Most K riders have probably seen Bob Greene's road test in the August 1952 Cycle Magazine. If not, it could be worth getting it into the literature section alongside the '54 KH test.
The '52 test had a max of 100.5mph for a K with miles on and 98.9 for a fresh one. Is this believable? It's generally reckoned that you need at least 30bhp to make a ton on a motorcycle. Harley claimed "around 30hp" (i.e. that means 'less than') at 5200rpm. Now with 4.77 top gear ratio and 19"x3.25" tyres that gives 15.9mph/1000rpm. To reach 100mph the engine would have to turn at about 6200 - 1000 above its max power rpm.
Cycle also stated max speeds through the gears: 45, 60, 81(then 98.9mph in top). To hit these speeds you would have to max at over 7000rpm through the changes. What do you guys think, for an early K?
However, on the plus side the drag times/speeds for the 1/10 and 1/4 miles were 8.29/43.4mph and 16.86/53.3mph. Now that 53.3 just isn't plausible! Working on available information my best calculation is more like 83mph. That's more like it!
This can be compared with the '54 KH test: 8.41 (slower) for the tenth, 14.75 for the quarter mph, 95.23mph (slower) max. With KH gearing/tyres (16.8mph/1000rpm) this would need 5660rpm - plausible with 38hp at 5200. To top-out through the gears at 45, 65, 82mph as reported by Cycle would need about 6600rpm.
Perhaps tester Bob Schanz gave it away saying the '52 tests were done with stop watches and "Stop watch figures are sometimes flexible" and later that the '54 test was with "honest electronic timing".
John R