84-89

1986 Softail Standard


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I'm the proud owner of a 1988 model but I'm already used to having an obsolete ride. I heard the same song and dance when I used to own my '80 FLT Shovel or the '73 & '79 XLH's.



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They all became classics when the Twin Cam was born.

 

In the auto world, i think its a 20 year thing. But as far as the MoCo goes...i believe that they concider anything that isn't TC a classic. Im finishing up a rebuild on my '84 and the local parts guy at the HD dealer has gotten old stock parts from as far away as Richmond IN. Considering im in central FL, thats a haul. Aftermarket is going to be the only place you can get things for anything older than a TC pretty soon.
LowGlyd

 

I always thought it was 20yrs too... But, looking for parts for my '94, I'm rethinking that a bit..

 

My Evo was built in Aug 83, they don't come much older than that.

 

I was just thinking how I would like to have an early Ultra. How has that bike been to you? how many miles? What have you had to do to it??

 

Big ditto there...

 

Well, I am considering my 1995 FLHTP Police Special an "Evo Classic", simply because the H-D dealers don't seem to carry many parts that fit it anymore. I usually have to get everything on eBay, or elsewhere on the 'net, from NOS (New Old Stock - an eBay term...). I have been been able to get some stuff from the local dealers, but almost always have to special order. It's a pain, and while I absolutely love this bike, if I had known more when we bought it I would have gone with a 1997 or later, since the FLH frame changed in that year, and getting stuff to fit the older frame is difficult.

I have retrofitted a LOT of parts for newer models onto my bike - including the two-up detachable Tour Pac rack that H-D says will only fit 1997 and newer Dressers. I simply had to use 1/4" longer SS bolts and add a few SS washers to them to make the width come out right for the detachable hardware kit. This is SUCH a simple fix, I can't believe H-D doesn't provide longer bolts and spacers to accomplish this, especially since the older detachable racks are no longer available from H-D... I couldn't even find one on eBay! I went to the local H-D dealer, and had to talk the parts guy into taking the new detachable two-up Tour-Pac rack out of the box and holding it up to my bike so that I could gauge the fit visually. He didn't want to do it, and he didn't want to sell me the part, because if I bought it and couldn't make it fit, I couldn't return it. He basically had little interest in helping me at all (CYA on his part). I bought the part anyway because I knew I could make it work. I guess the MoCo and their dealers are much more interested in selling new bikes and they are in supporting the many loyal owners of older ones... it kind of sucks. I've even thought of starting my own business to have old parts fabricated... I'll bet there are a lot of owners of older bikes who would patronize a business specializing in parts for older Hogs. But maybe not... who knows???




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The Ultra is an 05, the tan Tour Glide is an EVO. It's been a great bike.111k miles...needs to be rebuilt. It was a daily driver
and spent alot of days sitting out in the rain and heat. The wiring is brittle and the motor needs attention. It does still run
good, just not daily transportation anymore. And that enclosed chain.....ugh ! It was time to surrender to belt drive.