EOE: Iron head Sportsters?

[sleazy rider]

Pros/cons?  I'm going to look at a 1973 version XL1000 this evening for $1500.  It runs, looks ok in the pics and its damn cheap for a commuting bike.  Electric start too!  Yeah, it's AMF era, but it will NOT be my primary rider and yes, I can wrench just fine, thank you.    What say the collective experts?

[veefer800canuck]

Buy these in bulk:

[NoDak]

I had a 72 Sportster.  I had to shut off the petcock when I parked it otherwise the carburetor would leak gas all over the hot motor.  The bike had a perpetual oil leak that I was never able to fix.  One time I went for a ride and the ignition coil vibrated off and was swinging in the air suspended by the plug wires. It was a great bar bike.

[Yankee Dog]

I think the 73's had the shifter and rear brake swapped, just be aware. Otherwise for 1500 sounds good.

Yankee Dog

[sleazy rider]

I think the 73's had the shifter and rear brake swapped, just be aware. Otherwise for 1500 sounds good.

Yankee Dog

I rode Meridian Triumphs back in the day.  That should take about 30 seconds to remember.  

[TBirdVI]

Took a trip with a couple of buddies back in '74 from Calgary AB to the Maritimes. One fellow had a '73 883. We stopped at every Harley dealer between Alberta and Nova Scotia both directions. Picked up clutch plates, push rods, spark plugs, all manner of things. But. . . I guess it made it there and back! 8500 miles as I recall.

[bomber]

that's a fair price for that bike . . . .

it's a great deal more than any other bike of the era would cost, so the only question for you is, is the HD-ness of the bike worth the extra money to you?

If yes, it's a good deal.

If no, clearly, it's not.

Ironheads don't have any built-in limitation you don't already know about -- enjoy your new ride!

[Yankee Dog]

that's a fair price for that bike . . . .

it's a great deal more than any other bike of the era would cost, so the only question for you is, is the HD-ness of the bike worth the extra money to you?

hmm.  I think you would be hard pressed to find any bike in good running condition for a whole lot less. the running Hondas I see from back then go from $2k or so. The old sportsters for $2.5 to $3k. I dont think he can go wrong.

[1KPerDay]

Don't do it, dude. If you want a reliable commuter, get a belt drive Evo at least.

[coho]

Sportster, huh?
Isn't that a girl's bike?

[Bender]

Sleazy posting in the hardly section.....

[chilipeppernorm]

Years ago I rode a friends 72 Sportster (we traded bikes for on a ride, Sportster for Boxer). You'd be better off buying an International Harvester farm tractor of the same year and cutting it in half length wise, more sophistication and reliability that way.

[Dan K]

My little cousin has one . 73 I think.  Good thing you know how to wrench.  THose things are a bitch to keep road worthy.

- Dan

[sleazy rider]

As it worked out, the bike sold long before I could get there from work.  Probably for the best.    Guess I'll look for a "real" bike now.  

[stevent]

My little cousin has one . 73 I think.  Good thing you know how to wrench.  THose things are a bitch to keep road worthy.

- Dan

That has not been my experience. I had both a '78 XLH and a '75 XLCH, both were excellent bikes and a lot of fun to ride, I wish I still had the '78 as a play bike. Keeping the primary chain and rear chain correctly tensioned goes a long way toward eliminating vibration, keeping the points and timing correct makes starting easy. The biggest problem with Harleys of that era was that every dipshit with a crescent wrench thought he was a motorcycle mechanic, find one as close to stock as you can and they're fun bikes to ride.

[Dan K]

That has not been my experience. I had both a '78 XLH and a '75 XLCH, both were excellent bikes and a lot of fun to ride, I wish I still had the '78 as a play bike. Keeping the primary chain and rear chain correctly tensioned goes a long way toward eliminating vibration, keeping the points and timing correct makes starting easy. The biggest problem with Harleys of that era was that every dipshit with a crescent wrench thought he was a motorcycle mechanic, find one as close to stock as you can and they're fun bikes to ride.

Don't get me wrong, I like riding it (although I like riding pretty much any bike with two wheels) - it's just old, finicky, and as soon as one thing is fixed, there's something else wrong.  LOUD TOO.  Maybe it's a 78 or 79? Thought it was a 73, now I'm thinking '78....it's an XL or XLH.  Anyway, like the bike, don't like the need for wrenching.  I'll tell my cousin to keep an eye on the chains.


- Dan

[mjrfd99]

Mine since 77 -  been a good reliable bike
1st pic 1977
2nd pic 2011
same bike