Early Year H-D Sportster
11. Nov, 2009 
12 Comments
This beautiful early year model, was found at the Barber Motorsports Museum — anyone care to guess the exact year? I’m guessing mid to late 60s, but what do I know? Sam, ‘Steveb’ or maybe one of the readers care to enlighten me?
It is an early year for sure, the headlight, tank and brake give us some clues. I know that some Sportster fiend has the specific spec’s on this machine right at hand. An interesting aspect of this bike is the tank finish which partners up light wrinkle and gloss finishes…I’d not seen that before and wonder if that was EVER a factory option..
Hit me with the clue by four please!
Late 50′s is my guess. I’ve got a call into my Sporster Guru.
OK boys,
1. The logo on the tank is from 1966 to 1971.
2. The red dots on the heads of the shovel tells me once again late sixties to early 70′s.
3. The Tranny cover…ribbed comes from the early 70′s.
4. I’ve never seen that kind of headlight cover on a Sportster…and checking through the late ’60′s through the early ’70′s….no such animal…but I REALLY LOVE IT!.
My conclusions…. late sixties to early seventies. let’s say…. 1969…. you know… “69? LOL
I am sure that headlight nacelle was a stock piece.
Kind of like the boattail, it was an adventure in styling.
It’s not a ’69…the Tranny covers don’t match…
The gas tank is from a 1971.
The Fenders, both front and rear are from anywhere around 1953 to the late 1960′s.
I think this bike is a a number of years….but my best guess is the early ’70′s.
I dunno…I just dunno
I found the Nacelle! 1967 !
The Tranny cover is correct…
The fenders…the gas tank paint job is wrong and suits the 1971 paint job.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1967-harley-davidson-xlh-sportster.htm
OK there we have it…mostly a 1967 Sportster
Nice job on fact finding!
If I was a betting man, which I’ve been known to be, I’d a bet Chessie would be the one to run down the year of this “ealy-year sportster”. Way to go Chessie! Not quite the subject for one of your historical pieces, but worth noting—Chessie, the research hound!
1967,68 & 69 were the only years this style of XLH sportster was made. The paint styling on the gas tank suggests a later year (69?)(HI-FI Blue). The seat is not for the XHL but rather the XLCH (XLH had a stock bannana seat) The neck casting number will end with the number “56″ if it is a true XLH for that series. The Nacelle was used on all 3 years (67,68 & 69)for only the XLH series…BTW…I am just completing an 8 year restoration on a 67XLH is why I know about this one
Amazing the in-depth granular knowledge of someone coming off of an 8yr resto…..lol
8 years? There has go to be a story behind that…do you have any pics? Care to share the story? If so, submit them using the link so we can see the fruits of your hard work!
Currently I have no photos on line that I can link you too. I bought the bike as a basket case in 1975 and made a chopper out of it (thats what we did back then). I sold it to my brother in 1985 who sold all the original spare parts for drinking money and lost the bike to his 3rd wife in the divorce. It was later given to my nephew who sold it back to me where it sat in my basement for many years…..then, 8 years ago I decided to restore it back to its original condition but I knew it would be a major undertaking because parts (in good condition) are scarce….I am now down to only a few items remaining and will be installing a set of original OEM saddle bags this coming week (they were “brand new” still in the old box)….It has taken time but well worth it. If you have a link where I can upload some photos I will gladly share some pics….This is the “shortened” version of the entire story, after 8 years of “trial and error”, I could almost write a book about this restore……..thanks for asking
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