Motorcycle Classics – September-October 2019

hand throttles, a requirement rumored
to be based on the need to keep the
shooting hand free. Indian, more des-
perate for military business than Harley-
Davidson, complied with the Army
specifications. It already had the 500cc
V-twin Junior Scout, informally known as
the “30-50” (500cc is 30.5 cubic inches).
Harley-Davidson did not have a 500cc
motorcycle, nor were they interested in
developing one. William Davidson told
a presumably somewhat miffed Army a
smaller bike would not meet the Army’s
needs, and Harley submitted a modified flathead 45 (Harley’s
750cc V-twin) for evaluation. Harley’s called their motorcycle the
WLA. “W” was the model designation, “L” indicated a high-com-

pression (5:1) engine and “A” stood for

Army. (Though 5:1 compression sounds

low, it was greater than the lower-com-

pression WA model that Harley also

built.) Harley extended the WLA’s forks

2 inches for improved ground clearance,

added an engine skid plate, painted the

motorcycle olive drab, and bolted on a

rifle scabbard and an ammo can. Indian submitted its 30.5-cubic-

inch Model 741 with similar modifications. To the chagrin of its

engineers, the Army found that Mr. Davidson had been right; the

Note the foot-operated clutch and

the hose from the air filter to the

carburetor on the left side of the

engine (far left).