1. If you want to own and ride a vintage Harley, you need to learn how to work on them(there are plenty of us old guy around that will teach you for free). 2. You need to get familiar with your bike while riding and doing regular maintenance. 3. Once you are familiar with your vintage Harley, you will know when it needs adjustments or mechanical maintenance before it breaks. 4. Once you have completed this task, never give up on it or yourself.
@@vernleroyson331 coming back to this comment to say, I pinned it to the top of the comments because I love what you have to say so much, and this is the kind of "brotherhood of owners" I was talking about in the second half of this video. Thanks again
I'm fixing to buy my first new bike! Of course it's a 1995 fatboy, wait a minute...it might already be an antique. Oh well, it's new to me! Started out on British about 30 years ago, I always loved the old stuff! Couldn't afford a Harley then, so now I'm buying old Harleys! Nothing better!
66 FLH here. Stripped down some, no windshield (I hate them), no bags, solo seat. Totally gone through, no oil leaks. When you learn to work on them, you learn how to keep them from leaking. Running 3.5 fatbob`s, until I fix the crack on my original 5 gal tanks. All black furniture, engine is bare with jugs painted aluminum high heat. S&S Shorty. Andrews 1st and 2nd gears. I can ride this bike forever, day after day. My Dad`s best friend bought it new, having rode a 46 Knuck since he came home from the War after fighting from D-Day to the end.
@@buttcrackcycles Yes, It is in my eyes the most beautiful motorcycle ever made. I do have the biggest front sprocket that will run without having to flycut the Primary. Due to blowing out my back a few years ago, I have trouble with my right leg and don`t ride very much. But I do enjoy seeing it every time I walk into my shop. Working on that leg, but approaching 71, it`s tough. It is so smooth on the road,....
Amen, brother, preach on! I totally agree with all that, that's why I ride a shovelhead. New is boring; old has character. I will never see someone else riding the same thing I have and I like that.
Great video. I have a '83 fxrs 80" shovelhead, along with a '05 springer classic, and a '14 Street glide. The shovel by far has the most character and brings me the purest riding experience of the three. I love riding all three of them at different times for the different experience of each machine.
What an excellent video about the biker lifestyle! You've really captured the spirit of what motorcycling is all about. It's something that the modern generation of motorcycling knows nothing about. "Bigger equals better, faster equals better", is the lie being peddled by motorcycling companies these days. We dont need full face fairings and all the bells and whistles to maximise the motorcycling experience. This video has won me over and I'd love to have an old vintage Harley with all the inherent problems that go with old bike ownership. Thanks for this. enjoyable video
Vintage Harleys possess a beauty all their own. Like rolling sculpture gleaming in the sun of a mid-summer evening. Sittimg there parked with the right stance, big chrome headlight nacelle, colorful split fatbob tanks and long chromed upswept fishtail exhaust with the bold, masculinly displayed kickstart silently suggesting this bike isn’t for posers. Listening to the slow lumpy thump of the “potato-potato” exhaust note. Watching the motor shake inside the frame rails as the front wheel bounces in rhythmic vibration only to pause momentarily with the wick of the throttle.
To me the newer bikes just feel like transportation, rather than an experience. There's never been a better time to own a vintage motorcycle. There's amazing educational videos and forums on line and with the internet, parts are way easier to find. The internet spurred on the aftermarket parts market. I can't imagine how people did this 25+ years ago. I don't know if I would have had the courage to attempt half the things I've done if it wasn't for RU-vid. I have manuals for my bikes (and I do read them) but mostly everything I've learned has come from watching videos on RU-vid and then diving in and doing it. Sometimes the manual is confusing...then you find a good video with Todd from Lowbrow Customs and it all makes sense. I've found that I tend to bond with the troubled bikes more than the trouble-free bikes. When you have to work to get them running and riding well you appreciate them more. I got my first vintage bike 6 years ago and learning to work on it has been half the fun of owning it.
