1974 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead FLH Electra-Glide riding to Alice’s Restaurant in Santa Cruz Mtns

Took the old girl out for a cruise through one of the most magical places to ride in California. Might need to diagnose some leaks tomorrow, but today we rolled 70-75 easy with the revised 48T sprocket and oversized 4.50-18” tires. May have even hit 85-90 in a few spots ... ;)
Update: 7/13/2020, based on the amount of oil in the primary case (perhaps 1-2 tablespoons worth), it looks like I'll have to disassemble everything again to replace the engine output seal (perhaps reverse it since I've gone to belt drive). That might make a fun video, and removing the inner primary will give me a chance to inspect and or replace the transmission output shaft seal. The tricky part is trying to line up all the specialty tools I'll need to make sure I can get in and out of the job without the bike being down for an extended period of time. It's riding season!
Please like and subscribe for more Shovelhead content, as I get to know my bike more and continue to make improvements to help with rideability, reliability, and cool. Thanks for watching!

[@Rockin_Ross]

Been to that same Alice’s parking lot in 1991 on my ‘83 Virago. Great ride and yours is an even better bike. 🤘🏻

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Anything on two wheels can move the soul - thanks, and hope you’re still riding!

[@georgepataridze-nikolaishv9104]

how can you not love this

[@RJFord-xs2os]

Thank you so much, I woke up to the sound of a shovel head every morning as a kid when dad left for work. We sure knew when he was home! What great memories. ♥️

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thank you for your note. I shared with my wife. She gets it, and I hope my kids remember the sound of me taking off on the shovelhead when they’re older, too :)

[@Alan-Godden]

There's nothing like it hey it's music to my ears. The flathead V8 is beautiful too. This fellows bike is mint and beautifully set up, me I prefer 16" bars as it's way more comfortable and gives you the equivalent to power steering via leverage. It totally depends on what type of riding you do, long haul or weekend rides that's the beauty of HD customisation to your hearts content...

[@shannonwittman950]

THERE IS NO MOTORCYCLE IN THE WORLD LIKE A HARLEY DAVIDSON.

[@guysanderson3805]

30 years ago i was doing telephone line work in those mountains and stumbled on the place .As far as i am concerned it is one of the best biker hang out in the summer that you can find in all of California.The food is good the beef is cold and the area up there is very coll to visit. I live in Turlock and until about twenty years ago when i moved here and hooked up with some new riding friends,they had never been there .It is a long ride for lunch but well worth the ride into the mountain.If you have never been there any body reading this ,get out the bike and take a ride to Alice"s restaurant you will not regret it even if you have been there before

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Amen to that! I know it’s been a struggle for them this year, but they’re still going! Hope they always stay open in that corner of the mountains.

[@alpinestar37r1]

Man I miss that bike. So glad it went to someone that will ride her! I subscribed and look forward to more video's.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Hey!!! I’m so happy to see you found the Shovel on KZbin! I’ve put a bunch of smaller vids up on Instagram, but I will do a few more (or collect them) for KZbin since I can host longer vids here. Hope all is well up there, been a bit since I’ve seen my friend up there and I’ve been planning to ride the Shovel up there.

[@jazzman688]

My neighborhood friend growing up mother and father had Harley-Davidsons back in mid-70s and still has one of them today he's in the hospital I found out on this very day hope he gets well soon Tony Gilbert.

[@Alan-Godden]

Awesome brother 👏 absolutely beautiful bike, mint... I have a 76 Electraglide, I have only had it twelve months been slowly purchasing parts. For it's age it's very original and actually in excellent condition but needs lots of TLC as all old bikes do. Ps the sound of that iconic Pan/Shovel engine is better than any music. Stay upright friend...

[@li872sagaming5]

That sound is amazing, nothing compares

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

I love the sound, these are my memories of what a Harley should sound like from my childhood

[@li872sagaming5]

Beautiful bike..

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thanks so much!

[@gerdalois4169]

Electra-Glide, soo cool and the Kick Start must be... It`s great that you patted your Harley on the Gastank, in minute 2.23, like a Horse after a long ride: "Thank you my dear Shovel." I wish you a nice and safe journey at all times... Greetings from Hamburg, Germany

[@gregm784]

Been 20 years since I've been in that parking lot. Good job sir.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thank you, I hardly get there anymore, maybe 1-2 times per year these days.

[@whatyoumakeofit6635]

Lining up all the tools to get in and out of the job quickly.......thats always the largest and most daunting part of a repair

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Totally true. Stopping, and getting back up to go find something is a pain.

[@michael7324]

Shovels have such a distinctive sound to them. Love it.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

The sound I remember from childhood!

[@giannivondesantis18]

The galloping horse. It’s a god

[@yoshit9819]

I too own a 74. Very nice

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

👍🏾👍🏾🤙🏾amazing time machine

[@lassei4659]

Beautiful bike, got a 76 that allmost looks identical. Always a pleasure to ride.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Right on, there’s something so special about this style!

