Harley-Davidson Ironhead engine

The ironhead was a Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine, so named because of the composition of the cylinder heads (Iron instead of Aluminium). The engine is a two-cylinder, two valves per cylinder, pushrod V-twin. It was produced from 1957 until 1985 and was replaced by the Evolution engine in 1986.

Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportster engine at the Harley-Davidson Museum

1980 HD XLR Sportster with Ironhead Engine

Manufacturer	Harley-Davidson
Also called	XL
Production	1957 to 1985
Predecessor	Harley-Davidson KHK

This name was applied to the Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycles that used this engine.

See also

• Harley-Davidson engine timeline

External links

• Images of each style of Harley-Davidson engine