In the smoky, oil-rich atmosphere of 1920s American racing, the hillclimb was the gladiator arena of the motorcycle world.
Stripped of niceties and bred for brute power and control, these bikes were purpose-built to conquer gravity, mud, and whatever the terrain dared throw at them.
Among the most iconic of these machines is the 1928 Harley-Davidson FHAD 2-Bar Hillclimber — a two-wheeled beast that wasn’t just built but engineered to ascend.
And now, one such machine — lovingly restored by the renowned Fred Lange Restorations — is up for auction at Mecum’s Monterey 2025 event.
A Race-Only Thoroughbred
Let’s get one thing straight: this wasn’t a bike you could pop down to the dealership and buy in 1928. The FHAD Hillclimber was never available to the public. It was a purebred racing motorcycle, kitted out with a 61 cubic inch two-cam F-head V-twin — an exotic motor that Harley-Davidson developed solely to beat Indian, Excelsior, and anyone else foolish enough to line up against them on the dirt.
These engines didn’t just perform — they roared. Known for their aggressive cam timing and high-revving nature, Harley’s two-cam motors were technological marvels of their time.
The FHAD used a 3-speed manual gearbox and a kickstart — naturally — to deliver that power to the ground, which, in the case of hillclimbing, meant directly uphill on a rutted, steep incline.
Built to Take a Beating
This bike is more than just an engine with wheels. The frame — painted in a deep, rich blue with white panelling and red Harley-Davidson lettering — is a single down-tube unit, beefed up with additional materials to handle the relentless pounding of competition.
Suspension technology in the 1920s was in its awkward teenage years, and Harley’s solution here was the leading-link front fork, offering rudimentary but effective damping.
No knobby tires? No problem. These bikes ran tire chains to claw into the dirt like talons. And this 1928 FHAD has them fitted, just as it would’ve raced nearly a century ago.
The rear fender matches the tank in colour, and the tan solo seat rests perfectly above the rear wheel — sprung for some mercy, but not much. The exhaust is short and black, with stubby pipes that look like they were designed purely to say: “I’m not here to make friends.”
Restored by the Best
Fred Lange Restorations isn’t just any workshop. Fred and his team are known for their obsessive dedication to early Harley-Davidsons — particularly two-cam racers like this. Their work goes beyond paint and polish; it’s about mechanical resurrection.
This FHAD Hillclimber isn’t a display piece pretending to be a racer — it’s the real deal, brought back to life with respect and authenticity.
Only two examples of Lange-restored 1920s Harley racers are known, and this is one of them. That makes it rarer than most bikes we see come to market, and significantly more desirable to collectors of Harley-Davidson history or American competition motorcycles.
A Snapshot of Racing’s Golden Age
In the 1920s, there were no corporate sponsorships, no energy drink liveries, and no television cameras. Just raw machines, skilled riders, and hills that dared to be conquered. The 1928 FHAD Hillclimber is a snapshot of that era — when racing was dangerous, wild, and exhilarating.
Whether you’re a collector, a historian, or just someone who appreciates the sheer mechanical audacity of early American motorcycles, this bike deserves a moment of your time. It’s more than metal and rubber — it’s heritage on wheels.
What it also provides is a stunning vision of what could be for today’s customisers. There’s a rich seam of mechanics and designers producing out of the ordinary motorcycles. Imagine a modern motorcycle made to look like this. I’d have one, like a shot!
Fast Facts
1928 Harley-Davidson FHAD
61 cubic inch 2-cam F-head Vee-Twin engine
3-speed manual gearbox
Blue tank with white side panels featuring red lettering and striping
Matching rear fender
Blue tubular single down tube frame
Tan solo seat
Harley-Davidson logo foot boards
Kickstart
Leading link front fork
Polished spoke wheels with black rims
Rear tiye chains
Black cylinder heads with matching short exhaust pipes
Gallery: 1928 Harley-Davidson FHAD Hillclimber
