1946 Harley-Davidson WR

For Sale: 1946 Harley-Davidson 45ci WR Race Motorcycle – Track-Ready, Exceptionally Built, and Proven Winner

This is a very fast, stunning 1946 Harley-Davidson 45 cubic-inch WR race motorcycle with a clear certificate of title. It has been raced five times on clay and asphalt, and took the checkered flag in three of those races—against seasoned contenders. It's arguably one of the fastest WRs running today.

The engine was meticulously balanced, blueprinted, and assembled by Departure Bike Works in Richmond. No expense was spared—only the best components and racing expertise were used to build a powerful, durable WR race engine.

The engine cases, cylinders (+0.040"), rolling assembly, cam cover, and oil pumps are all genuine Harley-Davidson. A video shows the forged steel WR crank and rods, as well as ball-bearing camshafts. The pistons are forged aluminum Wiseco units from Enfield Racing, and the entire 3-degree-canted valvetrain is also from Enfield.

Originally equipped with stock WR cams and sliding shoe cam-followers, the engine was upgraded by Departure with aggressive Enfield Racing cams and roller followers for enhanced efficiency and longevity. The heads are Enfield Racing as well. The engine breathes through a massive 1-7/8" S\&S Super E carburetor—because a Linkert MR3 or MR4 simply isn't enough (I've tried both).

Performance is exceptional: the engine is incredibly responsive with no hesitation or flat spots across the RPM range. Plug burn is spot-on.

Ignition comes from a top-tier WICO XV 1922 replica magneto, built by Antique Speed & Machine. Included in the sale are a spare magneto coil, condenser, and points.

The custom 2-into-1 stainless steel exhaust is hand-made and tuned to work with the long-duration cams—scavenging exhaust efficiently for torque and horsepower. The sound is ferocious and unmistakable.

Departure also fabricated a canister mounted in the generator location that connects to an exhaust valve to help evacuate excess oil and crankcase pressure during high RPM runs.

The transmission is a rebuilt stock Harley-Davidson 3-bolt solo 3-speed, fitted with Barnett Kevlar clutches and springs.

The frame is a mint, original Harley-Davidson 45 solo frame—never bent, damaged, or repaired. I saved this one specifically for this build.

Up front is a 39mm Harley-Davidson Narrow Glide fork with shaved lowers, progressive springs, Race-Tech dampers, and adjustable preload. While I love a springer, for hard, fast riding this fork is ideal. It transforms the handling and makes the WR an absolute joy to ride.

Both front and rear wheels are ultra-lightweight 19-inch aluminum KKE flat-track wheels, wrapped in Dunlop DT3R 120/70R-19 (front) and 140/80-19 (rear) tires. It's currently set up for 3/8-mile clay track. Also included is a matching spare KKE 19-inch rear wheel fitted with a Dunlop K180 140/80-19 tire for 1/2-mile asphalt use.

Fuel and oil tanks are narrowed, genuine Harley-Davidson 45" units. The rear fender is a genuine Hummer piece, reworked with a 45 fender brace. Tins are finished in Delphine Blue with red and gold striping—a beautiful 1937 Harley-Davidson paint scheme.

The seat is a replica Messinger leather board track seat with a tear on the left side. I think it adds character, but you can easily replace it if desired.

Handlebars are 31"-wide low-rise flat track bars with AVON Contour grips, mounted on Indian Larry billet aluminum Flanders-style risers. The magneto kill-switch is located on the left bar.

This WR weighs exactly 399 pounds with fuel and oil onboard, and it is near-perfectly balanced: 200 pounds at the front, 199 at the rear. That 50/50 balance is a major reason for its superb handling.

Also included is a stack of six aluminum sprockets, allowing you to fine-tune gearing for your riding or racing needs. I typically run a 1:7.1 ratio (55-tooth rear) for 3/8-mile clay, and a 1:5.7 ratio (51-tooth) on the spare wheel for 1/2-mile asphalt.

This bike won races set up exactly this way. I'll include my race data sheets and engine build invoices with the sale.

I built this WR to support a talented rider who had no bike to race. It's completely track-ready—just add fuel and oil (it consumes plenty of both). Nothing on this bike is sloppy; it was built with care, precision, and performance in mind.

I'm now shifting that rider's focus to board track-style racing and don't want to see this WR sit idle. I still run it almost daily. If I need to scratch the 45 itch, I've got a 1937 WLDR (pictured last).

Sale includes:

* Clear title
* Spare magneto coil, condenser, and points
* Spare rear wheel with asphalt tire
* Stack of six aluminum sprockets

I'm happy to help with crating and worldwide shipping but would love to see this special machine stay closer to home.