1977 Ironhead Sportster: H-D Forums Marketplace Bike of the Week

By Cameron Vanderhorst - July 17, 2019

Classic Sportster features retro style and an affordable price tag.

This week’s Marketplace Find of the Week is something a little different. We’re going vintage with a 1977 Ironhead Sportster, sold by HDForums member garystaven88.

He hails from Northford, Connecticut. That may pose issues for out-of-state buyers, since Connecticut does away with titles for vehicles over seven years old. However, garystaven88 saved the title from the previous owner, meaning that titling and registering this classic Harley out of state should be no sweat.

The bike itself is packed with era-appropriate custom details. We dig the flamed peanut gas tank, button-tufted seat, S&S air cleaner, and high handlebars. This classic Sportster would look right at home parked in front of any biker bar.

The more you look at this bike, the more details you can see. It’s a simple, clean, subtle build – well, as subtle as any Harley-Davidson can be, at least.

The seller is also including a ton of extras, including a factory service manual, a sissy bar, and another seat. We’d fit the sissy bar almost immediately – ’70s bikes just look right with sissy bars. That’s especially true when a button-tufted seat is part of the deal.

Despite its age, this Sportster looks to be in great shape. If you’re concerned about living with a Harley this old, fear not – the seller has modernized the bike in all the right ways. This classic Ironhead Sportster features an electronic ignition and an alternator upgrade for more reliable starting and running.

There’s also an upgraded suspension, with modified front forks and progressive shocks out back. While this may never be a great-handling bike – that’s not the point, after all – it will be much easier to ride and enjoy. The brakes appear to be stock.

If you’re looking to live the outlaw biker lifestyle on a budget (and who isn’t?), this looks to be the way to go. With a price recently lowered to $3,200, you’re likely to have enough money left over to personalize this custom to suit your liking. At that price, it’s comparable to an early/mid-’00s Sportser, but with the added cool factor of being a genuine 1970s bike.

Photos: garystaven88/H-DForums