Took in a pretty cool ol Shovel Head...

[cowpuc]

So,, had an old 85 Suzuki Madura (V-4,, we allll know what that is:cool10:) that I had freshened up.. Through the course some horse swapping I ended up with this 1981 Fat Bob.. Got to checking it out and noticed the motor had never been opened up,, still has the original clamps on the hoses feeding the oil pump - been a LONG time since I have seen an original shovel - untouched,, just like it came from HD,, these things weren't exactly known for reliability.. Ran the VIN - came out of the HD plant in Pennsylvania.. I didnt even know HD had a plant in PA back than.. The front rotors on this thing show NO sign of wear, chain and sprockets still look new... What a cool ol bike.. Thought some of you REAL bikers might enjoy this :rotf::rotf:

Just another day in the life of Puc.....

[syscrusher]

That was a really nice looking Madura. I was kindof looking at that and the Magna when I decided that the VR was more practical. Funny thing about the Magna is that except for the engine it looks almost exactly like the 83 Shadow 500 I once owned...........

 

Sorry Puc, I would have rather had the Madura.

[cowpuc]

That was a really nice looking Madura. I was kindof looking at that and the Magna when I decided that the VR was more practical. Funny thing about the Magna is that except for the engine it looks almost exactly like the 83 Shadow 500 I once owned...........

 

Sorry Puc, I would have rather had the Madura.

 

I hear that Crusher,, aint nothin to be sorry about for sure!! That Madura had 4000 original miles on it,, hadnt been ridden since 1990!! The original tool kit was still in the box behind the passenger seat UNOPENED from new!! It was a really neat bike!! I actually would have kept it if it would have been the 1200,, it was the 700.. Been a CHEAP thrill (had less than 500 bucks in it) as the 1200 Madura's were Suzy's "answer" to the V-Max (yea right) and the V-65,, they ran pretty good too..

[stickhandle2]

Hey Puc,

 

Great find on the shovel, love those old HDs, my brother has an 83 FXR that he picked up for a song (and he can't carry a note either). Love my Venture but also have a soft spot for the old shovels and sporty's they are so basic and simple.

 

Cool find.

 

Mike

[cecdoo]

Hey Puc, I bought a 1200 Madura new in 85, beautiful bike. Its still sitting in my garage, still runs like a raped ape, never left me sit. Takes first place at every show I take her to. Your 700 looked pretty sweet! You shoulda kept her, you would have had alot more fun and miles then on that HD.

 

Craig

[Huggy]

Here's a pic of my brothers latest Hardly it is undergoing a complete ground up restoration. This pic was taken when he bought it. He has been working on it for 4 years and says it should be on the road this summer. The bike is being restored to original and has taken this long because finding original parts has been a challenge.

[syscrusher]

I hear that Crusher,, aint nothin to be sorry about for sure!! That Madura had 4000 original miles on it,, hadnt been ridden since 1990!! The original tool kit was still in the box behind the passenger seat UNOPENED from new!! It was a really neat bike!! I actually would have kept it if it would have been the 1200,, it was the 700.. Been a CHEAP thrill (had less than 500 bucks in it) as the 1200 Madura's were Suzy's "answer" to the V-Max (yea right) and the V-65,, they ran pretty good too..

 

Oh, the 700, well in that case you made a fabulous trade. Yeah the 1200s made 120 HP or so in a 540lb. bike and that sounds like a fun little machine for the price they bring now. For just the 700 your Harley trade is really remarkable!

[RandyR]

2000 miles on an 81. Nice swap.

 

You didn't mention how it runs, or if it runs?

 

or did it sit because it didn't

[cowpuc]

Hey Puc,

 

Great find on the shovel, love those old HDs, my brother has an 83 FXR that he picked up for a song (and he can't carry a note either). Love my Venture but also have a soft spot for the old shovels and sporty's they are so basic and simple.

 

Cool find.

 

Mike

 

Me too Mike, me too!! I did a number of the shovels (AMF Cones) last year too, they have really been good sellers for me - I think its cause they are affordable (check out the values of an old Hydraglide like Ground Huggers brother is doing - WOW).. It is AMAZING to me though because it seems like only yesterday that NOBODY wanted those AMF bikes,,, "dat aint no Harley" and "it's a cross between a bowling pin and a motorcycle" were the comments back than,, sheesh,, seems like yesterday,, where does the time go.. Funny how now they sell like hot cakes,,, got a guy coming to look at this one today :rotf:

 

Hey Puc, I bought a 1200 Madura new in 85, beautiful bike. Its still sitting in my garage, still runs like a raped ape, never left me sit. Takes first place at every show I take her to. Your 700 looked pretty sweet! You shoulda kept her, you would have had alot more fun and miles then on that HD.

