Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

I am looking into getting a 1975 1000cc sportster but the first thing I heard someone say is that those engines are not good when it comes to long highway trips. The longest I would be doing is 400 miles in a weekend (200 miles on both Friday and Sunday). Can this engine handle it or should I look for something else?

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

I know my '74 can handle the miles/hours. It's more a question of can your butt handle the beating. For some reason (and a friend who owns a '69 agrees with me) our old Ironheads ride like a meatwagon.

I personally would say go for it, I've put upwards of 150 on at a crack (in between changing my constantly fouled rear plug<g>) and haven't noticed any problems with the motor.

Wolf

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

cstiver.......Ol' wolf is correct. The engine will have no more problems than any other model. The problem is going to be your numb butt after about 150 miles. Another issue if you have the 2.2 gallon gas tank will be the need to stop many times for fuel on such a long ride. However, that helps the butt gain some feeling, albeit slight.
The longest ride I can remember doing on my '71 Sporty was something like 500 miles. I thought I would never recover from that one! I was also much younger at that time, so I figure had I been older, then I would have been smart enough to get a hotel room for the night and break up the ride into a 2 day affair.
To compare, I have ridden my TwinCam88 500 miles in a day, but I was ready to get off it after that trip and yes, my butt was numb as well.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

In my opinion its not the motor that will restrict you from highway speeds its how the transmission is geared....its the same thing with the evo sporties too....the 4 speed just wasnt meant to do highway speeds

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

Rode my 1974 from Phoenix to Orange County once. Went via Yuma and San Diego. The bike did not skip a beat. I was younger then so it didn't bother me much either. Except for the huge bug that hit me dead in the forehead at 70 mph. Ouch.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

As a follow up question, How many miles should one get inbetween rebuilds?

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

My motor is over 35000 now and still running good id say id at least get 50 out of it

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

I just road my 77 ironhead on a 260 mile trip, all went well except for I lost my speedo cable half way back. only filled up once on the trip. left with a full tank, and put six bucks in on the way back. good ride. throttle hand fell asleep a few times though.. you gotta get em out and run em hard for a bit. get all the crap out.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

As some others said, the length of the ride will be more likely determined by the rider's ability to handle it. I have a 1976 XLCH that I've ridden across the USA a few times, and make regular 500+ mile (one way) runs. So far, it's got just over 300,000 miles on it (3 rebuilds and annual top end jobs) and she's still running strong. If it's built and maintained properly, then you won't have any problems. An oil cooler is a good idea, though. Make sure it has a thermostat so it doesn't get the oil TOO cool (under 160 deg).

The best thing about them is if something breaks on the road, it's usually easy to fix. If your points crap out, you can use older 6-cyl Chevy points. Actually, that's all I run in mine. They are cheap and very reliable. I was even able to fix a cylinder base gasket leak on the NY State Thruway once using an inner flap from my saddle bags. You don't need to carry many tools to tear into the bike if you need to. I used a hose clamp to compress the rings. I always carry one with me now.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

I've put over 10K miles on my '75 XLH. The motor was well loved before I got it. A valve job has been done recently but motor and tranny are fine. If you check all adjustments before a long trip (pionts, chains, push rods) then go for it. My gearing is for better highway rpm. 21 tooth trans sprocket / 52 tooth on brake drum. If I had disc brakes on the rear I would have more chioces. It runs 70 mph @ just over 3500 rpm. Try to run over 4500 rpm long and it feels like 2 chainsaws fighting under the seat. Over 45 mpg highway riding 2 up. Get the Ironhead....be ready for lots of little maintenance items.........Ironheads need loving homes too.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

why not? Rode one from coast to coast, Canada/Alaska line to Ecuador back in the mid 60's. Wouldn't want to do it now, it would wear my butt out. I'd do it on a Glide now.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

I rode my 76 from Columbus, Ga to Fairbanks, AK, and back. I also did a coast to coast and back trip on it about 4 years later. Just take care of it and it will take care of you. I was much younger (16-20 vs 40 now), and lighter (170 vs 270) than I am now. If I had to, I would still ride it a long way. I will leave that up to the teenage son, though. I like my radio and saddlebags too much.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

last spring I rode 300 miles straight at 80 mph down the interstate, made it fine, next went home the same way

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

comon dustin, that sporty tank ain't that big. you had to stop for gas.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

ok fine, I had to stop, just once though. ok maybe twice (each way :D)

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

Just got back from STURGIS!!!! I put on over 1300 miles thurs.-sun. just had to adjust a pushrod that I should of done before I left, otherwise it was great.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

NICE . How many mile a day to get you into the Iron Butt club?

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

LoL guess that answers that question then don't it?

Wow, yer a better person than I am Gunga Din.

Wolf, makes my butt hurt just thinking of those kinda miles

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

I will second Wolf on that one! My cap is off to you for that ride........pg

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

thanks, I sure was sore on monday though :)

it takes 1,000 well recorded miles in a day for the iron butt. too much record keeping for me to try. when you stopped for gas you have to take a planned route etc. If I could just go ride 1000 miles then I'd think about it.

oh yeah I went through at least 3 tanks of gas a day with a 3.5 gal tank got about 120 miles off a tank

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

The longest ride I've taken on my '83 was 400 miles in a weekend. A good seat, comfortable bars, and a 23/48 sprocket combo helps. The 23 hurts acceleration a little, but REALLY lowers the rpm's at highway speeds.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

With my old -74 ironhead I rode 580 miles on weekend, no problems... just check everything before you go.
I was riding about 50-70 mph and mandatory pit stops for refueling after 100-120 miles.
I didn't even take any tools with me ( I don't count letterman supertool )

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

I rode my 72 RIGID from OKC to Daytona last year, a little over 1300 miles each way with no big issues, I have a Crane HI-4 so no points issues, I lost my tag somewhere in TX, but thats it..... well besides no feeling in my butt after about 5 hours, made it down there in 2 1/2 days, back in 2.... left on Thursday morning got there Sat about 3 in the afternoon, left the following friday night and got back sunday night, I also rode it to Vegas 3 years ago on its maiden voyage so to speak after I got it 1150 miles, I left OKC at 6 am on Friday and only stopping for gas, I was in Vegas at 10 PM Friday night....... I decided then that I would not ride that far in that short time ANYMORE... it wore my A$$ out. Get yoou Ironhead and ride the hell out of it, you'll never regret it

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

What do you think people did in 1975, ride a Honda?:D

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

I was going 70 to 90 Kmiles between topend rebuilds on my '76 and the bottomend was good for about 5 topends. And, that was an XLCH with no oil filter!

As for long rides, I rode it to pretty much every major run on the west coast and to the Yuma Prison run, usually with a passenger with little or no trouble.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

I've done quite a few 300 mile a day trips on my 79. I'm usually pretty sore afterward and my legs feel like jello. If you want to do some long freeway trips consider changing out the drive sprocket and rear sprocket to get you better rpms at high speeds.

RE: Are Ironheads up for long highway rides?
 

If the bike is in good shape you should be able to ride it as long as your but will let you.
I rode a '62 Triumph 650 as my only transportation for 2 yrs and during the summer I would ride it 500-600 miles on the weekends, everyone told me "you can't ride a triumph on the freeway" it held up just fine. The motor co. sold the sportster (XLH)with a touring package in the 60's and early 70's. so the factory figured that it was ok to tour on.