Harley-Davidson Swingarm Frames

Miami Chopper Shop

Swingarm Frames for Choppers and Bobbers

Harley-Davidson Motorcycles for Sale

Our design or yours, we build 'em!

After the Harley-Davidson Hydra Glide, the Duo Glide was the next logical step. The Duo had a real, oil-damped telescopic front suspension and floated on a swinging-arm rear end - hence the name Swingarm. This was a major improvement, even though the Model K predecessor to the Sporster had beaten it as being the first Harley-Davidson V-Twin with rear suspension.

The focus of the machine's new layout was a new Step-down frame with a larger diameter backbone and attachment points for the twin rear shock absorbers. These incorporated oil damping and their springs were covered in chrome shrouds. The new frame modified the oil tank, tool box and fork yokes.

Great bikes for stripping into Bobbers and Choppers.

After stripping a few bikes, it wont take much to build a bike from scratch with all the parts you've removed over time.

The Harley-Davidson Hydra Glide was the first Big Twin with telescopic forks while the Duo Glide added a swinging arm rear suspension. These suspensions were an application used by European motorcycles, with long experience and performance of swing-arm sport bikes, and were greatly improved for street handling and race applications. A great many bobber, chopper, modified or restored , and stock motorcycles use Swingarm frames for their exceptional handling and speed. A great example and tribute to this frame were the last of the Super Glides in 1983.

Capacity was 74 cubic inch (1,207 cc): the current 81.74 cubic (1,340 cc) didn't arrive until 1970 with the new generation of "alternator" Shovelheads. The rest was almost unchanged from the DuoGlides, complete with five-inch (127 mm) white sidewall tires and running boards, although for the first time a five-gallon (19 liter) "Turnpike" tank was fitted. Of the four model range, two versions retained hand gear change, which would remain an option until 1972.

The FL model was given a new frame in 1958 which included a rear swing-arm suspended by a pair of coil-over-shock suspension units. In honor of this fully suspended chassis, the FL's model name was changed from Hydra Glide to Duo Glide. Unlike an OHV configuration, aluminum heads, and telescopic fork front suspension, however, this improvement was applied to the small frame bikes first, the K-Series having received rear suspension in 1952. The third and final change given to the name of the basic FL model occurred in 1965, the final year of the Panhead engines. These last Harley-Davidson Panhead Engine were the first Big Twin Harley-Davidson engines equipped with electric starters, the ServiCar having received electric start the year before. This innovation for Harley-Davidson was greeted with the new model name Electra Glide.

In 1966, the Panhead gave way to the Shovelhead, gaining a 10% increase in horsepower.A fork mounted fairing became available on Eletra Glides in 1969, and became officially known as the "bat-wing" fairing. Although he bat-wing fairing was an easily removable option on early Electra Glides, it was not removable on later machines, as the instruments were moved from the fuel tank into the fairing. The FL frame was the basis for the 1971 Super Glide. The FX mated the FL frame with the forks of the XL Sportster, with buckhorn handlebars and a fiberglass tail-piece for the look of the Supe Glide, which served along with the Low Rider as great basis for Bobbers and Choppers.

The FL was given a front disc brake in 1972 and the three speed plus reverse option was discontinued in 1977. An 80 cubic inch engine was made optional on the Electra Glide in 1978. However, the FL designation was not changed as a result. By 1981, the 80 cubic inch engine was the standard engine, discontinuing the 74 cubic inch (1,210 cc). The low compression FL was discontinued in 1979, as was the option for hand-shift/foot-clutch transmission controls.The Harley-Davidson FLT Tour Glide was introduced in 1979 and was sold alongside the existing FLH Electra Glide, the FLT having a bigger frame with rubber engine mounts, a five speed transmission, the 80 cubic inch (1,340 cc) engine, and a frame-mounted fairing. The FLT frame was large and heavier than the large and heavy FLH frame, and in order for it to handle acceptably, the front forks were given radical steering geometry which had them mounted behind the steering head, with the frame behind the steering head being recessed to allow adequate steering lock.