What's a 43 Year Old Shovelhead Tour Glide Like to Ride? The FIRST Road Glide! 

The type of person who gets upset by a phone mount and a 12v charger in the cigarette lighter isn’t someone I want in my life.

Saying it’s a 1980 is one thing. Saying it’s 43 years old is something else entirely. It hurts in a way for which I was not prepared.

Seeing that Bike takes me back to when I had my FXE 1200 (Freight Train) from 1975 Bought it new and seeing a 1980 model just makes my hart melt . Thank you for bringing back so many great memory's . Ride safe and good luck with her .And God Bless .

I had one for years! My favorite bike ever! Put some clips in the front tabs on those saddle bag lids! Those locks will fail and this will keep the lid from skidding down the road!

Get some s&s heads and a woods cam that thing will haul ass. Or send those to Dave Mackie for a port job.

93 flhtc original paint and chrome excellent baker 6 speed bassina true daul exhast set up like a street glide have all parts to dress it back out, black paint im happy to see a channel that appreciates older harley history most riders only the new stuff

Thank you for letting me just enjoy the sound of this beautiful machine.

I too have a 1980 flt love it

Loving this series, there's a tour-glide for sale locally I've been talking myself out of for a while...

Out of the bike's you've shown on your channel, I'm actually jealous of this one lol. Such an amazing find.

Still riding my 83 Low Rider. Belt primary, belt final drive. Shovels are easy to wrench. Wiring is basic. S&S is a simple carb. Type of exhaust pipes make a lot of difference on how well it’ll run. Not sure if your bike comes with an oil cooler but if it doesn’t, that’s the first mod I would make. Also, put a bypass thermostat on the oil lines feeding the oil cooler. It’ll make that puppy run cool all day long. My cruise control is a knob that holds the hand throttle in place. You put enough pressure on it to hold the hand throttle in place but can still adjust it like normal. Really like my ride but there is no way I can keep up with the later model HDs.

Basic mods I've done on my '81 FLH that I consider essential...Pins on the bag lid tabs. A battery disconect switch. A timed signal flasher/relay (those TINY buttons suck wth winter gloves). Sweet old (yes, it is vintage) survivor...glorious in it's hideousness.

Did i see that correctly, true dual from factory? 😃 That bike is an absolute beauty, great selection to open the vintage series👍 well done, boss Ride safe 🤙

Love seeing this kind of stuff. My 87 still has the "hold" turn signals and hazards. The battery box in those bags were on all touring models til 93. One piece if advice though. Get the knob style bag screws. It saves a ton of time getting to the battery.

As I remember, the “flashers” were introduced in ‘73. The DOT mandated headlights on with ignition in ‘75. It was routine to have the jumper for the headlight cut on the early machines to allow the headlight to come on independent of the ignition; eventually H-D changed the ignition switch to eliminate this field modification. I also noticed that the the front saddlebag cover latch tab has a hole drilled in it to accommodate a retaining pin. This has been done since the Royalite “Bubble Bag” era in order to help prevent losing the bag lid when the latch failed to keep the lid in place…which was all of the time. The battery under the seat happened in ‘93. The early enclosed rear chain drive used a rope seal instead of the later lip seal. Additionally, I recall that the 1980 wheel bearings were a needle bearing and unique to the 1980 FLT. There were big changes to this machine, as well as the 4-speed platform in ‘81.

Ah, the memories! 😊

Brilliant, Ride On Man.

Thank you. Your narrative on here explains my 1984 FXRT pertty well. Mine doesn't have a hazard light flasher. The blinkers had a device you could buy to hold the blinkers on. It is impossible to clutch, brake, throttle, and shift going around a corner. The battery is the only easy thing on my bike. It's under the seat that is on a hinge. Push the tab, and the seat rises up. It has a great sound without changing anything. It's a great ride but I need new rubber mounts. It's still original equipment. It's hard to find parts, but I heard of a guy in Tennessee who buys every FXR there is that comes up for sale!

Something about the sound of a Shovelhead. My first bike was a 1974 FXE Superglide. Should never have sold her.

Those old machines bring back a lot of memories... Enjoy :-)

I couldn't stop staring at the beautiful sky

Haha had a 1987 Electra glide and a 86 Fxrd yup had to hold the turn signal bottom, kinda fun having to pull the clutch and front brake All at the same time

This is good, I love seeing an old harley back on the road.

All shovels leak oil that is how you know the tank has some in it

Sweet. I love the vintage stuff... it's all I have in my garage right now, 60's and 70's bikes. No Harleys though. Not yet anyway. You'd think if they were going to put the battery inside the bag like that, they'd make a hatch so you could get to it easily. Having to take the side bag off is a bit of a pain when you could have just cut an opening in the fiberglass and put a hinge and a latch on it.

