Hunting Harley's, 1978 Harley FLH 75th anniversary edition

Todd describes and rides a 1978 FLH 75th anniversary edition in rare blue original paint trim

[@steveperry1344]

my first big bike was a 1980 blue flh like that. i bought new for $5400 in worcester ma. isold it in 1998 cause i needed the money. i really miss it but just picked up a used 02 heritage and i'm happy again. luv harley big twins!!! and your channel, steve

[@c.n.9074]

Nice bike. I have a 1978 anniversary Model. Bright red, faring, windshield, trunk, bags, spokes, black pogo seat. The only parts not original are the tires and battery Also in the mid 80's I got caught at the bottom of a hill with a dead battery, when I got home I added a kick start to it. Second owner, owned since 1982, 6000 miles. Good to see another 75th saved!

[@williammusser8243]

Nice looking 1978 1/2, Todd. I bought one brand new in the blue; wish I could locate another one.

[@benbruker1610]

see. you and I are about the same height. im 5'8 . One thing a biker told me and he told me to take it to heart, " Respect the bike" if you don't. the bike won't repect you. I am a music freak. what you love about Harleys I love in music. I have over 1000 record albums and over 500 8-tracks. and I still play the 8-tracks. my dad and my sister and I went to boston to see the stones. and they were unbelievable. still rockin in their 70's without missing a beat.

[@enricomandragona163]

Nice ride Brother!! I'm restoring a 71 HiFi green ermine white. Mostly original except the tires and Repop mufflers. Looking for originals. Still running original controls Bendix carb suicide throttle lol. Original windshield I restored almost looks new but has natural patina!! The motor has 30k never been opened up & no leaks lol😳

[@HuntingHarleys]

If I had $5 for all those OEM mufflers I used to have...

[@enricomandragona163]

@@HuntingHarleys you got any?

[@HuntingHarleys]

Decades ago. Not anymore

[@enricomandragona163]

@@HuntingHarleys ✌️

[@mike68gt]

Finally a FLH with turn signals.... Just got a 77 and want to put some back on it.

[@alaing6463]

- le " Lion " de la moto, un plaisir aussi pour les oreilles

[@lancetburgess]

Thanks so much for the quick reply!! I'm not entirely sure about the trans, but it does have points. Absolutely LOVE your channel!! Keep up the good work!!

[@laurentlaussucq1464]

One more beauty !

[@rysammy]

I do not see the seat mounting holes in the rear fender, So harley brought back the 1976 and earlier seat as well as the silver jugs?

[@leesbo55]

hey Todd, you ever come across any original super glide boat tails, '71 I think?

[@jasperjones6962]

I had one back in the 1980s full dress fairing, windshield, saddle bags and tour pack it was tan color.

[@TheSpritz0]

I'd want a windshield even for the extra $$ I've been hit by gravel before! Beautiful bike though!

[@BM-jf8ql]

I just bought a 1977 FLH full dresser from my neighbor. She calls it blue but when I look at it it looks almost like a purple. Was this common with the bright blue color option? I think it's also metal flake.

[@HuntingHarleys]

1978 was the last year for special order custom colors, a purple metal flake, if original paint, would be a special order. More likely it's a repaint

[@HuntingHarleys]

tires dry rot really fast under the right conditions but they also last a long time under the right conditions. Sometimes we put tires on but usually we do not need to do so.

[@charlesrainey6830]

Got one but mine is gray cool bike got a good deal.

[@dshenderson2]

I wonder what an all original would be worth in this blue color?

[@meme-jh1zd]

we will see in a few years when my all orig blue 75th anniv # 0001 goes to auction. 800 miles on it.

[@SyaelendraStudioTube]

@Lance Burgess Actually the 78' 75th Anniversary has two releases in a year, the 78' 1/2 Black Gold was 1200 and the Cherry Red was the first 1340 Shovel. I just knowing Todd shows us the blue one i believe 78 1/2 too. They all came in 1978.

[@HuntingHarleys]

Radioshark. Your correct, they had early and late 1978's. This was in reference to the transmission change mid year from the ratchet lid style to the rotary lid style (often called the cow pie). This was such a different trans that HD came out with a mid year Service Manuel. They offered this blue, a red, a brown and a black in the 75th anniversary FLH color's.

