Silly HD question but...

[Motu]

Sounds like you are looking for something with flattrack heritage - seems there are XLV750's cropping up in a much abused states.It's a hell of a frame to work around,but it's very special engine with pedigree,and kickarse performance.

[Rogue Rider]

I'm a silly guy...

Old Iron head HD sportsters... My memory of them is not good... as in pretty diabolical but time has a habit of producing cures to most things... What are old iron sporties really like to live with?

Every now and then evolution throws out a rock instead of a diamond. The iron head is definately the rock, which is best used as an anchor weight or mooring for a canoe......... Pain pain pain, get an evo, much better and much more reliable.
East Coast motorcycles has a real nice classic old school one cheap that he traded. Check it out, its not listed as yet so get in quick,.

[98tls]

Buy a new one, they are well priced and excellent machines. Why bother with old shit unless it has some real classic value; then don't ride it but put on display.
That is my opinion.

Buy a new one then when you want to trade up you might just as well put it on display in your lounge as the Harley dealer wont want a bar of it and as a mate recently found out will offer you a price that indeed ensures it stays in your possesion.

[BIG DOUG]

so bike shops should trade bikes in and make no money on them? what year was said sportie

[sinned]

Buy a new one then when you want to trade up you might just as well put it on display in your lounge as the Harley dealer wont want a bar of it and as a mate recently found out will offer you a price that indeed ensures it stays in your possesion.

Does that not apply to all bikes and cars? Buy new and you lose money. Buy second hand and you may lose less. It also depends on how long you keep it. It is easy to count the loss without considering the wear and life of components from kms traveled and time kept.

[98tls]

Does that not apply to all bikes and cars? Buy new and you lose money. Buy second hand and you may lose less. It also depends on how long you keep it. It is easy to count the loss without considering the wear and life of components from kms traveled and time kept.

Indeed it does,i sold Toyotas for 5 years Fords for 2 and spent 2 years selling bikes so understand a little of how it works,the offer made on his in very good nick Sporty was more an insult.He bought a new bike and simply kept the Sporty.

[Paul in NZ]

FFS - this thread is drifting all over the place and falling into a question of the used value of sportsters and the ethics of bike shops...

I was asking about iron sportsters only because of the physical shape of the engine. A narrow angle v twin with exposed push rod tubes which could be obtained cheaply (though not cheaply enough) for a wee project to produce a classic / custom 1930's style bike with a KTOR / matchless / JAP vtwin engine...

Due to some life changing events I just want a wee project to keep me sane - not to win the local bike show or change the world.... The problem is that even the most turgid pile of shit, blown engine, missing major parts sans rego / plate / paperwork etc all appear to be made of solid gold according to the owners. It really is unbelievable the prices wanted for some of these things compared to the cost of getting them road worthy.

I should not have had the crisis of concious and sold on the CB450 motu helped me find but I was in a pretty dire state then and not thinking or acting properly on many fronts. But its unlikely to be the last stupid thing I ever do is it?

[Paul in NZ]

What about this/

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-307167592.htm

price is oK for a rego'd bike??

[Ocean1]

Looks good to me, price is bloody excellent for a legal machine.

Good donk too.

[nudemetalz]

I might be wrong here, but I've heard that the rear drum brakes on the NV/VT/Shadow tend to cook the shaft bearings and grease etc due to heat.
Apart from that, the 52 degree v-twin engine is a good design. Be good for a wee project like yours and I'd go for it over the XV.

[Ocean1]

the rear drum brakes on the NV/VT/Shadow tend to cook the shaft bearings.

And that particular one is overdue for a birthday. But who needs back brakes?

[Kickaha]

What about this/

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-307167592.htm

price is oK for a rego'd bike??

Depends on what styling you settle on rebuilding it to, Bobber I would say yes other wise I'd be perhaps looking for a Honda Bros although the single sided swingarm may screw up the look you want and the wheels are ugly and they cost lots more etc etc etc

[Paul in NZ]

Depends on what styling you settle on rebuilding it to, Bobber I would say yes other wise I'd be perhaps looking for a Honda Bros although the single sided swingarm may screw up the look you want and the wheels are ugly and they cost lots more etc etc etc

Most of the shape is in the tank and stupid forks surely? Bigger prob is the 16" rear wheel

what about this then?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-306767350.htm

Slow as a wet week I'll bet ;-)

[Motu]

And you've got water cooling to deal with,doesn't exactly fit in with the spartan look you are after.The XLV750 is a real 45 degree with air cooling....but you have to find one,and the 3in square frame tube is not the look either.

[T.W.R]

Be good for a wee project like yours and I'd go for it over the XV.

That generation of cruisers the Honda was the least desirable of the whole bunch, testers even prefered the 883 sporty over it the XV750 was the best allround performer of all, simplest motor, best handler etc etc. The NV has the most complexed engine (comparable to the VN750 Vulcan), worst brakes, and only just out performed the VS750 intruder (& they considered that to have a frame that felt like it had a universal hinge in the middle of it).
That was part of the reason that Honda weren't forthcoming in letting the 1100 shadow be tested when it was 1st released.