Abbreviations Used For Harley Davidson Big Twin Motorcycles from 1936 and Later

[smallengineshop]

The current abbreviation scheme used for Harley Davidson motorcycles began in 1936 with the Knucklehead engine. The first Knucklehead engine had a displacement of 61 cubic inches, and was assigned the letter 'E'. The Knucklehead engine displacement was later increased to 74 cubic inches, and this larger engine was assigned the letter 'F'. For some reason the letter 'F' has never changed, and has been assigned to all big twin Harley Davidson engines since than. Most Harley Davidson Sportster motorcycles have the first two letters XL in their abbreviation. Keep the following rules in mind when trying to understand Harley Davidson abbreviations:

• All Harley Davison big twin motorcycles are assigned the letter F.
• Almost all Harley Davidson Sportster models are assigned the letters XL.
• Harley Davidson models using the FX abbreviation almost always have a narrow front tire with a 19 or 21 inch front rim.
• The FX abbreviation was first used on the 1971 Super Glide.
• Harley Davidson models using the FL abbreviation almost always have a wide front tire with a 16 inch front rim.
• Harley Davidson touring or bagger models with the FLT abbreviation have a frame mounted front fairing with two headlights.
• Harley Davidson touring or bagger models with the FLH abbreviation do not have a frame mounted fairing. The FLH models can have a fork mounted fairing, detachable windshield or have no windshield.
• C means custom when the first two abbreviation letters is FX, and when C appears at the end of a Sportster model abbreviation. C means classic when the first two abbreviation letters is FL.
• The letter 'I' stands for fuel injection, but is no longer used because all Harley Davidson motorcycles now have fuel injection.

Remember that there are exceptions to the above rules, but 99% of the time they will be correct.


Early Harley Davidson Models

• E - 61ci Overhead Valve, Medium Compression
• EL - 61ci Overhead Valve, High Compression
• F - 74ci Overhead Valve, Medium Compression
• FL - 74ci Overhead Valve, High Compression
• FLE - 74ci Engine With 61ci Cam And Carburetor
• FLF - FL With Footshift
• FLS - FL Hydra Glide Sidecar Model

Harley Davidson Sportster Models

• XL - 1957 Sportster
• XLH - High Compression
• XLA - Army Sportster
• XLCH - Competition Hot
• XLCR - Cafe Racer
• XLT - Touring Model
• XLX - Stripped Down Budget Model
• XLS - Roadster
• XL1200S - 1200cc Sport
• XL1200C - 1200cc Custom
• XL883C - 883cc Custom
• XL883R - 883cc With Racing Graphics
• XL1200R - 1200cc Roadster
• XL883L - 883cc Low
• XL1200L - 1200cc Low
• XL1200N - 1200cc Nightster
• XLH883 - 1986 883cc
• XLH1100 - 1986 1100cc
• XLH1200 - 1988 1200cc
• XR750 - 750cc Off Road Only
• XR1000 - 1000cc Street Legal
• XR1200 - 1200cc Race Inspired
• XL883N - 883cc Iron
• XL1200X - Forty Eight
• XR1200X - 2011 to 2012 Only Race Inspired
• XL1200V - Seventy Two

Harley Davidson Softail Models:

• FXST - The First 1340cc Softail
• FXSTB - Night Train
• FXSTC - Softail Custom
• FXSTD - 2000 to 2006 Deuce
• FXSTDI - 2006 to 2007 Fuel Injected Deuce
• FXSTS - Springer Softail
• FXSTSB - Bad Boy
• FLST - Heritage Softail
• FLSTC - Heritage Softail Classic
• FLSTCI - Fuel Injected Heritage Softail Classic
• FLSTF - Fat Boy
• FLSTFI - Fuel Injected Fat Boy
• FLSTN - 1993 Heritage Nostalgia
• FLSTN - 1994 Heritage Softail Special
• FLSTN - 2006 Softail Deluxe
• FXCW - Softail Rocker
• FXCWC - Softail Rocker C
• FLSTFB - Fat Boy Low
• FLSTSE - CVO Convertible
• FXS - Blackline
• FLS -  Softail Slim
• FXSB - Breakout
• FLSTB - Cross Bones

