Last Year of Ironhead?
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Last Year of Ironhead? - 4/30/2008 5:30:04 PM
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Nosedive4130
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Joined: 4/30/2008
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First Post here, and also, I'm new to the forum and to Harleys as well.
I keep hearing that 1984 was the last year of the Ironhead, but, I keep seeing 1985's for sale that claim to be Ironheads...And sometimes the owner will state that 85 was the last year.
So, Officially, can somebody guide me into the right direction as to which year was the Actual Last year for the Ironhead Sporty's?
Any and all info will be greatly appreciated.
Nosedive4130
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 4/30/2008 6:07:16 PM
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2Sore
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Found this...
At least, that was until the introduction of the Evolution Sportster in 1986. The new aluminum-based Evo Sportster engine opened the doors to Factory and aftermarket performance parts that again made the Evo Sporty a formidable street-fighter and racer, especially when engine displacement was bumped into the 100-plus cubic-inch range.
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 4/30/2008 6:44:54 PM
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sokkernut
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From: Liberty Hill, Tx.
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85 was the last year. Below is mine. 85 Roadster XLS. Only 616 maunfactured. There is a post under Sportsters called "The history of Sportsters". Pretty informative.
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 4/30/2008 9:01:56 PM
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Y2K
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'84 was the last year for Iron (Shovelhead) big twins with the exception of a few rare police Shovels built in '85.
'85 was indeed the last of the Ironhead Sportsters.
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 4/30/2008 11:54:10 PM
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Moon Wolf
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They switched from Ironhead to Evo in mid-eighty-five. The French Owl posted a picture of the changing of the guard on another forum--it shows the factory production line and the last ironhead motor on the conveyor right next to the first evo. I'll see if I can dig it up.
< Message edited by Moon Wolf -- 5/1/2008 12:31:52 AM >
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 5/1/2008 5:15:29 AM
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sokkernut
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From: Liberty Hill, Tx.
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Awesome picture. Maybe that's my motor! HeeHee. Main difference in the 616 built in 85 (XLS) was the 3.8 gallon gas tank (including .4 reserve) and the tach mounted on the tank. There were a few other differences but I don't remember what they were. According to my operators manual there were 3 models (XLS, XLH and XLX). XLH and XLX had 2.25 gallon tanks.
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 5/1/2008 10:18:34 AM
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Nosedive4130
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Thanks for the great information! I have been wanting a classic, such as a Panhead or a Shovelhead, but, my funds don't seem to want either of the two! I think that I'll have to settle for an Ironhead. It's probably a better bike to learn the Mechanix part of it anyways.
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 5/1/2008 2:56:16 PM
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83XLX
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Nosedive4130
Thanks for the great information! I have been wanting a classic, such as a Panhead or a Shovelhead, but, my funds don't seem to want either of the two! I think that I'll have to settle for an Ironhead. It's probably a better bike to learn the Mechanix part of it anyways.
Settle for an Ironhead??? Do us and yourself a favor and save up for a Shovelhead if you feel that way. Owning an Ironhead is a destination, not a stepping stone to something "better".
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 5/2/2008 5:13:25 PM
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mojo2go
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quote:
ORIGINAL: 83XLX
quote:
ORIGINAL: Nosedive4130
Thanks for the great information! I have been wanting a classic, such as a Panhead or a Shovelhead, but, my funds don't seem to want either of the two! I think that I'll have to settle for an Ironhead. It's probably a better bike to learn the Mechanix part of it anyways.
Settle for an Ironhead??? Do us and yourself a favor and save up for a Shovelhead if you feel that way. Owning an Ironhead is a destination, not a stepping stone to something "better".
Well stated XLX
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 5/4/2008 8:50:37 AM
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pitbull1
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Thumbnail Image
< Message edited by pitbull1 -- 5/4/2008 9:03:12 AM >
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 5/4/2008 9:26:09 AM
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pitbull1
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"Thanks for the great information! I have been wanting a classic, such as a Panhead or a Shovelhead, but, my funds don't seem to want either of the two! I think that I'll have to settle for an Ironhead. It's probably a better bike to learn the Mechanix part of it anyways. "
Get out of here..
Thumbnail Image
 Attachment (1)
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75 Ironhead..Ride hard..You can rest when you die.
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 5/4/2008 11:12:07 AM
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thefrenchowl
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Don't be all so hard with Nosedive!!!
I always wanted a Sportster, but the only H-D I found at the time, 1981, was a 54 Hydra!!!
Exchanged it for a 76 XLH Sporty in 84 and haven't looked back since...
Nosedive, you might actually come to your senses when you ride this 85 and keep it!!!
Patrick
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 5/5/2008 4:41:18 PM
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Nosedive4130
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Nosedive4130
First Post here, and also, I'm new to the forum and to Harleys as well.
Any and all info will be greatly appreciated.
Nosedive4130
Please Read the first and last sentence of my first post. Thanks for the big welcome.
Anywho, I do apologize for the offensive "settle" remark, but I'll stand for myself and say that I don't know what I'm talking about!
I also hear that the 84' models with five speeds are rare....is this true?
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 5/6/2008 3:33:07 AM
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xxxflhrci
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Nosedive4130
I also hear that the 84' models with five speeds are rare....is this true?
Never made 5 speed Irons. 1991 was the first year for 5 speed Sporties.
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RE: Last Year of Ironhead? - 5/6/2008 6:26:24 AM
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83XLX
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Nosedive4130
Anywho, I do apologize for the offensive "settle" remark, but I'll stand for myself and say that I don't know what I'm talking about!
I also hear that the 84' models with five speeds are rare....is this true?
Cool...welcome to the site. As stated earlier, 1985 was the last year for the Ironhead Sportster, and there are no 5-speed Ironheads. The '84 model is a transition year, and there are two different motors used that year (similar, though, and still Ironheads). The early 84's have external generators in the front of the engine (the traditional setup) with a spin-on oil filter underneath on the front motor mount. The late 84's have a spin-on filter on the front of the engine (where the generator used to be) just like the later Evo Sportster motors. The generator was replaced by an alternator, and was located behind the clutch (which was also redesigned), again like the later Evo Sportster motors. When buying parts for an '84, you sometimes need to specify whether you have an early or late '84, depending on the parts needed. Hope this helps.
Take a look at this site - you'll like it.
http://www.sportster.org/history/
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