 

Craig

 

Ya know doo,, I never really understood it but Suzuki never really caught on around here.. I was spinning wrenches in a Honda shop back then,, we had stellar business, guy who owned the Yam shop was a personal friend and he was pretty busy too BUT the Suzy shop,, slower than molasses... For every 100 Wings ya saw around you would see 5 Ventures and, if you were lucky,, 1 Cavalcade.. Same with the Madura's/V-Max's/Magna's..

Funny too cause the Suzy's were really neat bikes with way better instrumentations and they ran GREAT...

 

Here's a pic of my brothers latest Hardly it is undergoing a complete ground up restoration. This pic was taken when he bought it. He has been working on it for 4 years and says it should be on the road this summer. The bike is being restored to original and has taken this long because finding original parts has been a challenge.

 

OH WOW!!! THAT is gorgeous Ground Hugger!! I absolutly LOVE the Hydraglides!! I am sure you know this but others might not,,, its probably somewhere in the mid 50's bike, probably came originally with suicide clutch and tank shift and probably a panhead and probably worth a LOT of money just the way its shown in pic!!! Tell your brother :thumbsup:for me next time you see him.. Also tell him that if I EVER get a chance to ride with you I would LOVE to stop and see his project!! Telling ya,, it just does something to me to even be in the same room with those old bikes,,,, they got SOUL!!

[cowpuc]

2000 miles on an 81. Nice swap.

 

You didn't mention how it runs, or if it runs?

 

or did it sit because it didn't

 

Randy,,,, crazy as this may sound,,, that ol shovel runs great (not normal,, usually I at least gotta do carb work on em)!! I gotta go do just a little cleaning on it here,, gotta guy coming to look at it,, I will snap a few more shots of it and maybe a short vid of it running just to :stirthepot: around here.. There seems to be a number of others on VR that are into this stuff too that might enjoy the ... Funny though,, I thought Freebird, Annie and I were the only ones who really liked Harleys :rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf:

 

Oooooppsss,, there goes my membership,,, right out the backdoor:stickinouttounge:

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Ain't nuthin sounds as sweet as those ol' shovels....they sound like a cross between an industrial aircompressor and a 'poppin johnny' John Deere.

 

Music.

 

Or at least, the percussion section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cowpuc]

2000 miles on an 81. Nice swap.

 

You didn't mention how it runs, or if it runs?

 

or did it sit because it didn't

 

Here ya go Randy (and Tx too - he is speakin my lingo below!!)...I am out of breath in the Video,,, I just couldnt help attempting a kick starting,, three twists, choke at 1/4 pull,,, bring the piston up between the cam lobes,,, tryed and tryed,,, ending up using electric and it started right up... Oh well,, maybe when it warms up a little:rotf:

 

Oh yea,, I left a little message on this U Tube link for all my VR friends!

 

Ain't nuthin sounds as sweet as those ol' shovels....they sound like a cross between an industrial aircompressor and a 'poppin johnny' John Deere.

 

Music.

 

Or at least, the percussion section.

 

 

100% in totaly agreement there Brian,,, dont know what it is but certainly have a tone of their own!! This one REALLY sounds good on the road!! May pull the idle down a little but I wanna wait till it gets warm enough here for the old oil pump to be pumping something besides molassis before is do!!!

 

Heres a few more pics too...

[RandyR]

the youtube link said I needed a password to view the video.

[cowpuc]

the youtube link said I needed a password to view the video.

 

Thanks for letting me know that Randy,, could you try it again and see if it now works?

Thanks!!!

Puc

[Huggy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ground-Hugger

Here's a pic of my brothers latest Hardly it is undergoing a complete ground up restoration. This pic was taken when he bought it. He has been working on it for 4 years and says it should be on the road this summer. The bike is being restored to original and has taken this long because finding original parts has been a challenge.

