Here is a great place to read learn and see some Awesome pics of the legendary Harley-Davidson Ironhead sportster.
Built from 1957 until 1985.
http://www.sporty-ironheads.com/

 

Nice!

On a technical note, the last year for IronHead production was 1985. 1986 was the first year Evolution ...

 

Yes 86 was the first year of the evo Sportsters but the Ironhead XLH 1000 was still available in 1986 so technically the last year the Ironhead was offered at Harley dealers.

1986 XLH 1000
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=JNHxp...%3DJNHxprhgfuo

 

Very Cool pic of Willie G. Davidson
I wanted an Ironhead so bad before I bought my evo a good friend & hotrod buddy of mine talked me right out of the Iron but in all honesty they are more Cool than any evo could be.
Here is a BadA$$ 1975 93 cubic inch XLH
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=3jAjJsG0T0o

 

Yeah, but that still doesn't make one sold in 1986 an '86 model. No matter when Harley sold them, they were leftover '85 (or earlier) models.

 

Says Who? http://m.articlesbase.com/motorcycle...ad-751797.html

 

That article says they were built until 1986, not through 1986. Semantics aside, look at any real Harley-Davidson literature, such as the factory parts book and shop manual, and they all go through 1985. There is no such model as a 1986 1000cc XL.

Way back, Honda was bad at selling leftovers with paperwork listing them as current models. I got a brand new Honda 350 in the fall 1f 1969, and the registration papers said it was a 1970 model. It clearly wasn't, as the 1970 models had different paint and a few other appearance/mechanical changes. Anytime I needed parts for it, I had to buy parts made for a '69. The difference between a 1985 and a 1986 Sportster is a lot more than paint...the engine is different. The only 1986 model Sportsters are Evos.

 

+1

So one guy makes an error and writes 1986. Look at every IronHead history site and you will see 1985 as that last year for IronHeads, 1986 as the first year for Evolution engines.

You would think Buzz Kanter and American Iron Magazine would know better. Regardless, that article is clearly wrong on this point.

 

Ok I went ahead and changed the date from 1986 to 1985 so people can have the correct information.
I did some extensive research last night and you guys are right 1985 was indeed the last production year of the Ironhead engine.
A sad day in Harley history.
You cant help but Love these bikes.

 

+1

There is nothing, absolutely nothing, like the look, sound and feel of original Harley Davidson Iron.