You nailed it I think, yeah I have fun talking to folks about working on these in pre Internet years. I have a bunch of my uncle's old shop manuals and they're full of notes and papers stuffed in with drawings or corrections to the manual etc. Good stuff
It might depend on the type of riding you do I guess, but I gotta say I much prefer a trouble free bike lol. I ride every single day and commute on mine, so having a reliable one is a must
@@tomoates8568 good to have a reliable bike for sure, but also good to have a vintage bike or two in the garage. I enjoy being able to find an old bike and getting it running. Two of my vintage bikes have been super reliable. I have a 1975 Honda CB750 that's never left me stranded, never not started or caused problems... I also have a 1964 Triumph 650 that once I got it sorted out and tuned correctly, has been flawless (knock on wood.)
I own my original 81 FXS Low Rider Shovel Head . I also own a 05 Road King Custom Twin Cam 88 ci . My old Shovel Head has a hell of lot more personality than my Twin Cam . I was single, male and 21 yo when I bought my 81 . Life was more fun than it is for me now . I’ve had more ‘tail’ on my bike and when I think about it I smile 😊
I had a 78 T140V Bonnie. Long rides involved a small rucksack half full of tools. Plenty of breakdowns. i loved that bike. So much character. It was worth the pain.
I rode a stripped down 1973 FLH to 2004!!! She had original bottom end and i had the top end rebuilt, new upgraded charging system!!! SS carb!!!! And tode 60 to 70 mph and some 80 mph!!!!! Every one else that rode in our pack had twin cams and my bike was the loudest and i sometimes rode in the back!!! She never left me broken down but i kept everything tightened and the adjustments done!!!! Finally bought twincams but i really enjoyed the old bikes more!!!!!
My Dad told me years ago; “if ya wanna ride a motorcycle ya better know how to turn a wrench.” He was Silent Generation and I’m Gen X. Gen X is probably the last generation that knows how an willing to turn a wrench.
As a millennial, I'll disagree with this. There's plenty of us who turn wrenches and do manual labor, and plenty of 18-20 year old kids still getting into the trades, showing up ready to learn.
Oddly enough I actually want a 79’ Shovelhead! Saying that I own 1 EVO, 2 TCs and 1 M8. All good bikes with my own likes/dislikes. I just love Harley’s in general. Riding them, Taking care of them and Fixing them. Ride Safe man! 🤙🏽
My bike i ride was built in 1975. I've owned it for 40 year's this October. I have yet to run out of fuel. Real good video! I have no plans on getting a new bike.
I don't ride anymore at 85, but my '48 Indian Chief had almost nothing to go wrong. Kick start, ignition points, battery, hot right leg on a hot day, vibrating mirrors, noisy valves. An old pan head would be similar. You'd think that there would be more old Harley repair specialists and replacement parts sellers.
I have a 65 Panhead chopper and a 75 shovelhead thats mostly stock. The two are night and day different to ride but maintenance is very much the same. I have very little go wrong but its very handy knowing your machines and how to fix them.
Generally as rule of thumb. If you own and ride an older Harley, chances are you're probably an older guy, and have lots of seat time on em. Maintenance and working on comes on em comes second nature. Just sold a '90 Fat Boy, and currently riding a 02 R.K. I prefer my old scoots. Ride safe my brothers and sisters.🇺🇸😎
LoL! Owned a 1964 Panhead for about 3 years in the late 80's early 90's as my only form of transportation. only bike I ever had to carry a tool kit with me at all times because you never knew when something might fall off of it. It would routinely vibrate various nuts and bolts loose.
As the owner of a ‘92 evo, things aren’t quite as rough as you described, but I do get it. I’ve learned to enjoy a slower pace and the quirks of an older bike. 👍
The oldest bike I had was a 99 wide glide the some of the first bikes with the twin cam 88 and the last of the bikes with carburetor... loved the way she rode except at it wobble at higher speed. I like going fast when it's safe to do it and that bike was not safe to do that.. Loved your video thank you for making it interesting
I bought my first Harley in 1985. It’s a 1980/80 FXWG. I still own it to this day. I also own some Evo Sportsters, the newest is a twenty three year old bike, they’re all in the obsolete category. But I have no desire for anything new. Someday I would like to have an Ironhead to ride also. And proudly park it beside my Shovelhead. Thanks for your videos and your thoughts.
