Boxer Harley – 1942 Harley-Davidson XA

In America, Dual-Sport by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post-Sale Update: After being relisted more than any other bike I’ve seen in years, this Harley-Davidson XA finally sold for $36,661.93.

During World War II, the US Government asked HD to build a motorcycle similar to what BMW was making for the Germans – shaft drive, boxer engine, and other features that made the bikes low maintenance. The Harley-Davidson XA was born. XA stands for eXperimental Army, and 1000 units were built for evaluation purposes. By the time the run was completed, however, the Army decided that there were going with the GP – or what we now know as the Jeep. Harley was already making a simpler bike for the military called the WLA, and that was determined to be sufficient for the basic motorcycle usage needed by the military.

Harley-Davidson XA - Gauges

The XA featured a 740cc flat twin (boxer) engine that produced 23 horsepower. This was good fro a top speed of 65 miles per hour. Interesting tidbit of info from the AMA Hall of Fame museum – because the boxer twin puts cylinders out into the air stream, the oil temp of the XA engine was 100 degrees (Fahrenheit) cooler than the standard Harley V-Twin of the time. Estimates state that there are possibly 300 of the original 1,000 left, with possibly just 60 remaining as functional units. Want to learn more? Head on over to the Unofficial XA Web Site.

Harley-Davidson XA - Left Rear

This specific Harley-Davidson XA has enjoyed a museum quality restoration so it can be one of the 60. It has just 3 miles since the restoration, and is ready for presumably a stint at a museum or in a private collection. I don’t see this bike getting much use in the next few decades…

Harley-Davidson XA - Left Side

Find this Harley-Davidson XA for sale in San Juan, Puerto Rico for $40,000 or best offer