[@woongtv-naturehealing273]

Wow! That's a great video. You have a nice bike. I like the sound of the bike exhaust. That's a nice ride. I'm glad to be a friend of your great channel. 👍🤝🤝🤝🤙👌

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thank you very much Woong!

[@savalistriplett5910]

That's a beautiful machine.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thank you Savalis!

[@TheSeanocasey]

I had a 1974 FLH Police Special chopper. What a beast to kick start. It ran really well once it started.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

I’m still getting the hang of mine. Since this video, I’ve changed from a 33 idle jet down to a 29.5 if I remember correctly, and readjusted the air/fuel. It starts much easier now, and on a good day I can prime kick it once or twice and then it’ll fire right up on the first kick with the ignition on :)

[@TheSeanocasey]

@@dadmodewheeliegang I really liked my 74 but after years of kicking it I went to a 1995 Bad Boy. Still riding it and I don't have to kick it and call it names.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

@@TheSeanocasey springers are great :)

[@TheSeanocasey]

@@dadmodewheeliegang I agree. However my 1995 Bad Boy has a springer but very little rack. Not real happy with it but over all a great bike.

[@poppycock6572]

😲 I was watching and went man... that sure looks like hey 92/Skyline. I used to live in El Granada... then I see it "Alice's Restaurant"! Good 👍 stuff thx for posting... nice shovel and your 911/912s in the garage! I had a 1968 912... silver / black and sold it for 6k around 1993... 😒... yeah, I'm aware of what they go for now.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

It’s crazy what the air cooled market has turned to … but for bikes, there’s nothing like blasting out on an old shovel and at least those are still within reach 💪🏾

[@poppycock6572]

@@dadmodewheeliegang true. I used to HATE the pumpkin festival. We went to the store, got Blockbuster movies and prayed we wouldn't have a medical emergency 😅. Damn tourists.

[@tayzer22]

Serenity. Great video.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thank you!

[@castingflaw]

Just subscribe; watched this twice , I pat the tank as well especially when the 75 starts up after being stored during the Ohio winter, stay strong,ride safe.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thank you! Sometimes she’s a 20 kicker ... even when she’s hot. I think about changing to a more modern CV carb, but then I fall in love with how she is all over again. She’s a time machine. I’ll throw up another more detailed vid in a few hours! Thanks again

[@mackdiesel6437]

Wow...that's a thing of Beauty.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thanks Mack!

[@ingo3921]

Nice FLH,Real Sound

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thanks so much!!

[@1pollo1rabbit]

Sweet ride👍

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thanks!

[@veronicagee4335]

Nice bike, and nice landscape to ride through! I have a 1980 FXEF that I love, but where I live all our roads are straight and boring.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thanks Veronica, sometimes it's just the sounds and the smells of the bike that keep the flame alive. Nothing sounds quite like it!

[@RobEncyklopediaCom]

Sweet Ride..😎👍

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thanks Robert!

[@havegrinderwilltravel5]

very nice sir i have a 1979 flh aslo grate video really feel the vibe mate

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thank you!

[@steveallenallen3725]

have ridden my 80 shovel there a couple of times from castro valley very cool place

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

It’s been slow going through some of those mountain roads as more and more bicyclists are there, but still, a magical spot in the Santa Cruz mtns :)

[@northerniltree]

I've got the same 1974 FLH with black fiberglass period bags with trim. Set up with a pogo seat. Might go with the 48T sprocket and 4.50-18" tires as well. Classy 70's bike!

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Awww man, I’ve been eyeing pogo seats this past week. The bike seems to ride better the more I choke up and sit towards the tanks. But, I’m not that tall, so wondering if a 30” inseam would still be comfortable with the pogo. I had a solo tractor seat on a rigid I built many years ago, but I never liked the 2 little springs under it, and I always thought there was too much side to side play with that set up.

[@craigpennington1251]

Turn on ign. Twist throttle 2 times. Choke it Straddle the bike and kick it That's the way I've always done it. No choking when it's warm on a restart to go. Parking on a hill saves the leg. Let it roll and pop the clutch. Did it that way until electric starts came on.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Hills are the best :)

[@1noble185]

Thats one sweet scooter

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thank you kindly!

[@rockracermexico315]

😮🤩😮

[@jontiffinphoto]

Classic scoot. I sub’d.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thanks Jon, appreciate it. More shovelhead videos coming up as the weather improves

[@markhalley1140]

Prius drivers.... I snort laughed at that one. 😂

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

I can't think of any other group of driver's that gets to me like this ... I truly do think it's something to do with the design of the car.

[@firebearva]

So did I. I have no love for them.

[@heartbreakkid5757]

Cool bike , shovelheaad is the best sounding harley for me , panshovel / shovelhead generator , alternator , keep her running , ride a yamaha xj 600 but i'll buy harley someday

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thanks man, appreciate it! Good luck getting the Harley!

[@anthonyc.6645]

... great!

[@slyguyaction]

I rock a 2013 Prius 3 myself on a 75 mile commute to work and then back again each day and those insane miles per gallon afford me the extra cash for my toys so it's all good. Fuck what everybody else thinks. Ride safe

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

BINGO!!!

