Dear members,

I am new here, come from Germany , love the USA and am happy to be part of the HD community!!!
A few weeks ago I bought my first Harley ever (built in 1977), which is also about 10 years older than me

Currently I read myself into the matter, but must say that I still have many question marks.

I would like to learn from your experience - for example, when it comes to which parts on my Sportster are not original. Based on that, I would then decide how the conversion would turn out.
I already want to preserve a lot, but more in a light chopper direction with a sissy bar - without changing the bike much.

Here are my initial questions:

• Is a conversion from an Ironhead Sportster to a Chopper common practice or is the Chopper conversion more limited to Shovel, Knuckle and Pan Heads?
• Do I have a XLH 1000 or XLCH 1000?

Online I also only see Ironhead Sportsters with a full length seat. Mine has the two piece one though. Also, the air filter cover is not elongated oval like many other XLCH 1000, but circular.
My serial number starts with "4A..", which is why I assume it is an XLCH 1000. In the German papers it says XLH 1000, but I think this is a mistake by the authorities. But have read in the forum here that the XLH have a larger oil tank on the right side (just like mine) and the XLCH have a smaller one, more in the middle....
However, I have a kicker and not an electric starter....

You see it speaks a lot for an XLCH but also a bit for an XLH

Glad to hear your expertise

 

If I remember correctly an XLH has an electric starter ( your oil tank is an XLH ) it may have a kicker too ... An XLCH would be kicker only ??

 

Year of said motorcycle? Something is not correct as it is not a right hand shift but does not have a newer (1973 up) rotor/caliper front end. Fame number may help along with engine serial number. May have a newer engine (1975 or newer) in an older frame or the front end may have been swapped.

My bet is a newer engine XLCH was put in an older XLH frame. 1977 had disc brake front end.

Battery is in the wrong location and not on a battery tray.

 

Last year of Right Hand **** was 1974 ... Pretty sure

 

Motorcycle is from 1977
Frame VIN number also ends with a 7

The engine number I can not currently look up, because the motorcycle is already at a specialist in the workshop. I will ask for the number next week.

Hope that helps!

Hope that helps

 

Ironhead chopper you ask? YES! Chop away if you like!

 

Xlch with a kicker the best of both world,s in my opinion

 

Great looking bike!

 

Important info with the disc brake tho, thanks!

Another thing I noticed is that I no longer have a speedometer on top of the handlebars, but on the left side. That will have been made subsequently or?
And the turn signals on the handlebar grips are these original ones (don't think so)?

 

alum legs n half drum f wheel
interesting...
along with other stuff mentioned
looks pretty good as is
- batt placement
+welcome