I had an 81 for 15 years. First bike I bought when I was 18. Took my 1 year old for her first ride down the block. Put over 100k on the odometer. Rebuilt motor a few times. Been around the country on it. Lots of memories. Sold it to a military man in Montana. Thanks for sharing
Sounds good,the mike picked up the dove cooing! I still own my first big twin 1978 1/2 Electra Glide 80ci anniversary edition,Greetings From Tampa Florida 😎
In 1980 each Harley dealership was allotted only one of these bikes. Where I live, Vancouver, WA, Columbia Motorcycle had two of them because Jim the owner's brother was also a dealer in Salem, Oregon. I bought Jim's, then his brother realized his was worth more than the MSRP, but couldn't sell it for his new asking price, so Jim sold it for him. Anyways, I loved that bike, but my o'lady preferred my old FL, so I traded it to a friend for an '81 twin belt FLHB. I should'a traded her in!
Still have my 81, lotsa miles. Replaced buckhorns with flat bars, all orange paint is gone, brakes rattle, no indicators, little chrome air cleaner, tassles on the grips, tranny leaks. Wanted a wide glide on it at one time but glad that passed. Great bike.
The Sturgis was one of my favorite Harley's , one that I wish I had owned . That and the Wide Glide we're my two favorite ones , just beautiful machines.
The Wide Glide would be my favorite Harley, but I refuse to deal with tube type tires. I've been stranded way too many times by tube type tires, and almost killed a couple of times when the tubes blew out at 80 mph on the highway.
@@geraldscott4302 Had a front tire go at 47 mph. and got catapulted through the air and when I hit broke both legs below the knee and tore up my right knee pretty bad and bruised a kidney , so I know what you mean .
todd. I got my sister addicted to your videos now. she's 30. I took her to augusta Harley Davidson and she found her a purple glitter 883 sportster. she's thinking about buying one. I am getting mine in 6 months. we said today at lunch that we need to take a trip to see our god of Harley's "You".
Ben, your welcome out anytime. Not many bikes here at the moment, just a few Knuckles and Pan's and the herd will likely get thinner in the months ahead. hope she loves her new sporty!
Wow- I had a '74 Sportster in the summer of '76; wish I never sold it but left for college age 17.. Got a 2004 Fatboy with the '03 100 yr Anniversary paint and sold it in '19; wish I never did but my health went bad-- good memories for sure 😃🤓😄
The HD shop in Valdosta, ga had a brand new one.. wanted it badly, but they wouldn’t take my bike for a trade in ( price asking was $5900).. life got in the way, missed out on that deal .. but I do own a 06 Night Train ( bought brand new).. closest thing to it in my book.. the s turgid was a cool ass bike
I have an 81...bought it new when I was 19.....and I got a 91 in 2001....so I have the two...I'm keeping them!!...my son can sell all my bikes when I'm gone....16 bikes at 58....mostly Harley and buells....my 81 is the oldest, livewire newest...both not for traditional Harley riders...both super cool. Ride
All originals are difficult to find. Glad I held onto mine for 29 years (not all original tho) The guy that had it before me chromed everything he could. (dumbass) She's had 3 different looks, but most recent changes to it back to original look with matte black paint versus gloss....love my shovelhead!
todd, my first new bike was a 1980 flh, had it for 20 yrs then had to sell to by a house. it was an amf but never had any problems, was always a nice ride. i'm retired now and want to get a dirico retro bike. found a used one at a nice price. my old lady says no more bikes but i want it. enjoy your videos, thnx steve
Tell your old lady to get bent! If it wasn't for her, you'd still have that Harley and wouldn't lose sleep listening to her snore while you daydream about another one!
@@243wayne1 last year i picked up an 02 heritage with 20k miles and very mint with wicked loud pipes. just gotta tone that down a bit, right now 70 yr old guy riding around with ear plugs.
@@243wayne1 yes and it was only 5k bucks and it's all mine, the old lady won't get on it which is fine with me. none of this it's too hot, it's too cold, what if we get caught in the rain etc.
@@steveperry1344 -Perfect! I laugh because I just bought a Harley 2 weeks ago, and my now -Ex Girlfriend says she'll never get on it, and I said that's fine. You don't have to...
