**** on that new technology and stuff. Drum brakes work just fine. Ask any 18 wheel truck driver.

Which would you rather have? An old 60's model VW Bug that you can work on, tear apart, and work on some more? Or a new one that has to go into the shop to find out why the little light on the dash keeps coming on?

Old skool just ain't just for cars. That bike will take him back to a time he never got to experience.

 

'74 Sporty XLCH was my first new Harley. I wouldn't wish that bike as a starter bike on anyone you like because they probably won't be your friend after they own it for a while. High maintenance and lots of fiddling with it to keep it running reliably. That being said, I had mine for 11 years and put 20K+ on it. I learned how to wrench and maintain a bike and once you learn the "secret" on how to start a kicker it was fairly reliable starter. At he time it was the latest and greatest from HD, a far cry from todays bikes. It would be a fun bike to play around with but I wouldn't want to be ridding with my buddies and trying to keep up with them on long trips. Also keep in mind that '74 is still a right hand shift bike.

 

My 1st Hd was a 70 XLCH, don't miss it at all...

 

Me and my best friend at the time both bought new Harleys in 1974.
Mine was a FX Superglide and my friends was an XLCH. They were
both kickstart only. I rode both of them alot and the only one I
would want back would be the Superglide. That Sporty was a miserable
SOB. It might start on the first kick or the 100th, you never knew.
I think it got push started more than kicked. The small gas tank was good for
90 miles (good thing) and as Bonesbike pointed out a right side shifter.
So where is this bike anyways......

Pooch

 

I'll take my 06' Chevy truck anyday for a daily driver over something old. I like old cars but it's not that hard to work on the newer stuff. Plus the newer stuff goes much longer without anything happening. It ain't nothing to hook a scanner up to the computer. The vehicle will TELL YOU what's wrong with it.

Don't fear technology.

Plus, drums brakes belong on trucks not motorcycles.

 

There's something to be gained while owning some old iron compared to being a cream puff!....Experienced ones know their bikes enough to prepare for the ride and prep for the occasion....A cream puff lacks the basic skills and calls for help due to lack of experience/basic knowledge/mechanical skills/common sense.....

If you can't fix your own bike you have no business being on it!!!!

 

Sounds like a gemm. I'm on my 13th Scooter, my first 1/2 dozen were kickstarts. I miss em'. You knew you were too drunk leaving a tavern if you couldn't get the damned thing to kick over! A good sobriety barometer unlike today's push a button gizmos.

 

Oh yeah; the bike has the twin smaller discs of the low rider in that era; looks nicer than the pie plate and banana caliper...
I've made an offer of $4G...he's considering it.
My first HD was my '01 Sporty; I know it'll only look similar.