Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

1982 xlh

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 22, 2011 | 10:16 AM
  #1  
Rick7938's Avatar
Rick7938
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 324
Likes: 2
From: Near Fort Bragg, NC
Default 1982 xlh

I have a chance to buy a very nice, mostly stock 1982 XLH with 35K miles - Ironhead 1000cc, triple disks, speedo & tach, etc. All seems to work well, but I had an '82 many years ago, and for the life of me, I can't seem to remember if the bike was a PIA or a kitten. I've had so many, they all run together.

I'm planning on taking it to my local indy who is in the same town as the bike to see if he has serviced it and whether it is worth the $3K asking price.

Anyone have anything specific that they can remember about this vintage bike that may cause it to become a PIA? I'm only going to use it around town, because I don't remember any of my old Sporties being as dependable as my '06 Roadster.

Thanks for any feedback.
 
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2011 | 11:07 AM
  #2  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Default

Sounds as if you have already covered things! If you buy it post pics.
 
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2011 | 09:05 PM
  #3  
Rick7938's Avatar
Rick7938
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 324
Likes: 2
From: Near Fort Bragg, NC
Default

Took the bike to my local Indy this morning. Chief mechanic says don't touch at any price. He knew the bike and showed me where the frame had been cut and rewelded in the past for reasons unknown. He also said that the transmission starts making a lot of noise after it gets hot. As well, he showed me with a magnet that the tank and side covers had a lot of Bondo on them which was hidden by a few coats of beautiful Carolina Blue paint.

So, it's a NO GO.
 
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2011 | 01:59 AM
  #4  
Marty31's Avatar
Marty31
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 353
Likes: 17
From: Saratoga, New York
Default

It's nice to have a trusted mechanic who knows his ****.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
2012-Peanut
Sportster Models
21
May 6, 2026 11:15 PM
hobby10k
Flathead
24
Sep 19, 2017 11:44 AM
IronAss
General Harley Davidson Chat
14
Jul 20, 2012 05:34 PM
Erikh425
Ironhead
8
Jan 20, 2012 01:20 PM
hoofnhog
Sportster Models
3
Dec 20, 2007 09:14 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:31 PM.

story-0
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-6
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-7
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-8
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE