Harley-Davidson boasted a number of improvements over the preceding model with the Harley Davidson VL, but there were unfortunate many teething problems that made them known just as the big depression was getting underway. Harley advertisements of the time were quite ambitious in extolling the virtues of the model VL, but early several models had engines with a deficit of horsepower, a bad clutch, mufflers that clogged easily and frames that tended to break. The two-passenger Tri-Hawk had already been in limited production before the Motor Factory decided to take it on as their own ostensibly to fill some exotic niche which had no name. In the previous year

With the Harley-Davidson JD, the venerable passionate motorcycle company made great strides in modernizing its machines at least from the standpoint of styling. A new frame placed the saddle three inches lower than before, wider but two smaller-diameter tires gave the bike a huskier and furious look, and also the fuel tank took on a rounded teardrop shape.

Excelsior-Henderson was finally hitting production with its first superior model. The bike turned out to be a more than the passable first effort for riders but it was not enough. On a sunny Indian Daytona Beach morning, the Excelsior Motorcycle Company rolled out its first term and, as it turned out, last superior model for the press to preview. The great impression of the company is a passionate bike after two riding sessions in two days.