Another 81 iron XL Sporty

[LouEvo XL]

Presenting Ruby and her story....

I have had an 81 mostly stock sitting in my shop since december, a buddy of mine moved and does not have a shop to keep it in so as a favor i offered to keep it here, he says can you bring it back to life too. I spent about 45 minutes tinkering on it,after charging the battery over night, drained the tank reset the carb to the stock settings fixed the ignition and wala ruby( it is red in color) came back to life. I had to test ride her. I have not ridden an iron sporty in a long long time. this was my 2nd ride on iron, man i love the sound her drag pipes make after a good roll of the throttle, pull in the clutch that rumble between shifts got me. evos dont sond like that...I may have to keep it. He came to see it and see what i had done, the smile on his face was ear to ear when she came to life for him with out using the choke stone cold to running perfect. he took a test ride and had the biggest shit eating grin i have ever seen. Then he asked me "what the hell did you do to my sporty?" i snicked and said what my old man told me years ago, set the carb to the stock settings and then leave it alone.
he took the advice, and said it has never run that good....he got it for bailing a not so good guy out of jail. not a bad deal in my book. he never named it, we had to have a name session cause I can't wrench on a bike with no name.



I have brought a couple handfuls of bikes back to life in my time, nothing puts a smile on my face faster than hearing an old harley come back to life after it has sat for years collecting dust.


here is a pic in my shop...she is happy to share my shop and good company with EL Vira and Tri-Anna.

[kgdb]

Been many years since I rode an Ironhead. Great post.

[LouEvo XL]

Thanks Kevin.

[jerseymutt]

Cool story. I thought you were going to end it with "he was so happy he just gave me the bike and signed the title over".

Don't think I have every seen one with the FX tank on it before. Although no tank looks better then the Sporty 2.2 gallon tank you can't get very far before you need gas.

Mutt

[LouEvo XL]

Originally Posted by jerseymutt

Cool story. I thought you were going to end it with "he was so happy he just gave me the bike and signed the title over".

Don't think I have every seen one with the FX tank on it before. Although no tank looks better then the Sporty 2.2 gallon tank you can't get very far before you need gas.

Mutt

that would be a cool ending, I had not seen him for a long time, but to find out he is an owner and rider was cool, before that i would have never pictured him on a bike.

my next addition will be a FLHX.....this was taken at Barnett's HD EL Paso TX

[Slash]

Originally Posted by LouEvo XL

I have brought a couple handfuls of bikes back to life in my time, nothing puts a smile on my face faster than hearing an old harley come back to life after it has sat for years collecting dust.

Great reading Ruby's story,put a lot of thought into about picking up an Iron Sporty during the past winter...Lack of wrenching skills and play money convinced me not to,but still dreaming.

[LouEvo XL]

Originally Posted by Slash

Great reading Ruby's story,put a lot of thought into about picking up an Iron Sporty during the past winter...Lack of wrenching skills and play money convinced me not to,but still dreaming.

Keep dreaming man, it may be just outta reach one of these days ya may wake up and pow there is the perfect bike and the stars will be aligned and it will work out. just have faith and keep your nose to the grindstone.