I Bought a Brand New 45 year Harley Davidson Motorcycle 

I worked at a Harley dealer from 1980 to 1983 and set up numerous XLH/XLCH from the crate. Batteries were dry, brake master cylinders were filled. It was AMF until 1983 when Willie G bought them back. That bike was definitely used as a parts bike and I'd go through thoroughly. People complain about AMF quality but many of those same people that worked during AMF worked for Willie G too. AMF can be blamed for some of it but they kept Harley alive when it was going to die.Long comments don't get read, attention spans are short today. Good luck with the bike and for goodness sakes get some tools.

I know alot of people don't like to see you guys do this, but I love seeing this. Motorcycles were built to be ridden and enjoyed, not stored in a box for 50 years. I also hate the museums that just have the bikes sitting there. Wheels through time is the only museum that truly preserves bik3s

I bought an almost identical Sportster brand new in 1977 and still ride it today. Been all over the country on it. It has never once let me down. Great old bikes and way more exciting to ride than their bigger brothers. Enjoy!

We love Craig and the real ones will never forget the good times of Craig building everything CORRECTLY😂😂😂

My first real bike was an 81 low rider. It was a really good bike, leaked oil like nobody's business. I sold it in the 90s, and it's still around being ridden by the guy I sold it to. I rode it a couple of times in 2018, and it was still a ton of fun. I had a stroke in 2019, so I probably won't be riding it ever again, but I still get to see it at least.

You and Craig made a good team, I could tell you were both having fun. Go back to him.

Time moves on. Glad you and a good friend were able to document and share some great times ✌️

That exact model was my very first "new" Harley Davidson. I was never able to get that, hand pinstriped, leather seated thing over 98 mph. no matter how hard I tried. Never the less, I still remember that bike to be the most beautiful bike I ever owned. I am still proud to say that I was an owner of a 75th. Anniversary Harley Davidson sportster. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

That smell you talked about comes from a time before Harley-Davidson started selling their bikes out of fashion boutiques. As I remember, it was a combined aroma of wood floors, old leather, new tire smell, lucky strikes, and 50w oil soaked into all of it.

I miss the two of you making videos together I’m not gonna lie. On the bright side you both seem to be doing very well and both of your channels appear to be doing fantastic! Watched Craig’s IT restoration last night, well part 1. I enjoy your videos every bit as much tho brother!! Looking for a calab down the road

Absolutely cool video. This old man was a young man remembering riding all over Colorado's plains and mountains. I can feel the air and enjoy the smell mixture of nature and machine sliding past me again. My wrist was rolling backward. I am in my recliner with morning coffee. 1978 was just a second ago because of you. Extreme gratitude to for this moment.

Worked on that era Harleys 40 years ago. Don’t worry about the external fasteners. I could tell you about problems with internal quality control which can and should be rectified if doing rebuild, from rocker arm shaft end play to crankcase bolts. But put together properly most issues easily be taken care of.

This is really cool, my dad recently bought a 1975 amf sportster that was setting in boxes in someones attic since the eightees so thats actually really similar to this because its also one of the few completely stock ones left!

Its good that you sought out expert help for this unboxing. That is a really nice bike and probably worth quite a bit, as long as you leave it in stock as is trim. Don't let anyone talk you into replacing the exhaust, tank ,seat or any other component that is unique to this bike.

My first streetbike was a '69 Sportster, which except for your 78's disc brakes and cast wheels, was very similar to this one. These were about as old school as you could get in 1978, but they still had a loyal following. This was just one year before the 130 hp Kawasaki Z1-R Turbo, 120 hp KZ-1300 and 6 cylinder 24 valve Honda CBX, so people certainly weren't buying these for performance, but to get that legendary V-Twin mystique. By the way, I love those old raised white letter Goodyears!

Man its so cool to watch you uncrate vintage bikes. It's gotta be the neatest feeling to uncrate a bike decades after it was made. Best kind of time capsule.

My dad and I just got one of his buddy’s 1962 sportster going. That thing is a blast.