"You have to learn your bike", "you'll have to work on your bike and get your fingers dirty"??? Those are the scariest lines ever uttered to most of the modern day "Harley crowd".
New H-Ds (I don't call the M8 bikes "Harleys" because IMO they do not fit the definition) break down all the time. And they are brand new. It's because of the TRASH technology used on them. Shovelheads and older Harleys were not the most reliable motorcycles ever made (neither were vintage British bikes, and I have owned a few of those) but a mechanically inclined owner could fix them. That is no longer the case. I have a 1989 FXRS Low Rider, which I feel is the best of both worlds. Its EVO engine is way more reliable than anything that came before it, and also way more reliable than the new JUNK. And I can work on them. No computerized electronics. It is still carbureted, and still sounds and feels like a Harley. Vintage basically just means old, there is nothing that says how old, in my state you can get historic vehicle plates for anything 25 years old or older. I have a couple of vehicles I bought new that qualify for vintage plates. I consider the odometer to be the gas gauge. I usually ride around 65 mph. That seems to be the sweet spot for an 80 inch EVO or a Sportster 1200. To me, ALL new TRASH technology is big time NEGATIVE. I want to ride a MACHINE, not a computer on wheels. I don't want ANY of that electronic GARBAGE. I'm 65, and I have owned over 40 bikes in my life, and every single one of them have been carbureted. I will NEVER own a bike that is not carbureted.
Why not get rid of electricity and running water in your house too ? They only lead to problems 😂 I have a collection of bikes but only my newer (Fuel injected) ones can run coast to coast @ 80+ mph without issues.
@@kurtfoulke5130 Electricity and running water do not involve computers. My desktop Windows computer messes up several times a day. I have a bought new 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 that currently has 118,000+ miles on it, it is carbureted, and it has been all over the country, including a few several thousand mile trips, and I've never had any problems with it. It easily cruises at 80 mph, only halfway to redline. I bought my 1989 Harley FXRS Low Rider in 2003, and it has been remarkably trouble free. I was a mechanic for a large government fleet department for 37 years. We were getting several vehicles a day coming in with the check engine light on, and somehow all those jobs seem to find their way to me. I don't ever want to work on another computerized vehicle again.
My „ old“ Harley is a carbureted rigid mounted 03 Soortster 883 aka the gutless wonder. My new one a 23 LR ST. One great fun on the highway the other a joy around town.
I like the rigid Sportsters a lot, in fact those early 2000s are probably some of the best ever built! I loved that 2001 I built and sold, wouldn't mind another as a long term keeper
I have a fxstsb springer softail. I know it doesn’t fall into your definition of vintage bikes. (Turns 30 next year) When my friends were buying new bikes I didn’t want to get rid of my bike so instead I changed the transmission to a six speed and it made a huge difference on the highway. Even though I was clearly down on power when compared to their newer bikes I could now cruise beside them at 85 without feeling like I was running the evo so hard. Best mod I’ve done to my first and only Harley. Say what you will but my evo has been a very reliable bike for me and it still puts a smile on my face whenever I throw a leg over it
Evos are great, I did a video recently about about they're sort of the new Shovelhead: old enough to be cool, but still pretty reliable. Keep that Softail going! Thanks for dropping a line
Once had a '62 panhead,back in the '60,s , that I pushed farther than I got to ride it ,pure crap ,plus a series of hogs ( '47 knuckle ,etc. ) And we had a motto then of 'if you can,t fix it yourself ,you shouldn,t be riding ".Later a '81 shovel ,a good bike after completely re-wiring and ignition change ,plus a belt drive .It gave me so many ,many trouble free miles ,riding it all year around up here in Alberta ,Canada. Didn,t have a truck then .Was the only bike in the bar parking lot for some reason ,letting it idle for some time to unfreeze the throttle . But as I,m 77 now ,it,s a 1200 gold wing ,triked , bad knees and all ,plus it truly is trouble and vibration free . And I get to ride .Keep'er in the wind .
