Heritage
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,502
Likes: 3,721
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
Total production numbers for 1997 were around 132,000. You could call MoCo and give them the vin and they could tell you the total production number for the Heritage.
I would agree with what others have said, there is a bunch of maintenance issues that are necessary before riding it safely: tires (why would one even consider taking the bike out for a test ride with rubber that is 24 years old), seals , rubber components (those intake seals on the carb are gonna be hard as a rock & the rubber oil lines are going to be just as dry), inspect inside of gas tanks for rust, dump and change oil in all three holes, new battery, new brake fluid and it may also require new brake lines because the fluid will have dried in the lines (had a simialr experience with a totally stock 75 FXE that had been sitting in an enclosed garage for 26 years), fork oil, the engine base gaskets and cyulinder head gasgekts as well as rocker cover gaskets are gonna be dry and brittle (expect those to leak sooner & not later).
For me there is nothing significant about that year or that model for that year. If you keep it, you need to be able to maintain it yoursef (HD does not work on them and a good Indie is still going to be expensive). If you sell it, you can advertize at top dollar but any smart prospective buyer is gonna knock off your top price evrything I and others have mentioned, because it is a 24 year-old motorcycle that has been sitting and not ridden. This is a situation where the worth of an older bike with only 7 actual miles works goes against the value and not in favor of the value.
I would agree with what others have said, there is a bunch of maintenance issues that are necessary before riding it safely: tires (why would one even consider taking the bike out for a test ride with rubber that is 24 years old), seals , rubber components (those intake seals on the carb are gonna be hard as a rock & the rubber oil lines are going to be just as dry), inspect inside of gas tanks for rust, dump and change oil in all three holes, new battery, new brake fluid and it may also require new brake lines because the fluid will have dried in the lines (had a simialr experience with a totally stock 75 FXE that had been sitting in an enclosed garage for 26 years), fork oil, the engine base gaskets and cyulinder head gasgekts as well as rocker cover gaskets are gonna be dry and brittle (expect those to leak sooner & not later).
For me there is nothing significant about that year or that model for that year. If you keep it, you need to be able to maintain it yoursef (HD does not work on them and a good Indie is still going to be expensive). If you sell it, you can advertize at top dollar but any smart prospective buyer is gonna knock off your top price evrything I and others have mentioned, because it is a 24 year-old motorcycle that has been sitting and not ridden. This is a situation where the worth of an older bike with only 7 actual miles works goes against the value and not in favor of the value.
Last edited by panz4ever; Apr 3, 2021 at 11:44 AM.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 46
Likes: 32
From: Kelowna BC,canada
Yes I agree I was born with a wrench in my hand so righty tighty and lefty loosey come natural to me got my auto repair licence in 81 but saying that I'm still going to be asking questions. I called the local harley shop for what they would do with it and said the same just ride it but the new synthetic oil is going to give the gaskets and seals a hard time. On the other hand my old panhead left a quart where evre I parked it. I don't think I'll trade it on a new one I can't ride for hours at a time so I have decided to stip it down and use it for a gofer bike short trips to the parts store etc..
Randy
Randy
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 46
Likes: 32
From: Kelowna BC,canada
Well the mystery is solved, it appears the bike and four others were bought while the previous owner was on holidays in Vegas. He is from around here and had a going concern business which fell on hard times. The bank came knocking and actioned off some collateral to satisfy the line of credit. This is the only one that was never registered in canada so I have a few obstacles to overcome there. The bike is new, I have never saw one this clean around any areas that get hit with road debris. So my "barn find" aint nothing but a display bike for someone with to much money (credit).
Randy
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Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 46
Likes: 32
From: Kelowna BC,canada
Thats what I'm thinking but I'm also putting a borrow scope down the plug holes to have a look at the cylinder walls, unplug the coil crank til it has oil pressure and hope for the best!
Randy
Randy