That is one heck of a find! This model, XLH 1000 (75th Anniversary Model) only had 2,323 built. Not all dealers got one, my local dealer got 2, probably because he raced for Harley. This was my first Harley, I bought from the original owner with 3K miles in 1980. The sister bike was still owned by the local dealer. It is a very powerful 1000cc and provided many great memories. If you don't keep it for yourself, let me know.

It really makes me smile when I hear about Christ and bikes. God bless you and keep you and your family brother. Amen 🙏

Sean, I love how you find these beautiful old still in the box relics of motorcycles. I still wish I could buy the 45 Harley Walmart parking lot special. I love that bike so much. I’m retired and I’m sure I couldn’t really afford it. I won’t stop loving that bike though. God has blessed you in so many ways. Your move to Tennessee was a great decision. You are going to be so successful in so many ways in the years to come. God bless you.

Words to live by, " don't drop the bike" I've rode for over 40 yrs. and the only time , other than dirt bikes, I have ever dropped a bike is parking or moving it around by hand

It's a bit sad you and Craig aren't teamed up anymore but on the bright side, I now have 2 great channels to watch. Yall will have to make some special team up reunion videos from time to time.

AMF Harleys get ragged on pretty bad but without out them Harley wouldn't exist. The 1000 is a fun bike way faster and nimble than you would think. I loved my 79 even though it broke down more than every other bike I have combined . We need a video on that 750 chopper too.

Very neat video on some old Harley iron. Great that it started up that easily and idled. Dave seems like a pretty good guy and was pretty excited to see this bike.

I have a 1980 AMF Harley I got from my dad when I was 16, he had an accident in '97 that left him unable to ride again. I got it running a couple years ago but it needs to be completely gone thru. Nice seeing what the bike pretty much looked like before my dad changed some things. I also have a 1973 Sporty I regularly ride, those old ironheads just keep on running.

I hope you do more off-road content. Those videos always were the best

I owned the exact same bike back in 1982-83. Made it into a chopper after running out of gas too many times with that small 2.2 gal tank. I put a 3.5 gallon mustang tank on it, had the swing arm removed and a custom hard tail fabricated for it. I'm pretty sure that the original owner changed the drive sprockets on it ad well as staggered pipes as I could get that bike up to 120 mph no problem. She was fast and at that time the only bike that could take me was a punched out electra glide that in its prior live was built for the local drag strip. I loved the bike, the wife, not so much, being a hardtail and the small pillion seat made for an uncomfortable ride for her. Also, the bike had 4 circuit breakers located under the seat, one would occasionally trip, killing power to the ignition and leaving me stranded on the side of the road, eventually, the breaker would cool down enough to auto reset and allow the bike to start and run. This seemed to only happen on pretty hot days. When I made it into a chopper style bike, I replaced the breakers with a fuse box and completely rewired the whole bike. Fun bike, kind of wish that I still had her. And yes like all Harleys of that era, she would mark her parking spot with a few drops of oil. Was my first Harley and now on my 12 or 13th Harley now, hard to keep track of them all at my age. Enjoy the ride, she's a classic.

Good stuff brother. The guy that helped you out is a good man.

My best friend inherited his step dads 79 Sportster that he had owned since it was BRAND NEW! she runs like a champ to this day and has seen rides from Florida to Sturgis more times over the years than I will ever ride!

A beautiful original. I have a '79 Sportster that I ride regularly all summer. The 1000 Ironhead is more than brisk enough to enjoy around town where the bike as a blast to ride, just stay off fast highways with it as it gets real uncomfy over about 60 MPH. Dealers almost always installed an aftermarket Lockhart oil cooler on these. Nearly any part you'll need for it is out there which is good, as AMF Ironheads are definitely a mechanic's bike ;)

I love these un boxing videos and how blessed your are to be in this position 🙌 🙏 ❤️

When I was a teenager in the 80’s I had a 250cc AMF Harley. Kinda wish I still had it.

My first harley was a 1978 75th anniversary sportster. In the only other anniversary package you could get was the electra glide. It was also black and gold with the gold wheels. Another special thing that the 75th anniversary sportster had was front and rear 16" wheels. There were only 2,323 anniversary sportsters produced. Very cool bike.

