Motorcycle.com

thewanderer · 12-02-2007, 02:52 AM

hey, i am looking at a 1983 sportster with an shovlehead..i was told good and bad things abougt the ironhead that it has.not this bike, just in general. the fella wants to sell it to me for a little over 3grand. i know most shovleheads around these early years have been rebiuld, or some type of work done....dose the fack that its an iron head have any thing to do with it?...it has no leaks andruns well. is the ironhead, although not alumminum, agood chioce for my first harley experiance?...

seruzawa · 12-02-2007, 05:05 AM

People tend to either love or hate the ironhead sportys. If you are good with a wrench you should be fine with it. Remember that like most 70's era bikes a lot of regular maintenance will be required.

longride · 12-02-2007, 03:05 PM

There is nothing wrong with those early Sportys. Easy to maintain and rebuild if you can wrench a bit. Just remember what the bike can and can't do, and you will be fine. Those bikes will run forever if you take care of it.

sarnali2 · 12-03-2007, 08:09 AM

Yup, Sporties are tons of fun. Keep fresh oil in it and check the generator brush's once in awhile and it should run forever

12-02-2007, 02:52 AM	#1
thewanderer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: new boston, TX Posts: 3	'83 sportster ironhead...yey or ney? hey, i am looking at a 1983 sportster with an shovlehead..i was told good and bad things abougt the ironhead that it has.not this bike, just in general. the fella wants to sell it to me for a little over 3grand. i know most shovleheads around these early years have been rebiuld, or some type of work done....dose the fack that its an iron head have any thing to do with it?...it has no leaks andruns well. is the ironhead, although not alumminum, agood chioce for my first harley experiance?...

12-02-2007, 05:05 AM	#2
seruzawa Robby Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 16,803	People tend to either love or hate the ironhead sportys. If you are good with a wrench you should be fine with it. Remember that like most 70's era bikes a lot of regular maintenance will be required. __________________ I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.

12-02-2007, 03:05 PM	#3
longride Super Duper Mod Man Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Anywhere they let me Posts: 10,484	There is nothing wrong with those early Sportys. Easy to maintain and rebuild if you can wrench a bit. Just remember what the bike can and can't do, and you will be fine. Those bikes will run forever if you take care of it. __________________ I'm a knucklehead

12-03-2007, 08:09 AM	#4
sarnali2 Aging Cafe` Racer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sittin' down by my window, lookin' at the rain. Posts: 8,132	Yup, Sporties are tons of fun. Keep fresh oil in it and check the generator brush's once in awhile and it should run forever __________________ "Carpe` Throttelum -Loud Suits Save Lives" "All the BMW riders in the room, I want you to leave. Now. Out. "

Sponsored Links	Remove Advertisements
Motorcycle Forum Advertisement