For Ironhead Lovers

[Dave Swanson]

Some things start small.  Last year I decided it was finally time to cure the rear rockerbox oil leak on my 1978 XLH.  During this process the bike received a major all encompassing mechanical service from top to bottom.  And the big icing on the cake was an accurate 1978 XLH paint job and graphics.   Concord Blue is the name of the factory color.

This bike is a lot of fun and runs SO well it has changed some minds about Ironheads after they've had a ride on it.  It is a sweetheart.  The stock factory exhaust is very rare as most threw them in the trash on day one and installed drag pipes. The stock pipes have a nice peaceful rumble that my old ears appreciate. 

It just turned 10,000 miles today.  A nice survivor example. 


 

[Kev m]

Beautiful...

[cliffrod]

I love it.  As much as I like the specific MY stripe tank decals of the earlier 70’s, those 78 tank decals are hard to beat.  those Sportster 2-1 pipes & muffler are so hard to find in great condition.

The thing about iron sportsters is that many people never get to experience them before they’re already flogged to death.  IMHO A well-sorted iron sportster is a great bike with a character that’s as unique & specific as a Moto Guzzi. 

Thanks for the pics, Dave.

[kingoffleece]

Absolutely LOVE it.  Sportsters are so much FUN!

[JJ]

That's a BEAUTY, Dave!  Love the COLOR!  

Always liked Sporty's....never owned one....always rode Big Twin Harley's, (Road Kings / Electra Glide Sports)

[DoubleGuzzi]

One of the few Harleys that I like. Registration No. is cool.
 


[Edit] I just noticed that the pillion gets an "active" experience, with those pegs mounted on the shocks. Either physiotherapy or leg/knee pumps. 

[john fish]

The Ironhead Sportster is one of the icons of motorcycle design.  Along with:

Moto Guzzi Lemans I
1969 Triumph Bonneville.

That's it.  There are no others. 

[sdcr]

Some things start small.  Last year I decided it was finally time to cure the rear rockerbox oil leak on my 1978 XLH.  During this process the bike received a major all encompassing mechanical service from top to bottom.  And the big icing on the cake was an accurate 1978 XLH paint job and graphics.   Concord Blue is the name of the factory color.

This bike is a lot of fun and runs SO well it has changed some minds about Ironheads after they've had a ride on it.  It is a sweetheart.  The stock factory exhaust is very rare as most threw them in the trash on day one and installed drag pipes. The stock pipes have a nice peaceful rumble that my old ears appreciate. 

It just turned 10,000 miles today.  A nice survivor example. 

 

.

Sweet Sporty. Pretty cool to see the AMF script still attached to the tank logo. I’ve heard that those were dark days at the Motor Company.

[Dukedesmo]

Looks nice, I've never been into HD, never even ridden one, unless you count the 'Harley Davidson' 125cc, 2-stroke single that a friend had back in late 70s Italy (a re-badged Cagiva IIRC).


But I like that.   

[Stretch]

I'm not usually an ironhead Sporty lover, but that's a nice bike.   

And if I never hear another poorly tuned ironhead Sportster with drag
pipes again, it will be too soon. 

                                            -Stretch

[Dave Swanson]

I'm not usually an ironhead Sporty lover, but that's a nice bike.   

And if I never hear another poorly tuned ironhead Sportster with drag
pipes again, it will be too soon. 

                                            -Stretch

The first time I rode an Ironhead was about 1976.  I stopped into the local HD dealer and they put me on one for a test ride.  All my experience up to that time had been with Japanese multis.  I got off that Sportster thinking that it was the most god awful piece of rubbish I had ever ridden.  Now I really like it.  Hard to explain how the brain works. 

[guzzisteve]

The last Iron Head I worked on was a chopper w/Savior frame, drag pipes and no brakes. Extended Springer front end, lovely bike. Guy told me motor was toast, not the case. Excellent compression, so I tuned it. He brought me 2 stroke Mikuni carbs, they don't work. Found a guy a couple towns over that made manifolds to fit any carb on any heads for HD. Sourced at swap meet a CV carb from a big motor. Set off to dial it in. It needed a jet kit for a big motor w/open in & out. Turned out motor was fine & bike pulled hard till way over 100(estimate on how fast lines went by on road). No one is going to go that fast on this bike!! Turned out very nice, IF you like choppers. Did get the back brake working enough to slow it down or stop at a lite if going slow. Iron Heads like fuel but are sweet running motors. They get a bad rap cause of the mechanics who worked on them where hacks. This one leaked NO oil.  Hope there are more like Dave to preserve the Sporty.