My dad had a 76. He once rode home 26 miles with the stearing stem lock on. All turns right turns until he got to the alley behind the house. He leaned in for a left turn and the front end didnt turn left. It was held dead straight ahead. He about hit a telephone pole and dimped the bike. He was real lucky actually.
My first Harley was a 77 superglide that looked exactly like yours. I bought it new in Sudbury ,Ont. I really liked it but the rings failed around 20 K miles.