HARLEY XA GOES TO AUCTION IN USA

The auction, run by Auctions America by RM, is part of a clearance of items from the National Military History Center, in Auburn, Indiana.

In addition to the Harley XA, the auction will feature a number of other rare genuine military motorcycles, including an Indian '841', FN Tricar, DKW 500 and ex-Wehrmacht BMW R75 and Zundapp KS750 outfits.

The Harley XA, also known as the '42XA', was essentially a reverse-engineered copy of a BMW flat twin. The 45ci capacity was the same as HArley's more famous WLA v-twin, but the XA featured a horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine. The flat twin produced 23hp, and featured twin carbs, with the air cleaner mounted on top of the four-speed transmission.

Other derivations from normal Harley componentry included left-side throttle, foot change gear shifting, plunger style rear suspension, left-side kick starter and right-side shaft drive - which was the only requirement the Army demanded for the new model. The clutch lever was also mounted on the right hand handlebar.

Other cycle parts like lights, footboards, fuel tank and tinware were more familiar Harley-Davidson components, along with WLA military spec items like the ammunition box and machine gun scabbard on the front forks. The springer front suspension was similar to existing Harley componentry, but manufactured longer with more travel to soak up the bumps the XA was expected to encounter.

With rider comfort in mind, heat shields were added at the rear of the cylinders, especially relevant in the desert environment this particular example was created for. This was part of the thought process behind the flat twin engine configuration, too, with the horizontally-opposed engine offering superior cooling over a v-twin.

Applying similar thinking, Indian also produced a test batch of bikes during this period to military order, but used a transverse v-twin configuration for their equally rare '841' model.

Not all Harley XAs were built for desert warfare use, but ones that were featured oversize tyres on large disc wheels. Both these features, as shown on the example to be auctioned, were unique to XAs produced for US forces destined to fight against Rommel's Afrika Korps and the Italians in the North African campaign.

Approximately 1,000 XA Harleys were built for the US Army in World War II, but none saw combat. The success of the Jeep made the XA (and to a lesser degree motorcycles in general) largely irrelevant before it was deployed. Given it featured so many unique components, the XA also would have been more expensive for Harley to produce than their established v-twin range.

After World War II, most were sold off by the Army, many wrecked to provide parts for Harley's regular v-twin models, while many more are believed to have been destroyed. Surviving numbers are hard to confirm, with estimates varying from a few dozen to around 350. Either way, the Harley XA is exceedingly rare, and as such, rarely comes onto the market.

Auctions America by RM's pre-auction estimate has valued the XA at US$25,000 - $35,000, but every lot at the December 8 auction is being offered at no reserve. A large 1942 Harley UA v-twin with sidecar has also been consigned and is expected to sell for US$20,000 - $25,000. For further details, go to www.auctionsamerica.com