Harley-Davidson FHA 8-Valve Racer

It happens every year; an ultra-rare motorcycle is loosed from the cold, dead hands of a collector, and the ‘Net is abuzz with the certainty that THIS, finally, is the Million Dollar Baby. Some odd mix of voyeurism and knowier-than-thou-ness compels us to excitedly proclaim the staggering rise in blue chip bike prices, while making a show of decrying the very same thing. The truth is, very few people are savvy enough to know what a blue chip bike is, and fewer still combine that knowledge with a willingness to take a risk and open their wallet. Prices have risen since the 1950s or the ’80s or the 2000s, but the story remains the same – the folks who know and care and want important machines find where they’re hiding and buy them. The folks actually shelling out the big bucks today aren’t complaining, because they’ve known for decades that ultra rare motorcycles are undervalued. [For a little comparison shopping, check out my list of the World’s Most Expensive Motorcycles]

The latest gem making the rounds of Instagram (and TheVintagent!) is this just unearthed, single-family for 50 years Harley-Davidson FHA 8-valve racer, which is documented and in as-last-raced condition. Huzzah; a no-bull 1920s Class A racer which doesn’t appear to have been messed with or faked up, like nearly all the others of its ilk. Hilariously, some of the folks who’ve sold less than perfect American racers in the past few years have shown their hands with this machine, praising its originality and the importance thereof, while no such praise was possible for their own bikes! But that’s the reality of most old racers – they’re usually compromised in the very areas collectors prize most; matching #s, original sheet metal, clear provenance. When presented with a machine with all boxes ticked, the temperature rises.

The raised ring cast into the timing cover is the giveaway for a 4-cam timing chest. The oil pump is the horizontal cylinder behind that ring. Note the exhaust valve lifter emerging from the front of the case, operated by a small lever below the fuel tank. Although there are no bicycle cranks, a bicycle foot pedal is still used – a rider’s affectation or original to the machine?

This FHA is among the last of the factory 8-valves produced by Harley-Davidson, as they were already experimenting with more reliable ways of producing power, and more, the American Class A race series was about to vanish due to the Depression, in favor of Class C, which was production-based and therefore much cheaper for everyone, favoring ‘mundane’ sidevalve engines instead of ‘exotic’ OHVs. Of course, factories across the pond had been producing fast and reliable OHV bikes in increasing numbers since the ‘Teens for everyday use, but American buyers trusted valves on the side, but that’s another story.

A nice engine shot showing the primary chain oiler, the ignition wires which thread between the barrels, and two further oil lines, one presumably to the rear of the front cylinder barrel, the other to the oil pump on the timing chest. Note also the small strap keeping the manual advance cable away from the exhaust. The carb is a racing Schebler – can one of my American racer experts fill in the type?

The FHA used a twin-camshaft timing chest, externally distinguished by the raised ring on the timing cover, which of course meant better valve control and thus higher revs and more power. The revs were also made possible by the good airflow of the 4-valve cylinder heads, which took advantage of the gas-flow research of Sir Harry Ricardo, which proved many small valves pass more air than two big ones. But without positive lubrication and the oil cooling it provides, a grease-lubed 4-valve cylinder head is a fragile thing, even with the rocker gear exposed to the airflow… plus dirt, cinders, and dust when raced on the Australian tracks this beast has seen.

[Update: the FHA sold for A$600k, which was $423,700US on the day, making it the #10 most expensive motorcycle ever sold at auction]