Hey boys and gals. Been into bikes and Forums for a while, just never owned and EVO. I went from a 78 Shovel to a 2001 TC88, and several bikes since. My current bike is a, 06 Ultra. Anyhoo, I've been looking for a 2nd bike for around town and I came across a 97 FXD SuperGlide with 24K miles. it already has a Super E and V&H pipes. Other than the obvious things I should look for tomorrow in the guys driveway, Is there anything specific I should look for? I know some cases developed cracks around the tappets and the hoses dry out and crack. Thanks in advance!

 

I love my 96 like it's my child. 97 was a good year just look for base gasket leaks. Its easy to check with the gray motor. It has forwards on it as they come with mids stock. If you like it but it, color is nice too.

 

Yeah, I also heard about the base gaskets. Here is a pic of the other side. Is the side trans cover stock?

 

Nope. It has wideglide style forwards too, that's nice. Has a oil pump cover. Mine had the same axle covers! Wheels are stock. With chrome tappet blocks it may have been gone into(like a cam).

 

Neither the trans cover nor the ignition cover are stock.
Not entirely sure that is a Harley transmission.
Take a closer look at it.

As for the cases cracking that was more prevalent in the earlier years.

If it fires up good and runs nice (a good running EVO sounds like a pissed off sewing machine) and the price is right then I say go for it.

You are looking at buying a 20 year old bike something will turn up to be fixed but it ain't hard to work on these old machines!!!

 

You've got aftermarket rocker covers, looks like maybe S&S, probably an aftermarket nosecone, and tranny side cover/door. FXDs didn't come with a chrome primary cover, or lifter blocks, or much engine chrome at all. My '96 was pretty darn plain when I got it 4 years ago.
Those look like Kuryakyn forwards in the pic, same as I put on mine.
This one almost looks like an FXDC except I thought the Customs came with chrome laced wheels.

 

Hey mine is a 98 superglide and no base gasket leaking. Just warm the bike up and you be okay and mine has 45,000 miles on her.

 

The rocker covers don't look like S&S to me, however they are definitely not stock Evo! Worth checking the engine number against the VIN and taking a closer look at the crankcases, to see if there are is aftermarket branding on them.

 

Lots of non stock going on there.

Personally, unless you have a reason you want this particular bike, I'd look around and find a more original example.

 

Definitely not a stock oem motor there, Jugs, heads and covers. Some one modified that drive train. As suggested check motor to frame vin... If the numbers on the case do indeed match the frame vin than it's not too big of a deal. If not check the title for salvage.The 95-99 Evo cases were the best for strength. Shouldn't have any issues there. What is the asking price. It looks clean but not OEM, brings value down...

I'm thinking Rev-Tech....