I may have the opportunity to pick up a 1977 Ironhead Sportster. I'm not sure of its model designation, but it does apparently have electric AND kick start. From what I understand, the bike is a quasi basket case, but not in pieces. There are parts missing, but to what extent at this point, I don't know what the missing parts are.

I hve just begun pursuing as much information as I can on the 1977 model year and wondered if anyone might be able to direct me to URL's that deal with the older Sportster parts and tins. I also would appreciate any info on what these bikes, not running, sell for in today's market since I don't want to "steal" it from this guy, and at the same time, I don't want to be the one being "stung". I have been looking for an Ironhead project that I could customize and restore to road-worthy condition, and this might be the one.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

My first bike was a 76 Ironhead. Fun project. I'm about to rip it apart again and make it a hard tail. It was a complete bike without the tins on, and needed wired. I got it, and another Ironhead, that needed a lot of work, for $2500. It was a good price. For a basket case, I wouldn't pay over $2000, I think. Good luck man.

 

1977 is a very good year. Front disk brake, traditional Sportster oil tank, frame flattened so the oil pump can be removed with the engine in the frame, 1000cc rebuildable to .070 over, lots more.

Price/value depends on where you are located. Around here everyone wants $4500 for bikes with asking prices of $2500 to $3500 elsewhere. Lots of guys consider $3500 to be the top price, normal price for a running bike to be around $2500. A basket case $1000 to $1500. Sometimes guys come away with fantastic deals - $800 for a running bike. Makes me very envious.

Check asking prices on local CraigsList, Kijiji, eBay etc.

 

Model designation is the "easy part" year 1977 there was 4 models on sale/production :
Sales prices started in that year from 3595 USD.

* XLH manufactured 12742 pcs VIN starts with 3A (electric start only)

* XLCH manufactured 2758 pcs VIN starts with 4A (electric+kick)

* XLT manufactured 1099 pcs VIN starts with 2G (electric only)

* XLCR manufactured 1923 pcs VIN starts with 7F (electric only)

 

working on a 77 xlch now but it is a kick only are you sure that the xlch was ele also? i see the spot for a start button on the grip but it is blocked off. please let me know if you have any info thanks

 

My pursuit of the 1977 XLCH I was considering back in December 2010 became a reality when my wife bought it and gave it to me for Christmas that year! How great is that?? All 4A serial numbers match and it runs, but needs some real TLC.

My '77 XLCH does NOT have electric start - strictly kick start. Although I have had it for nearly 18 months now, my time to work on it has been severely limited. I have been obtaining parts I know it needs like fork seals, brake pads, and stock handlebars to replace the 16" ape hangers that are on it. I'd like to restore the bike rather than pimp it out. It has drag pipes that I'd like to swap out for duals with SE II (or similar) slip-ons, even though it apparently had a 2-into-1 stock arrangement originally that I don't like. Like clawss69, mine has a "blank" button for the electric starter which I assume was caused by using the switch housing from the 1977 XLH to save money. I have the '77 Sportster Service and Parts Manuals and no reference for an electric starter can be found for the XLCH in either book. I am really hoping to start getting my hands dirty on the bike this coming winter.

I'd really enjoy reading about anyone's work on their '77 XLCH since I'll be diving in soon to one of the most iconic bikes ever produced. :-)

 

If VIN begins with 4A then it is XLCH and was kick only from the factory. It is easy to add kick to an XLH but it is complicated and expensive to add electric start to a kick-only.

 

Thanks, but I have no interest in adding electric start to my XLCH - just unnecessary additional weight IMHO. I actually miss the kick start on my '05 Roadster and previous bikes I've had. To me, electric start on the XLCH is tantamount to having off-road tires on a Road King - just ain't right...

 

I had just bought my '76 XLCH about a month ago. New paint, new rear tire, new battery, new rear and front brakes (how ever front wasn't installed. No brake line for it), no speedo or tach, no mirrors, no blinkers, rear tail light not working, generator not working. It runs but smokes a little out the front cylinder. Probably going to need a top end job. I'm soaking it in ATF right now to see if the rings might loosen up. The guy I bought it from was riding it with a tag off another bike. He had it for a year. He didn't know any of it's earlier history. But its last inspection sticker was 20 years old. So I don't think it saw much riding in the past 20 years. I gave $1700 for it.
I saw a '78 on CL two weeks back. The guy said it was running but smoking and he had removed the jugs. Said he didn't have the time to mess with it. He was asking $800. Gone before I had the chance to act.
Check the Blue Book value and go down from there.