Hi, I have unfortunetly never had the opportune do testdrive electra glide shovel head fom mid 70ties with foot clutch and hand shift. There is of curse reviews that motorcycle mags has done but I would like to hear from actual owners. I would like to know bad and good sides of the bike. I would also like to know how much you can do in every gear and so on. Basically, a review from actual owners. Regards, Iranian
Envision driving an old, wheezed out, 1968 F600 dump truck, only slower. That's what I thought of when I rode mine.
Not really rare just a Police Model. They could be had with the hand shift 'til 1982 just click the option box on the order sheet. To answer the original ? it's big,clunky and slow. The foot clutch/hand shift comes to some quickly,some not so fast. It helps if you can drive a manual car and have a lot of seat time on big motorcycles. First thing I'd do would be install some decent tires on it.
Until 65 it was standard but until 1978 it was optional for police officiers and law enforcements. I don't care if you give me a review of a civilian version with conventional footshifter or the one with hand shift. I just want to get a idea how it was riding one this bikes. I just love the sound of the engine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUplbmMpQTI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRzmpqzJoRs I would love to see a modern version of it there they have removed al its weakness and keept it's soul.
Pretty much sums it up. I love shovels and would just add, comfortable, fun, and reliable if you start with one in good condition and maintain it. My last shovel was in the 80's a civy 72FLH hand clutch/foot shift model. Wonderful daily rider I did 2 round trips WA-MI with. Never a major glitch at all. As mentioned NOT a fast bike but more than adequate for daily rider, long haul use. Been too long ago so don't remember what RPM/MPH I could wind each gear out, but listen to the motor, it'll tell you. Again not a ricky racer bike and when it comes to old Harley's don't confuse noise with performance. Can't comment on the years of the foot clutch thing either but there is a getting used to adjustment period. If speed shifting, street racing is your thing you aren't remotely looking at the right bike to buy. Love it for what it is, not for what you wish it was. I'm biased for sure but out of all the old HD's I had and sold I'd want my 72 FLH back the most.
I've got a few miles on my brothers 1958 Duo-Glide and I like it a lot. They don't have much power but they don't have great brakes either so that's not a big liability. Operating the standard foot clutch is easy and intuitive but I believe it would wear you out if you had to do it in stop and go traffic. They vibrate, they're noisy, you sit way up on that big white buddy seat and it feels like you're on top of the world. You won't get where you're going rapidly but by god you'll get there in style... If I could have only one motorcycle and it had to be from the 50's-early 70's it'd be a Duo-Glide...