Springer frontends
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,201
Likes: 6,063
From: Black Hills
I believe all the Shovelhead FXRs had 5 speed transmissions, so that wouldn't be an identifiable feature linking it to a specific year. I had a 5 speed in my '80 FLT. HD and state DMV's use the VIN as the "book of record" regarding the origin of the motorcycle, I suspect that there may have been an error in the registration somewhere in the bikes history.
Racepres has extensive FXR knowledge, hopefully he can shed more light on it.
Here's another thread similar to this one.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/evo/1...evo-motor.html
Last edited by rizzo; Dec 1, 2022 at 10:35 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,565
Likes: 3,318
From: Cental, MI
and Yes... There were Many 1984 Shovelheads...even a few 1985 Police contract Shovelheads...4-Speeds Only
I have searched Diligently for the (Internet) 1983 Evo.... Nope...
I am constantly on the Watch for a (VIN verified) post 1983 5-speed that is a Shovelhead....again...Nope.
Again...anything except the VIN on the Frame...Is BS
Edit: Thank You Rizzo for the better explaination...I am Not a Wordsmith!!!
Last edited by Racepres; Dec 1, 2022 at 10:59 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 184
Likes: 133
From: Outside Sacramento CA
I know it's far fetched, but can this 84 model year bike somehow have been registered as an 83?, making everyone correct? Possibly an 84 model built in 83 late year and miss titled? I don't think the VIN say that, but I am curious is all.
Jeff
Jeff
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 184
Likes: 133
From: Outside Sacramento CA
I just ran across a post from 2020. They were speaking about this same subject, ie 1983 FXR with an EVO motor. Y2K said he had one, that they were early 84's built in 83 4spd dry clutch. Racepres, you were apart of that conversation. I didn't read the whole thread so I don't know how it came out. Do you remember it? Maybe he has an 84 titled as an 83. Never say never.
Jeff
Jeff
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,502
Likes: 7,806
From: Long Island, New York
The year of the motorcycle is established by the manufacturer and documented in the VIN#.
Your VIN is for a 1984 Harley Davidson.
After that, we are talking about some sort of F up at DMV. OK the bike was sold and registered in late 1983, still a 1984 Harley Davidson.
Fix the front end on your '84 FXR and enjoy the bike.
Your VIN is for a 1984 Harley Davidson.
After that, we are talking about some sort of F up at DMV. OK the bike was sold and registered in late 1983, still a 1984 Harley Davidson.
Fix the front end on your '84 FXR and enjoy the bike.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 759
Likes: 936
From: Under the affluence of incahol.
If you can find the crankcase numbers (not the engine number or the VIN number) down on the lefthand crankcase just in front of the primary cover, where the lower of the two front inner primary bolts go, you can decode what day and what year the engine was built.
First two digits will be either 15 or 20 depending on whether it is a Kalifornia engine or a 49 state engine.
The next two digits are the year the engine was built. So if those two digits are 83, the engine was built in 1983 and so on.
The next three digits are the day of that year the engine was built. So if it's 201, it was built the 201st day of the year which you can count off against the number of days in each month (watch out for Feb 29 in leap years) and find it was like June something.
The last three digits are the actual production number for that day. So 001 would be the 7am redeye special etc. 300 or whatever would be the 3.55pm "Sheyat it's almost Miller time, slap this baby together and git to gitten" model.
If you have the black painted cases the number can be covered up but you can see the flat pad where it is stamped and scrape the paint away with a screwdriver. It's down under the primary so won't show up.
Of course, an xx83xxxxx case number engine could have sat on a shelf until 84 before being installed in a bike.
But if you have an xx84xxxxx case number, then you have an 84 or possibly even an 85 bike.
Either way, I would not put a springer on that bike and ruin that nimble handling that you already commented on. A springer fork does not make an Evo a vintage. Enjoy it for what it is, the best of all Harleys ever made.
First two digits will be either 15 or 20 depending on whether it is a Kalifornia engine or a 49 state engine.
The next two digits are the year the engine was built. So if those two digits are 83, the engine was built in 1983 and so on.
The next three digits are the day of that year the engine was built. So if it's 201, it was built the 201st day of the year which you can count off against the number of days in each month (watch out for Feb 29 in leap years) and find it was like June something.
The last three digits are the actual production number for that day. So 001 would be the 7am redeye special etc. 300 or whatever would be the 3.55pm "Sheyat it's almost Miller time, slap this baby together and git to gitten" model.
If you have the black painted cases the number can be covered up but you can see the flat pad where it is stamped and scrape the paint away with a screwdriver. It's down under the primary so won't show up.
Of course, an xx83xxxxx case number engine could have sat on a shelf until 84 before being installed in a bike.
But if you have an xx84xxxxx case number, then you have an 84 or possibly even an 85 bike.
Either way, I would not put a springer on that bike and ruin that nimble handling that you already commented on. A springer fork does not make an Evo a vintage. Enjoy it for what it is, the best of all Harleys ever made.
Last edited by PeterB; Dec 2, 2022 at 06:53 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,565
Likes: 3,318
From: Cental, MI
I just ran across a post from 2020. They were speaking about this same subject, ie 1983 FXR with an EVO motor. Y2K said he had one, that they were early 84's built in 83 4spd dry clutch. Racepres, you were apart of that conversation. I didn't read the whole thread so I don't know how it came out. Do you remember it? Maybe he has an 84 titled as an 83. Never say never.
Jeff
Jeff
Of course, an xx83xxxxx case number engine could have sat on a shelf until 84 before being installed in a bike.
But if you have an xx84xxxxx case number, then you have an 84 or possibly even an 85 bike.
Either way, I would not put a springer on that bike and ruin that nimble handling that you already commented on. A springer fork does not make an Evo a vintage. Enjoy it for what it is, the best of all Harleys ever made.
But if you have an xx84xxxxx case number, then you have an 84 or possibly even an 85 bike.
Either way, I would not put a springer on that bike and ruin that nimble handling that you already commented on. A springer fork does not make an Evo a vintage. Enjoy it for what it is, the best of all Harleys ever made.
Last edited by Racepres; Dec 2, 2022 at 09:17 AM.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 759
Likes: 936
From: Under the affluence of incahol.
I think you are talking about the engine number stamped up on the top of the cases that ends in H9 for 1979 etc. I am talking about the crankcase manufacturing number, or the "belly numbers" down underneath the left crankcase, below the inner primary. No letters, only numbers. The decoding I posted above is for Evos. It is a separate number from the engine number.