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It's been sitting in a shed for a few years. 81 Lowrider, probably Harley's worst year ever but the price was right. I replaced a couple missing lifter block screws, threw the jumpers on it and she popped right off. Yeah, it's pink, I think that chameleon paint that changes colors.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../harley003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../harley006.jpg
Looks a bit neglected, but definitely has potential! Always fun to start with the leftovers and build something neat!!! What ya gonna do to it?
Just when I was giving my thoughts, the power went off just long enough to shut the computer down.
I think it could be pretty nice, if you could build or buy a nice cover for the battery that would make a big difference. Then maybe put a nice low seat on it. Just my opinions but it's a good find.
Richard
I have the stock battery cover.
Plans, short term:
Seat
Bars
tires
Paint
forward controls
Little stuff like a derby cover, loose the geeky Live to Ride points cover
If I have it long enough it might get a more radical treatment which would no doubt have a 60s chopper flair, for sure loose the dorky wheels for some spokes. I never like the FX back fenders much either. Also the narrowglide is really tweaky, needs a brace, back brake was a rattling pos on these bikes..
Maybe I should just pull the engine and can the rest of the bike, maybe keep the frame and hardtail it.
funny you mention picking up a bike, i just picked up one of these babys for free!! 1977 yamaha rd400 2 stroke:eek: and its all there except the rear fender and rear lights and a battery.
I can see a cool little bobber bike there. Is it called a Ram Air or something like that?Quote:
Originally Posted by gassersrule_196
no but the same bike in the daytona special had scoops on top of the heads , nah i was gonna restore it to stock ride it a bit and sell it i need the $
nice find ,love the sound of the old shovels.i have a 06 heritage .sturgis next year ,we go every other year ,we ride through you town.
well, If I'm still here stop in for a long neck or a good cup.Quote:
Originally Posted by hucks 50
I sold my last bike in 96. I was living in Alaska and didn't ride it anymore. It was also the first bike I ever owned, a 1970 FLH. I always said I would have another one when and if I moved back outside. I really want a panhead.
Was 1981 the AMF years? It looks pretty darn good for being 27 years old!Quote:
Originally Posted by willowbilly3
A little rubbing compound, some wax, and chrome polish and she'll look almost new! Maybe some armour all too!(insider tip, armorall to the black parts on the engine perks them right up and doesn't seem to have a problem with the engine heat(per my mechanic). Say what you want about Harley's but they've got a classic style and sound that will always turn heads. You can get just about any parts you need on ebay for next to nothing, and it doesn't take much to make them unique! Good Find!
Gasser good score on the two stroke. I love the 70's style for the Japanese bikes! Learned to ride on a 71 Yamaha dual sport. Monster of a bike for a 125cc! A real work horse too!
funny thing i learned to ride an old yamaha ysr mini crotch rocket from the 80's kinda cool little bikes. i still want a kawasaki 750 triple and an old pan chop someday.
Yuppers, I think it would look good with either a wide glide front and some fat bob tanks, or get real crazy and put a big long springer and a ton of rake.... I gotta build me another one someday too!!!! Thinking maybe one of the old cop trikes with a springer and a knucklehead would suit me just fine!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by willowbilly3
Nice find! If my memory is right, 81 Harleys were post AMF. AMF Harleys were the great leakers, with some nasty paint runs on the tank.:LOL: :LOL:
AMF was the reason I bought a Gold Wing for a tourer instead of the FLH.:LOL:
Those little RD400's were very quick machines, not as quick as my Kaw H2 500, but the Yammies handled better.
Who's the invisable man peeing in the front yard .
Bike does look very clean for a shed must be some dry weather there . Around here a couple years will rust it right up .
Funny you should mention picking up a RD400. I bought one new. It was maybe the nicest riding and handling bike I ever owned. Also had a RD350 that I made into a cafe racer. I think the designation on it was S2a. Currently riding a '82 Honda XR500L. Love the sound of the big 4-stroke thumpers. By the way, I don't know if you saw my roadster project. I tagged it onto the Jets/Funnys at Firebird thread. Take a look and tell me what you think. Richard.Quote:
Originally Posted by gassersrule_196
:LOL:Quote:
Originally Posted by bluestang67
Its ghost pee`er :rolleyes:
That is the latest greenie treehugger solar powered clothes dryer.It's all I use.Quote:
Originally Posted by shawnlee28
I rode it about 7 miles today, didn't go too far with the 06 tags.
I'm not real crazy about the ride. With the lowrider rake, what I think might be 2" over tubes and those narrow drag bars, all makes the forks floppy at low speeds. I also don't like the high gearing these bikes had, 1st seems more like second when taking off. And the foot controls need to be forward.
I think a decent set of bars and a 23 tooth counter sprocket would make a huge difference. I guess I'll run down to Sturgis and see what I can find, and maybe a different seat.
I know what you mean about the gearing. My softail has new channelled heads, and a hot cam, which realy changed the gearing all around. I'm thionking about changing out my front sprocket to even it up back to where it was before the new hoprse power. I seem to get stuck using the high end of third and the low end of fourth now, where as before, it just liked to cruise in fourth gear. The constant up down thing on it now drives me crazy!**)
these old shovelheads needed a 5 speed bad. This one is still 3 grand at 70, even with the tall gearing. Maybe I will get used to sliding the clutch to get it rolling. I have really rode for a long time so I felt like a big dork taking off from stop signs today with the front end wobbling and the engine revving then chug a chug about dieing after I dumped the clutch.
I do remember the 80 Sturgis I had was real hard to keep under the speed limit. It wanted to roll about 85.
nice troublehead billy!!
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...1232007050.jpg
i like them myself:D you can get a revtech 5 speed in a 4speed case fairly cheap ..
yeah you definitly need a set of forward controls and a new set of bars ..
break out some flat black paint and make the night train papa harley should have built in 81:D
I might run down to Sturgis and see what I can find, used to be lots of sweet deals during the rally. I was there yesterday taking a horse to the vet but couldn't really navigate too well with the horse trailer.lol
This lowrider is a classic example of doing stupid stuff to a bike. I think the tubes are about 3 over and those drag bars, both just make a marginal bike handle worse. It also vibrates worse than any I have had. I put a lot of screws back in that were missing. When I first fired it off it ran about 30 seconds and a screw fell out of the handlebar control. It is a good representation of Harley's sorriest years. I probably won't keep it too long.
i sure like those new nightser's. but if i was going to fork over the cash for a new bike it'd definatley be for a buell.
I'd sure like to try out a V-rod
My neighbor rented a Vrod in Hawaii. He still talks about it, how responsive and nimble compared to his dresser, or his Dyna and even his custom springer/sportster which is really a kick ass nimble. He has been eyeing last years model that didn't sell, that has the same peg setup that he likes. I have to say, I'm still oscillating between selling my softail or modifying the suspension, to make it a better handling bike in turns!
Quote:
Originally Posted by willowbilly3
I had a friend who bought a new '80 Sturgis-I loved that bike-
I bought a 78 RD brand new for $1300. Very quick and handled great. I almost bought a Daytona on Ebay last week.Quote:
Originally Posted by gassersrule_196
hey those daytonas were neat they have the fin scoopsQuote:
Originally Posted by dmw56