Hey guys, new to the forums and looking for some advice. So my dad recently bought a 2011 streetglide (think thats what it is) and he's been hastling me to buy a bike again to ride with him. I used to own a 2012 yamaha r1 but got rid of it 3 years after i bought it cause i needed an actual car. So now i've been looking into harleys mostly new ones cause they are beautiful but well out of my price range. Then i got thinking of getting something more vintage which i know can be alot of work. I recently found a 1973 shovelhead online for $8000 which looks clean in the pictures but who knows in person and i'm probably gonna go look at it but its in the getto(compton). So what i'm really asking is if something old like this would just be a terrible idea or not. Im sure i can talk down the price a bit but im just looking for some advice from someone with more experience with old harleys. Picture is the bike.

 

If you're wanting to to ride with your dad on his new one, I'd suggest staying away from the Shovel. You can find plenty of late model Evo's and early twin Cams for the same and in many cases less money.

Not saying the shovel isn't worth it but it's not going to keep up with anything a new bike on the highways.

If you guys are just going to putt around the hills and back roads and you are cool with doing preventive maintenance, I say go for it. It's a damn fine looking scooter.

Good luck.

 

That shovelhead will be a good learning experience for you.

 

They're both right but if you want to do more riding and less learning at the start go with a newer machine as suggested. Lots of good buys around. Evos run forever (I had a 92 and a 97). For long trips I've now got an 11 SG. My 81 and 83 are usually for less than 250 miles (too hard on my 65 year old back).

 

That's a lot for a Shovel, even by California pricing. Think I would keep looking. If you go and you do not have a lot of knowledge, take someone with you who does so that you ask the right questions and get the right answers.

And as has been mentioned, EVO models are damn near bulletproof and are more plentiful and a lot cheaper

 

Thanks you for the replies. Do you guys happen to know the cruising speed on a shovel? I like the looks of the older bikes and the idea that I can work on it myself without being a mechanic. I'm not to worried about speed as long as I can cruise on the freeway at like 70. The Yamaha I had got the speed out of my system. Guess another added bonus would be my dad's a new rider and he's always coming home saying his buddies are speed freaks and this would slow him down too. I just wanna cruise around. I don't think I would go on any rides over 200 miles both ways anyway. I'll definitely look into the evos aswell.

 

How much do you know about Harley's ?

 

You can cruise 70 MPH all day long on a Shovel, and enjoy doing it even on the interstate. Way to many riders today think you gotta be doing 80 and actually they do not enjoy the leisurely travel that slowing down a little can provide.

 

I avoid cruising above 65 mph on my 83. Not that it can't, just being gentle.

 

not too much. Just started doing research.