1978 Harley-Davidson Sportster XLH
I purchased the motorcycle from a dealer in Wisconsin in the summer of 1979. This motorcycle was my personal bike as a test rider for the company. In early summer of ‘79 the motorcycle was being drag raced at Union Grove WI. Numerous high performance engine components were installed. Near the end of the test session the transmission exploded. After that, it was determined that the test components should be removed and the motorcycle be sold. Once I had obtained the bike, I completely disassembled it and had had the frame and fenders painted with black Imron paint. Below are some of the modifications:
Seat – custom sewing and padding
Engine – Aluminum Thunder Heads
Clutch – High Performance
Ignition – pre 1978 points system
Rear shocks – S&W
Headlamp – Halogen
Handlebars – Buckhorn bars for early Sportster
Horn – none
Directionals – none
Front Brakes – Honda CBX or Gold Wing calipers, stock HD rotors and custom machined brackets for attaching calipers to fork tubes
Gas tank – standard peanut (1.9 gal) with custom paint job (similar to Christian Eagle aerobatic aircraft)
1979 Honda CBX
Displacement: 1047 cc
Number of Cylinders: 6
Number of carborators: 6
Number of valves: 24
Number of Camshafts: 4
Horsepower at Crankshaft: 103
¼ Mile Speed: 117 mph
¼ Mile ET: 11:55 sec
Max Speed/ 1 st gear: 58 mph
Max Speed/ 2nd gear: 80 mph
Max Speed/ 3rd gear: 101 mph
Max Speed/ 4th gear: 117 mph
Max Speed/ 5th gear: 136 mph
Fastest Production Motorcycle in 1979
When I worked at Harley-Davidson we obtain a CBX in 1978. All the engineers were amazed at the bike. The speed was just mind blowing for 1978. My boss encourages me to purchase a CBX. So, at Christmas of 1978 I bought a red one for delivery in the spring. Once I had it I enjoyed it immensely. Two years later I was highly encouraged to sell the bike by my to be wife. For the next 8 years I thought about the bike all the time. Since they ended the production run of the bikes in 1982, I would have to find a used one. In 1988 I sold my airplane and took some to the profits and purchased a used and somewhat abused one. I first ordered all new red tank and fenders from Honda. I then set about fixing a poorly modified engine. Hundreds of hours and many, any dollars I had completed the restoration and now ride the bike with much pride.
|
