Anyone know what kind of motorcycle this is?

Question

This is a picture of my husband's fathers bike. We dont know anything about it and i dont even know if it is possible to know what kind it is just by the picture. But i figured someone out there may know. Any thoughts? This picture was taken around 1980 so we know the bike has to be pre-1980...
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f378/nburlace/motorcycle.jpg

Answer 1

I think it is a 1981 FXWG HD Wideglide.

Answer 2

It's a Harley. I thing the picture might be a little later than you think. By the front forks I think it's a "Wide Glide".
(Did some looking on the net, maybe some other Super Glide variant. The wide front forks and the year you think it is is throwing me, I'm sure Firecracker, Bill, or someone can help more.
1984 was the first year for the Softail, so it's not that (if the date is correct by the asker). Also '84 would have been a Evo engine, and this is definitely a shovel.
It really strikes me as being a Wideglide, but in the early 80s this bike should be in alot better shape than it is in this picture. Although it looks wrecked (front fender rumpled, etc).

OK, I really think it's a Wideglide. Maybe after 1980 you could get a regular paint job, as the '80 had a flame paint job standard. Or maybe it is an 80 with a paint job, but doesn't seem likely in the early 80's. Here is a pic from HD:
http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/H-D_History/1980_5.jsp?HDCWPSession=kkQpGvsGR41C9JJpy3qK1LZlCTXn4jnPw0Lp9ymG6pfnhnld8DV5!-1267432989!883040284&locale=en_AU
You will notice the wire wheels like in the picture, and the rather solid-looking front rotors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley-Davidson_Super_Glide

I think Preacher55 has a point, the more I look at that engine, the more it looks like an EVO. But I think it's a Wide Glide (older) bike, due to where the top of the rear shocks attach. But the EVO came out in 84, so the pic would have had to have been taken mid eightys at the earliest, if not the 90's.

Answer 3

that is a Shovelhead. Its got a custom front end, seat, few other parts, but in reality its a basic FLH, swing arm AMF era shovelhead. they were produced from 68 till i think 82 when the Evo came out. there were shovels made on pan bottoms from 65-68, till the later bottom cases came out. nobody can tell you anything more, not from this side of the engine. Its not a "Dyna Wide Glide Soft Tail", its a basic FLH derivative, either a Electra Glide, or plain FLH. there werent much factory customs back then, and a super glide would have a different narrow japanese front end on it. It may just be a bare front end with the chrome and sheilds off too. Either way, its missing the rear tire, and from the pics, i would say this peice of iron is no longer with us.

Oddly it has what looks to be a super glide rear fender! This is whats known as a "Bitsa" its bits of this and bits of that, bolted together.
It looks for all the world to me to be a shovelhead top end, until you look at the squared fins, either aftermarket jugs, or custom grind job to cover broke fins. Owner states this to be 1980 or previous so tell me how it can be an Evo? Let alone even if it was taken in 1990, can you tell me how an evo motor would be deposed in such poor condition, that bike looks like it grew there. Its a cut fin job, or replaced jugs. Need more Data!

Answer 4

I have no doubt that it's a Harley Davidson, but I think it's older than the other answers think. The front fork looks to be a replacement, as is the seat and handlebars. That front fork has been around in one form or another since the Duraglide was introduced in 1965. On the right side of the engine, down near the bottom on the V of the cylinders there should be a number stamped in to the engine. With that number you can call a Harley Dealer who should be able to tell you exactly what it is. Or at least, what it originally was. Good Luck.

Answer 5

All you "experts" are crazy. This is a FXWG post 1983. It's an Evo engine & It's got rear shocks so it's not a soft tail either. The heads are too square to be a shovel & the cylinder fins are chromed, again not something you find on a shovel. This pix can't be pre-1980 because the EVO engine didn't come out till 83-84.

Answer 6

I think this is a Harley Davidson Wide Glide probably around 1980. The below website looks to be a similiar bike.

Answer 7

That is definatly a harley davidson and by the looks of the tank and front suspension i would say its a wide glide.

Answer 8

HD evo motor, 4 speed swingarm frame. Softtail oil can, wide glide front end.

Answer 9

It's a Harley.
Mr. KnowItAll is wrong. It is NOT a soft tail, but rather a swing arm rear suspension. (You can see the rear shock, by the seat.)

Answer 10

HD Soft Tail. It's tough to guess the year though.
Single front disc.....1978, 1979