Have any of you owned a Harley Shovelhead? What is your opinion of them. I have been thinking about getting one someday. What are the desirable years to have?

They're also called troubleheads for a reason. Not nessasaraly a desirable time for HD as AMC owned them and the quality dropped dramatically. Just my 2 cents worth.

Nevah owned one but if you can buy one right, you will always get your money out of it. What year you looking at or you just inquiring about one?

I have owned a few, if you don’t like to tinker, don’t get one. They can be fun, sure do sound nice. I’m to old , now I have old tractors.

Im not sure on a year yet. I do like the looks of the 69 and older but i also like the 81-83. Im not ruling out any years thou.

Like said if you like to tinker more than ride get one ,pretty and loud but you better be a mechanic .

I own a 1976

Pictures please!

Fifty years ago this summer . . . came back from a year in Thailand. Purchased this '74 Superglide through the military sales for $2595. Purchased it through a Harley dealer in Oregon, I believe, to get out of paying California sales tax. Might have been Grants Pass. Anyway, flew into Oakland AFB, took a bus up to Grants Pass (if it was), and got a ride to the Harley shop. I vividly recall my bike sitting there waiting for me. Thing that will always stick in my mind was the older fella that took the time to make sure it was all ready to go, as I told him I'd be riding this to Holbrook, Arizona, my last duty station. Somewhere in the middle of tinkering he took out this long screwdriver, placed the metal end on one of the heads, the other to his ear, and then he adjusted the carb. Finished up the paperwork and rode it down to Arizona camping a few times along the way. Changed the oil once somewhere. Reported to my last duty station and my replacement was already there. Only had 6 months/2 weeks left to do. Rented this trailer with another buddy and picked up a sissy bar somewhere.



While in Thailand I had a bungalow for a good six months with Harley posters adorning the walls. Subscribed to Easyriders and would tear out David Mann pics and pin them up on the wall. Thought about what I'd do to that bike once the dust settled in Arizona. Not many pics taken back then. Taking pictures wasn't as big a deal back then as it is today. This is about all I've got of the final product. Six bend handlebars, six-inch overtubes, king/queen seat, flat fender and rewired the bike. Highway pegs. Changed a few other things including the pipes. Dang I loved that bike.





Anyway, for what it's worth. Yea, I'd pick up an old shovelhead today, and enjoy the tinkering that went with it.

Great story, Muskrat!

Have a 77 superglide