[@RWayne-nu2fi]

Prius? No, never...... But the bike is very nice, and those 911's are the living end!!! Sell me one. The VW looks interesting too.

[@angusmcpherson]

Do your mirrors get fuzzy on the fwy? Last FL video i watched the rider complained about vibration making the mirrors useless.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

I don’t really count on the mirrors at freeway speed, this bike vibrates a lot. I turn my head to check when I need to.

[@mrkoolio4475]

Hi Liam....may ask the brand of your mirrors and where you got them... i am not a harley guy, so i can tell if orid thanks very much

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Hi Mr Koolio, I didn’t purchase these, but I have heard from a friend that they were from Simms custom cycles @simms_bacc on Instagram.

[@mrkoolio4475]

Liam S thanks very much....i bought a great flat tracker xs650 from and old guy ....like me...who used to race at ascot in oc and I thought your mirrors would look awesome on it.......thanks brother ....

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Man, hope you are tearing up the canyons down there soon!

[@MidnightExpressMC]

Those would be Yamaha billet mirrors for their Star Division bikes (Road Star, etc.). If you want the part numbers for left/right, just ask and I can look it up for ya. But, they no longer make those bikes nor the catalog billet parts that went along with them, so it's a matter of searching through the dealer network or eBay. These came in oval and teardrop as well as ball milled and smooth. One particular version has "bullet holes" machined into the stem and even came in a "raw" un-polished/un-chromed versions. I own several versions - very good, solid mirrors. Ride Forever!

[@MidnightExpressMC]

@@dadmodewheeliegang Those would be Yamaha billet mirrors for their Star Division bikes (Road Star, etc.). If you want the part numbers for left/right, just ask and I can look it up for ya. But, they no longer make those bikes nor the catalog billet parts that went along with them, so it's a matter of searching through the dealer network or eBay. These came in oval and teardrop as well as ball milled and smooth. One particular version has "bullet holes" machined into the stem and even came in a "raw" un-polished/un-chromed versions. I own several versions - very good, solid mirrors. Ride Forever!

[@firebearva]

Can you get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant? My first Harley was a 73 SuperGlide FX.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

I hope this brought some good memories back!

[@robertmerling6104]

How reliable are they as a bike thinking on buying one but like to ride all day and bust out miles

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Hey Robert, I don’t think this would be a good bike for that. They require more maintenance and care than a modern twin cam. Parts availability while on the road could also be an issue. And it vibrates and shakes like nothing else!! If I needed a bike for long hauls and relatively simple maintenance I’d roll a road king or any rubber mounted bagger, maybe even a nice dyna. I also have a big BMW GS Adventure, with an 8 gallon fuel tank ... that bike is one of those “I haven’t ridden in 6 months, but I think I’ll ride 4-500 miles today”, and that bike doesn’t blink or complain, and I can still walk at the end of the full day’s riding.

[@yoshit9819]

I have owned a 74 for the past 30 years. For the longest time it was my only bike. Traveled everywhere on it. But be ready to check the bike often. Things shake and will come loose. That being said I was never stranded on her. She always got me home

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

That’s the mark of a true bike and true biker! I hope to own mine for 30 years ... that would be a real testament!!

[@billgonzales8978]

Troublehead?

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Been pretty good so far. Charging system issues for the most part, and some leaks past old paper gaskets at the rocker boxes and base gaskets, but overall ok. I did have the trans redone to seal up the output shaft, and now 2nd gear is a little notchy, but we’re still chugging alomg

[@anthonyc.6645]

seems , the main goal is gettin' lucky with shit! Have fun!

[@balmoralpjk]

No leather biker jacket to wear??

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

I have one, but I don't wear it in triple digit weather. This is the Harley-davidson® men's arterial abrasion-resistant riding shirt jacket with 3DO armor, which feels more substantial than a mesh, hot weather jacket.

[@brianmcintee7303]

nice bike i got a 76 but not as clean as yours

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

As long as you’re in the wind!

[@bottmar1]

Have fun running your shin bones down the right side of the scooter, kick starting it that way, if it kicks back and throws you in the air. You have to raise leg higher that way too.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Thanks

[@ajshovel1]

Been starting them that way since the 70's and still do. Never had an e-start on any bike and still got great legs, lol.

[@dadmodewheeliegang]

Exactly, thanks for giving your feedback. Proper ignition timing and I’ve been good to go kicking this bike.

[@bottmar1]

@ajshovel1. Ya,sure you have. I've riding Harleys for 56 years myself. I don't start them your way for a reason. I would rather land on the seat, not the side of the bike. Good luck with convincing me you have never had your bike kick back. Besides, you have to raise your leg higher standing to the side which promotes getting tired faster. Straddling the bike is noticeably easier. I've seen riders kill their scoots at stop signs, set the kick stand, get off the bike to start them while holding up traffic. Not me. Have a good day.

[@bottmar1]

Dad Mode Wheelie Gang. Thanks for your reply. So many bikers don't like to hear the downside to their method to start their scooter but you seemed to understand there are possible better ways so you replied with style. Thanks