A thread to document my experiences with the 1983 FXDG.

I bought my first DG new off the showroom floor; at that time I ordered and bought selected spare parts i.e. decals, points cover, rear fender emblem, paint and belt guard. All never used. The original air cleaner was removed and filed away, along with the seat strap and owners manual.

On a trip in '84 the bike got knocked over and the paint got minor chips in a couple places. Insurance paid for a new front fender and new outter primary, both of which were never installed.

In '84 our local NHL team won the cup; during the ensuing riot several Harleys were stolen, including my DG.

I've had maybe 20 Harleys since then, and in 2010 came across a DG in decent shape, which I bought so my spare parts would have a home.

When the bike finally gets sold, or passed on, I'd like her to have as many original parts as possible to go with her. Not necessarily on the bike, but available should a future owner want to do a full restoration.

So I'm putting the DG back on the road my way... The maroon paint job may have worked for Willie G in '83, but it doesn't do it for me in 2011. She'll be black this time, with a few modern touches adding to the mix.

I'll add and update this thread over the life of the bike. She's almost ready for riding; I had to un-do some damage from previous owners, and the motor has yet to be refurbished, but she's 28 years old and waited this long...

Here's what I started with; the purple paint had to go:

 

These are a few of the parts:

 

I was scanning ebay yestrerday and scored a FXDG front brake rotor.




You can see it in the Easyriders layout when the bike first came out:



Interesting deal here is the rotor part number 44139-83 doesn't match what the parts book says.

The book says 44140-83, which is this rotor:




If I ever meet Willie G I'm going to ask him about this...

 

A points cover I had made:

 

Now that is pure beauty

 

Almost done

 

Wow, nice - I love your bike! One of the coolest HDs ever imo.
Great foresight to have picked up those parts back then. Nice you didn't ebay them off, and now they'll make it back onto an original.

Love to see more pics...

BTW, while you were picking up those parts in 83, you didn't happen to grab a spare Sturgis ham can did you?

 

Cheers cripula. No Sturgis parts, but I know where there's a original bike for sale with the breather. 10k.

The DG after it's shakedown ride:

 

Wasnt 84 the first year of the belt

 

My 81 twin belt Sturgis begs to differ

First belt (of the modern era...) was the 1980 FXB. Not sure when they moved the entire line to belts. I know the '84 softail was still a chain.