EVO came out 1984. Last civilian Shovel also 1984 with 300 shovel FLHPs produced for the police in 1985. 1986 saw the introduction of the FLST Heritage Softtail.
Proper Motorbike I had a mag that did the launch feature for this bike 1979 or 80 I guess I lost sleep reading that mag over and over Glad to have my 1980 Dyna wide here with me now and 12,000 miles from new .
HD does not throw parts away. They would use up previous years stuff as needed for that year current production. Also, as you surmised, production for 1982 started in JULY of 1981. I have owned THREE 1979 FXS Lowrider's with transmissions that, according to the catalog, were not in production motorcycles past mid year 1978. Yet these came like this NEW. Any company will not stop production if they run out of parts, they use what they have on hand, next years model or previous years
I can't figure out why I'm partial to the AMF-Harley's but there it is... my 2 favorites are the '77 Low Rider and '80 Sturgis. One day in the near future I hope to get back into riding and this go-round will be a 70's Shovel. Ride strong!
I'm with you. As a kid, I lusted after the original 77 FXS, and the Sturgis was like the ultimate Low Rider. People like to criticize the AMF years, but Harley;s most memorable models debuted during the AMF era. Before AMF, Harley had only two heavyweight bikes, the Electra Glide and the Sportster (XLCH & XLH). Under AMF, Harley introduced the FX Super Glide, the FXE, the FXS Low Rider, the XLCR Sportster, the FXEF Fat Bob Super Glide, The FXWG Wide Glide, the FXB Sturgis---- some of the most beautiful and distinctive Harleys ever produced. The model lines established in the 70s & 80s enabled the company to survive the lean times, and these models continue to be HD's mainstay, although today's HDs have little in common with those original badass Shovels. Nothing interests me after 1986, when the last 4 speed Wide Glide was produced. I was lucky enough to score an original, low mileage 1982 FXB Sturgis last week, so Harley can keep their new stuff!
Nice looking FXB, Todd. Almost didn't recognize you with the beard. Located a '80 in fair-good condition down here in Texas and thinking about buying her this weekend-will keep you posted.
All origional, i bet it still has some of the origional gas just playing around i have one that i got off my dad a couple years ago. #620 i believe, i rode the bike for a year before starting the rebuild 2 years into it and im finally rolling with some speedy upgrades i love. Cant find the sound that these old bikes can make unless ya are a lucky man. nice bike guys.
not exactly, a chain is comparatively an easy fix assuming the breaking chain did not break something else. A belt required the inner primary AND swing arm to be removed
We exploded a number of those primary compensator sprockets when I was test-riding the Sturgis prototypes. Stock, our pair was good for 103 and 107mph WO, level ground. The full dress baggers were embarrassingly slow!
I purchased mine new in 1980. Now has 7,200 miles. I only replaced the handle bars to the standard low rider pull back bars. Always kept in side. Had the top end update done in 1985. Has the front & back Sturgis leather bags. Original tires. Alwasy kept in side. Wonder How much is this model worth now in this condition.
I bought my 1991 FXDBS from a guy in Michigan in 2000. Evo and dyna-glide engine/chassis. All stock and 23K miles. Shovels are cool, but Evos are dripless. Still put a couple miles on it annually. Wanna buy it?
I love your channel man an I watch everything you got, Iam in my early 20's and bought my first Harley, it's a 1997 dyna lowrider and I love it to death, Iam wondering if you know where I can find parts? replacement tank, evo engine parts just to have, idk. New to this whole thing. It's a big deal to me. just happy I finally got a bike.
That matte black paint didn't hold up very well. Otherwise it is a beautiful bike. I remember reading a road test on this bike back in 1980. I really liked it. I was 21 in 1980, and had just bought a new Suzuki GS450L. But I always dreamed of owning a Harley. Finally, in 2005, about 3 dozen Japanese bikes later, I found a beautiful low mileage 1989 FXRS Low Rider. I bought it on the spot, not knowing much about Harleys and what to look for. I lucked out. I still have it and will keep it for the rest of my life. I am now looking for a solid mount 1200 Sportster to keep it company. Too bad about what H-D has become.
