Harley-Davidson Knucklehead celebration this March

Following a successful 75th Anniversary event that was held in Milawa, Victoria, in 2011, the 90th Anniversary of the Harley-Davidson Knucklehead will be celebrated this year. The ‘90th Anniversary Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Run’ will be held in the Albury region on 27-29 March, 2026.

Introduced in 1936 to replace the VL Series, the Model E debuted an all-new, 61 cubic inch (1,000cc) overhead valve v-twin. Harley’s first OHV engine, the “Knucklehead” nickname came from the distinctive shape of the 45-degree v-twin’s valve covers.

The initial E model produced 37hp (27kW), which was 10hp more than the VL Series it replaced, while a high-compression EL version delivered 40hp (30kW). In 1941, the E/EL was joined by the Model F and FL, which bored and stroked the 61ci Knucklehead to 74ci (1,207cc). With this larger capacity, power increased to 46hp (34kW) in the F and 48hp (36kW) in the FL.

One of the best touring motorcycles in its era, the Knucklehead remained in production until 1947, but it’s estimated that only around 41,000 were built, mainly due to production restrictions during World War II, when Harley had to prioritise the Model U and WLA for military use.

The 90th Anniversary Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Run will welcome Knuckleheads of all ages, conditions and configurations - stock, bobbed, chopped, restored or original.

Organised by Kendal Maroney and David Reidie, the event gets underway with a welcoming barbecue on the evening of Friday, 27 March, while Saturday, 28 March will consist of a 400km ride, covering some of the best motorcycling roads in Australia. Lunch will be in Corryong; home of the ‘Man from the Snowy River,’ followed by a casual awards ceremony that evening. The event wraps up on Sunday, 29 March, when entrants will make their farewells and return home.

Entry allocation had been exhausted at time of writing, but check www.harleycitycollection.com.au

for any openings due to cancellations, along with further event details.