[@shtango1]

Todd, do you put the tires on these finds or are they the tires that were on them since way back when? How is it that they've held up this long if they were original. I had dry rot on an '02 1200 Sporty I got that had the original everything except the battery........just wondering.....(it had sat for 2.5 yrs under a tarp outside).

[@benbruker1610]

I gotta ask todd. how tall are you? this bike when you get on it you are on your tip-toes. that's one reason I don't like the big Harleys because I want my feet flat on the ground. I want to feel that I am in control of the bike and not the bike has control over me. and whats your favorite rock group. just curious.

[@MrHotroddovr6]

who was the mechanic who worked on the bike looks like he knows what he was doing . the bike ran superb

[@HuntingHarleys]

Not sure of his name. I was trying out new mechanic for that one. I might have to find out. he opened his own shop now

[@danap.rockwell2640]

My 78 FLH was Chestnut Brown Gold Metal-flake, it was gorgeous in the sunlight, but it was an UGLY brown-green in the shade...

[@Spool77]

Why the passenger pegs? DId people actually ride two up on that seat?

[@jerryjones2818]

I believe you are incorrect on the seat. By 78 the newer 2 person "scissor" seat, that still used the seat post would have been stock. They were stock in 77 but the previous owner of my 77 had the dealer swap out to the old Buddy seat. I bet that's what happened here. It may have come from the dealer on the bike, but that was probably dealer mod.

[@HuntingHarleys]

Accessories. Lotta stuff avaliable

[@tmadd1956]

it's like a sofa... really nice on a long ride.

[@charlesrainey6830]

Got one in gray. How many came in gray?

[@HuntingHarleys]

Not sure. Contact the Harley Davidson historical department. They'll know

[@charlesrainey6830]

Thanks

[@HuntingHarleys]

That is the whole idea of that seat, for TWO people

[@bigfredtn]

We have one that I am trying to find out the production numbers.

[@HuntingHarleys]

Write the HD historical department

[@Spool77]

must have been a cozy ride :D

[@keithhensley1065]

I have an original 78 1/2 80cu in 75th anniversary. It is the brown color original. I have all of the original parts for my bike. Can anyone tell me some type of value or any history?

[@HuntingHarleys]

Depending on mileage and condition..absolutely brand new condition with 10k miles, $12,500 full retail, wholesale $7000

[@mikebrabant4170]

Too bad that street is so short!! Nice Bike!

[@MrShane1957]

I saw a 75th anniversary model a week ago 14K orig miles alleged original silver/grey paint.

[@HuntingHarleys]

I have never seen one with that paint job.

[@MyHuckster]

hey todd I have a blue like that one, my seat is the big ugly with the bear trap.i thought that was the correct seat.

[@HuntingHarleys]

They offered a few types of seats, the one you mention, this, a police solo, and you could also order with just a regular type seat like off a 1978 FXS. This style also came in brown and black, same as your type (and this white)

[@bloolouboyle]

I have a 78--1200--Bright red-- think it is original paint but I was told it wasn't---any Ideas--?

[@HuntingHarleys]

+bloolouboyle They made a bright red one. Sometimes I can tell with pictures, sometimes I cannot [e-mail]

[@paull2815]

Matching front fender decal is a pretty good indicator of original color. I've only seen gold as repro or NOS decals.

[@richardcruz7265]

If it has 75 anniversary. On the front fender. It's an original 75th anniversary. Plain and simple

[@HuntingHarleys]

he biker was correct. These bikes carry the spirit's of those who owned them before. Disrespect them at your peril.

[@Tomcaatt]

Oh yea, back then it was common to see two pals ridin the same bike , but these days a little different.

[@smolville]

Wrong, some black ones did have spoke wheels. I'm thinking that the 80 ci and the black and gold edition bikes had the alm wheels.

