Blown 1931 Harley VL Flathead from Dozer…
In 1929, just two months before the “Great Crash” on Wall Street, Harley-Davidson introduced the VL, their first flathead / side-valve “Big Twin” with a 74 cubic-inch (1213cc) V-twin engine. Both the VL and the Motor Company itself would somehow survive the Great Depression — though sales dropped from 21,000+ units per year to fewer than 4000 (60% of all motorcycles nationwide in 1933!), and at one point Harley-Davidson was operating on a two-day work week.
The VL boasted many upgrades compared to the outgoing J models:
“New gasket technology offered detachable cylinder heads, there were interchangeable wheels and bigger brakes. Up one inch, wheels were now 19 inches with standard 4.00 tires, but wider optional 4.40 inch tires were available. The VL also offered a lower seat and more ground clearance. The V produced 28 horsepower, the higher compression VL pumped out 30, the VLH about 34 horsepower. Lubrication remained total-loss. The new fork was a forged ‘I-Beam’ design with ‘Ride Control’ friction damping, battery and magneto versions of the V and VL were available.” –National Motorcycle Museum
Though the OHV Knucklehead would arrive in 1936, the old flathead would remain a beloved design, and production would continue until the 1970s for utility models like the Servi-Car.
This 1931 VL comes from one of the most renowned builders and fabricators in the business, Rick Dozer (@dozer_v), whose machines have graced some of North America’s most prestigious shows and publications…and with good reason.
Rick has been building one bike a year for his close friend, “Smokie” Mike Clark (@smokies_garage), “who has a thing for cool bikes, hot rods, and race cars.” Our kind of guy! For this flathead bobber build, they weren’t satisfied with merely natural aspiration:
“We decided to do a bobber style bike but it needed to be special so that’s where the blower comes in.”
The supercharger actually comes from a Kawasaki Jet Ski! The 74ci engine was upgraded to 80 cubic inches with improved aluminum heads, and it’s running ~4 pounds of boost.
Nearly everything else on the bike is handmade: the narrowed and sectioned fender, all the trim, the open chain primary and blower drives, floorboards, pedals…the list goes on.
Rick says the frame and tanks, though stock, were worked over extensively, and the wheel and tire setups are custom. There’s even a flask and cigar holder under seat!
Curt at Barebones Leather handled the seat and grips, while Angela Rider laid down the gorgeous paint.
“I don’t usually have the paint take so much of ‘center stage’ with my bikes, as they generally have so much custom metal work, but this one I think it really pops with the paint color and the chrome frame.”
Aptly nicknamed “The DeLuxe,” this blown flathead Harley-Davidson was one of the standouts at this year’s Handbuilt Motorcycle Show, not to mention Mama Tried, Cycle Showcase, and others. Bravo, Rick, and thank you for sharing this build with us!
Below you’ll find our full interview with Rick about the build, along with more photos from Kody Melton, Benny Stucker, and Rick himself.
Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
My name is Dozer (Rick Dozer) and my first build featured in a magazine was in 1997 so I’ve been at it for a while. I retired a few years ago from the Automotive Industry and my shop is just my personal shop.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
1931 Harley-Davidson VL.
• Why was this bike built?
I’ve been building one bike a year for my close friend, Smokie who has a thing for cool bikes, hot rods, and race cars.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
We decided to do a bobber style bike but it needed to be special so that’s where the blower comes in.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
Narrowed and sectioned fender, all handmade trim from the headlight to the taillight. Handmade open chain primary and blower drives, floorboards, pedals, etc.
Frame and tanks are basically stock but worked over extensively, and the wheel and tire setups are custom. Supercharger from Kawasaki Jet Ski. Oh and there is gentleman styled flask and cigar holder under seat.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
DeLuxe.
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
26 horsepower stock out of 74 cubic inches. We upgraded to 80 cubic inches with improved aluminum heads and an estimated 4 pounds of boost. Haven’t measured actual power but it should be greatly improved!
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
Still doing tuning work at this point but it’s a handful with manual timing advance, manual oiling for hard pulls, manual priming to start in cold weather, and an undersized rear drum brake. I do intend to install the front drum brake as soon as I find a couple missing pieces.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
I don’t usually have the paint take so much of “center stage” with my bikes, as they generally have so much custom metal work, but this one I think it really pops with the paint color and the chrome frame.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
Angela Rider for the killer paint, Curt at Barebones Leather for the stellar leather work, and as always my wife Brandy for the support and Smokie for the opportunity!
Follow the Builder
Builder: @dozer_v
Owner: @smokies_garage
Paint: @angela.rider777
Leather: @barebonesleather
Photography: @kodymelton (Handbuilt Show) | @benny_stucker (Cycle Showcase)
The DeLuxe: Supercharged 1931 Harley-Davidson VL is a gorgeous museum piece, not a rideable motorcycle. I think BikeBound should restrict its articles to machines that are tested and road-legal. If I want to read about museum art I can go elsewhere.
I agree with you, unfortunately, if rideability was the deciding factor on publishing. Bikebound would struggle to come up with aritcles;)
Have you ever ridden a museum piece? To us, the impracticalities are all part of the fun — not unlike riding a home-built chopper or street-legal dirt bike.