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Went to see a tractor - changed of plan?

J

JDEM

Well-known Member
I took a ride to look at a tractor I didn't think existed. Seller had a 1957 IH B-275 advertised. No such thing as far as I know, but
wanted to see what it really was. I got there and the tractor was gone. But - a motorcycle was sitting there instead and it was a model I
had been wanting to buy since the late 60s. A 1968, 883 cc Harley Sportster. I only wanted an 883 between 68-70. I have had my eyes open
since the 70s but never come across one that was cheap enough for me to shell out the bucks. I was riding all British bikes in the 60s-70s
but. There was a TV show called "Then Came Bronson" that focused on a guy and his 883 Harley, working his way around the country. That is
what got me going on this sort of fixation. So, here is was. Kind of butchered, and it was for sale where it was because it died there.
Quit on the old guy who owned it so he just parked it on the grass and put a for-sale sign on it.

So, no tractor. I bought the bike, yes. Old geezer wanted $2000. I took it home for $1200. I know I will be sorry once I start tearing
into it and trying to get it the way I think it ought to be. Just like always happens with old tractor. It is here at home now. Next
winter project, I guess. You can see it looks quite different then the stock bike in the TV photo.
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Well anybody that hangs around here long knows old jdem is no fool and looks like you came out better on this deal also. I don,t know what the tractor was but you will have the bike like new next spring. Then the fun begins.. LOL looks like a cool ride.
 
Well, it looks like the shifter will be on the right side for you! I started driving Triumphs 49 years ago, but I skipped almost 10 years between age 50 and 60, and now the newer ones shift the same as the Japanese bikes. And they don't leak oil, and have working electrical systems and starters!
 
JDEM,

ive never had a piglet, but that thing is just COOL and i mean all day long!! thats awesome! maybe a year from now you will show us pics of you tooling around way up there.
 
Awesome find! You?ll be like a kid with the newest bike on the block once you get that ol girl running!
 
TF ...... in 1960, my brother bought a '56 NSU Max for $250 just like the photo in the link below. Maybe the one you saw was the same or similar? Had a lot of fun on that, dumped it once (he never found out) and bent a footpeg (he never noticed). He attempted a carb repair eventually and it wouldn't go back together very well. Not a good experiment to use a hammer to reassemble it. My dad eventually got rid of it somehow or somewhere. I think NSU eventually became part of the German "Auto Union" where several companies merged including VW I think. They made the Audi cars eventually, had one of those too, a 1974 Fox (same as the VW Dasher up here) .... an electrical nightmare under the dash but I could get in there blindfolded .... ha!
Untitled URL Link
 
My wife said she is NEVER getting on it. I even suggested we put the bike in our living room and we could sit on it without the engine running. Again, she says NO. That's okay. I never liked riding with two anyway. Throws me out of wack when the other person leans wrong.
NOTE. The guy I bought it from is near 80 years old and has some sort of balance problems. He says it's from the meds his is on. Yet, he says he still rides "hard." Fact or fiction, I do not know. But - this guy has a much nicer 1970 Sportster inside his cabin in front of the TV in HIS living room. Kind of funny. He is a bachelor as far as I can tell, so I guess he can do what he wants.
 
I don't see that bike as butchered at all.All it needs to go back to stock is outside bolt on stuff.You might even want to keep some of the later add-ons,like the front disc brake,and wider tank.I've always liked old Sportsters,an engine with two wheels connected to it.I still have a pre-Sportster,(KH) in the shed.Yours has the kickstarter stub on it,later they did away with that if it had electric start.Look close at the old Bronson shows,he would always kick it,but would hit the electric start at the same time.I can understand that,they probably didn't want an actor getting a case of Sportster leg while shooting a show.
 
Yup....used to watch it 1969. Boy that is long ago. The opening theme music is first. There were two episodes where there is an extended version that is about another minute longer. Was very pretty. Super correct restoration Utube.
Opening
 
1968 somewhat rare electric start XLH . 74 front end and controls [disc brake should be drum]. other later parts. No magneto [XLCH has mag]. Very desirable Borriani Italian rims aluminum [does make it faster than steel rim bikes. Looks to have provision for kick start shaft . Non stock Mikuni carb { but probably works good]. Wrong sprocket cover -- no fins . Pistons are not made for these. I have pistons standard. Weird stuff ohlins shocks ? Trailer tail light -horrible Black handlebars don't cut it. Original front fender would have painted side brackets not chrome and round . Still a rare find and deal for 1200. Old Sportsters never really gained in value that much . I have a 68 XLCH. If you take the top end off you can check the bottom end for con rod side movement revealing wear if any . There is a spec for that .Or more than .003" run out on the pinion shaft and it needs bottom end work. I have ridden them with rod knocks many miles Roller lower end holds up. One thing you will have fun and they are easy to work on.
 
Cool find.

I found a pan head if I recall correctly, in Brooklyn NY, either way it was alleged to be a 50's model. I gave some information to a friend with an H-D dealership, see what the deal was, might have been altered enough to not indulge so I let it pass. It was running and I think on the road, but the owner was apparently a hermit it was put to use very much, was in a odd place in between parking lots, surprised it was never stolen by someone.
 
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