Aside from the front end, What are the major differances between an FL and an FX?

 

Horn location. On a '76 FXE frame the horn had a mount tab on the left down tube at the front of the frame instead of the left side between the cylinders. Most any other difference would have been bolt on options such as tins, seat or pegs.

 

shovel pat, there are many, too much to detail here actually. There is a very good book on the shovels from 66-84. It is titled, "Harley Davidson Shovelhead". Author is Tom Myrphy. 128 pages, all color and loaded with details. He spends 44 pages on the FX series and covers changes from the 71-84.

 

Thanks Panz4ever! Just wonderin about interchangeability. I'll be checkin that out.

 

I believe FL is more the 'touring' type eg, fairing,floorboards, hard bags.
FX is more sporty, but can be used for longer trips also. I have a "81 FXWG. It does twistys excellant, can carry my wife and I on a two week trip, I carry a T-Bag and saddle bags for storage

 

panz4ever,

Look nothing personal just here is another opinion on the book, reviews are reviews just like the movies : - )


"I read this book a few years ago when it first appeared.Shortly thereafter I wrote some notes on it and here they are.Keep in mind that I rode Shovelhead powered bikes for several years and I,for lack of a better word loved them.I learned all I could about them and looked forward to reading this book because it was a "tribute" to something I felt so strongly about.The book has some wonderful pictures of some beautiful bikes.That is its strong point.Much of the captions accompanying the photos leave a lot to be desired.The author attempts to explain things in his tongue-in-cheek manner and fails to explain anything.There's a lot of "ooohing and ahhing"over the bikes without telling the reader much.The author lists model designations and production figures yet doesn't even bother to explain what all those designations mean.Some models(the belt drive FLH for example) are left out entirely.

The book is basically divided into two parts,"The FL series" and "The FX series",of Shovelheads.Much of the book is devoted to the FL series.Yet for all the space used on FLs,it could've been more informative.Basically,the FX series of HD bikes(Superglide,Low Rider,etc.)helped turn Harley Davidson's fortunes around from financial ruin to where they are today.But the author mentions little of this and less still on these bikes that had so much to do with HD's sucess.What he does say is filled with misinformation.He presents us with photos of "stock" motorcycles that have been obviously modified.He states certain model changes occurred certain years and he's wrong.Not only that but in one photo he states the "boattail-looking"rear fender on a 1971 Superglide was a one year only deal.The photo is of an original Superglide with said fender at a bike show.In plain view on the display card in front of said bike it describes it as a 1972 model.This among other things is why I found this book so disappointing,almost offensive.For such an exciting period in Harley Davidson's history,this book severely lacks in content,accuracy and presentation.A final thought.The author waxes warmly on his personal bike,a Shovelhead powered FXRS.He talks it up as such a smooth riding machine by HD standards(and they are).He says he'll always keep it.He then goes on to say that he regrets he may have to sell it to finance a new "dresser" for those long trips!What of the smoothness and rideability he just mentioned?From my personal experience,an FXR is every bit the equal of a full dressed HD and more so.The author falls between praising his bike then backhandedly slighting it causing one to not only wonder about his dedication to his bike but in the context of this book,the subject at hand,Shovelheads. To see something that I had consciously "studied" for so long misrepresented,while having been passionately involved with it pained me then(and still does now.)In advertisements for the book,it stated the author's involvement with Shovelheads goes back to 1969.If that's true,he should've payed more attention to what was going on.By the way,I hear the author now rides a Buell... "

http://www.amazon.com/Harley-Davidso.../dp/0760301646

 

cj slowdown...not a problem. That's what makes this a very cool forum. Having never owned a shovel (just pans since 1970), I picked up the booka few years back to get some info about the shovel years. Can you recommend any books on shovels?. 90% of my reading, manuals, parts books are on pans. Doesn't appear to be a great written/devoted to the shovel years or am I just looking in the wrong places.

 

I guess we are alike in this one, I too have shop manuals, parts book, interchangeable parts guide, I brought a Shovelhead Performance book about 6 years ago, but that’s it, don’t have any coffee table shovel books, (not that there is something wrong with them) I did a search came up with the small list below and link, I guess if people find one they like, just do a search on that title or just go to amazon,com for a re-view, the only review I would like is do they have the “facts right” everyone can have pictures but it’s the facts IMO that count.

Ride safe panz,

cj


ps: Too bad these guys are out of bis. I bet they kick some a$$ !!

Please note that Panzer Motorcycle Works is no longer in business
http://www.panhead.com/Welcome.html


Original Harley-Davidson Panhead

By Greg Field, MBI publishing. Whether you own a Springer, a Duo-Glide, Hydra-Glide or Electra-Glide, your Panhead deserves the best! Restore it to 100% originality with exiting guidance from restoration expert Greg Fleld, Exceptionally detailed color photo-graphs guide you through each critical restor-ation process step-by-step. Serial and engine numbers, paint, trim, options, and technical fer-tures are detailed every step of the way. Insure the originality of your prized collectible by imple-menting the time-tested techniques presented throughout this essential volume. Hardcover, 9"x 12", 128pg $34.95

Classic Harley Big Twins
By Greg Field and Tom Murphy, MBI Publishing. Three previous motorcycle color histories - Harley-Davidson Knuckleheads, Harley-Davidson Panheads and Harley-Davidson Shovelheads - are combined into one volume to provide a giant, colorful retrospective of Harley-Davidson's classic "cylinderhead" models. Marvelous modern color photography and a huge gallery of archival images depict examples of each model and variant, while an authoritative text reveals all the engineering and design breakthroughs, performance specifications, boardroom battles, maketing strategies and competition histories.
Paperback, 8-1/4"x 10-5/8", 384pg $24.95

Harly-Davidson : In The 1960s
[font="times new roman"][size=3]By Allan Girdler and Jeff Hackett, MBI Publising. This book chronicles such classic 1960s Harley-Davidson motorcycles as the XLCH Sportsters, Duo Glides, Electra Glides, Aeronautica Macchi models, Panheads, and Shovelheads, Special attention is give

 

Interchangeable Parts guide is exactly what I was looking for. Is it an HD pub? If not can you share info? Thanks for the valueable input, Pat

 

Pat, no its not a HD pub it is small (in size) like 8” X 10” approx well under a 100 pages, I will get it the next time I am up Bills, (loan it too him) I can give you the name and who wrote it or give me something I can check out for you.

later,

cj