Early Harley Davidson FX Models Without Rubber Mounted Engine:

• FX - Kickstart Super Glide
• FXE - Electric Start Super Glide
• FXEF - Fat Bob
• FXWG - Wide Glide

Early Harley Davidson FX Models With Rubber Mounted Engine:

• FXR - Super Glide
• FXRS - Low Rider
• FXRS SP - Low Rider Sport
• FXLR - Low Rider Custom
• FXRT - Sport Glide
• FXRDG - Disc Glide
• FXRP - Police Model
• FXRD - Grand Touring

Harley Davidson Dyna Models:

• FXDB - 1991 Dyna Glide Sturgis
• FXDB - 1992 Dyna Glide Daytona
• FXDC - Dyna Super Glide Custom
• FXDL - Dyna Low Rider
• FXDWG - Dyna Wide Glide
• FXDS Conv - Dyna Convertible
• FXD - Dyna Super Glide
• FXDX - Dyna Super Glide Sport
• FXDXT - Dyna Super Glide T Sport
• FXDBI - Dyna Street Bob With Fuel Injection
• FXDF - Dyna Fat Bob
• FXDP - Dyna Defender Police Model
• FLD - Switchback
• FXDFSE2 - Fat Bob CV0

Harley Davidson FLT Models:

• FLT - Tour Glide
• FLTC - Tour Glide Classic
• FLTCU - Ultra Classic Tour Glide
• FLTCUI - Fuel Injected Ultra Classic Tour Glide
• FLTR - Road Glide
• FLTRSE3 - Screamin Eagle Road Glide
• FLTRX - Road Glide Custom
• FLTRU - Road Glide Ultra
• FLTRUSE - CVO Road Glide Ultra
• FLTRXSE - CVO Road Glide Custom

Harley Davidson FLH Models:

• FLH - FL With Perfomance Upgrades
• FLHS - Electra Glide Sport
• FLB - 1965 Electra Glide
• FLHB - FLH Electra Glide
• FLHC - Electra Glide Classic
• FLHR - Road King
• FLHRC - Road King Classic
• FLHP - Road King Police
• FLHT - Electra Glide Standard
• FLHTC - Electra Glide Classic
• FLHTCU - Ultra Classic Electra Glide
• FLHTCUI - Ultra Classic Electra Glide With Fuel Injection
• FLHX - Street Glide
• FLHTPI - Electra Glide Police With Fuel Injection
• FLHTK - Electra Glide Ultra Limited
• FLHTCUSE6 - CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide

Harley Davidson V-Rod Models:

• VRSCA - Original V Rod
• VRSCSE - Screamin Eagle V Rod
• VRSCD - Night Rod
• VRSCR - Roadster Inspired Street Rod
• VRSCDX - Night Rod Special
• VRSCAW - Wide Tire Model
• VRSCB - V Rod With Black Frame
• VRSCF - V Rod Muscle

Harley Davidson Trike Models:

• FLHXXX - Street Glide Trike
• FLHTCUTG - Tri Glide Ultra Classic
• FLRT - Freewheeler

Reference:
American Glory 110 Years Of Harley Davidson History, American Iron Special 2013

[smallengineshop]

Harley Davidson abbreviations don't always follow a pattern. For example, the abbreviation for the standand Road King is FLHR, and FLHT for the standard Electra Glide. The abbreviation for the Electra Glide police version is FLHTP. That makes since because the letter 'P' is added to the standard abbreviation to represent the police version. However, the abbreviation for the Road King police version is FLHP.  Why doesn't the Road King police version have an abbreviation of FLHRP?