I had an '84 XLH 1000. Had an electronic ignition and a CV carb put on it. It ran really well.

As a new 2Lt in the AF, with rent, a car payment and trying to pay off a guy for a 50 pan, I needed a second job. I set up new bikes for the local HD dealer. This video swept me right back there. Good times. Thanks.

I was 13 in 78 and remember these bikes but I had no idea that the fit and finish was so bad, meaning the seat and the bolts, I love these vids when you buy something new that is years old you do so many great vids, I'm really happy you are still doing top grade vids, Thank you so much. Sunday morning coffee and a 78 Harley, that's a good morning for me. Actually 78 any motorcycle is a good morning for me :-).

We do need another Craig 😢 ... The dynamic was soo good with your old team. Dave is great, I wonder if you can convince him to comvert over 😮😂

Owned a 76 AMF Harley Davidson, drove for several years, never leaked a drop of oil, ran great and sometimes l wish l still had it. It was fun watching as it brought back many memories. Thanks!

Those guys seem like genuine people. Would definitely go to that shop if I lived in the area

Brings back memories. Back in 1981 I was 18 years old. I bought a new 1980 sportster from my hometown Harley dealership. 11 yrs lots of memories and 46,000 miles I sold it. Many back road rides throughout Wisconsin and N. Illinois. 1 tough ride from N. Illinois to Colorado, Pikes Peak summit "thought I'd freeze to death in September" Pueblo west, then home. It was a short trip and country back road putt bike.. Highway travel at higher speeds the 4 speed/solid lifter ironhead vibrated my eye teeth loose. Always liked the low and lean sporty though!

You always make people’s days brighter whenever you post. :)

Bought a 1975 electraglide new I’n Oct 75. Done 67k km on it. No troubles just batteries ( last 7 yrs).I’m 71 and still have the bike and the memories. Your sportster has Hard chromed discs and that coating wears off.

I've got the motor of a 1974 in a custom build. Kickstart and all right hand shift. It's an interesting motor to keep running and riding.

Dave seems like a cool dude, hope to see more of you guys working together.

Old Harleys don't leak, they mark their territory

I was so excited when you lifted off the box, it's just like the 1984 1000 Sportster I bought for my 50th 26 years ago. Mine was turquoise and absolutely beautiful. I loved that bike and now wish I had never sold it. I rode it around Spain.

(mike) I bought a 1974 Sporty Brand NEW it was during the gas shortage of the 70's . I still have a tail light on backorder from Harley AMF. mine fell off somewhere. still haven't got that light. Had to take gas in a can to the dealer ship to ride home.I ain't thought about that in year's .THANK YOU !!

It might have had an AMF tank. My '88 883 Hugger that I purchased new had wheel bearings that developed pits just after wintering in a unheated shop for the one year that I owned it. Of course I replaced the wheel bearings. PS ,Greg is making his own spectacular videos

Now that is a score! a 100% new 78 in the box in 2023! That is almost logically impossible, it has to be valuable now. The amf bikes being junk is total crap, anyone that says that either never owned one or bought a hammered on neglected junk. I had a 1980 80ci shovel low rider it had some mystery warmed over at least engine and would rev out and make power to over 6k, but it ran and shifted like butter and never leaked a drop and i beat the snot out of it and it never gave me a problem, I ended up selling it and was told the guy rode all over without one issue. I also had a 77 sporty that ran like a bear and never had an issue and a chopper with a 71 sporty engine with 10:1 axtell pistons and again ran great. My 77 fxlr and the 77 xlh also had excellent chassis so where is the problems? There wasn't. The engine castings seemed rougher but perfectly functional as a matter of fact the 71 engine castings was rougher. The biggest issue with older bikes were oil leaks and that was just from old gasket technology if you take an older Harley and upgrade them with modern gaskets your good to go. Also my old 77 xlh with a 36mm mikuni ran very strong for stock it would run away from other stock iron heads and was told 77s are notoriously faster than other years...?

Dave is a fantastic individual and truly loves motorcycles!

