Chromed-Out XLCH Has Our Attention
Many of these XLCH “Competition Hot” bikes saw hardcore racing action, so it’s nice to see one polished to perfection.
Here at HD Forums, we’re big fans of the Sportster. While some say they’re merely a “starter bike,” they’re missing out on something truly special. The Sportster is endlessly customizable, and these smaller, lighter bikes were actually decent racing bikes back in the day.
That brings us to this beautiful 1968 XLCH that we found offered up for sale on Hemmings in Eatonton, Georgia. We think you’ll agree that this one’s a real peach.
Unofficially, the “CH” in the “XLCH” model code stood for “Competition Hot,” with a high compression variant of the 883 cubic inch Ironhead engine. This beefy powerplant allowed the Harley-Davidson Sportster to go toe-to-toe with the baddest British bikes of the era.
Bad to the Chrome
As mentioned in the ad, standard Sportsters received electric start in 1967. This necessitated quite a few changes, including an extended swingarm, that ultimately added nearly 50 lbs. to the bike. The XLCH, by comparison, was kick-start only, retaining its original wheelbase and light weight.
One thing that we found interesting is all of the chrome. It looks terrific for sure, but most of these bikes were raced hard. This wasn’t made to be a cruiser. Most folks who owned these bikes wouldn’t perform any modification that didn’t make the bike faster.
We’re glad the current owner opted to chrome it out, though. This bike looks simply terrific all polished up. The simple white paint and subdued Harley-Davidson branding on the tank stand in sharp contrast to the beautifully polished engine.
It’s not just the engine that’s chromed, however. Even the chain guard and front brakes are chromed as well, and polished to a mirror shine. This ’68 XLCH falls into the category of what we’d call a “living room bike,” a motorcycle that’s pretty enough to park in your home and treat like a piece of fine art.
The seller is asking $6,500 for this bike, which is pretty fair in our opinion. Hemmings allows prospective buyers to make public offers for the vehicle in question. In this case, the highest offer received was just $4,000. In our opinion, you’d be doing very well if you bought this bike somewhere in the $5,000-$6,000 range.
Photos: Hemmings
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