Life before EVO.
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 628
Likes: 14
From: Sweden via Bisbee, Az.
Life before EVO.
End of year and feeling a bit reflective.
1987 bought a Rat Hog with a '73-74 Shovel in it, not too screwed with frame etc. It dripped and it smoked sometimes, but I was happy as a clam to have my first HD and all for 3 grand. Which believe it or not was a whole lot of dough back then.
Next up an all original '65 Pan. Yes folks Alll Original even down to the cushy barkalounger saddle. Holy crap was that a cool ride for $5500. But it was of course a bit temperamental and I didn't know enough on my own to keep her tip-top (hell, I still don't). Needed cash sold her for a good profit (not enough).
1991 roles around and a guy has an all original, low mile1980 Flh… for $5, Looked like friggin' new. Fck, I was still not a good enough wrench for that POS. Had her for 5-6 months.
1992 I'm livin' in AZ and damn there were some cool rides out there. I end up with a junky's Hardtail Shovel decked out with skulls and attitude… fun **** for 4k.
After that HD's just got soooo damn expensive that it was plain stupid. Used crap bikes going for new $$!
Yes, I bagged on Evos when they were new, until I finally picked up a used one.
And with that, as they say, It's allll history.
Refill time, my ice melted.
Cheers and Merry Xmas.
1987 bought a Rat Hog with a '73-74 Shovel in it, not too screwed with frame etc. It dripped and it smoked sometimes, but I was happy as a clam to have my first HD and all for 3 grand. Which believe it or not was a whole lot of dough back then.
Next up an all original '65 Pan. Yes folks Alll Original even down to the cushy barkalounger saddle. Holy crap was that a cool ride for $5500. But it was of course a bit temperamental and I didn't know enough on my own to keep her tip-top (hell, I still don't). Needed cash sold her for a good profit (not enough).
1991 roles around and a guy has an all original, low mile1980 Flh… for $5, Looked like friggin' new. Fck, I was still not a good enough wrench for that POS. Had her for 5-6 months.
1992 I'm livin' in AZ and damn there were some cool rides out there. I end up with a junky's Hardtail Shovel decked out with skulls and attitude… fun **** for 4k.
After that HD's just got soooo damn expensive that it was plain stupid. Used crap bikes going for new $$!
Yes, I bagged on Evos when they were new, until I finally picked up a used one.
And with that, as they say, It's allll history.
Refill time, my ice melted.
Cheers and Merry Xmas.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 359
Likes: 2
From: central Mississippi
That's some cool old rides. I had several Bonneville and Tiger Triumphs, an ole '69 Harley Servi-car, an '82 Sportster, and a '78 1200 Electra Glide shovel before I bought my first Evo. The big difference is I seem to spend a lot less time working on the evos than I did the other bikes. My wife still has her '89 Custom Softail that we bought new in St. Pete, fl. from Jim Rosenkran at Jim's Harley Davidson on Haines road. That was back when it was a small blue building with a picnic table out front for the locals to hang out on Saturdays. Before all the dealers became boutiques.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
I am currently going through my '75 FXE shovel head, 93" with Nitrous!! I blew up the clutch and primary chain taking out the inner primary. After finally finding a California customs inner(they are like hens teeth) I am just about done with that. So I decided to "freshen" her up with new .010+ pistons, total seal rings, freshen up the valves, etc as needed. Additionall I picked up the conversion kit that will allow me to run an EVO cam in the shovel. This will allow a much greater selection of cams which should allow even bigger gains with the nitrous!!!
So that's one of the first projects for this year, If anybody out there knows of any "barn find" older bikes please PM me as I am always looking for project to restore and have the cash to buy them. If it's really good there is always the possibility of a finders fee.
I hope and pray that all of you have an even better year this year than last!!!!
John
So that's one of the first projects for this year, If anybody out there knows of any "barn find" older bikes please PM me as I am always looking for project to restore and have the cash to buy them. If it's really good there is always the possibility of a finders fee.
I hope and pray that all of you have an even better year this year than last!!!!
John
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 64
From: SoCal
I am currently going through my '75 FXE shovel head, 93" with Nitrous!! I blew up the clutch and primary chain taking out the inner primary. After finally finding a California customs inner(they are like hens teeth) I am just about done with that. So I decided to "freshen" her up with new .010+ pistons, total seal rings, freshen up the valves, etc as needed. Additionall I picked up the conversion kit that will allow me to run an EVO cam in the shovel. This will allow a much greater selection of cams which should allow even bigger gains with the nitrous!!!
So that's one of the first projects for this year, If anybody out there knows of any "barn find" older bikes please PM me as I am always looking for project to restore and have the cash to buy them. If it's really good there is always the possibility of a finders fee.
I hope and pray that all of you have an even better year this year than last!!!!
John
So that's one of the first projects for this year, If anybody out there knows of any "barn find" older bikes please PM me as I am always looking for project to restore and have the cash to buy them. If it's really good there is always the possibility of a finders fee.
I hope and pray that all of you have an even better year this year than last!!!!
John
I have one of the Rivera units and I am very pleased with it. I'm just curious why you had such a hard time finding one unless you specifically wanted an original Cal Custom unit.
Rick
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 536
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
I'm riding an '04 Twinky now, but I my riding buddy has a 94 Evo and I just love the way it sounds over mine, even though mine is also carbed. Someday I will own an Evo too :-). Patience and in good time...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
I was looking for an original as I think they were a little better than the Rivera, which would have been a very close second choice as they are supposed to be identical. I just think the originals were machined just a wee bit better. Now that might just be me!!!! Let's face it the originals were made with fresh molds, who knows how many were made on these molds ????
John
John
Last edited by miacycles; Jan 2, 2014 at 04:01 PM.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,008
Likes: 464
still have my 1985 FXWG that I bought new. bought a 1976 FLH in 1994. Rebuilt it and had it in good shape until I gave it to my ex in our divorce deal in 1998. Had a 2004 Ironhorse Texas Chopper from late 2003 until about 2006. Got a 2005 Ironhorse LSC in about 2007, still have it. Bought a 2011 103 Street Glide in 2012 with 990 miles on it, still have it.
I just made a deal with my ex and in 2 weeks I'm going to pickup the 1976 FLH and return it to it's rightful owner (me). funny how things work out.
I just made a deal with my ex and in 2 weeks I'm going to pickup the 1976 FLH and return it to it's rightful owner (me). funny how things work out.
Last edited by pjb; Jan 3, 2014 at 11:32 AM.
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