I love that you give the full story about the bike and the history of what was going on.

My first Harley was a 1978 Lowrider!! It was an AMF bike but I got a good one!! I did an 8,000+ mile trip on it and the only problem was a broken speedo cable!! I did upgrade to a 5 gallon tank and that shovelhead got 50 mpg!!

As a pastor who loves bikes...and rides often. Hearing you share the word of God makes me happy and proud to support you.

My First Harley was a 1980 Sportster. Was all black and sure ran good.

Dave is cool cat, I love how much he loved it when it rolled into his workshop 🇦🇺🤙🏼

Damn, I really wish I had $200 for a pair of those gloves. It’s not easy finding comfy gloves for giant hands and these have room in all the right places…just finding a job with no vehicle is extremely hard too, lol…the video cheered me up though, you have consistently upbeat attitude and it’s appreciated.

I'm one of those old guys that really knows that era Sportster . I've been riding and owning them since '78 .The " sealant" under the lid for the front master cylinder is actually the flat diaphragm/seal that contains the brake fluid and also keeps brake fluid from peeing out the tiny vent hole in the master cylinder lid . That diaphragm is the size of the lid and is it's own part .That bike takes DOT 5 silicone based brake fluid and only DOT 5 that's why the front master cylinder isn't rotted inside . The bracket that holds the instruments does clamp into the gap between the risers and handlebar clamp where you had it and the handlebars will be secure with the bracket in that spot . Your guy seems nice enough but it's too bad you don't know someone that really knows that era Sportster . The factory shop manual or Clymer manual would really help you guys out .

I am the original owner of a 1979 80 cubic inch FXEF, aka Fatbob Superglide. So, I was real interested in this video. I was slightly disappointed that it was not an FX model. During those years of HD, XLs & FXs shared a lot of parts; saddles, headlamps, etc. My bike also came with the Eagle A/T tires. That bike never left me stranded while on a ride. However, I have had to do a lot of maintenance on it. It was my only ride until I bought my 2006 88 cubic inch FXDI; aka Dyna Super Glide (which is now 95 cubic inches). Riding the bikes is quite a different experience from one another, but I love them both.

The low mile vintage collection grows every video. Love to see it.

Yo what up Shawn great work son keep em coming god bless the SRK fam

lmao @ "it made Craig cry" he's the fuggin BEST!

Man I just loved this video, my old man had the 2003 100th anniversary edition FatBoy, so looking at memories like this reminds me of his riding days. I just love this channel so keep up the good work!!

Dude, those Oxblood gloves are so beautiful. Please get more. I would love to have those. Such a classy look

Love seeing a mechanic all fired up about such a cool find, even after he probably saw and fixed 1 million bikes. What an epic find, this would be my forever bike!

Rip Craig. He was a real one😢

I literally can’t wait for the wknds to watch your videos it’s been a few months due to life but man I loved this video thank you so much✌️

I had a late 79 1/2 1340 shovel head 4speed FXS lowrider it was the nicest scooter I had. Rebuilt it three times 2 complete overhauls. From time to time I miss her yet I got tired of wrenching on her and the cost of parts for that year and model just kept getting more expensive. Plus I had to go thru J & P Cycles. She has a sound so sweet at the right rpm's. Like a galloping horse. 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

200 for a pair of gloves? Wow, they must be great!

it survived fairly well, considering, im 60 years old & it was placed in that crate when i was in 8th grade.i wish i wouldve aged that well.

I had the model that came next in 1979 , the XLS 1000, different frame exhausts and shocks, air cleaner, etc

I reckon Craig is at home watching this saying 'whats this idiot doing' at Seans wrenching skills.

Man Dave is a cool guy, the Post Malone of motorcycle mechanics

I had a Ironhead Sporty with the 4 speed tranny that I absolutely loved. It was, by far, the best little “bar hopper” I ever rode. It had the best (IMO) power to weight ratio for around town runs and the balance always felt so smooth to me. I miss that bike, but as an old fat boy I now ride a FLDWG with a 118cid engine and 6 speed that is a better all around (town and highway) bike after my mods.