 

OH WOW!!! THAT is gorgeous Ground Hugger!! I absolutly LOVE the Hydraglides!! I am sure you know this but others might not,,, its probably somewhere in the mid 50's bike, probably came originally with suicide clutch and tank shift and probably a panhead and probably worth a LOT of money just the way its shown in pic!!! Tell your brother :thumbsup:for me next time you see him.. Also tell him that if I EVER get a chance to ride with you I would LOVE to stop and see his project!! Telling ya,, it just does something to me to even be in the same room with those old bikes,,,, they got SOUL!!

 

Actually it's a 1950EL I believe. Her paid $5000 for it as is. He is going to ride it down to my place once its on the road. He says no freeways just secondary Highways. But still from his place to mine its a good days ride. He lives in Ottawa and I live on the north shore of Lake Erie. Many of the parts on it had to be replaced as they where not correct for the year. Also it had been raked so he had to find an original neck for it. I would like to get up to his place to get some recent pics of it.

[stickhandle2]

Puc

 

That video is awesome, what a great lookin bike and love the sound, almost make me feel like going up to my brothers and checking out his FXR (can't let him know how much I like it as he is always giving me the Jap Crap stuff).

 

Good luck with the person coming to see it.

[cowpuc]

Puc

 

That video is awesome, what a great lookin bike and love the sound, almost make me feel like going up to my brothers and checking out his FXR (can't let him know how much I like it as he is always giving me the Jap Crap stuff).

 

Good luck with the person coming to see it.

 

Thanks Stick, glad you liked it!! Pet that FXR for me too bro!!

Puc

[Squidley]

I had to chuckle a bit when I saw the banana caliper on the back of it. My 79 FLH has 2 of them 1 front and 1 rear, sounded good in the video. What carb is on that bike? right now I have a Bendix/Zenith on mine which is going to change asap.

[cowpuc]

This one has the original carb on it Squidley, got the prettiest little "AMF Harley Davidson" molded right into the casting,,,, probably made by Keihin or something cause I highly doubt HD made their own carbs,, maybe though... You gonna try an S&S Super next?

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Oh heck....now.... I know its been sitting, and its cold so the idle rpm is up...and its really not even broken in...all that blah blah blah...

 

BUT!

 

I know those old shovels can idle a WHOLE lot slower than that!

 

I'm talking 400-600 rpm and very lumpy......and by gawd they sound good when they do!

 

I guess the new owner will be getting a cream puff there. I hope you know what its worth, Puc!

 

 

 

[Oldodge]

I really like the old Shovel Heads. They were not the best engines by far but they have the sound and look I associate with Harleys. My cousin, and best friend, bought an FLH new in '81 and it is still in the family. Bright red and the prettiest bike I have ever ridden. Also the bike that made my decision not to buy a Harley at that time. I had an old worn out Gold Wing and he had a shiny new FLH. Every time we rode together something would break or fall off the Harley. But, people flocked to it and kept telling him how great it was as we wrenched on it in parking lots and such. That old Wing had to be cursing under its breath as it never got a second glance. The odd thing is that Wing is long gone but the FLH is still in the family. Something about that bike that endears it to you. Like it "needs" you or something. I did buy a Sportster in '88 and it was a great bike but didn't have the soul of that Shovelhead. My cousin still rides a Harley Ultra Classic. Nice bike, dependable, but the emotional connection isn't there for him. He rides it if he is "going somewhere" or wants to be seen, otherwise he rides a Kawasaki KLR 650. He hasn't ridden my Venture yet as I got it late last fall. I can hear him now " that is a great machine", "I couldn't ride one though, because everyone knows me as a Harley guy". I will laugh at him, he will shrug and chuckle. It is that way between old friends, you know. Thanks Cowpuc for a trip down memory lane this morning. Must have been the sound of the Harley in that video that took me back.

[Wrench]

That's a good lookin' ride puc! I always have liked the older HD sound, just something about it,,,,,.

[Squidley]

This one has the original carb on it Squidley, got the prettiest little "AMF Harley Davidson" molded right into the casting,,,, probably made by Keihin or something cause I highly doubt HD made their own carbs,, maybe though... You gonna try an S&S Super next?

 

Yeah, I have been thinking about an S&S, but it's a crap shoot. I have heard guys say great things about them and others that curse them. I have also pondered taking one of the CV carbs from the later 80's evo's and putting it on. Set it and forget it so to speak, I dont remember if the HD CV's are Mikunis or Kehins. I'll have to get on over to the HD forum and search through their site to get a feel for the S&S's.