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The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Warboy 883 XWL – A Sportster 883 in WL Clothing

By Paul Crowe

Warboy - the Harley Davidson 883 XWL
Warboy - the Harley Davidson 883 XWL

You’ve seen the old Harley Davidson WL models, decked out in olive drab and used by the military in WWII, really neat old machines. The original WL engines were reliable but not ideal for riding around on today’s roads, combined with 3 speeds and a foot clutch, you had an interesting, but very vintage ride.

Warboy - the Harley Davidson 883 XWL
Warboy - the Harley Davidson 883 XWL

Well, today I receive an email from France with some really sweet photos, showing what looks for all the world to be a perfectly restored WL, but on closer examination is a thoroughly modern 883 wrapped in WL bodywork. Francis, who goes by the tag Milwaukee Belle, has been a fan of the old 45s since his first in the 1980s. He’s restored many and some remained totally barn fresh, but he wanted to build a tribute to the old 45s, with all of the appearance of the old bikes but completely modern and street legal in every other way.

Warboy - the Harley Davidson 883 XWL
Warboy - the Harley Davidson 883 XWL

Equipped with a 12 volt electrical system, modern lights, modern brakes, modern switchgear, including electric start and a trusty Sportster 883 V-Twin engine, it looks so old you almost don’t notice all of the modern touches. Yep, looks good.

Warboy - the Harley Davidson 883 XWL
Warboy - the Harley Davidson 883 XWL

This is really well done, he can keep his real 45s in the garage and take them out for show, but if he wants to ride and still have the look, all he has to do is fire up the 883 XWL. Cool!

Link: Milwaukee Belle

Warboy - the Harley Davidson 883 XWL
Warboy - the Harley Davidson 883 XWL

Posted on August 26, 2010 Filed Under: Motorcycle Builders, Popular, Vintage Motorcycles

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Comments

  1. Phoebe says

    August 26, 2010 at 1:43 pm

    I think it looks great!

  2. FREEMAN says

    August 26, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    Sweet. I want one.

  3. todd says

    August 26, 2010 at 3:14 pm

    I can imagine him getting a large order from Hollywood for a new war movie. Nicely done. Though, what’s with calling himself “Belle” or the bike “Warboy”?

    -todd

    • biggyfries says

      April 26, 2011 at 4:51 am

      I like it overall, but the ‘warboy’ graphics are tasteless. Erase them and I am back to liking the bike.

  4. Redman says

    August 26, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    Looks great, but the forward visibility on that has to be terrible. Just check out the lower half of that windshield.

  5. chris says

    August 26, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    If you can make a bike look this kicka**, you can call yourself and your creation anything you want.

  6. SteveD says

    August 26, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    A really nice job. I’ve always liked that rifle holster and shovel. “Thompson submachine gun not included” 🙂 I bet you can see fine over that “whatever it is” on the windshield. No worse than those touring fairings.

  7. Paulinator says

    August 26, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    That works. It gives you that WWII nostalgia without the 60 gallon/hr burn rate (or the fear of main-spar failure).

    …beautiful ride but the rifle holster would probably get you section 8.

  8. DWolvin says

    August 26, 2010 at 6:18 pm

    Gadzooks! That with a sidecar (from a ural, of course) would be illegally fun for putting around the backroads to Julian in SoCal… Love it!

  9. tim says

    August 26, 2010 at 8:29 pm

    cool! really like it.

  10. Al says

    August 27, 2010 at 2:21 am

    I build a model of the original one as a young boy…still remember some of the bike parts…
    Looks good Francis
    Another one of those niche markets..

  11. Sportster Mike says

    August 27, 2010 at 3:04 am

    Excellent way of building a damn good road bike and a tribute at the same time
    Love it
    Yes, he can call it anything he likes
    I’d paint it metallic pink with flowers on… (only kidding)
    We have a few of the current ‘Harley Davidson’ army bikes (the 350cc ones) riding around with the plastic gun cases for the British Army SA30 rifle (empty though) (Shame)

  12. Steve says

    August 27, 2010 at 7:16 am

    Wow, outside of a Buell (RIP), it’s the first Harley I’ve ever lusted after.

  13. nortley says

    August 27, 2010 at 11:12 am

    Francis, I think you’ve shown me what to do with my GSPD.

  14. Jim says

    August 27, 2010 at 11:46 am

    I wonder what the scabbard and shovel do for front-end stability? Just kidding. I’ve seen an original WL, and they were no great shakes even for the 40s. This one keeps the vibe and brings a level of sophistication and reliability — H-D reliability, but that’s another story.