Thanks for the confirm, I know now to keep the orginal carb on it , it was coughing a bit in mid to hi throttle and couldnt get it out , so i tested an 85 model just to see difference, Yes , the difference is 170 mainjet instead of 160 in the amf , swapped the jets ,it runs like a "demon " ! keign carbs are not bad carbs , but i dont think in those years they were tuned correct from factory either ,is there anything specific youve seen in these carbs that might help?
I remember back in maybe 1982 a guy where I work had a sturgis he bought new in 1980 and he hated it so much he traded it in for electraglide in 1983 I bet you if he is still alive today he is kicking his own ass you never know these days
hard to find. generally ebay or the local motorcycle swap meet. Most of the ones I have gotten have come with a motorcycle. I've only gotten a handful "off" the bikes
Did they have powder coating back then?the only one I know of back then was sumax looks like all the black paint is coming off but sweet bike love to have that.
Powder coating was avaliable after market. Harley paint has always been baked on as far back in history that I have been able to find data. IE, liquid paint, specially mixed to properly cure through a baking process. Powder coating is a paint in a powder, magnetized, applied to a magnitized part and then heated / baked on.
If original, those tires are 30+ years old. Would they still be safe to ride? I recently purchased a 2003 Fat Boy (w/6000 mi.) that basically sat unused as a (no joke) office decoration since 2010. Runs and rides great now but I'm a little wary about the tires being original, but don't seem dry or has obvious cracks. Any thoughts or recommendations? Really don't want to spend more than necessary. Thanks!
Absolutely a museum peice , "auctiononly "bike! least mileage original ive ever seen except for 1, bumpus harley in memphis has an 81 w 3600 miles , my 82 has 39000 ,
I found your videos and figured i would ask. I have a 2001 Suzuki Savage that only when i give it throttle, creates a slight buzzing or spinning noise from the motor. Idea of what it might be? It was a grandmothers bike and was run on over flooded oil, then little to no oil for 2-4 months.
todd , i took keign carb off to rebuild ( 82 fxb) and its n 81 amf , im presuming since 82 was more than likely built in 81 thats correct , whatta you say?
That would mean I'd be buying and selling bikes. That would be wonderful. Problem, I'd have to be buying shovels at $2500 a pop to make a money today. Can't be done, at least not in LA
I have a 1981 (looks like the one here in this vid) and a 1982 (brown with buckhorns) FXB. Both very close to stock, unchopped. The only thing not original on the 81is the tank decal, I think it has the FXS decal. The 82 does not have the gold wheels but black like the 1981, but without the orange stripe. Its an 82 registered April, maybe they where using leftover black wheels. Based on the paint and rust visible in this video, both of mine are in better shape.... I will take these bikes to my grave.
I have a 81 fxs and I guy I used to work for had a 80 fxb sturgis the only difference was the 81 has 11 inch rear rotor & chain drive and fxb has belt drive. Other than that it’s just the rims paint ,black horn cover, & mirrors. Oh and the drag bars
Same exact motor, same exact chassis, FLHs weigh in at 100 pounds more then the Sturgis or Lowrider models which weigh exac6the same. If your FXB experience was slower, something wrong with the motorcycle
Yes. While 1980 introduced the 5 speed. It was only on rubber mounted shovels during the shovel years. 1980 introduced the FLT. a rubber mounted 5 speed full dresser. Ugly as F
Do you have to look like a sideshow freak with a beard in order to buy and ride a Harley? I don't understand why decent looking men , have make themselves look like Moses in order to ride a bike.
Do you mean that I have to dress and act like a circus clown or a freak in the carnival to be accepted? I ride stock Triumph , Kawasaki, or Yamaha FJR I am clean shaven, plain clothes , and am excepted wherever I go !
What an ASSHOLE comment to make ! This man is a rarity , and as a Harley rider from the 1970’s , and I’ve owned 13 myself - this man shares statistics and knowledge that is ACCURATE and he does it without being a jerk about it ! Then you make a comment on his grooming and clothes ? Douche bag !
