1980 FXS 80/80 Harley Davidson Hippie Chopper

[K5Devil]

Picked up this 1980 FXS low rider. Was sitting under a tree for over a decade. Guy moved to Puerto Rico and left it to his cousin. I swooped in and got it for an absolute steal. @ $2500.



it was sitting for a long time so anyone who knows old shovelheads know that gravity causes the oil to sump into cases. Well dude didn’t know and filled up the empty oil tank thinking it had drained out. He thought something was seriously wrong. Granted it was stuck. I had to pour some oil into the cylinders to get them to cycle. But oil was shooting out of every hose. All of these factors worked in favor of me getting a killer deal on this numbers matching shovel.

After rebuilding the wiring harness, rebuilding the carb, and cleaning it up I was able to get it to kick over with ease. It sounds awesome.

 

[K5Devil]

So, now that I am certain this bike is a strong runner it only read 15k miles. I started the tear down and the inspiration is a 70’s swing arm chopper.

my plan is to molest the frame as little as possible. Kick start only. Long forks. Just a kick ass skinny old chop.

Here is a pic of sorta kinda what I am going for:

 

[KirsL]

Nice find!

 

[76zimmer]

Not sure how familiar you are with kickin a HD, but follow through on that kick all the way to the bottom, so the kicker dis-engages. That will prevent the dreaded kickback on the kicker arm.
I think it looks good as is!

 

[eric67camino]

I dig it. If it's numbers matching, I would hate to see you modify the frame. They make aftermarket frames that you could swap to. That would let you go as extreme as you want and save the original in case you (or someone else later, if you decide to sell it) decided to restore it. Lot of non-original there, but could he done. But either way it will be fun. There's nothing like the sound of a shovel.

 

[K5Devil]

I dig it. If it's numbers matching, I would hate to see you modify the frame. They make aftermarket frames that you could swap to. That would let you go as extreme as you want and save the original in case you (or someone else later, if you decide to sell it) decided to restore it. Lot of non-original there, but could he done. But either way it will be fun. There's nothing like the sound of a shovel.

Only modifications to the frame are the rear fat bob tank mounts I flattened, welded the seams and drilled holes in to mount a peanut tank. Very reversible. Keeping it swing arm. Extending the forks. Got a custom king & queen seat getting made by a the best seat maker in the biz. Wasn’t cheap. My entire plan is to not molest the frame or molest as little as possible. I’ll probably never sell this bike or ever change it back but it’s nice to know it can be done.

Not sure how familiar you are with kickin a HD, but follow through on that kick all the way to the bottom, so the kicker dis-engages. That will prevent the dreaded kickback on the kicker arm.
I think it looks good as is!

Not my first time kicking over a Harley. This is bike #25 I’ve owned since 16 years old. Kick stand was busted so if you don’t straddle it—it will fall over when kicking which is why I had to kick it like this. Nothing can prevent the kickback. If the carb coughs it will kick back or it will throw you off. Every Harley of this vintage has a personality.

 

[K5Devil]

Made my own mounts for the front of the tank to attach to the front fat bob mounts on the frame.

 

[K5Devil]

Finally got a set of stock narrow glide triple trees in good shape. Going to extend the fork tubes 4-6”. Got a new oil tank, rear fender, struts, shocks, and some odds and ends on the way. Off work until May 27th so I’m staying busy.

 

[K5Devil]

Also the starter and solenoid were toast and I’m young (and a glutton for punishment) so I made electric start block plates.

 

[K5Devil]

Stock front end on.

 

[K5Devil]

Got all the wiring off. Toying around with ideas in my head. Got my seat, rear fender and sissy bar on the way. Having the seat custom made out of black leather with lightning bolt stitching. seat is 9 weeks out from being here. Oil tank comes tomorrow and then I’ll start bending hard lines and see if I want to run an oil cooler or not.

wish I had a tube bender so I could bend up some handlebars. Definitely be looking out for one.

getting there though.

 

[Desert_K5]

Nice score! I had one very similar to yours. Wish I had kept it, cool little digger. I dumped the fat bobs for a sporty style tank too. Had a dry primary but not the 3", it still fit under the covers. Ran a 35mm front end and shorty rear shocks (10.5"-11") took the stock rear fender and trimmed it along the strut line to shorten it up. Had to run an oil cooler in the desert. Man I miss that bike right now....

 

[K5Devil]

New intake seals went on today. Can’t believe the bike idled with seals like it had ha

 

[K5Devil]

Nice score! I had one very similar to yours. Wish I had kept it, cool little digger. I dumped the fat bobs for a sporty style tank too. Had a dry primary but not the 3", it still fit under the covers. Ran a 35mm front end and shorty rear shocks (10.5"-11") took the stock rear fender and trimmed it along the strut line to shorten it up. Had to run an oil cooler in the desert. Man I miss that bike right now....

Yep I ditched the wide glide for the stock 35mm waiting for some extended for to get in stock. Going to do 6” over. You must have had a round swing arm bike then if you ran short shocks. On this one the chain will eat the primary if you do. This has a dry clutch set up and I’m looking into retro fitting a pan style tin primary cover.

 

[K5Devil]

Oil bag came in but fit like garbage. Fabbed up a bracket so it would follow the frame lines better.

 

[shima]

this is so sick

 

[K5Devil]

Well, my father had to be rushed to the ICU so I drove 20 hours straight to AZ to spend some time with him and relax in the beautiful Arizona desert. I love this heat. I never want to leave.

my extended forks and seals came in along with my risers and a couple odds and ends. Once I get my seat and fender this bike will really start to take shape.

 

[K5Devil]

$50 for fork seal puller? Naaaaah sacrificial 10 cent washer, some scrap, a bolt and 3 nuts.

 

[K5Devil]

P.O. Stripped a caliper bolt out and broke an Allen wrench off in the other one.

 

[K5Devil]

Next up I’ll be putting these in the lathe and shaving them smooth with some grooves.