Wico XV1922 Magneto WR

The year 1903 not only marked the founding of our favourite motorcycle company, it also started off the Witherbee Igniter Company, which later evolved into the WICO Electric Company with the primary mission to build quality ignition systems. In the 1940s WICO produced the "X series" magnetos, which were extremely reliable and very repairable, so it is no wonder that they became highly popular on farm tractors. All John Deere tractors at that time were equipped with WICO magnetos. When Harley-Davidson came out with the special WR racing version of the 45” Flathead in 1941 they first equipped them with Edison-Splitdorf magnetos, but soon after the war switched to WICO XV1922 mags and kept them until the end of WR production in 1952. Especially during long distance races like the Daytona 200 the WICO magnetos proved superior.

Original, working WICO XV1922 mags are hard to find these days, so we are all lucky that Nassau, NY enthusiast Andrew Johnson decided to reproduce them. Incredibly accurate, meticulously machined and flawlessly working. There are no shortcuts whatsoever, these mags are perfect. Period. They install, adjust and function just like the period conterparts. Besides being replacements for WR race bikes all Flathead 1937→, all K models and Sportster →1970 can be equipped with them, where they install en lieu of the stock battery-based ignition system. XV1922 mags feature a distributer rotor so your bike will be converted to single fire (each cylinder gets its own spark).

Admittedly, a WICO mag is quite an investment, but always remember: the quality will remain long after the price is forgotten (H. Royce).