@dHeinemann it is a springer front end, hard to see in my pics and yes these are the original “hard tail”. It’s why the seat pan springs were added to provide rider comfort.
The telescopic front ends came out mid 50’s. The 2024 H-D Revival HydraGlide from the Icon collection is modeled on that front end.
I love the WLA for its heavy duty work horse platform, as reliable as bikes could be and the foundation for post war club bikes here in the US.
I would really love to get on one and give it a go. I have only seen them in museums and bike shows. We do have a riding troop here in the Seattle area that runs old WL’s. Maybe before I get too old, I will find one to try out. I love my springer, I love all springers, they remain the last real mechanical function of motorcycles since day one.
Hope someday we can chat bikes like this in real life, we can talk about shovel heads and pan heads, kick starters and bobbed out cafe racers!
I will try to grab some of the other bikes they had, like their Cushman collection! A couple early Honda modified “choppers”, a decent Guzzi, and some odds and ins. Not a bad bike collection for an airplane museum!