1942 Harley-Davidson 740 XA 41 Atlas Editions Classic Motorcycle Card
When Harley copied BMW
It was a strange concept for a Harley. This transverse flat-twin – inspired by the famous BMW R12 – was designed in 1941 and 1942 and intended as a replacement for the 90,000 or so WLA side-valve 750cc V-twins used by the US Army during WWII.
The First Modern Harley?
It was in response to an Army specification that Harley designed this model XA in 1941, which was a total departure from its legendary layout. However, this wasn’t the first flat-twin produced by the marque, which had already tried to market a 584cc longitudinal flat-twin from 1919 to 1923. But the XA was the first Harley with rear suspension (plunger), the first (and only) with shaft transmission and the first, too, with a four-speed transmission and foot selector rather than a lever on the tank. That was too many innovations for the traditional nature of Harley-Davidson, and the project was halted after only 1000 units had been built.
Outmoded in Advance
Mass production of a motorcycle so radically different from the rest of the range would have meant a total reorganization of the works, combined with special training for all the mechanics used to the simple maintenance of the V-twins. The US Army finally decided that the motorbike had no further place in its transport needs other than for dispatch riders. outriders and the Military Police (for whom the 750 WL was ideally suited). The XA, also available in an XS version with a sidecar, had lost in advance any transportation role, since this was better met by a new vehicle named the Jeep, of which over 600,000 would be built.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 739.5cc (77.8×77.8mm) air-cooled twin four-stroke
Valves: side
Fuel System: dual carburetors
Transmission: 4-speed, shaft final drive
Suspension: leading-link (front); plunger (rear)
Brakes: offset drum (front & rear)
Wheels: 4.00×18 inch (front & rear)
Weight: 524 lb (solo); 849 lb with sidecar
Maximum Speed: 65 mph (solo); 56 mph with sidecar
A strange detail on the XA, demanded by the Army’s specification, is the left-hand throttle twist grip (as on the Indian) so that – presumably the rider could shoot while on the move!
