87 had issues? Like what? it was an EVO 1340cc same as all the rest after 1982 when they switched from the shovel head that was a 1200cc which was also still a nice ride. From what I see this bike is worth more then you give credit for. I see a 250 swing arm (ain't cheap), I see forward controls that seem to be PM or Arlen Ness (ain't cheap), I see PM calibers and drilled rotors (not cheap), I see a chrome narrow glide (not my cup of tea but will easily sell and help pay for a wide glide some), I see Progressive suspension shocks (great add and not cheap), aftermarket Python exhaust (decent until time to replace) "Chubby" brand chrome drag bars (nice setup), even seems to have "Custom Chrome" brand matching pegs and grips, etc. The fender is an easy fix, paint is an easy fix, custom signals and mirrors are and easy and cheap fix, find a seat and some miscelaneous.... I see a lot of potential in that bike and despite what has been said, you cannot get a better balanced, much less stronger frame from Harley to modify. Just a great all around bike for drag and cruise. Wish I would have done one of those instead of my Sportster as a pro street. But like I said $4500 tops unless the pics do not do it justice and then I might go $5k as that seems like a safe mark. The only thing you can buy now a days with the Harley name for $2500 is an old Iron Head Sportster or a complete everything in buckets basket case.

But like I said I enjoy spinning a wrench on my toys and love to make something ugly beautiful and something slow kick *** so of course we all see everything from a different perspectives I guess.

 

87's had trans problems , they still had the taper shafts & clutch packs . They had problems with the engine cases the right side cast in boss that held the flywheels true liked to come loose in those and HD ducked the warrenty on those big time when they could . Oil Pumps and cam bearings liked to self destruct on a bone stock motor , put a bigger cam in and then run the bloody *** out what do you think is going to happen ? Some of the frames for a few of the early years had cracking problems around the shock mounts & the head area tweaked real easy when they went down . There's other things you don't see outright unless you've had to fix these after a guy beats the hell outa one and that bike has been beaten on bad or he wouldn't wanting to get rid of it so badly .

I see all the ch*nk-a-dea bolt on stuff too and most it looks well worn plus it takes a decent mechanic to install those wide swing arm setups and get everything right alignment wise . Looking at that bike do you honestly believe it was ?

PS the evo motor came out in 85 , 82 was the first FXR shovel & 5 speed . HD didn't really dedicate parts till 91 on the tranny's with the spline output shafts like todays' bike so that means it's really been swapped around on parts and it's going to be a bitch that shops will not touch , you need to be or have a real good mechanic in your pocket and a good knowledge of all the tweaks HD pulled those years .

Dude the handle bars are a cheap 1" set of drags on stock risers & controls are mismatched , the foot stuff is all stock were you see Arlen Ness in that mess ? there is no forward controls on that those pegs , pipes are Cycle Shack not Pythons I ran the same ones on my 82 FXR when I had it . The whole thing has been goobered together on top of being modded stamped rubber band frame . I don't see Progressive shocks either , look like Ultima's to me $149 .

 

My mistake on the year with the shovel, and you are correct it was a misprint on my part. As for the pipes I am not looking to debate you on them but are you sure because they sure look identical to the Pythons I ran on mine before switching to the long shotguns? As for the shocks I am not sure, they look like the older Progressives but I never ran Ultima so you would know better then me if you have. Been with my bike now 16 years so I am somewhat rusty with ****. But anyway like I said I enjoy spinning a wrench and no motor I ever owned kept it's stock parts... lol, so to me it looks like a fun bike to redo and I always regretted not doing an FXR. The trans I am not worried because I seriously would like a six speed on that. As for the other parts it neither here or there for me. That bike just looks like fun to me, there are parts on it none the less... be it for the time being or not, any corrections needed can be done and no where is a bike like that going to turn up for $2500 at least that I have seen other then iron head sportys and basket cases, so to me if it runs I would still spend what I said $4500 and if the pics do not do it justice and it is actually nicer in person, maybe $5k. It's all about what someone enjoys doing I guess bro, we all get different things out of our bikes.

Oh btw ... I looked harder and it has a stock front caliber, you are right on the forward controls, I saw the pegs and took it for granted on a quick look, and I am starting to think that is a 200 rear and not a 250. So even in person I would look to stay as close as possible to $4500. Let me ask you something because you seem to know these year bikes. I never heard of the frame cracking before by the shock mount. You said the earlier years, do you mean the shovel head years or are you saying right up even to the earlier EVO years like this one? I am curious because I have been having second thoughts about the softail I am doing now and scrapping it for an FXR instead.

 

We have same the habits my friend I couldn't do stock if I had to on my own bike , the difference is I'm last stop for beat up bikes the shops won't touch anymore so maybe I'm a bit jaded with a more cynical eye for a beater . You see enough abused iron it gets to the point you can tell whats wrong with them a block away by the sound and how the guys riding it , I kid you not . Plus the guys all caps lock in the ad and no joke here everyone I've dealt with online and who has a bike who does that is a tweaker , I **** you not so another big red flag for me .

This kind of stuff was my life for a lotta yrs so I had to know my **** or lose my butt you know .

The Pythons & Cycle Shacks 2" tapered Turbo pipes are so close in looks it's hard to tell really the biggy was a couple hundred bucks in cost and I think the Cycle Shacks worked & fitted up better , take a close look at my rig those are C.S. 2"ers

 

Yeah I guess I can relate to that as I have only really been getting time in the garage recently after an 8 year hiatus so the stress factor of headache machines hasn't gotten to me yet and working on city buses and vehicles is more repetitive then ball breaking for me now. But I remember when I was in a resto shop and every damn bolt was a rotted headache making my tap and dye kit a much needed friend. So there is no doubt in your words... lol. Oh cool, check that out... yeah I would have sworn those were Pythons too.. lol.

 

City buses , those suck been there back in the 80's . My tap & die collection and the fugged up bolt remover assortment I have would give you a chubby guarantee it got be a couple grand there alone . LOL Check my photo albums in my profile , give you idea of where I'm at skill wise , I take proper tools very seriously .

 

would make a cool project bike

 

If I was going to spring $2500 - $3500 on a project bike I would much prefer this.
http://mohave.craigslist.org/mcy/2176331657.html

But that's me......others see more gold in the Bee then I do.

 

Not one to bag on peoples choice of how to customize their bike, but the "bumble bee" bike ain't my kind of bike.

 

loose the mirrors lift the tank bomb it, straight pipes it is what it is