I'm looking for a good starter bike and found this ad:

http://anchorage.craigslist.org/mcy/4521051678.html

It's for a 1984 Sportster XLX and I'm wondering if there were any particular issues with that model and year I should be aware of before I look closer. I already know I'm going to have to swap out the handlebars and move the controls back due to being rather vertically challenged.

Any thoughts? Basically, what do I not know that is going to come around to bite me. Many thanks in advance!

 

A 1984 Sportster with 22k miles for $3500.00? There are WAY better deals to be had out there.

 

It's a late model Ironhead engine. Might want to check with the crowd over on xlforum.net and ask there, Much more knowledge about Ironheads. $3500 might not be that bad for a vintage IH, but there will be lots of work involved.

Buy yourself a 1991 or later 5 speed, much more reliable and economical. You can find a real nice one for $3500.

John

 

Sadly, the market up here...sucks. :P

People are asking 9k for a 97 or 98 sportster. My budget for a beginner bike is right around 5k, which means I can get a used vstar or maybe a shadow if I'm lucky, but most used harleys are priced outside my range and I'd really like a sportster.

Thanks for the advice to try the other forum! I will definitely ask some questions there as well.

I may need to warm up to starting out on a metric OR wait another season to save up.

 

+1 on getting a '91 or newer model. iron heads are heavy maintenance.. get an Evo. If its that bad where you are, you should consider buying in the lower 48 and driving back. Make it an adventure. Plenty of good deals down here. Worth the travel. Good luck.

 

Find a bike in the lower 48, go get it and ride it home while it's summer :-)

 

Plane tickets and time off work, added up along with the costs of riding the bike back up...would make going to the lower 48 a wash or worse financially.

If worst comes to worst, if I sit tight until the end of the season, that's when people sell their bikes and prices will be lower and selection better.

Or pick up a metric for a song and then save my pennies while I ride.

Happily, the scenery and winding roads up here really do help make up for the crappy used market and high prices.

 

There is nothing wrong with an Ironhead, everyone here is just scared of them.

 

I have posted this before, but it bears repeating. Iron heads are great motorcycles for people who LOVE IRON HEADS. They are not a good choice for people new to Harleys or people who have never had an Iron head. I have owned plenty of Irons as well as Shovels. They need maintenance, like all the time. If your passion is Iron heads, ****** it up. But the fact you asking about one, means that's probably not the case. I would pass unless you could get it so cheap it would make sense. $3,500 is not a give away deal. Look for a 91 or newer 5-Speed, if a Sportster is what your itching for. Leave the '84 to the guy who is searching for it.

 

I paid $2200 for 1984 xlx in 2017 but Im not in Alaska so not sure on the price. It depends alot on work that needs to be done. Mine has been a good bike, have trouble with keeping the rear wheel aligned but cannot figure out exactly why and my forks need new rebuilding. I have after market chain adjusters and suspect they are not correct for the bike. Otherwise this one seems unusually fast and doesnt leak engine oil. The bike I had previous was 1984 xlh that leaked consistently.