motorcycle factories experimented with new ideas. When does a "mule" change into a "prototype"? Beyond me to say. But to me, this looks like a pretty well-developed "proto-K", but they haven't quite figured out the rear suspension yet.

What's your opinion?
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Re: Early Prototype K

Postby jawinks1952K » Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:56 pm

I have been studying this pic for years! Seems like it was pretty much there but they hadn't got to the fender struts yet. I imagine Mr. Oberhoefer rode that in all sorts of Wisconsin weather!
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Re: Early Prototype K

Postby Rubone » Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:56 pm

jawinks1952K wrote:Kind of considered the terms interchangeable. I named the file “prototype” when I scanned it. Seems pre production based on kickstand and rear fender for example. Looks cool! I was surprised to see this in the paper as I had never seen another photo of a K like this and I have a lot of books on the subject!


The rear fender and tailight are H-D lightweight of the period, seat is big twin, the kickstand appears to resemble a popular aftermarket type used on Triumphs, rear stand looks like mid '30s Big twin. Grab a bunch of stuff from the parts bins to trick the eye and go with it!
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Re: Early Prototype K

Postby jawinks1952K » Wed Sep 08, 2021 1:34 am

True!
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Re: Early Prototype K

Postby hennesse » Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:56 pm

I changed my picture - removed the halftone screen, and changed it to black-and-white.

The "Hummer" rear fender appeared on the 1951 Model 125. So they would have been available sometime in 1950.

Also: no chain guard and no covers on the shocks.
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Re: Early Prototype K

Postby JerrryR » Thu Oct 07, 2021 11:26 pm

Hi All,
Seeing the early prototype K picture was a missing piece of a puzzle that I've been thinking about for a while. First, it makes sense that the early run of 52Ks had the welded on fender strut supports rather than cast supports. Apparently initially they didn't envision using the struts and it would appear that they had an early run of seat castings without cast struts that they then modified and used.

Frame Comparrisons 002 Sized.JPG
Frame Comparrisons 002 Sized.JPG (40.98 KiB) Viewed 6234 times


The next mystery was why the earliest of K swingarms had 2 threaded holes on both sides at the rear end of the arm. From the prototype picture it appears that these holes supported the fender.

2 Holes On Both Sides A.jpg
2 Holes On Both Sides A.jpg (145.37 KiB) Viewed 6234 times


The remaining mystery is why later versions of the early swingarm can be found with one hole and both sides and others with 2 holes on one side?

Screenshot 2021-10-07 221426.jpg
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