| There is no bike on the road that looks like a | | | | environments, which is rather a significant drawback |
| Harley-Davidson. Over the manufacturer's | | | | for a marine engine. |
| century-long history, the look of the Harley has | | | | The Shovelhead Era |
| changed and the true enthusiast can tell the year of | | | | Although the Shovelhead was not perfect, it still |
| a bike at a glance. One of the most obvious clues is | | | | provided a lot of power for the new generation of |
| the distinctive Harley engine. | | | | bikes. |
| For twenty years, Harleys got their look from the | | | | Harley continued to improve the engine throughout |
| Shovelhead engine, the engine that many people | | | | its life. In the 1970s there were a number of changes |
| even today automatically associate with the bike. | | | | made to the design of Shovelhead parts that |
| The End of the Panhead | | | | resolved many consumer complaints about its |
| In the mid 1960s, Harley Davidson motorcycles used | | | | performance. |
| the Panhead engine, so called because of the shape | | | | However, the engine never became what bikers |
| of the rocker covers. As the bikes got heavier they | | | | wanted it to be. Some of the reasons for this were |
| required engines with more power than the Panhead | | | | government regulations that came out of the energy |
| could deliver. In 1966, Harley introduced the next | | | | crisis of the 1970s. Harley was limited as to how |
| evolution of this engine design. | | | | much power they could give the engine. |
| This new engine, like its predecessor, got its name | | | | One real improvement in Shovelhead parts was the |
| from the shape of the rocker covers. The covers | | | | FLH Electra-Glide Package, also known as the Police |
| were shaped like coal shovels and these shovelhead | | | | Option. Although this option made the bike harder for |
| parts inspired the Shovelhead engine's name. | | | | the amateur to maneuver, a skilled rider could get |
| The Shovelhead had more powerful cylinders and | | | | more power and speed. |
| pistons and was meant to provide stronger | | | | The End of the Shovelhead |
| acceleration to meet the demands of bikers of the | | | | Despite Harley's efforts, this engine struggled to |
| day. | | | | keep pace with the innovations that were sweeping |
| The engine had its drawbacks. It was more powerful | | | | the industry. Shovelhead parts such as oil |
| but also heavier so didn't give as much power as had | | | | management systems were considered archaic when |
| been hoped. That weight also affected the bike's | | | | compared to other engines and the machine fell out |
| steering and could cause it to weave at top speeds. | | | | of favor. |
| Some of these shortcomings were because it had | | | | Harley stopped producing the engine in 1984, although |
| not originally been designed as a motorcycle engine. It | | | | manufacturers still make custom engines in the same |
| was supposed to be used in an outboard motor but | | | | style. The Shovelhead was replaced by the Evolution |
| engineers discovered that it didn't work well in humid | | | | engine that Harleys still use today. |