Shovelhead advise requested
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Shovelhead advise requested
Looking for my first bike and love the old school look. I found a 83 FLH. From what I have read this is the last year of the Shovelhead. I have been asking around and get different answers every time. Can anyone help? I am wondering what are the good and bad of owning a Shovelhead? It has 33000 original miles, the owner says it runs perfectly and the bike looks great! The problem I run into is I know nothing about bikes as far as maintenance is concerned and I dont have the money to be throwing away all the time to fix possible problems an older bike may have. Is there anyone out there that can tell me how reliable the shovelheads are? It is a 5 speed and I think that is the beginning of Harley 5 speeds as well. Was there any problems with them? Any info would be greatly appreciated. I am looking forward to any help you can give. Also, I am currently deployed and will have to have a friend look at the bike for me if I want to buy it. What should he be looking at as far as possible problems? Here is a pic of the bike so you can take a look. Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thanks again
[IMG]local://upfiles/6902/314F6F959C78405D94983EC54C8F8F50.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/6902/314F6F959C78405D94983EC54C8F8F50.jpg[/IMG]
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,371
Likes: 11
From:
RE: Shovelhead advise requested
You said:
"The problem I run into is I know nothing about bikes as far as maintenance is concerned and I dont have the money to be throwing away all the time to fix possible problems an older bike may have".
I would strongly recomend you not buy this bike if this statment is true even though shovels are very easy to work on.The bike is25 years old. Any old machine will tend to give you problems. You may want to look at a Evo, in fact you should be able to get Evo cheaper then a shovel and it is a little better built. I look at Shovels as awsome second, or low milage bikes. More collectors items then bikes you can run 20,000 miles a year on.
Damn...that bike is sweet.How much is he asking?33,000 tends to be a lot of miles on the orginal top end. Does the engine burn oil?How about a compression test? Any smoking? It may be getting close to needing a top end. These shovels are hit and mis, some seem to go very high miles on the orginal engine and other not. The late model shovels tend to be rather good.It will almost certly leak, not a big deal. The tranny should be fine.
"The problem I run into is I know nothing about bikes as far as maintenance is concerned and I dont have the money to be throwing away all the time to fix possible problems an older bike may have".
I would strongly recomend you not buy this bike if this statment is true even though shovels are very easy to work on.The bike is25 years old. Any old machine will tend to give you problems. You may want to look at a Evo, in fact you should be able to get Evo cheaper then a shovel and it is a little better built. I look at Shovels as awsome second, or low milage bikes. More collectors items then bikes you can run 20,000 miles a year on.
Damn...that bike is sweet.How much is he asking?33,000 tends to be a lot of miles on the orginal top end. Does the engine burn oil?How about a compression test? Any smoking? It may be getting close to needing a top end. These shovels are hit and mis, some seem to go very high miles on the orginal engine and other not. The late model shovels tend to be rather good.It will almost certly leak, not a big deal. The tranny should be fine.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 260
Likes: 1
From: Missoula MT
RE: Shovelhead advise requested
That is one nice looking scoot, what are they asking for it? I think the price could be a factor. If you can get it for a good price, you can't go to far wrong. Shovels are just like everything else, it depends on how it has been taken care of in the past. I would agree it is getting close to needing a top end, any way of finding out if any work has been done on it? Ask for receipts, etc. Even so, a top end is not that big a deal. Go and buy a Harley service manual for it and learn to work on it yourself, shovels are relatively easy to work on. As far as classic iron, it doesn't get much better than that, I would guess you would love that scoot! JMHO, YMMV, etc.
Bob
Bob
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
RE: Shovelhead advise requested
Thanks for all of your advise! He is asking $9500.00 firm. He says "it runs like a top" and the engine has never been touched. Original miles. He has changed the seat and thats all I know for upgrades. I have looked at a couple of other bikes but cant tell what is upgraded and what is original. One guy says its an FLHT because of the 5 speed instead of 4 speed. Also, the owner says it has rubber mounted engine? I thought that was a later year for HD? Any more info or suggestions would be appreciated. Here is another pic from the other side.
Thanks
[IMG]local://upfiles/6902/71BE09AA77EA43EDB6576FB580FCBFA4.jpg[/IMG]
Thanks
[IMG]local://upfiles/6902/71BE09AA77EA43EDB6576FB580FCBFA4.jpg[/IMG]
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,371
Likes: 11
From:
RE: Shovelhead advise requested
My HD history site says:
1980 First FLT which had a rubber mounted engine.
So yes, I think he is correct. $9500 is a fair price I think. Most Shovels I see are 7K-9K with the FLs being around $9K and the Fxs around 7K.I say go for it. See if you can find a local shovel mechanic should you have any problems. The dealers wont touch a shovel, so you are not going to get any help from them.Most people on here can also help you shouldyou haveany problems.If you dont like it, they are not that hard to sell. The shovel with drag pipes is the best sounding "bark" you will ever hear!!!
1980 First FLT which had a rubber mounted engine.
So yes, I think he is correct. $9500 is a fair price I think. Most Shovels I see are 7K-9K with the FLs being around $9K and the Fxs around 7K.I say go for it. See if you can find a local shovel mechanic should you have any problems. The dealers wont touch a shovel, so you are not going to get any help from them.Most people on here can also help you shouldyou haveany problems.If you dont like it, they are not that hard to sell. The shovel with drag pipes is the best sounding "bark" you will ever hear!!!
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 377
Likes: 3
From: Canada
RE: Shovelhead advise requested
I gave my opinion over in the touring section, but it's worth noting that in the for sale section there's an '01 95" Road King with 11,000 miles on it going for $1500 more than this shovel.
Trending Topics
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 64
From: SoCal
RE: Shovelhead advise requested
Buying anything that is used, not viewed personally (you say a friend is looking at it for you), with a questionable budget to support it is a BAD idea. Used machinery has higher odds of failure, not knowing much about what you are buying is always a crap shoot and if you're not fairly certain that you will have sufficient dough to fix it if it breaks down (and something on it is bound to break) you may wind up with an expensive "garage ornament."
That said, I like shovelheads and I'd be very interested in that bike if I was looking for one. I would not buy it if I could not be right there to see, hear and maybe have the owner give me a ride on it, as well as talk to the owner about the bike and try to get a feel for how honest he/she is and learn where the bike received service. Low mileage is a good thing BUT the gaskets and seals on it are 25 years old and sitting static (even in a garage) can be tougher on them than if the bike was regularly ridden. With only 33,000 miles on it, that bike sat still a lot. I'd also be very concerned about the condition of the tires. If you're going to buy it, check the tires for cracking in the rubber from age and stitting still.
I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide.
That said, I like shovelheads and I'd be very interested in that bike if I was looking for one. I would not buy it if I could not be right there to see, hear and maybe have the owner give me a ride on it, as well as talk to the owner about the bike and try to get a feel for how honest he/she is and learn where the bike received service. Low mileage is a good thing BUT the gaskets and seals on it are 25 years old and sitting static (even in a garage) can be tougher on them than if the bike was regularly ridden. With only 33,000 miles on it, that bike sat still a lot. I'd also be very concerned about the condition of the tires. If you're going to buy it, check the tires for cracking in the rubber from age and stitting still.
I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 64
From: SoCal
RE: Shovelhead advise requested
wrtnaz, Also consider that since the bike sat static a lot the internals of the engine, primary, transmission and brake system may have damage from moisture build-up over the years. Not a lot of people know it but it used to be recommended that DOT-3 brake systems get flushed every two years to get contaminates out of the system.