85 wideglide question
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Cruiser
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From: NC
85 wideglide question
looking at a 85 wideglide a guy has for sale locally and was wanting some input from members here that are familiar with that bike.
i have rode a 2001 wideglide but have no exp with the older ones. besides it not being rubber mounted, a 4 speed, and a early evo, what other differences are there in it than the 90 and early 2000 dyna wideglides?
im wandering since its not rubber mounted and only a 4 speed, will it ride like my 2000 sportster but just have a bigger frame and more power?
i have rode a 2001 wideglide but have no exp with the older ones. besides it not being rubber mounted, a 4 speed, and a early evo, what other differences are there in it than the 90 and early 2000 dyna wideglides?
im wandering since its not rubber mounted and only a 4 speed, will it ride like my 2000 sportster but just have a bigger frame and more power?
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From: NW AR
Sportsters ride different than big twins. And that old style frame, which if I'm not mistaken is the same as the old FL/FX swingarm frame going back to the 50's, doesn't corner at all like the newer rubber mounted 5 speed frames. Probably will corner very similar to a softtail. The Sporteters and 5 speed FL frames handle a lot better. Not that it isn't an interesting bike, just "different."
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Cruiser
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From: NC
thanks for the reply dr hess.
the one thing i was concerned with was it being a 4 speed and not a 5. was wandering what kind of vibes it would be throwing out at interstate speeds. would it vibe like a pre rubber sporty or..???
or did they have the gearing set up on it were i really wouldnt notice it was only a 4 speed (ie taller gearing to handle the vibes).
the oldest big twin i have ever rode was a buddies 01 wideglide and it really isnt a bike to compare with a 85 big twin.
i have owned my share of sporties both iron heads and pre rubber mounted and they can get some brutal vibes going on the interstate LOL.
me and my wife are in despart need of a bigger bike though as the sporty just keeps feeling cramped to me but we dont have the credit to just go purchase a new bike.
the one thing i was concerned with was it being a 4 speed and not a 5. was wandering what kind of vibes it would be throwing out at interstate speeds. would it vibe like a pre rubber sporty or..???
or did they have the gearing set up on it were i really wouldnt notice it was only a 4 speed (ie taller gearing to handle the vibes).
the oldest big twin i have ever rode was a buddies 01 wideglide and it really isnt a bike to compare with a 85 big twin.
i have owned my share of sporties both iron heads and pre rubber mounted and they can get some brutal vibes going on the interstate LOL.
me and my wife are in despart need of a bigger bike though as the sporty just keeps feeling cramped to me but we dont have the credit to just go purchase a new bike.
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Cruiser
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From: NC
cowpie 4 speed and ratchet lids went over my head. plz elaborate george as like i mentioned i know very little about the older evo big twins. the more i can learn about the bike, the more of a informed decision i can make on it.
as far as the evos go, i have never had any evo sportster give me any engine troubles so i tend to agree that it was a well built engine.
as far as the evos go, i have never had any evo sportster give me any engine troubles so i tend to agree that it was a well built engine.
Last edited by raven28690; Feb 2, 2009 at 07:05 PM.
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From: NW AR
Well, there's plenty of power. If you plan on mostly highway cruising, I'd pick a gearing that puts the RPM at 70 MPH at around 3200 or so, give or take, in 4th gear and you'll be fine. These motors have enough torque to be fine with a 4 speed. 4 is better than 3, right? Now they have 6, but I think it is just marketing at that point. Back in the early 80's, friends of mine geared their shovels up and had no problems running 70 with a solid mount 4 speed. Doing that with an evo would be easy and much better.
As for the vibes, it's going to be more than a rubber mount, for sure, probably about like a solid mount sporty. That causes stuff to fall off, but it won't be as bad as a shovel.
As for the vibes, it's going to be more than a rubber mount, for sure, probably about like a solid mount sporty. That causes stuff to fall off, but it won't be as bad as a shovel.
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Cruiser
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From: NC
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Road Warrior
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From: Eagle River WI
Raven alittle about 4 speed tranys The ratchet lids were the orig after the 3 speeds /reverse type tank shift way back The cowpies came about early 80's when HD went to rear belt drives These terms (ratchet/ cowpie ) refer to the gear shifting tops on the tranys Harley only had a few years on the cowpie style tranys before they went into the 5 speeds I never liked the cam assemply style shifter verses the style in the ratchet lid and the main seals ( several styles ) sucked ! Cowpies were also called rotary tops Just my opinion
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Cruiser
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From: NC
ahhh i c. thanks for sheding some light on that for me george.
the guys i ride with have rode the older hds but have become spoiled with their newer ultras and such so they rarely ever talk about their old rides. if i learn something about the older bikes, its from forums like this.
the guys i ride with have rode the older hds but have become spoiled with their newer ultras and such so they rarely ever talk about their old rides. if i learn something about the older bikes, its from forums like this.
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From: Bedford UK
My first Harley was a 70s Super Glide shovel with that older frame. Engine vibration when new was so bad I couldn't hold the throttle open above 45mph! But it got steadily better until I could travel in comfort at speeds up to 90 or so. It may be that an early Evo will be reasonably smooth with a decent mileage on it. I never did like the Sportsters of the same era, they vibrated much more!
Handling is quite something else. There was not much ground clearance either. So if this bike has an old FLH frame it could take some getting used to. Mine taught me how to ride a bike - slow in to a bend and fast out. They can be hustled, just need a little time to get used to the way they behave. And all this from someone who these days champions handling kits for more modern bikes!
Handling is quite something else. There was not much ground clearance either. So if this bike has an old FLH frame it could take some getting used to. Mine taught me how to ride a bike - slow in to a bend and fast out. They can be hustled, just need a little time to get used to the way they behave. And all this from someone who these days champions handling kits for more modern bikes!