Really excited about this series on the Shovel Head!

I had bought a 78 1/2 when I was 21...sold it in 88. Rode several bikes there after. Just got finished a chain drive 82 FLH, partial restoration that has 13,000 original miles. Geared 23/48, s&s E, RB racing exhaust, Andrews A2 cam, 8.5:1 pistons etc... anyways looking fwd to re living my youth lol Nothing sounds as nice as a good running shovel.

Good video. Looks like the bike runs great. And your plans will start taking shape

You should link up with the guy Shovelheadffej! That’s his channel. He’s based outa FL and he builds old school bikes!

Grab a low profile black seat and keep the tour pack off unless you need it. It makes my Electra Glide Classic feel like a street glide. I put a hog works sissy bar and luggage rack on for when I’m staying local.

That is very kool mr monkey you are right hearing it looking at it the sound does bring back memories i had older brothers that rode and going out with them greatest kid memories ever take care great vid as usual 1:41

Good idea. Close a dealer two days during summer.

It's road glide or no glide for me love that bike

Great Video Brings back memories of my Dads bike

I can’t believe someone would not think a Shovel is vintage. Remember to clean the oil screen under the plug by can cover.

Shovelhead were definitely not Interstate bikes. Highways were sketch if riding longer than a few hours. But, absolutely loved riding them.

It's not leaking, it's marking it's territory.

Still riding my 84shovel super glide runs great doesn’t leak either. Thanks for the video’s

Great bike! Love the channel! We need an epic RU-vid meet up with you and Shadetree Surgeon!

I had a '79 FLH the same gold color and had the dealer go thru it before I took delivery. He was a personal friend and told me about AMF's shortcomings so I paid his head mechanic to blueprint the motor and trans while I went thru the chassis. We found a few things that needed attention. When it was done I had a great bike that I rode for alnost 90,000 miles before I had to sell it because life got in the way. Two of my buddies bought new FLT's in 1980 and they both traded them in before the summer was done becaus of constant problems. 1981 FLTs were a bunch better; at least at that dealership. Anyway, I had many other FLH's over the years and always wanted another gold one so I made one out of a 2008 Ultra and it's a good one.

Wow!! Looks just like my 1988 FLHTC Looked. I still have it but put the battery under the seat and and 08 tranny starter and primary wheels and swing arm.. love my Evo!! Great looking and sounding bike enjoy brother stay blessed ML&R!

Yeah. Alligator Alley was supposed to be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays also for the remainder of the summer.

My '83 FLHTC is Tan/Cream... 23,552 original miles. Nice Bike 👍

Evening @mrsmonkey5151..you too I guess monk 😂

No Radio? LOL!

I love the sound of a shovelhead, I have a 78 flh bobber with Santee up-sweep straight pipes, and it's like listening to classic rock and roll to me. (Think about the soundtrack for the movie Heavy Metal)

I just bought an 84 found it out in winter haven it runs but it really needs some TLC it's going to be a fun project

i have a 81 bought new in 1980 i was in the canadtan army in germany paid 5500 canadian a third less of what they cost at home then .it was a fxe 80 ci it was alright but it was modifted several times i seddled with a stripped decker look 5 degree rake trees off a 72 sidecar bike forword roled wideglide rear fender a 45 bucket seat on those t type swivel from between the tanks i liked it no spings just on the frame had 4 speed trany and the 80 ci and 9 inch progresive shock so when upright the hightst point of the seat was 24 and a half inches the engine was tubbed ported polished and double plugged with 11 to 1 compression pistons went from stock 60 hp to 98 hp at the rear wheel on the dyno..anyways all this so i could tell you we used to seal up the bag lids with 1 inch by 1/2 inch black rubber weather stripping it worked great. enjoy your shovell theres no sound quite as nice

Have no damn idea how to use the map thingie on my phone...I use a Garmin specific to telling me where the hell I am, where the hell I have been; and where the hell I am going with benefit of gps speed, fuel stops/restaurants and most importantly hospitals/hotels.

Just talked to a friend of mine who's dad had an 82 Tour Glide. It also had a brown seat so the one on yours might be factory original

It’s a handsome machine but I agree, it needs some small pipe straights for that nice muscle sound.

Put a cam in it to help on the highway cruising I remember my 1979 80 cu in Fat Bob I changed the front sprocket for running the highway less RPM too , better around town too.

Great bikes. I ride a Saddle brown '80 flt myself . A real attention getter anywhere I take it.

Interested in this year would love to see some custom upgrades of any sort what can and what can't be done

Florida has some of the best road for bike riding.

Can you just toss the oil bath and get a nice x ring chain?

