More of the Same
MORE OF THE SAME
If it works, don’t fix it, the saying goes and Harley-Davidson is following that belief with its 1981 model line. Having come up with such radically new models as the FLT-80 Tour Glide and the belt-drive Sturgis in 1980, Harley-Davidson has quietly passed out packages showing its 1981 model line and the contents are less than radical.
Most changed of the Harley models are the FLT and the XLS. The FLT now has the same paint and trim as the Classic and, in fact, bears the Classic name along with the eagle wing painted on the side of the two-tone gas tank. For the XLS-1000 Roadster there’s a new gas tank shape, dual shorty mufflers on the righthand side of the bike and revised sidecovers. The handlebars are also changed to the conventional Harley-shaped bars common to the standard Sportster, replacing the straight drag-style bars used on the Roadster previously. By changing the tank shape the fuel capacity is upped to 3.3 gal. from 2.25 gal. on the standard Sportster tank.
Dual shorty mufflers are also used on the Sturgis and Low Rider versions of the Super Glide in 1981, while the standard Super Glide retains the 2-into-l collector system.
What may be the most shocking change of 1981 isn’t what is on the new motorcy-
cles, but what isn’t listed on the new models. There’s no 74 cu. in. engine listed. Only the 80 cu. in. V-Twin is listed on the
Super Glide, Electra Glide and Tour Glide series, while the lOOOcc Sportster engine stays the same size. fg
