Harley Davidson for $2K? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Richard Eldridge · #1 09-30-2003, 11:35 AM

My neighbor spends most of his life saying he wants a Harley. The other day we ran across an AMF-period Harley in a yard sale, perhaps an 86. It wasn't in the sale, but the owner is a collector of pretty much everything, the sort of guy who buys old VCRs for $3.00 and never tests them, or so he says.

According to him, it hasn't been run since 1995. It has a 95 plate an it so this seems likely. It is a V-twin and is all in one piece. It looks pretty good and unwrecked, and has no obvious rust. It was in a pretty dark garage filled with clutter.

I didn't note the mileage. The owner claims that there was some sort of oil leak before he parked it. I imagine that it would need new tires. Seven years is too long for a tire to be trustworthy, I think.

The guy wants $2000 for this thing. He clims that he has a buyer at $1500., which may or may not be true.

A friend I know who has owned a Harley claims that any Harley other than the scooters is worth $4000 or so,

Any thoughts on this? I know that I don't have all that much data to go on.
It seems to me that it could be made to run pretty well for less than $4000.

Thanks for any advice.

rickg · #2 09-30-2003, 11:49 AM

Dunno about value. But from what I heard, those AMF Harleys leaked oil sitting in the dealer showroom.
From what I remember here, Robert Davis knows a bit about Harleys.

#3 09-30-2003, 03:46 PM

I heard about a guy who bought one of those new and took a nice portrait picture of it on the day he bought it. He framed the picture and hung it in his hallway. The next morning there was a big oil puddle under the picture. Now THAT is a bad oil leaker.!

Gilly · #4 09-30-2003, 09:19 PM

The AMF's were older than 86. The last of the AMF's I would guess was more like 1980 or there-abouts. I'll find out quick. Definitely not 1986, that's way after AMF sold it.

Gilly

Gilly · #5 09-30-2003, 09:23 PM

1981 is when AMF sold off Harley:

http://www.bigbike.com/reference/timeline.html

Sounds like it may be a good deal. If it's an 86 it would have the Evo engine, alot better than the Shovelhead, AKA "troublehead".
I wouldn't worry about a minor leak, a good HD tech can seal them up.

Gilly

Richard Eldridge · #6 10-01-2003, 12:24 AM

I guess it's older than an 86. The tank has the words "AMF Harley Davidson" on it.

I thought the guy said it was an 86, but it is an AMF for sure.

Gilly · #7 10-01-2003, 04:59 AM

Maybe it's a 76. I wouldn't let that discourage me, especially if the paint is in good shape. The "AMF" period only ran from 69 to 81, it may actually be quite collectable.

Gilly

Richard Eldridge · #8 10-03-2003, 01:14 PM

My neighbor has decided that this is a "basket case" because it doesn't run, and it's a Sportster and he wants a Fatboy. It is the type that can't be started with a kick, it only starts with a battery and the battery is deceased.

I am sure that it could be an okay bike, because it looks good, and could probably be bought, fixed, ridden and sold for less than the total cost. But I don't really want a bike for myself, and if I did the coolest ones I think are those Honda Goldwings, which seem to me to be a lot more comfy than a Harley sport bike.

I like the looks of the old Indians, too.

I once had a Yamaguchi, a yellow thing brought over to the US from Japan by a sailor in 1954 and bought by me in three boxes in 1965 for $35 from the sailor's father. Anyone who wants it can have it, but you would have to pull it out of the Cowlitz River in Lewsi County, Washington, about 20 miles down a logging road from Randle. Or perhaps Randle was flooded when they built the dam and it's under a bit more water.

We were riding through the woods in the snow and missed a turn. The band teacher pulled me off in the nick of time and the bike crashed through the ice. Glub. Two months of work shot to hell.

It looked sort of like a Harley, with a bulbous tank.

rickg · #9 10-03-2003, 01:42 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 123c
Thanks for the offer, I might just go and look for it the next time I am passing through that part of the State (probally in the next 3 months) [/QUOTE
Hey! You're on Eric! We'll take my beast truck and winch the sucker out

rickg · #10 10-03-2003, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PaulC
Rick, didn't I see that truck in the movie "Duel"?

Hey! It could've been the one

Richard Eldridge · #11 10-03-2003, 11:22 PM

You realize, of course, that the poor Yamaguchi has been in the Cowlitz since just after Christmas of 66.

It might need a few new parts

They might be rather hard to find.

Yamaguchis were a rare breed in 65. It needed some new points and a new plug and some wires when I reassembled it. I showed the old parts to a bearded guy in a cycle shop in Centralia. He took them, grunted, and came back with some parts, several of which were not exactly new, as they had a bit of grease on them.

But, hey, you're welcome to it. Keep the change.