Traded for this and trying to figure out what it's worth.

I traded a guy an old racecar chassis and a bunch of old British parts for this 1984 Harley Davidson Sportster. It's an XLX-1000 ironhead also known as an XLX-61. I've been a biker for 44 years, but definitely not a Harley person! I've owned 42 different bikes over the years and this is the first HD! I have no intention of keeping the bike, it was simply a way of turning a car/parts into something that I felt was more easily saleable and probably worth a little more than the attic full of rusty parts that have been lying around for 20+ years.

I'm trying to figure out what it's worth based on the nice original and unmolested condition. Anybody have any insight on market value for this "thing"?

Here is a description that I wrote for a CraigsList or eBay ad and a link to a Photobucket album.

1984 Harley Davidson Sportster XLX-1000

Also known as an XLX-61 Ironhead Sportster. 32,543 original miles. Even though I'm not a "Harley guy", I must admit, this is a good looking bike. It has been said that this is the "best looking and most pure Sportster ever made".

I traded for this bike a few months ago from a guy who had it stored for 10+ years. Upon getting it to the house, I took a good look at it and realized just how clean and original the bike really was for being over 30 years old! It needed a battery, so I grabbed a new one at Two Jacks Cycle, threw in some fresh gas and it fired right up!!!!! Couldn't believe it!!!! The carb was dripping some fuel, so I pulled the carb, cleaned everything and ordered a new needle valve from Rommel Harley Davidson. I replaced the needle(OEM HD part not aftermarket) and reassembled everything. Again, it fired right up and no more leaks.

The bike is totally stock mechanically with the exception of the exhaust pipes which someone swapped for black drag pipes(looks really good). Also, at some point, the mirrors, air cleaner insert, timing cover, gas cap and handle bar clamp cover were changed to ones that read "Live to ride, Ride to live". Not exactly to my liking but correct for the time period when the bike was being ridden. If I were to keep it, I would find the original pieces and keep the bike all stock appearing.

Spares: There is a passenger seat(pillion) that goes on with just one bolt as well as passenger foot pegs. A Klymer workshop manual for 1959-1985 Sportsters and a brand new Continental K112 MT90-16 rear tire(just paid $160 for it).

A really clean bike that hasn't been modified over the years and will be a collectible as time goes on.

Link to photos: http://s31.photobucket.com/user/w650gb500/library/1984%20Harley%20Davidson%20XLX-61%20Sportster?sort=3&page=1

[URL=http://s31.photobucket.com/user/w650gb500/media/1984%20Harley%20Davidson%20XLX-61%20Sportster/image.jpg4_zpsivbanqvw.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s31.photobucket.com/user/w650gb500/media/1984%20Harley%20Davidson%20XLX-61%20Sportster/image.jpg1_zpsa7k4xybp.jpg.html][/URL]

Nice. Not really my thing either, but 1000cc of clean Sportster right there.

That seems like a good price. Wouldn't make a decision till Hess chimes in, though.

I'd guess it would sell quick at that price. I'd likely bump it up to $3500.

A collectable Sportster? You know they have made about 4 billion of them, right?

Not sure about Ironhead Sportsters, but there are some older ones around that are definitely collectible.

I'm with Nick, price seems to be good but it's not motorcycle selling season in large parts of the country.

I'd wait until spring and ask $4500.

Throw $2900 my way and you can make some $$$ come spring time! I'd love to sell it and put the $$$ toward an enclosed trailer.

In reply to lotusseven7:

I'm still on a vehicle purchase ban until the warden says it's ok

Nice work around to post an ad for a bike.

I'd take out the very long description. List the basics and an extra parts. And bump the price to $3500 and take $3000 when someone offers it.

If you want to put something "can provide more details upon request." That would probably be better than the long read you have going on now.

CL users don't read long ads.

Craigslist readers don't read.

No, if I wanted to post an ad, I'd call Tim and tell him that what I was going to do. I was attempting to get some advise from some 2-wheel enthusiasts who may know a thing or two about Harley's. I was a Kawasaki/Suzuki/BMW dealer for 12+ years so I have no problem advertising and selling bikes, just no first hand HD knowledge.

I'll remove the wording that i am going to use for an ad since it seems to bother you.

Dan

minimac wrote: Nice work around to post an ad for a bike.

Let it roll, he asked for opinions on the listing, who gives a E36 M3 if someone in the thread happened to be interested.

