Ironhead Sportster

[1969 CL350]

I’ve been spiffing up the old 1983 XLX-61 lately, and reached a point today I thought was photo worthy. Original tank and seat back on, repainted engine covers, and a bit of polish were today’s agenda. The Honda GB500 fork gaiters are splitting, so I’ll have to source some new ones in the near future.

 

[birdland]

Whoa. That's gorgeous.

Great work on a beautiful bike.

 

[Randall]

Oh yeah, that's beautiful. I am doing a '95 EVO XLH right now. Only Harley I like is the stripped down Sportster, and that's a killer.

 

[ancientdad]

^^^It's still odd to me to see an Evo engine in a Sportster.

 

[1969 CL350]

I did a 125 mile ride on some twisty southern Tennessee roads this morning with a few friends. It was an impromptu ride after our vintage club breakfast, and I kind of wished I had the more comfortable seat on it…lol

 

[ancientdad]

I did a 125 mile ride on some twisty southern Tennessee roads this morning with a few friends. It was an impromptu ride after our vintage club breakfast, and I kind of wished I had the more comfortable seat on it…lol

Chameleon II?

 

[1969 CL350]

Chameleon II?

Sort of…

 

[ancientdad]

You know me, I like red...

 

[1969 CL350]

Still riding the old Sportster. I did a nice 125 mile ride with a friend a couple weeks ago just south of the Tennessee River, lots of twists and turns and even a few miles of dirt and gravel roads…lol. Rode it to a vintage club breakfast yesterday and picked up a cool shirt for ancientdad.

 

[ancientdad]

Still looking nice after all these years too. And thanks for picking up that shirt for me.

 

[1969 CL350]

The old Ironhead just keeps on going. I put some fresh 25w60 in it the other day, along with a new factory oil filter. Next, a new rear tire and chain are waiting in the garage. My old Honda CL350 is also needing some attention, but I’ll get around to it.

 

[1969 CL350]

Here’s a before and after. The first photo is shortly after I bought it (used) in 1990. It had close to 9000 miles on it, and had been repainted. Second photo is from a couple days ago. It now has over 57,000 miles on it, and over the years, I added a little more chrome, a few engine performance mods, better suspension and brakes, and returned it to the original color and tank graphics.

 

[ancientdad]

Here’s a before and after. The first photo is shortly after I bought it (used) in 1990. It had close to 9000 miles on it, and had been repainted. Second photo is from a couple days ago. It now has over 57,000 miles on it, and over the years, I added a little more chrome, a few engine performance mods, better suspension and brakes, and returned it to the original color and tank graphics.

Looks so much better with the full sized seat, proper chrome exhaust and the glossy black paint. The only thing I might do differently is the dust caps on the forks, my preference over boots. It's certainly been good to you at that mileage, and I know you've been good to it.

 

[1969 CL350]

Looks so much better with the full sized seat, proper chrome exhaust and the glossy black paint. The only thing I might do differently is the dust caps on the forks, my preference over boots. It's certainly been good to you at that mileage, and I know you've been good to it.

Thanks! Yeah, the fork gaiters are my nod to the older Sportsters. These have finally begun to split, and I’ve already sourced another pair. They are actually OEM Honda parts for the GB500. Both bikes have 35mm Showa forks, and they fit the Sportster like they were made for it, even down to snapping into the grooves for the dust caps. They are EXPEN$IVE, though.

These bikes have a bad rep, but I’ve taken good care of it and have had very few problems with it. I bought it from the original owner, so it didn’t get passed through a bunch of ham-fisted hacksaw owners like many do.