1980 Superglide

[Dave Swanson]

Un-butchered early Superglides are quite rare these days.   5 years ago I picked up this 1980 FXE 1200 locally.

It was a very original unit with 11,000 miles

The FXE 1200 was the Biscayne Chevy of the Harley big twin line up.  The cheapest set up from a Sportster.  It has very little in adornments which I like.  I also am a fan of the serpentine exhaust. 

The bike had received the typical treatment of having all references to AMF eliminated by having the AMF- Harley tank decal removed and replaced with a similar decal but without the AMF.  I searched for a year for a correct set of decals.  The search was made more difficult because the decal with the AMF attached has the same part number as the one without.

Before



After



The outer primary had some damage and was replaced with NOS. I could tell when I took the old outer primary off that it was for the first time.

The exhaust header was fairly rusty and was replaced with a new "take off" unit that was a definite improvement, although not perfect.

The slip on muffler was replaced with a NOS factory muffler.

The bike was given a thorough service while on the lift.

The only non-stock item that I chose to add is a Pingle fuel valve. I have the original packed away, but I like knowing the fuel valve will never leak.

[Dave Swanson]

This is what it looked like the day I bought it.  It was a very nice, but had the niggles mentioned above.  For those that know me, you know I could never let those niggles go...   

[cliffrod]

Great looking shovel, Dave.

Harley had a number of identical part numbers for different parts.  Not sure how much of an issue it was when bikes were relatively new, but it can make chasing bits now a real challenge.

[Zoom Zoom]

Very nice.

John Henry

[Lannis]

This is what it looked like the day I bought it.  It was a very nice, but had the niggles mentioned above.  For those that know me, you know I could never let those niggles go...   

I've always liked those early-but-not-too-early Superglides.

The originals, with drum brakes and an unmodified Sportster front end grafted onto what was exactly a stripped Electra-Glide frame, were pretty awful to ride, at least the ones I rode.   Wobbly, wouldn't stop, vibrated like paint shakers.  Even 9 years of development got most of that fixed ....

Lannis

[Two Checks]

Something about the old Shovel....don't know what it is.


Keep an eye on the cam bearing. Somewhat of a weak spot as I understand.

[Joliet Jim]

Always liked the original glide or at least what it looked like when i was starting out riding. With that big massive 1200cc engine.

Very nice job

[JJ]

OK - now that is just one, beautiful, classic Harley.  I'd have no problem owning / riding one like this!!

[twodogs]

I bought the 79 fxef, f for fat bob tank in 81 with 3000 original 1 owner miles in root beer brown, put well over 100000 miles on that old superglide, your 80 is a nice one for sure 

[ozarquebus]

My first REAL bike was  a 78 Japanese "Bowling Ball" Superglide 1200 in the late 80s in beer bottle brown and it had the Fat Bob 5 gallon twin tanks. Had to rebuild heads and put in new rings at 27,000 miles. Ran well for a short time after installing Rivera SU carb solid lifters and aluminum push rods and drag pipes. Bought a good complete low miles rear head for $60 from Cycle ReCycle when old one cracked the valve guide.
 It had an electrical gremlin I never found which randomly killed the ignition and the starter button was bad so I installed a hidden heavy duty push button switch to short across the starter relay. Then the ignition circuit went out and I had to install a hidden hot wire switch for that. Previous owner had to replace electronic points module. Turnsignals stopped working, so I just removed them. Had to install an oil cooler to stop overheating in summer traffic. Leaked about an ounce of oil everytime it was parked. Ran 60 weight or heavier oil to slow down the hemorrhaging.  Turned off chain olier to slow oil leakage.
 I hit a curb with rear wheel and learned how to replace a rim and re-lace a wheel on that one. The clutch slipped at top speed and you couldn't do a burn out either because of that. Never got around to replacing clutch.
 Easy to work on, but always working on it. It was a crummy bike in retrospect even when compared to a Guzzi. Vibration caused numbness in arms requiring long stops every 50 miles. That was my first and last hog, but at least it looked cool parked. It took me a long time. but sold it in 1991 for $2K.
Replaced it with a new 1985 K100RT "Flying Brick". It was ten times the bike of that Superglide and ran 40,000 miles without a glitch besides the heat shield on the muffler falling off.

