Vintage vs "Old School" Harleys; What's The Difference?

[@redbone6940]

I entered my 1990 softail in a bike show back I July. They gave me a first place trophy and said I had won the vintage class.?? I was shocked! I don't consider an Evo to be vintage... sucks getting old😅. So in conclusion.... I agree with you.. thanks for the cool videos.

[@buttcrackcycles]

Hahaha that's funny, good stuff

[@SmittyInVegas]

Good, fun video. There is an old saying. If you are pushing your old Harley down the road, remember. “It’s tough to be cool.” & that means, no whinin either. Lol. Smitty in Vegas.

[@jeffreyyeater1780]

I agree with you . The evo era was the best most convenient time . Easy to take care of . Effortless.

[@donrice8026]

the sporster was the frist shovel head in 1957 i m alittle older when i think of a iron head its a flat head they had alum.& iron heads yr pick also knuckels were iron heads also took the VL for a ride today HAPPY TRAILS

[@daveco1270]

Interesting video. I like the old stuff too. I wouldn't say you have to be a mechanic to own an old bike, but you do have to be willing to learn (and purchase the tools) I don't have any Harleys (yet) but I have a couple 1960's and 70's bikes. I didn't know how to change my oil when I got my first vintage bike about 5 years ago, but I wanted to learn. Between online forums, youtube and a manual, I was able to figure out the basics (and more.) It's not like it was 30 years ago when you needed a mentor or a trade school to learn. A mentor is still a plus, but they're not aways easy to find.

[@buttcrackcycles]

Sounds like you're probably more of a mechanic than most newer Harley riders! You said the most important part "willing to learn." I think that's my point, I know A LOT of guys who buy newer baggers and won't even change the oil. Not saying everyone needs to be able to rebuild an engine from a bare case, but, some basic mechanical know how and common sense goes a long way! Thanks for watching.

[@kurtstern483]

My only motorcycle is a 1971 BMW R75/5. I am able to do some work on it. I have ridden it across the country. Someday I hope to own an old Harley.

[@buttcrackcycles]

Awesome, old bikes are always cool

[@d.r.ledbetter2286]

My last bike was a 76 CH sport kicker. I can proudly say that I never once fell off the kicker.. I always liked the time I had going over everything before and after each ride and as you said it was a pact between the bike and myself.

[@buttcrackcycles]

People these days talk down on Sportsters, but anyone who's ever kick started a 70s one knows that's a real bike!

[@arthurleino]

I like my 1983 FXWG that's why ! Kept it. The Harley Davidson dealer 40 miles south will not work on it or motorcycles 10 years older.

[@buttcrackcycles]

Dealer here won't work on anything more than 10 years old either, and good luck getting parts even for a 15 year old bike from the dealership. It's like all they want to do is sell new bikes and 65$ t shirts...

[@ImminghamIronhead]

I put a kicker on my 79 XLH mainly so I can easily and accurately turn the engine when I'm working on it. I'm not a big guy, so putting it in gear and hauling on the rear wheel never worked for me. Never had an electric only bike before, and didn't fancy being at the mercy of a golf cart battery :-) My other bike is a 64 BSA, so the ironhead feels like a spaceship in comparison.

[@buttcrackcycles]

Being able to bump it over by the kicker is a nice thing to have for sure. I know I've appreciated that before while working on them

[@patrickkerr1396]

I miss my 94 sportster 1200,, New Harleys are too much, I paid 20G for my new 2000 Roadking In Black back then ,,the new Bikes don't look good to me,, 30 G hell no,,, I do want an 80s Vmax Tho,,

[@843chops]

I’m in the Charleston SC area if there’s some parts your looking for, and some stuff for that shovelhead you have.

[@buttcrackcycles]

Appreciate it! My dad lives in Murrell's Inlet, nice area

[@jaynedoe1959]

Coors? From COLORADO? ...How bout an "Old Milwaukee"? LOL I love my Ironhead. I could have bought a newer, less expensive & perhaps more dependable bike needing less maintenance & I sometimes think of getting an Evo Big Twin for distance & dependability, but this is the 5th Harley I`ve owned & my 3rd Ironhead. I just love these bikes! (The other 2 were Panheads, but oops, can`t afford those anymore!) ...I mean, isn`t Coors about the ONLY beer NOT brewed in Milwaukee? Tee Hee

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I love my Sportster 1999Evo that I have had for 25 years that has 400,000 mi on her. Daily driver as I don't have a car 🚗.Motor is all original everything,runs good, drives good 👍.

