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I've been getting a lot of good info from the 80-82 Harley Sturgis FXB Facebook group and have found a bunch of parts there and on eBay so far.
Here's the list at the moment:
Correct/original dash/gauges (my tachometer was a reproduction, and the dash was chrome and probably aftermarket).
Correct/original tank cover/bib
Low-mile takeoff wheelset (estate sale)
All correct/original footpegs and foot controls in decent to great shape, original parts (including the chrome caps)
Original #1 logo points cover
Correct sissy bar and NOS backrest pad
Correct handgrips (NOS throttle side, left grip taken from my '82 Ironhead project)
and a nifty YOM plate (we can run them on vehicles over 35 years old in NC)
In addition to the drill damage on the rear fender that will need to be welded, I determined that the tanks are aftermarket and goofy-shaped. There is no way the dash will ever line up correctly, so I'll have to replace those, which means paintwork & correct tank logos in the future. When that happens, a bunch of faded black brackets and easily removed parts will come off to go to powdercoat (both satin and gloss black, as well as textured coat for dash components)
With that in mind, I decided to omit the tank cover for now and ride the bike for a while, whilst I collect parts. Still looking for a correct set of turn signals, and just learned that my brake light lens is incorrect as well.
Here are some photos from last week (ignore my shithole shop, I know it's a wreck)
These are the incorrect signals on the rear - they are newer 2-wire signals, with red lenses because they work as brake & tail lights via an aftermarket module that I found under the seat. I don't hate that idea, especially now that I have the system working correctly (needed a flasher relay), but since this bike is ultimately to be restored, I'll probably move these to my Ironhead project when I find original replacements.
You can see the incorrect brake light lens here as well (should have a clear panel where the ribbed area is, like my Ironhead has). I stole the rectangular flasher relay from the Ironhead to fix the Sturgis, and will need to buy some reproductions to have on hand (the larger round relays don't fit in the factory holder in the headlamp).
I'm not sure how many photos I can put in a post, so I'm breaking this up.
When I decided to correct the dash fitment, it looked like this:
After a bunch of head scratching and feedback from the FB group, I started measuring to eliminate any weird mounting/gaps between the frame and dash
The first measurement is correct, the second is way off.
Also, the tanks are shimmed absurdly - but the real evidence was the crossover line nipples at the bottom of the tanks - the factory has a 90 degree bend, these are straight down. Chinese tanks, I'm guessing.
I have a line on a pair of factory (not FXB) tanks for a good price, so it's getting tanks. In the meantime, I'm just running ugly without the trim piece.
And second, I found out that my vented outer primary cover IS a HD part - from when they were trying to cure the primary belt failures back in the day. So, it's staying - but I'm going to have it coated black and run the correct finned derby cover for the proper look at a glance. Pretty cool bit of history, though.
Whatever it Takes to Not put any strain on Tank Tabs...they fail soon enough.. Besides visually lining **** up!!
Edit; BTW, I take a wrap of electrical tape around those "stacks"... Instant Spacer!!!
Last edited by Racepres; Nov 21, 2025 at 03:51 PM.
Hi Keith,
I remember the FXB-80 "Sturgis" quite well from those years. Our german Harley friend Armin switched from his civilian-trimmed HD 45" to a brand new, deep black "Sturgis", the 1980 first model.
That was his first HD Big Twin motorcycle, and even back then a very rare bike.
I still have some old literature about the FXB models, for example the old HD brochures from the early 1980s; I could scan the pages if you're interested...
There is a good paperback book with old test reports and many technical details about these FX variants; an excerpt from the book is attached:
The best of luck with your restoration project, please keep the interested community posted with your progress!
Greetings from Germany!
Mike
PS The jet-black motorcycle was a real hit back then; unfortunately, many originals were modified with polish and chrome – an unforgivable mistake, but that's how it was back then, sadly...
PSS Attached a picture of one of the paperback books from the 1980s, well recommended:
Several articles about the 1980-FXB Sturgis in this volume, recommended, for a owner, a must have.
Last edited by Mike1956G; Nov 22, 2025 at 10:56 AM.
Whether all these bikes were still AMF back then, or no longer AMF, was of no concern to us.
That wasn't even a discussion in this country; the motorcycles ran, they were reliable, and still reasonably affordable, nothing else mattered.
When I first saw an XR1000 in the 1980s, I went completely crazy, but unfortunately I didn't have the money. The motorcycle was sitting unused at our Harley-Davidson dealer, unsellable for around 19.000,- Deutsche Marks.
Link: https://nationalmcmuseum.org/2020/05...vidson-xr1000/
Those are mistakes I regret today, but it's too late. As the salesman in the Harley shop in Verden said back then:
"Mike, the best investment in the future, this motorcycle will become very rare, you should buy it!"
Mike
Last edited by Mike1956G; Nov 22, 2025 at 10:18 AM.
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