1959 Harley Davidson FLH

The deluxe Duo-Glides were the unequaled champions of the road. The FLs and FLHs were the most luxurious and most popular road machines in America. “One ride, and you’ll decide it’s a Harley-Davidson for you.” The Motor Company marketing department was upbeat in it’s presentation of the second year Duo-Glide. A new cast Arrow-Flite tank nameplate insignia replaced the round lucite emblem used in 1957 and 1958. The gas tank featured a two-tone paint scheme with an unusual panel around it enhancing the tank emblems. Fenders were painted solid in the bike’s dominant color. A new green neutral indicator light was added to the top left side of the instrument panel. The dry clutch received an update with the friction disc plates being increased from three to five. The rear brake was improved with a new brake drum made of cast iron supplemented with a new brake shoe lining material. A robust chrome plated cast alloy front fender tip was introduced with white plastic saddlebags and a new style rear bumper.

Model was given a new frame in 1958. This frame included a rear swingarm suspended by a pair of coil-over-shock suspension units. In honor of this fully suspended chassis, the FL's model name was changed from Hydra-Glide to Duo-Glide.^[8]

Unlike OHV configuration, aluminum heads, and telescopic-fork front suspension, however, this improvement in technology was applied to the small-frame bikes first, the K-series having received rear suspension in 1952