I’ve owned probably a dozen harley’s in my life and i really never had a problem with an AMF HD. I bought a 73 sporty at an auction that sat in a parking garage in Manhattan for over 20 yrs and the thing was running the next day. $400 for the bike, about $150 in fluids and misc stuff and i sold it 2 weeks later for like 2800 so AMF never did me wrong

Hey Shawn i have that same bike sitting in my garage,its about 99% original with only 13k miles on it, it was my dads. She is still in amazing condition and runs so good.

came out fully detailed , yeah ok

Very entertaining and fun to watch. I like your boots as well. I have 5 pairs myself. Thanks for posting this. Have a nice day now.

I always referred to my '77 XLH as my "personal locomotive". It may not have been a Big Twin, but nothing feels, sounds or pulls like an Ironhead Sporty. And the 18" rear wheel was classic!

$200 for a pair of gloves.🤬 No thanks

Me and a buddy was watching the auction on this a few months ago !! Congratulations on purchase

I had a 1975 Sporty, pretty much exactly the same as this bike, except it was ex HAMC, red and very loud, loved that bike still do😆.

My boss bought one of these new back in 78 and I was riding a Honda back then. I was so jealous! He put a smoked cafe racer fairing on it and it was a nice bike!

Sport clips is awesome! Glad you gave them a chance.., 😎

I have a 74 sportster that was my dad's first Harley. It was customized sometime in the early 80's with mini fat bod tanks. Unfortunately, it's in parts right now because I started restoring it and then got a newer Road King and it's been on the back burner for a couple of years. Watching this video makes me want to pull it back out and try to finish it.

Im extremely greatful for this channel, you bring it home every time, I bet you're a family man.i never looked into your bio,yet I don't have to, not my business.i do appreciate the content you provide,with your no holds bar,of the truth. Meaning companies that send you free stuff, can't persuade you into saying yesterday a company items without you going to the proof itself.csnt buy or bullshit you ❤

I bought that exact same 77 Lowrider shown. 1st one from Biff’s HD in New Cumberland PA. Wish I still had it!

Look on the bright side Sean, only the bottom of the tire is flat 👍🏻My black 508’s are nice and broken in after 3 years, best gloves I’ve ever bought, hands down!

Who knew that you were just as knowledgeable then as you are today? Great video. Thanks again for your help.

The last H-D I owned was a 1980 FLH 80, rode it for 24 years, 100,000 miles, 2 clutches, 1 top end, was a great tinker-toy.

Wow!!🤤 personally the coolest looking Harley I’ve ever seen. The tank paint is sick!!! This thing makes me wanna save for.

Talking about quality control, my first bike was a 1976 super glide, the power washer at the car wash peeled the chrome off of the chain guard

I had a 77 that we put on a rigid frame. It was a fun little bike.

i actually just bought one of these it needs some work but it runs and rides fixing it up slowly

I'm 70 and I have an original 1974 XLH AMF on the tank and love it.

So excited to get those gloves ordered in time!! Had a black pair, they were great. Pretty stoked thinking about riding that little BW80 too

I owned an AMF Shortster. It ran like a scalded skunk, after a lot of kicking the engine over. It also vibrated the bars terribly with the engine mounted without cushioning.

Another great video, thanks! Learned some new things about HD. P.S. You guys made a great team.

I have a 74 Sporty XLH 1000 right side shift. It's a family heirloom. FYI to anyone that is going to ride a ride side shift for the first time, at some point you will forget the brake is on the left and you will go to downshift and stab the rear brake. It's an eye opening experience.

Last year for drum rear brake, 79 they mounted the master cylinder where the kickstart would go and gave the rear exhaust a weird bend to clear it, you couldn't get aftermarket pipes for the 79 for a year or two because they just couldn't deal with it.

Uk rider here: the day I passed my bike test in '87, having ridden nothing but little 125cc 2-strokes, my boss loaned me his Ironhead Sportster 1000 to ride. I'd never heard of engine braking and almost dropped it more than once, but what an experience! I thought I was Peter Fonda 😊