I like that bike. The price seems more than fair. If I was in the market, I would jump on it!

So I think you're doing well, even maybe a bit low on the price.

Iron head sportsters are a breed of their own. They are everything that was ever bad about Harely's. Now, if you're going to have an iron head sportster, 1984 or 1985 would be a good year to pick. The MoCo was trying really hard to stay in business then and putting out some good bikes with what they had available. 1979 was the very worst year for several reasons. 1986 was the first year that had the Porsche designed Evo top end Sportster that is reliable as a hammer or a RN Truck.

So, what's it worth? Hard to say. That one is clean. If it runs and the electrical system charges (generator), and the clutch doesn't slip and the transmission shifts and the motor isn't blowing oil smoke (yet, expect it to happen by about 20K miles, 25K on the outside,) I think 2 large is a fair price. If you can get 3, jump on it. It is certainly not worth 3 to me, but then, I've owned an iron head sportster before. 883's (the Evo top end) go for 3-ish fairly regularly and they will give you zero problems. Now, people, especially newbies, don't know these things and see a Harley for 3 or 4 large and think they are getting a deal, so there's always that.

Just my opinion.

Here's one on the Left Coast (higher prices) for four from someone that openly states he does not want to sell it: http://sacramento.craigslist.org/mcy/5346592506.html

Here's one for $1250 that is a "free range" iron head, that is, as they are found in the wild: http://maine.craigslist.org/mcy/5306692434.html

Three large, 19K miles (just in time for a top end): http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/5307255349.html

More to look at: https://www.google.com/search?q=1984+sportster+site%3Acraigslist.org&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=1984+sportster+site:craigslist.org&tbas=0

Nice looking bike, cleanly modded and looks comfortable. Almost makes me want to figure out a long term storage solution and conveniently forget about the '86 sporty I have and eventually make it look like the one above.

Brevity is best. Keep it short and have nice pics. HD bikes are not my thing either.

Oh, and that bike has been modified plenty. Pipes, primary cover, sprocket cover, not sure about the seat (looks later, like a 86-up style, but I'm not sure when they changed it), air cleaner, rear turn signals, points cover (not points, but that's where the points went once.) So, yeah, the handlebars, wheels and the tank are all original.

Dr. Hess wrote: Iron head sportsters are a breed of their own. They are everything that was ever bad about Harely's. Now, if you're going to have an iron head sportster, 1984 or 1985 would be a good year to pick. The MoCo was trying really hard to stay in business then and putting out some good bikes with what they had available. 1979 was the very worst year for several reasons. 1986 was the first year that had the Porsche designed Evo top end Sportster that is reliable as a hammer or a RN Truck. So, what's it worth? Hard to say. That one is clean. If it runs and the electrical system charges (generator), and the clutch doesn't slip and the transmission shifts and the motor isn't blowing oil smoke (yet, expect it to happen by about 20K miles, 25K on the outside,) I think 2 large is a fair price. If you can get 3, jump on it. It is certainly not worth 3 to me, but then, I've owned an iron head sportster before. 883's (the Evo top end) go for 3-ish fairly regularly and they will give you zero problems. Now, people, especially newbies, don't know these things and see a Harley for 3 or 4 large and think they are getting a deal, so there's always that. Just my opinion.

I agree with this^

I had a 1984 XLX, only 18,000 miles, and pretty much all original. I sold it last year for $2,500 and it took a few weeks to sell. I live in the central East Coast, and late model Ironheads are a dime-a-dozen around here.

On your bike, the sprocket cover, rear master cylinder, primary cover, and air cleaner cover have all been painted black... which is not factory. It looks good, but its not original, so this won't be a top dollar bike. Ironhead Sportster top ends only last ~20,000 miles if very well taken care of, so this bike might also coming up on needing its second top end job, unless you have some documentation of a motor rebuild.

The paint job on the tank and fenders looks great, and the tank is in the correct/original scheme and color.

The XLX was actually the cheap 'budget' model when new, costing LESS than all other models at the time, and they aren't numbered or identified by VIN or anything, so they aren't any more special than other Ironheads.

Generally, post-1978 Ironheads are worth less than 1978 and older ones. 1978 was the last year for the 'classic' frame/bodywork style. The 1957-1969 900cc Ironheads are worth most of all, especially if they're mostly original.

If it were mine, I wouldn't let it go for any less than $2000. You might even get $2,500-2900 for it in the spring...