Love that crazy tach. BTW, have a '79 Superglide 80 shovelhead and a 117 Low Rider S. Love 'em both, but the 117 is pretty simple for modern bikes and still affords you the big v twin rumble. It's been a lot of fun, but I agree HD died in '85.
I am 62, i bought a 79 superglide at age 16 & my world changed, i traded it the next year & bought a 1980 FLH , i was very young , but had a good job & still went to H School, i then joined the service & went to VA & MISS & met older club members & my youth was all about shovelhead i put over 100k on shovel & then i trasded it on 1958 PAN, had lots of problems with it & hard to kick, but it was RIGHTOUS to thee maxx,,,,,, i then went evo & then 2 twin cams & im on year 50 s thin,,,, im not a biker, just a enthusiast,,,, your video's are good for my youth as i think back,,,,,, i currently am on my last HD & its a 2017 Softail slim S 110 TC, i freakin luv it, but i got 2 doggioes who cant go no were w/o me, so i useally take the dogs & my 25 year old corvette rag top stick, gosh the rag top stick vette is kinda like a m/c of sorts & fun in the sun w the dogs & a heater & rag roof,, its hard to choose which one to take & dogs useally win, i add
I say, Amen, to everything you stated in this video! I'm a "senior citizen" old coot/geezer, who has been bypassed with all this fancy tech on bikes and cars these days. I'm sad that phone booth's and home phones are gone by the wayside. I ride a 92 Fatboy, and drive a 01 Tundra with 268k miles on the clock. So, you see where I stand in this tech world lol. I plan on keeping them and riding and driving them till I kick the bucket. Then my son-n-laws can fight over them! Keep riding those old bikes and never ever let them go! Ride and wrench and always stay safe!
I recently bought a 1982 FLT. I've been riding it only on country back roads close to home. 55/60 mph usually less just to make sure everything is safe and sound. When I bought it, I already knew it had a primary leak (almost unnoticeable), and the transmission seal should be replaced at the same time when I replace the primary seals. I'll do all of it this winter, I might even change over to a BDL belt primary. The only problem I have is my 78 flh bobber is getting jealous 🙃 hahaha.
Love ripping around on my ole 47' knuckle chop, long distance on my 97' Heritage. All my friends moved on to baggers but just not a fan. Guess I'm stuck in the past and I'm good with that.
I went from a new 883 in '88 to an evo FXDL from '95 to a '99 TC FXDL. I think of it as new but it's already 25. If it makes you happy it's right for you.
I have a 1979 FLH, 80-inch Shovelhead, with just over 3200 (really!) miles on it. All of the hard bags, front fairing, windshield, etc., and the ugliest, but most absurdly comfortable spring-mounted seat I’ve ever sat on. I found the bike a couple years ago in an abandoned house. Yep, for free. The original owner (deceased since 1991) probably parked the bike when the starter crapped out, almost on cue, immediately after the warranty expired. Back then, AMF / H-D only gave a 90-day warranty on their machines. This bike is NOTHING like my 2002 FXSTS. Compared to that bike, the ‘79 FLH reminds me of antique farm equipment. Horrible, “booger” welds everywhere on the frame. Wiring that looks like it was done by me, but when I was in junior high school. Switches that could’ve came from Radio Shack’s clearance bin. But so far, the bike hasn’t dripped a single drop of oil, even after I removed the primary cover to replace the starter. The Mikuni carb the bike came with is garbage, although that could be from sitting for 40 years, but I’ve rebuilt it with new gaskets and jets, but it hasn’t improved. And the ring gear on the clutch basket already had a tooth missing when I got the bike… And to think that when I was a kid, my lifelong ambition was to ride a bike like this across the country! I probably wouldn’t have made it 200 miles before getting stranded on the side of the road.