My 1984 FXRT turn signals are like that. It's a pain but very doable.

Still trying to figure out the pipes?? They are very cool, but I don't think they are stock unless it was a tour glide thing. I had a Low Rider at that time and Some friends had Bagger's in the early 80's and don't remember seeing anything like that, and yeah, those things are definitely not geared for today's roads.

yes, law in Florida says you must have a headlight! and how do I know.......🙄

Would love to ride my RK down to Palm Beach some day. I have a bunch of inlaws down there around you! My wife grew up in N.Palm in the 70's and we live in Fort Wayne In. She doesn't want to go back. Says its too hot! Haha!

I use a beeline moto on my shovelheads, with the phone in my jacket pocket.. None of that spaghetti wiring for me. The good sound under load probably comes from the intake, not the exhaust.

My 75th anniversary Sportster has same turn signal set up, all original.

I bought a blue tooth adapter that hooks to your cigarette lighter and it works good to listen to tunes off a dead radio station. You can still charge your phone too

There’s nothing to discuss if you have good vision,, an 18 inch spoke chrome wheel off that color of the bike, up front ,, visualize it,, also, I can’t tell but add a small cam and a 2 into 1 chrome thunder header ,, it would look good,, sound good and rip pretty good

I bought a 8o sportster brand new spring of 81. 61 now, where'd the time go?

I think one thing that is most neglected is to replace the fork oil. Research to see which weight fork oil weight works best in these bikes forks.

are you going to change the gearing so it can match the speed limits? Not even sure if that's possible.

A friend of mine has a RU-vid channel, and for his ride videos, it is just the camera and background music. He might do a voice over once in a while, but if he is on camera talking, he is not riding. If people are wanting you to record while riding, you could do that and still have the ride be yours.

Nice bike

👍🏻👍🏻

I think you guys should think about setting that bike up and donating to “Scooter Tramp Scotty” , let him put a couple hundred thousand miles on the Advanblack/ProMonkey touring shovel head.

Who Says thats not OG !! Shes a piece of History !!

If the lid gasket from advan don't work J&P Cycle has the right ones, got 'em for my '77. One question, is that the stock exhaust? Have never seen that head pipe setup before and I've been around Harleys since the 70's.

good looking bike...

cool bike

I dont see anything wrong with updating this bike. Bringing it up to date seems what anyone would do, its still a 43 yr old bike .

Ok if you want to make that road glide look super badass put on some spike wheels ,, 18 up front ,, with that gold ,, super bad ass

did you try pressing both directional buttons at the same time for hazzard lights on the newies?

Arent those 7" headlights? If so i bet that Advanblack's headlight kits would drop in. Talk about a difference at night.

Hey bro love Ur work U always have good ideas 😉😉💡💡 sorry to bother you today like this but U said you were going to change your fish tips ?? And I was hoping U'd Be willing to sell them for a Decent price ?? I don't have a lot to work with but I Do have some Money and Would Absolutely love them for My Bike ???😎😎😎

My 1980 FLT indicators, you hit the button, they flash for a time, then stop. Maybe you have a fault ?

13 inch mini apes also

Good rundown - appreciated. But who cares about turn signals. The more you let people know, the worse it gets. Always keep ‘em guessing, because if you don’t, they’re liable to try to zoom past you and sideswipe you. Always get rid of turn signals, too - they look stupid, and only belong on a cagers civilian car 😁 How do I know this? Because I first swung a leg over a motorcycle in 1969. From Southern California ~ Ride Rorever! 🦅

Did you find out if the seat is original to the bike

Can you re-gear her to get more speed out of that power?

Can ya do an Indian Larry oil filter relocate?

Shockingly lol

Did the 80 not come with a radio? My 84 has one, even though its garbage

TJ what model of ray bans are you wearing?

😁🏍️

Nice bike, but I don't like the 80's era dash, or the battery location. Yeah, I don't like the modern location of batteries either under the seat under the ECM under a tray. Put it on the side of the bike where it belongs and where you can get at it, because you will have to... all the time. Someone with a CAD program went st00pld.

0-60 time

Shit I rode my 72 shovel with a 92 in stroker motor in an Arlen ness rigid frame from Texas to new York and back sitting on shop rags with a handlebar mounted tool bag… no cell phone or credit card….whats the worry

Is that the oem seat ?

Spoke wheels ,, sorry bro ,, 18 up front a must

How is fiberglass done.. Fiberglass + risen to harden. Lmao, fiberglass is just a fabric or ground fiber.

Leave the back wheel the same, can’t see it anyway

I like the look without the tour pack

Please dyno the shovelhead .. for science!!

Top heavy, clunky, mess of a bike.