74 ironhead
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4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
74 ironhead
so i am thinking about buying this bike, guy was upfront and said that it needs a new carb and maybe the points and the battery are off, or out of whack. says she needs a new neck for the new carb that he does have. she rides well, sometimes sputters but is nice loud and and fun, leaks \\; oil, but what iron head doesnt, so not too worried about that, here are the details
1974 Harley Davidson Ironhead
1000CC bored to 1100
Harley Davidson Springer Front-End
Bobber Rear Fender
Springer Solo Seat
Electric &\\; Kick Start
4 Speed
what do you think
asking 6000 obo
thanks
1974 Harley Davidson Ironhead
1000CC bored to 1100
Harley Davidson Springer Front-End
Bobber Rear Fender
Springer Solo Seat
Electric &\\; Kick Start
4 Speed
what do you think
asking 6000 obo
thanks
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
RE: 74 ironhead
I cannot get your pic to open, so I cannot view the machine, but I will just tell you this....If my 1971 were for sale I would be asking $5000 for it, as pictured below in my signature. What do you think? Now, do you think the 1974 is really worth 6K?
pg
pg
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
RE: 74 ironhead
well he said obo, but i would say that she doesnt look as nice as yours but the springer front end, arent those expensive? do you think the work could be worth it? thanks for your help
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 905
Likes: 207
From: Minneapolis
RE: 74 ironhead
can't open the pic either but that price seems high
 \\;
I have shopped these bikes hard over the last year and something that has "some" problems (and who knows what the extent of the problems are) plus is patched together is not a 6K bike. \\; A springer on a sporty worries me as well since the kneck is 7/8ths and most quality springers are 1 inch. \\; I was unaware of any HD springers that fit a sporty.
 \\;
Pinion is about right for his bike, but that's what he feels it is worth. \\; You can go on eBay or Craigs list and find 5-10 ironheads that are in pretty darn good shape for 3K. \\; You'll find bike in the 2K range as well if you are willing to take a later 70s or early 80 ironhead.
 \\;
However, don\\;t let us turn you off from a classic ironhead
 \\;
I have shopped these bikes hard over the last year and something that has "some" problems (and who knows what the extent of the problems are) plus is patched together is not a 6K bike. \\; A springer on a sporty worries me as well since the kneck is 7/8ths and most quality springers are 1 inch. \\; I was unaware of any HD springers that fit a sporty.
 \\;
Pinion is about right for his bike, but that's what he feels it is worth. \\; You can go on eBay or Craigs list and find 5-10 ironheads that are in pretty darn good shape for 3K. \\; You'll find bike in the 2K range as well if you are willing to take a later 70s or early 80 ironhead.
 \\;
However, don\\;t let us turn you off from a classic ironhead
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
RE: 74 ironhead
sorry forgot to explain, the engine is the 74, the frame is a paugho w/ a springer front end
thanks for the help, i am interested, but i want a bike that runs and i can ride, not that i will be working on all of the time, but she is a beaut.... thanks again to both of you
thanks for the help, i am interested, but i want a bike that runs and i can ride, not that i will be working on all of the time, but she is a beaut.... thanks again to both of you
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 905
Likes: 207
From: Minneapolis
RE: 74 ironhead
so it's a rigid or a swing arm? \\; I think the 6K price range places you in a bigger ball park when it comes to bikes like this....the rigid frame plus springer is a great looking bike. \\; Keep in mind for 6K you can buy a lot of bikes and you could probably find a great deal on a big twin if you shop it hard. \\; Sportsters are great but 6K is a lot for something that you will most likely have to wrench on once a week. \\; Also, consider re-sale values here as well. \\; I know I'm being too logical but sometimes things don\\;t work out. \\; I won a big twin rigid as well as a 71 xlch. \\; I ride the xlch everyday but work on it every night. \\; I like that about the bike. \\; If you spend 6K and work on it every night will you still be happy riding it in the day?
 \\;
Anyway...have fun and offer the guy what you think it's worth after shopping craigs list and eBay.
