One of the best pre-war American motorcycles to surface this month is a 1941 Harley-Davidson UL Flathead. It is for sale right now out of the Rick Yerick Collection. Premier Assets LLC has it cataloged as Lot #100, and you can see the full listing on Proxibid. Bidding closes September 17.
Inside the 1941 Harley-Davidson UL Flathead and Its 74ci V-Twin
The heart of the bike is a 74 cubic inch flathead V-twin. That works out to 1,210cc of side-valve engine. It is the design that carried Harley-Davidson through the Depression and into the war years. The auction listing notes that the engine cranks. A healthy UL made roughly 30 to 37 horsepower. A dry sump recirculating oil system kept it fed, which was genuinely advanced for 1941.
Hand Shift, Four Speeds and Chain Drive
Behind the engine sits a four-speed constant mesh transmission. The rider works it with the tank-mounted hand shifter. Final drive is by chain. This is the classic “suicide shift” arrangement that defines the era for so many riders. It makes the 1941 Harley-Davidson UL Flathead feel like a machine you operate rather than simply ride. The setup is easy to see in the photo gallery attached to the lot.
1941 Harley-Davidson UL Flathead Chassis: Springer Fork and 16-Inch Wheels
The chassis is pure 1941. A leading link springer fork with double springs handles the front end. The rear is rigid. Drum brakes sit at both ends, and 16-inch wire spoke wheels finish the package. Harley-Davidson moved to the fatter 16-inch wheel and tire combination in the late 1930s. It gives this 1941 Harley-Davidson UL Flathead a planted, big-boned stance that the Premier Assets photos capture well.
Pre-War Trim That Survived
Trim is where this bike earns its keep. The “Bird” emblem on the front fender is a signature pre-war Harley-Davidson flourish. It is present and correct here. Small pieces like this are routinely lost, reproduced or replaced over eight decades. Finding one intact matters on a 1941 Harley-Davidson UL Flathead the seller describes as wearing original Harley-Davidson parts.
The solo seat and the rear fender luggage rack are a period-right pair. Together they read as a bike someone actually used. This is not a show queen assembled from a catalog. The same honest character runs through the 1948 Harley-Davidson WL Flathead in this same collection. Anyone weighing a rider-grade restoration against careful preservation should study the detail images in the lot listing before the hammer falls.
Title, Miles and Honest Disclosure
On paperwork, this 1941 Harley-Davidson UL Flathead carries an Ohio title with VIN 41 UL 2855. The odometer reads 18,837 miles. Worth knowing up front: the title reads 1975. That reflects the year the bike was put together and retitled. There is no key with it, though the ignition is unlocked. All of that is spelled out plainly in the lot description on Proxibid, which makes bidding from a distance far less nerve-racking.
What the 1941 Harley-Davidson UL Flathead Needs
This is not a turnkey runner, and the consignor says so. The UL is missing its clutch, primary chain, generator, carburetor, coil, footboards and brake pedals. It does ship with a miscellaneous bag of hardware. For a flathead Big Twin with this much correct sheet metal and trim intact, that reads as a shopping list rather than a dealbreaker. The bike is located in Chardon, Ohio, and the internet premium is 20 percent. Bidding is open now on Proxibid ahead of the September 17 close.
How to Bid on the Rick Yerick Collection
Premier Assets LLC is featuring the entire Rick Yerick Collection through September 17. Vintage motorcycles, parts, memorabilia and more cross the block alongside this 1941 Harley-Davidson UL Flathead. The lots are being presented by Scott Mihalic Auctioneer with Premier Assets LLC / Mihalic Associates & Auctioneers LLC. For more from the same sale, see our look at the 1948 Harley-Davidson WL Flathead. Visit the full Rick Yerick Collection Auction catalog on Proxibid to see everything on offer.
Shawn Henry 
Eve Nowell