LOL, I just had to look it up since you mentioned it... "According the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, an antique motorcycle is one that is 35 years or older. This is the only “true” official designation in the U.S.," blah blah blah! Love your videos!
Hahaha yeah, I have run into this before when I'll say "vintage Harley" and then someone will come on with a "well actually" comment 🤣 thank for watching
I recently own a 2005 XL883C thank you for breaking it down for me I already had my first encounter leaving me stranded but all it needed was oil change because the engine saves itself thank god
My shovel has heard a few choice words out of me before. But being determined to not give up, now I spend more time riding it than working on it; when before it was the other way around. Within the first year of owning it, there were a few times I was ready to just melt the whole bike down and mold another shovel that would run right. Up to now, it's all been worth it. Too bad we don't live closer to one another. Would love to kick some asphalt with you.
Thanks for the video! At 72 I'm on the hunt right now for an affordable shovel. The affordable has been the hard part. My favorite strong runner was my 83 FXRS. started every time. Best ride IMO.
Older bikes for need more maintenance simply for parts that are old. Some repairs can become quite expensive what might be required because of the age of the bike and the miles traveled
Love older bikes! i'd even put into argument compared to their more modern counterparts; Evo bikes even slip into the "vintage/antique" category. Florida even tags 30 years back (1994 now) as 'antique'. the 5 - speed is a big benefit to some of the more modern classics. The Evo's and prior have a completely different feel and character than the twin-cam and more modern counterparts... its well worth the "hassle" (I see it as a pleasure - most of the time) of getting to know them, their quirks, and necessary maintenance.
Yeah the Evo is starting to get long in the tooth, I recently did a video about this topic, as I think they're the current best buy for someone who wants a "classic" bike they can work on, but without shovelhead prices. Thanks for watching and dropping a comment
The EVO motor is the most dependable motor Harley has ever built. That is what I run with. I have an EVO 883 Sporster Custom. It has 45k on it and it still runs like new. Seeing how its the only Harley engine that has 4 individual cam shafts it sounds better than any other Harley. When I stop to get gas people come over and comment on how awesome it looks and sounds, I mean almost every time I stop. I get an average of about 10 compliments from strangers every week. It vibrates just the right amount and has that sought after harley sound. I am expecting to get 100k out of this motor then I will buy a hammer 1250 kit and go from there. Its kind of funny cause I go to bike nights at the dealer and people that have spent 40k on thier dressers always stare at me cause they can't believe how awesome my Sportster sounds, lol, then they notice its an 883 and they don't know how to react, then they smirk and think... oh its just an 883 and turn away. Let me tell you something. I can hang pretty good with everything including a CVO up to about 80mph.
You and Saddle tramp influenced my decision to buy a 1968 Sportster. I have a 2005 sportster that's very dependable so I bout the 68 to make a hardtail and tinker around with it.
my cruising speed on my shovelhead is 75/80 MPH, yes old bikes break, why , because harley always worked so people forgot to do the maintenance so things are a bit warn, but hey a 30 year old honda is on the scrapheap and harleys are still riding.
14:32 here I have to comment that Moto Guzzi from the Shovelhead era are just as characterfull as a Shovelhead, if not more. I went with Shovelheads purely because of the better aftermarket parts situation.
@@bmp72 back in81 I bought a 1973 LAPD 850 ..had no idea what it was ..I bought it for 600 dollars in Carlsbad new Mexico.... In those days if you showed up at a biker bar on some thing other than hd you were gonna catch hell .. but all I ever heard was ..cool bike man ..lol and it really took me a while to figure out how rare and good they were..
A vintage Harley-Davidson is generally a motorcycle that is at least 25 years old and looks like it did when it was first made. However, the definition of a vintage motorcycle can vary depending on the insurer and the Historic Racing Motorcycle Association. Some insurers may consider a classic bike as new as 20 years old to be vintage.  Here are some other classifications for motorcycles: Classic: A motorcycle that is 20 years or older Antique: A motorcycle that is 35 years or older  Some states allow motorcycles to be registered as antiques after 20 years. Someone had to do it
Engine and electrical issues are to be expected and can be handled. When a key structual piece breaks at highway speeds, that is a different story. Speaking from experience.
