1970 XLCH

This is a one owner bike that had been in storage for something like 30 years and had accumulated a load of dead snails by the time it reached my shop. It had about 20,000 original miles showing on the odometer. At 71 the owner was finally retiring and wanted it rebuilt as a retirement present to himself. I went through the entire bike, I mean absolutely everything. Completely and totally rebuilt. I would categorize this as a restoration. I think 1970 is my favorite year for Ironheads, nothing is cooler than the scripted Sportster logo on the tank. (1970 is the first and only year that graphic was used in that format.) So how did the rebuild go? Keep in mind the owner was 71 and this is a kick start only machine. He picked it up from my shop and put 600 miles in four days. The bike didn't miss a tick and didn't leak a drop of oil. He intends to drive it, a lot...

Some technical notes: All the small parts on this bike were powder coated in my shop, frames are too big for my oven, those are done locally by a powder coater I've worked with for years. The metal polishing was also done in my shop. The highway pegs are period correct for 1970. I fabricated the sissy bar, the owner wanted something tall to lash a backpack to. The attachment holes are slotted and the sissy bar can be removed in a minute or two just by loosening the bolts. Only one wrench is required, the nuts on the back side are welded to a strap that also reinforces the fender. The original HD wheel rims installed on this bike are  known as "taper bead" rims, "taper bead" tires are no longer produced. Modern tires are known as "safety bead" tires, "safety bead" tires are not compatible with "taper bead" rims. These wheels were rebuilt with stainless steel spokes and Sun rims which are nearly identical to the original HD except in the bead seat area. Here is the Harley bulletin on that subject.

I regard being trusted with this one of a kind restoration project as an honor and a privilege.