[@HuntingHarleys]

the spokes were a dealer installed option. all the 75th's came with the gold spoke mags, unless otherwise specified on the order form or installed at the dealer or after purchase

[@HuntingHarleys]

If I stand REALLY straight, I barely reach 5 foot 9, with short legs! Those big dresser seats are way too tall for me. A solo with a pogo on a ridged fits me just right. i'm funny musically, I don't listen for a time, sometimes a LONG time, then I will obsess on a certain group. The most recent fav is Rammstein

[@geraldgalinski8650]

That's not a 75th Anniversary model. Although 78 was an anniversary year not all 78's are anniversary models. They made 5,000 and change 75th Anniversary FLH's and they were Black with gold pin strip and gold cast wheels.

[@HuntingHarleys]

Been a Lotta years since I owned this. If I recall correctly it said 75th anniversary on it. But you are correct in the coloring of the standard issue 75th. They made a red one also.

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

Heck ya 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🏍🖖🏼😎😎

[@HuntingHarleys]

that's the idea, the girl is close you to:)

[@HuntingHarleys]

sad to hear the stolen bike story, too common back in the day. I've never seen a purple one

[@katerjohn]

The luggage carrier is mounted the wrong way round 😂

[@HuntingHarleys]

Probably dealer mounted

[@lancetburgess]

I am currently going over a red one of these. Very cool. Is there an easy way to tell a 1978 from a 1978 1/2?

[@yveslolou739]

I have a 78 and 1/2 FLH 74 cubic inches The anniversary model were 80 cubic inches which was the first year and they had nothing but problems with misfiring oil issues and leakage at 74 which was on the 83 and a half's didn't have those issues it's a much better bike but it's not an anniversary model and it was the first year they had pointless ignition was 78 and a half

[@c.n.9074]

I should have added it is a 1200/74 shovel

[@HuntingHarleys]

not two pals, a guy and a girl. People almost never rode together boy and boy or girl and girl. America was EXTREMELY homophobic during the 1970's. guys would not even get an ear ring because people would automatically asume they were GAY. that was death to a man trying to find women to do the whoopie with

[@martinwall7297]

why is it knocking, rods, piston slap!

[@HuntingHarleys]

This is what these Motors sound like when they run perfectly. Sold to Japan 11 years ago, customer very happy

[@richardcruz7265]

All shovelheads. Sound like a loud espresso coffee machine.😂

[@Tomcaatt]

doubles event races ,

[@HuntingHarleys]

I would love to see that and a pic of the machine if you have it. [e-mail]

[@yveslolou739]

Harley-Davidson had the anniversary 1978 then the 78 and a half I own a 78 and a half it is not an anniversary model that bike is a 74 in³ not an 80-incher and the reason there's no gold because it's not an anniversary model that bike is a 78 and a half

[@HuntingHarleys]

It says anniversary on the front fender decals. Not all 78s were anniversary editions, unlike 2003 where all bikes were anniversary editions. Same with the 95th anniversary editions. Only some bikes and some models were 95th anniversary editions. In 78, and for the 95th, the anniversary edition was made all year. However, the gold you speak of was only on the black 75th. I had one NOS. Only 12 factory test miles. Was a dealer display bike. I've had a few dozen of the 75ths over the past 43 years.

[@yveslolou739]

@@HuntingHarleys The gold stands for the anniversary issue there's no gold on that bike because it's not an anniversary probably a 78 and a half if you have the owner's manual which I do it will say 78 and a half

[@yveslolou739]

@@HuntingHarleys I have a 1954 FL with the 50 anniversary with the medallionon the fender and the speedometer needle is red and so is the tenth of a mile which makes it a 50 anniversary but not all 54s had that

[@HuntingHarleys]

I've had the owners handbook, the manuals for early and late 78, the parts books. The factory sales literature and the accessory catalogs. Spokes were an option for any model and could be ordered. Not all anniversaries came with the gold. They made blue, red and black editions. Much like the gold wheels on brown and black 1982 Sturgis's. Only the black anniversaries came standard with gold mag wheels.

[@HuntingHarleys]

Correction, absolutely all 1954 and 55 models had anniversary badges on the front fender. No exceptions unless specially ordered that way. I've had dozens of both.

[@robertashbrook3157]

PLEASE TALK LOUDER PLEASE!!! Thankyou.