Page 39 - 100% Biker (January 2020)
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between its completion and his
customer coming to collect the
finished machine that he had still
yet to ride, having bought and
imported it as a non-runner.
Not much history came with
the bike unfortunately, though it
was previously owned by the late Duo Glide saw Harley-Davidson
owner of a Philadelphia bike shop enter the 1960s with style, plus it
who had passed away—the bike was available with a long list of
was bought from his daughter optional extras. It would remain
after being spotted parked outside Harley’s top of the range model
her house. That was in 2018 and until 1964 when an electric start
it wasn’t in the country very long was finally added and overnight it
before it was in Paul’s capable became the famous Electra Glide.
hands ready for a full rebuild. That the bike is a looker is a
It’s a 1958 Harley-Davidson given, and if ever a motorcycle
FLH Duo Glide, a significant turned heads amongst the non-
development of the Harley range riding public, it’s classic offerings
in that it was the first full-size from Harley like this. Truly, if it
model to feature a frame designed had any more chrome, it would
with proper rear suspension, actually be a Buick or even a
ie, a swinging arm and coil over Cadillac. It certainly now looks
shocks instead of a rigid hardtail. different to how it first arrived
Replacing the earlier Hydra Glide with Paul. It wasn’t actually that
model that featured a hydraulic bad—it was complete, but its tired
front end only, the Duo Glide also black paint wasn’t doing it any
retained the sprung seat post from favours and the bike certainly
the Hydra Glide, leading Harley didn’t look like a sorry, rusty,
to advertise it cheesily as, ‘The ‘barn find’. But closer inspection
Glad Ride, the Glide Ride’. The still found Paul with a list of jobs
www.100-biker.com | issue 256 | 100% Biker | 39

