Recently inherited my dad's bike. I know is a 77 shovel based on the vin stamp... maybe you can tell me what you see though. When I was a boy.... this thing used to shine a bright candy red. I like it how my dad rode it though. Not sure how much of it I should clean up. Runs strong and loud. Any info you can offer would be appreciated.

 

Its beautiful. Nice to be able to ride Dads bike.

It's in great shape. I'd clean it up, a lot. Original is the best look imo. But a little spit shine would do it good, and make pop proud.

 

Looks like a Lowrider with Buckhorn handlebars, a FLH style rear fender, mid foot contols changed to forward controls. The wheels, front end, tanks, gauges, outer primary cover and nose cone cover all appear to be FXS Lowrider. The vin will tell you what it started out as.

 

Thank you. Vin says 77FLH. But it has an assembled tag so I'm a little uncertain about it.

 

FLH frame has a floorboard mount under the nose cone all the FX bikes did not have - you could look for that

its a typical blended to taste mix of various years to fit a its mine kind of thing - from your explain of ownership keeping it a tribute to pop not much can be changed

but that is your call

 

Thanks for your reply. I'll look for the mount. I don't want to restore top OEM. Just not sure if I want to keep a little "crud" or polish and paint to make it look like it did when I first remember it.

 

make it sparkle it all by its self will go to the look it wants - your decision if it stays dirty

 

Clean what little chrome there is and wash and wax the paint. Clean it and ride it, Dad will be happy, Hell if you clean it, he might want it back.

 

looks good to me....i would just give it a good going over, then ride it a bit to see how it behaves before doing anything with the cosmetics...its a real pain to get things chromed and painted then to have to turn around and pull it all apart again.....enjoy!!

 

It looks pretty good to me, and a fun ride the way your dad wanted it. I'd keep it as-is and just give it a good cleaning and mechanical going-thru.