I got an 88 sportster that's always broke too. I'm waiting on a part due today as we speak, why I keep a suzuki and honda around to keep me going..lol my little 800 intruder gives my 1275 a run for its money, pound for pound. You're not lying about anything here.lol I put videos of my sportster here too more than my Japanese bikes because it breaks down the most. It's made me so mad, I've kicked it off its jiffy on the ground. I'm definitely married to this bike... still more loyal than the ex.lol Owning an older harley is definitely an experience.
Widespread net myrh that ol' Harleys are better, and that includes the evo. You want a reliable powerful Harley from factory? look for the last 2 generations of twin cams, specially those with triple digit displacement; already had an m8, not satisfied whatsoever, wait 'till they are better built, same with every other cruiser brand. You want to be left stranded down the road, and spend most of your time wrenching more than ridin'? Get an 'ol Harley or an 'ol whatever brand cruiser; want to ride most of the time and enjoy the road? Pick up a recent Harley, do regular maintenance, add some loud pipes, a tuner, maybe add some good cams, and you are good to go!
There were basic road conditions and speed limits that defined the various eras of highway travel in this country. You will find that each era Harley Davidson fit those conditions. In the 40s on very few roads that existed could you go over 45 miles per hour. In the 70s came the dreaded 55 maximum speed limit. Now we are at 80 miles per hour all day long. Take anyone of the ''period bikes'' out of there era and try to do what we do today, and you will destroy it in short order. These for me are the main considerations you should take into account when thinking about going vintage. Just my humble opinion.
I own a 1962 FLH PANHEAD OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD THE ENTIRE BIKE GONE THRU HAD THE ENGINE. REBUILT HAD ALL THE WIRING REDONE HAD A BELT DRIVE INSTALLED UPGRADED THE OIL PUMP THE BIKE IS NOW IN THE SHOP FOR A CONVERSION TO ELECTRIC START DUE YO MY AGE OF 74 I CAN NO LONGER KICK IT WHEN IT ALLSAID AND DONE I WILL HAVE $35,OO0 INVESTED I AM A DOUBLE TOUR NAM VET SO THIS PANHEAD IS MY FACE IN THE WIND COMFORT
WHEW! I just made the 'vintage' category with my 1984 FXST! Now-a-days, after owning and driving various computer controlled vehicles, I've come to the conclusion that I will NEVER own a motorcycle that requires a computer to 'tune!' Yes, I have electronic (single fire) ignition, but that could easily be replaced by points and it would run just fine! Simple hand-tools will fix MOST problems that pop up on the side of the road. And that's what I want,
@@kurtfoulke5130 the e start stopped working around 1991 and im too lazy to fix it but i just turned 62 and im thinking about getting it working again somday just being honest oh and it came with an a kicker on it when i bought it but yea i been kickstarting it for 30 plus years
Hey I have a 1988 Harley and you better know how to work on it. 84 to 88 is halfway like a shovel and half like a evo. And you have a one piece tank how about how to fill a 2 piece tank?
I am interested in purchasing a Shovelhead bike. I am not sure which year and model would be the best fit for me. I stand 6ft 4inches, I like to have kick and electric start. I eventually like a jocky shifter and a bobber style bike. What year and model bike would provide the best starting point?
A cone shovel will be cheaper than a generator. Really they're all built on the same frame, the question to ask is do you want the big FL front end or the narrow FX front end? Being so tall you might find the FL with the floorboard controls more comfortable, though many people convert FX mids to forwards.
I think you might overestimate how big the reserve is, and underestimate how far the nearest gas station is here 😅😅 reserve, in my experience, is just enough to get you to a "less crappy place to break down" before you start walking or making phone calls
