i am unsure if i have a 81 sportster or a roadster.its listed as an xls.the title says sportster but it has the forks of a roadster according to aharley book i have and from the same bookthe vin only makes partial sense.also it shows x means something,l means something and and xl together means something else.---------------so is there a definate way to tell a sportster from a roadster and is there any real difference between the two?---thanks.

 

There are a couple of different ways of telling if your bike is an '81 XLS Roadster. First, it will have CBHB stamped into the engine casing on the right side. It will have the larger 3.2 gallon gas tank, the forks are 2" longer than a regular Sportster, and it should have the XLS logo on the lower triple tree cover.
CB=XLS
B=1981

 

cool.thanks mojo.looks like i have a roadster.i knew it didnt look like some of the other 80 era sportsters i have seen.

 

Have a picture of your Roadster? I have an 85 (last year of the iron heads, only 616 made). Curious as to the differences.

 

Here's my '81 XLS

[IMG]local://upfiles/11505/F2E363A4F986448EBEBDDEC2B52D68C1.jpg[/IMG]

 

ever since i read this thread a few days ago ive been curious about mine because the forks say roadster on mine. i didnt know it was a "seperate" model. although my engine says CAHB if i remember right. so i think mine is just a sportster with the roadster forks

 

mine has superglide forks.it also looks more raked out than the ones above.i want to figure the rake/trail etc .i also want to post a pic...to share and to help with my mech problems.

 

CAHB would mean that yours is an XLX. I think (but am not sure) the Roadster logo on the front fork cover was only used in '82 and '83.

 

mine actually says CAHC i was reading the thread again when i posted and forgot to change the last letter.

 

my 84 roadster has the roadster logo on the fork cover.
according to a site i looked on, it has a 3.9 gallon tank.