[LowRyter]

Almost forgotten what a Harley used to look like.  Black.  Chrome. 

[redrider90]

I've always liked those early-but-not-too-early Superglides.

The originals, with drum brakes and an unmodified Sportster front end grafted onto what was exactly a stripped Electra-Glide frame, were pretty awful to ride, at least the ones I rode.   Wobbly, wouldn't stop, vibrated like paint shakers.  Even 9 years of development got most of that fixed ....

Lannis

Everything you said and more Lannis. My new 72 FX (sans boat tail) was "THE" worst MC ever made. But reading HD's version of that bike Willie Davidson was a genius when he "designed" that bike. Some design as like you said it literally was a striped down Electric Glide with a very weak lowly Sportster front end. I vividly remember chasing (stupidly) a friend on a Triumph Tiger through southern Indian on the way to the flat track races in Louisville. He dusted me in a down hill left hand decreasing radius  and I was dragging the clutch cover on the pavement as it started shaking and wobbling. I was picking the tree I thought I was going to hit but somehow pulled it through the curve. Not because I new what I was doing :). My friend had pulled over waiting for me and we talked for a moment and decided to slow down.

[Dave Swanson]

Just got back from a short shakedown ride.  This thing runs fantastic.  Very smooth in its happy spot ~2500 rpm. 

[BillinPA]

Very nice, like the others you post!!!

[JJ]

Another classic Superglide, the 1971-FX, with the fiberglass boat-tail rear!! 

A buddy of mine rode one in high school.  Always a BIG HIT!!

[Motormike]

That bike is gorgeous.  As you said, stock un-molested Harley shovels are rare as hens teeth.  Trophy winner for sure. 

[kingoffleece]

I had that 71 boattail superglide.  Like a lot of idiots the first thing we did was trow the tail away and chop the bike.  Little did we know.............
I also bought the first year FRX SuperGlide with the rubber mount motor.  I STILL wish I kept that motorcycle.  Rode it all over the northeast and it was great. Sold it.  Another dumb youth move............... ....

[JJ]

I had that 71 boattail superglide.  Like a lot of idiots the first thing we did was trow the tail away and chop the bike.  Little did we know.............
I also bought the first year FRX SuperGlide with the rubber mount motor.  I STILL wish I kept that motorcycle.  Rode it all over the northeast and it was great. Sold it.  Another dumb youth move............... ....

Yes...we were all young and foolish once...The Red-White-Blue modern version ain't so bad either!!

[kingoffleece]

Oh, I agree!  My neighbor has one.  35th Anniv IIRC.  Lovely.

[SemperVee]

  Thanks for a smile back to the old days... I had both a 1973 and 1974 "74" Superglide.   Horror for a seat and used 50wt oil in So Cal.

[Cam3512]

As usual, beautiful bike Dave.  You have great taste and skills.

Cam

[RHAT]

Super awesome glide 

[Roebling3]

 Likely redundant, but to me it's another parts bike. It's what happens while wandering through a flea market. If it were not for the terrific finish it would be one more shed built harley. The peanut tank says it all. Do you ride? or just admire? Gotta be home for dinner?  DAR  R3~

[Ncdan]

My super glide was a carbed 97 but I would like to include it here, sorry no pictures. It was black with red pin stripping. I had an S and S cams and open exhaust. This boy was fast! Great little bikes.

[JJ]

My super glide was a carbed 97 but I would like to include it here, sorry no pictures. It was black with red pin stripping. I had an S and S cams and open exhaust. This boy was fast! Great little bikes.

Like this?!?

[MGrego]

Here's mine, a 2006.  26 years later and the styling really hasn't changed much..

[Ncdan]

Like this?!?

Yea, you mind if I copy your picture and repost it with my post as mine?😂😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[Tom H]

Here's mine, a 2006.  26 years later and the styling really hasn't changed much..

What seat is that?

Tom

[JJ]

Yea, you mind if I copy your picture and repost it with my post as mine?😂😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

No worries Ncdan!  Go for it! 

I just GOOGLED 1997 HD black Superglide, and that's just one of the many images that came up!!

[JJ]

Sometimes, I look at these auction prices on BAT (Bring-A-Trailer), and just scratch my head...

But then again, a lot of people obviously, have a LOT of disposable income at their "Beck & Call"