    During WWII, Norton built bikes for His Majesty’s Army that had a Thompson mounted on the bars. Must’ve been a bear to steer and work the throttle while trying to control a wildly chattering submachine gun. I think they were more for show, and the Tommies removed them as quickly as possible.

  15. kneeslider says

    August 27, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    This bike looks like so much fun to ride, very classy and cool. I love it! With the number of military models Royal Enfield sells, you have to think, Harley could sell these pretty easily. They would be focusing on their core market, the parts are already on their shelves, how much trouble would it be to put this together? Milwaukee Belle should hook up with the Motor Company and work out a deal. If HD wasn’t sure they would sell, they could show one, offer them as an exclusive short run model and take orders before production started. They would sell out. Will they try it? … Not a chance.

  16. 900ssducrider says

    August 27, 2010 at 12:45 pm

    Sweet bike, but did I just read the phrase “a thoroughly modern 883.” Isn’t that some sort of oxymoron?

  17. hoyt says

    August 27, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    great!
    The Sportster’s pushrods & bottom-end fit this vintage look better than their current big twins.

  18. Jay Allen says

    August 27, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    Good call 900ssducrider, but all the more reason to want one ! !

  19. Dresden says

    August 27, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    Wow, that thing is great.

  20. todd says

    August 27, 2010 at 5:18 pm

    Jim, don’t know if you ever got to see what the French were using in WWII. Luckily it was recoilless.
    http://www.symboles-et-traditions.com/articlesmembres/targui/lpa/vespa/page-vespa.htm

    -todd

    • Tom says

      July 2, 2011 at 3:15 pm

      Sorry Todd, these were built in the 1950’s

  21. Paulinator says

    August 27, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    Todd, that’s a wine rack. The French used ’em to deliver libations to their occupiers.

  22. QrazyQat says

    August 27, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    Paulinator’s just jealous cause the French bikes have such a big gun compared to our Harley’s. Sure, our bike is big overall, but the business end is… well, lacking in comparison.

  23. Rob says

    August 28, 2010 at 3:46 am

    Oui.

  24. BarefootJerry says

    August 28, 2010 at 5:15 am

    Hi all ! 🙂
    thanks for your interest for my scoot !
    if somebody know HOW-TO-DO to send some pics to the factory : please : just let me know ! I am really curious to get the H.D’s comments .
    that’s true : i ask myself ” why the hell did’nt they already do this ???? ”
    they have the capacities to do best than my work , i guess …and more easy !
    but i also know the Factory is really a heavy and SLOW machinery : so , i’ll will stay the one riding this kind of “alien” for years before they move one finger , even if the idĂ©a is good ….
    you just have to imagine what an XWL gives in civilian dress ( always assembled as a true vintage restoration ) or in a “hollister Bobber” dress ( this is my next winter project )
    the LibĂ©rator’s shadow is in everybody’s mind , here in France .
    i put the XWL on the road this spring and it’s really incredible how many times it has been shooted or fimed by people !
    more than the original one i was riding last year . ( now sold without any regrets )

    Many THANKS to The KneeSliders to hold my scoot on the web !
    i’ll keep you posted

    BarefootJerry

  25. Mule says

    August 28, 2010 at 10:57 am

    BFJ, Your comment about the factory is a different way of saying what the American riders think. Well said! Always good to get the view from a fresh set of eyes.

  26. JerseyMayhem says

    August 28, 2010 at 1:13 pm

    SWEET!
    Is that windshield removable?

  27. todd says

    August 28, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    Don’t worry, if it’s posted on The Kneeslider, the factory has seen it.

    -todd

  28. Hawk says

    August 28, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    Perhaps Willie G. (Davidson) should consider retirement …. and hire BFJ to head up the design Dept?

  29. Mule says

    August 28, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    Hawk, 70 years ago this would have been the bomb, but in 2010?

    • Wingerdude says

      November 13, 2011 at 1:22 pm

      Urals and Enfields are selling like hotcakes, How does this differ?

  30. Mule says

    August 28, 2010 at 7:48 pm

    The proportions are perfect though! Craftsmanship supreme!

  31. Hawk says

    August 28, 2010 at 8:55 pm

    Mule, I usually check the Kneeslider a couple of times a day. This time, a buddy in Toronto beat me to it saying that, with Toronto’s free bike parking, he just wants to put one of these at the curb …. and start a bidding war.

    He’s probably right.

  32. BarefootJerry says

    August 29, 2010 at 5:45 am

    i recently added a new vidéo on YouTube , showing the scoot under assembly stage ( sorry : the comments are in French )
    Kinda way to see dozen cool frame détails nobody see once the bike is completed .
    here’s the link :

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTDiCE7vdqc

  33. Bigshankhank says

    August 29, 2010 at 8:10 am

    I love just about anything Sportster, and this bike is no exception. However, everytime I look at it my eyes are drawn to the rocker covers. Why were they (along with the entire top end) not shot in olive drab like the rest? Keeping with the military theme, one wouldn’t want shivy parts sticking out at night, ya know.
    Otherwise, very nice looking adaptation.

  34. BarefootJerry says

    August 29, 2010 at 8:58 am

    The WLA , in its early military version had the heads bare aluminium .
    they were painted in black on the 1944 and later models .

    i needed these two aluminium spots in all this black and olive-drab dressing .

    in an other way : i don’t deny the evolution motor !
    this is like a wink to everybody
    i made my best to “hide” this motor with olive-drab and black paint ( + parkerizing all its hardware ) but the bare aluminium rockers covers seems not to be a problem for me 😉

  35. VMX1000 says

    August 29, 2010 at 9:24 am

    Very, very nice! :o)

  36. CTrot says

    August 29, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    what’s with calling himself “Belle” or the bike “Warboy”?

    B-17: Memphis Belle / Harley: Milwaukee Belle

    Civilian Harley: Fatboy / Military Harley: Warboy

  37. BarefootJerry says

    August 30, 2010 at 6:06 am

    that’s it .

    my next scoot will be a SPEEDBOY

  38. todd says

    August 30, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    more appropriate:

    “Warster”

    -todd

  39. jarred says

    August 31, 2010 at 11:01 am

    I’ll try and find the photos, but I went to a patriot guard riders mission in the dallas fort worth area and someone had converted their HD CROSSBONES into this same type of project!

  40. Scotduke says

    August 31, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    An amusing project and not a bad idea at that. A genuine Thompson to slot into that holster will not be cheap if it is functional (and legal). A guy I work with collects deactivated weapons (they have to e deactivated ehre in the UK) and also rides a bike. I’m sure he’d like one of these. It’ll also be a lot better to ride than the real thing!

  41. Steve the producer Johann says

    September 1, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    I am always amazed at what people put time into building. I love seeing things like this. Good stuff as always.

  42. Azzy says

    September 2, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    This would be a great way to get my rifles to the local CMP matches….

  43. Matt in NC says

    September 3, 2010 at 12:52 pm

    Fantastic job! I’m looking forward to SPEEDBOY, BarefootJerry.

  44. MARK 5 says

    September 9, 2010 at 2:02 am

    And now it’s in a movie!
    http://www.ablog4guys.com/new-captain-america-pictures/

  45. Matt in NC says

    September 9, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    @MARK 5, That’s a Big Twin engine in your link, as evidenced by the pushrod tubes, as well as the Primary cover on the other side photo. Still, two pretty cool retro customs in a couple weeks time making their rounds on the web…

  46. MARK 5 says

    September 9, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    Your right! But still kool.
    Love to see that car as well!
    Super charger in front??

  47. why not says

    October 17, 2010 at 2:53 am

    “They would sell out. Will they try it? 
 Not a chance.” It was on kneeslider with ONLY two… shall we say less then complementary comments, and with a good argument for its production. its a burnout in there parking lot from becoming a reality.

  48. barefootjerry says

    April 10, 2011 at 6:08 am

    http://harleydavidsonwarboy.blogspot.com/

    here is the main place where i have posted the best pics i own …

  49. biggyfries says

    April 26, 2011 at 4:55 am

    I’d give him extra points if the scabbard contained a real funcional Thompson.

  50. Drifter says

    August 21, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    Not only is the bike absolutely stunning, but the videos are well done. The music fits, it’s laid back and melodic.

    You guys who think you have to use 120 db metal on vids take note.

  51. Carlos says

    November 11, 2011 at 6:35 pm

    I soooooo want to ride that, very cool

  52. Amritpal says

    March 30, 2012 at 4:57 am

    Kindly tell me about this bike, I want to purchase this bike.

  53. michael says

    April 18, 2012 at 6:52 pm

    How can i find a price and will they be for sale in the U.S. ,i have been a collector of WWII Military Memorabilia for years i always said why don’t someone make what you did Great Job . M.B. .

  54. Rocky Herring says

    July 29, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    I am trying to find the cost of the Warboy 883 XWL.

    Thanks

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