[IMG]local://upfiles/14247/CA3099BFDEC94BE19CD25089332F1D05.jpg[/IMG]
 \\;
Anyway...have fun and offer the guy what you think it's worth after shopping craigs list and eBay.
[IMG]local://upfiles/14247/CA3099BFDEC94BE19CD25089332F1D05.jpg[/IMG]
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
RE: 74 ironhead
mahroney......
 \\;All I can do is give you my own opinion (quite bias I admit) but this is how I view a springer front end......It is not as good a ride as the standard front end that came on the bike. Installing a springer front end on a machine lowers the resale value instantly in my view.
It may look cool to those who like such looks, but it still lowers the resale value.
The best thing anyone can do when they install such an aftermarket item is to carefully store the original so that it may go back on the bike some day for resale.
 \\;Ask the man if he has the standard front end saved somewhere and will he throw that into the deal. I bet the answer is no on both accounts.
A new carb is going to cost you around $275 for a Bendix.
A battery is going to cost you.
Bored to 1100cc? All that tells me is the bike has been bored out so much that there is nothing left to bore. What does that mean the next time you need new pistons? Answer: It means you get to buy new cylinders along with the new pistons. New cylinders are no longer available (USA made) so you can only buy Asian made junk. That ain't gonna make you happy when the time comes.
A Sportster should not leak oil. Mine does not leak.
 \\;It leaked at one time but the reason was because it was not put together properly. I fixed that and now it no longer leaks. (past 8 years)
 \\;The engine should not sputter. That may or may not be due to the carb or points. This means it needs to be fixed.
That means you will have to spend $50(?) and get your self a factory repair manual because most shops are not going to work on a bike this old. You are better off doing your on work anyway because the shops are expensive and careless for the most part.
In summation, all this stuff costs money even if you do your own work. Some of us like doing the work and some do not. Some just want to ride all the time and an ironhead is not going to allow that to happen. You have to work on them all the time.
So, if you want the bike I would offer the guy $2750 take it or leave it if he does not have that original front end. That is going to leave you putting over 3K into the machine to get it running smooth and problem free.
If you are one who wants to ride 100% of the time, take the money and instead put it into a newer used big twin, either a shovel or an early Evo twin.............pg
 \\;All I can do is give you my own opinion (quite bias I admit) but this is how I view a springer front end......It is not as good a ride as the standard front end that came on the bike. Installing a springer front end on a machine lowers the resale value instantly in my view.
It may look cool to those who like such looks, but it still lowers the resale value.
The best thing anyone can do when they install such an aftermarket item is to carefully store the original so that it may go back on the bike some day for resale.
 \\;Ask the man if he has the standard front end saved somewhere and will he throw that into the deal. I bet the answer is no on both accounts.
A new carb is going to cost you around $275 for a Bendix.
A battery is going to cost you.
Bored to 1100cc? All that tells me is the bike has been bored out so much that there is nothing left to bore. What does that mean the next time you need new pistons? Answer: It means you get to buy new cylinders along with the new pistons. New cylinders are no longer available (USA made) so you can only buy Asian made junk. That ain't gonna make you happy when the time comes.
A Sportster should not leak oil. Mine does not leak.
 \\;It leaked at one time but the reason was because it was not put together properly. I fixed that and now it no longer leaks. (past 8 years)
 \\;The engine should not sputter. That may or may not be due to the carb or points. This means it needs to be fixed.
That means you will have to spend $50(?) and get your self a factory repair manual because most shops are not going to work on a bike this old. You are better off doing your on work anyway because the shops are expensive and careless for the most part.
In summation, all this stuff costs money even if you do your own work. Some of us like doing the work and some do not. Some just want to ride all the time and an ironhead is not going to allow that to happen. You have to work on them all the time.
So, if you want the bike I would offer the guy $2750 take it or leave it if he does not have that original front end. That is going to leave you putting over 3K into the machine to get it running smooth and problem free.
If you are one who wants to ride 100% of the time, take the money and instead put it into a newer used big twin, either a shovel or an early Evo twin.............pg
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