[@stinde666]

I ride a 06 sporty and calling it OldSchool makes me smile and proud, but makes me feel old as well 😂 wait I am old 😂😂😂 I love the Evo cos I’m not that good at wrenching, but I will try to fix everything that goes wrong on it thanks to KZbin! And I agree 100% with you on the matter of baggers and windshields and storage on modern bikes, I was out riding yesterday about 100miles and the wind on my chest and shaking of the helmet just made me feel alive 🎉 sorry bout the rant 😂

[@Fridgemandave3888]

My 99 FXDWG has an old school feel but was first year TC88.

[@kennethwise7108]

I wouldn't trade any of my Evos for ANYTHING new even if it was a CVO bike. EFFE RIP HD 1903-1999

[@dutch_clutch8211]

I really don't think you ride if you don't wrench. It's almost half the fun of It all. She's more than a throat goat at the gas pump.

[@jameshuman7091]

Here in Florida, a bike 40 years or older are tagged “ antique “. Have 3 Ironheads and one ‘97 Heritage Springer Ol’ Boy, white with red stripes.

[@mississippidrifter5960]

I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. My bike is a 88 Softail.

[@Alexgomez411]

Sir I love and completely agree with you mental thought on the content in this video I own and absolutely love my 1999 883 and I own a number of bikes but the 883 is my favorite of all my bikes ...I own a 1971 shovel head flhtc but I love my 99sporty more ...just me ....but I took don't need Bluetooth Bluetooth radio TV radar sonar I just want to hear and feel the bike my shovel does have its own sound low idle and sound but the Evo engine also sounds and feels AMAZING to me thanks for the vid

[@buttcrackcycles]

Thanks for watching!

[@mikegowen4967]

Have a 93 883 that I LOVE..

[@Alexgomez411]

@@mikegowen4967 show us wanna see it man love the vids

[@mrjolly8680]

Well said, it is all about the connection between you and your bike.

[@markoickle9066]

My "go to" bike is my 81 FXE, but if i am doing any real distance I do rely on my Triumph Tiger 800. I have always considered my Shovel "old school" and "vintage"! it does help to have mechanical abilities owning my ole scoot.

[@stanleybaker5860]

Absolutely well said. When I kick my Shovel into life and head down the road nothing comes near that feeling of connection with the sounds and vibes that come out of that bike. Thanks. Cheers from down under 🇦🇺

[@ironheadsally]

Yasss! It’s the heart of the motors, the feel, no EVO can compare to the feel of a shovel/ironhead. My evo fxr even has shovelhead flywheels but it doesnt compare to the ride of the shovelhead fxr! The soul man, the mechanical! So cool, love your rant, can feel the passion in your words 🤘😎

[@buttcrackcycles]

Can't beat the old stuff! Glad you liked my rant 😅😅 Hope y'all are doing well

[@troyangel7973]

Good talk. OK here are some of my thoughts. My 81 shovel is antique. But I feel my 74 ironhead is vintage. And my 1985 softail is antique but more like vintage because it is the last year of the kick start. Still has the old style shovel stater system and just looks and feels old school. Now my 91 fxr I consider a more modern bike even though the fxr and softail are both Evos. And the same with older irons the old style starting systems are more vintage than the 80s starters. One more thing right side shift is vintage where as lft side shift is only antique. And that my two cents. Thank you.

[@buttcrackcycles]

Good thoughts, I'm always interested to hear others thoughts on matters like this. Right side shift is cool no matter who you ask, throw a lot of guys my age for a loop!

[@jerrycagle7565]

I agree with you, I ride a 2000 ultra classic, love the bike and the ride, I watched all your videos, great job.

[@Jim-ej6yz]

I hear ya man, I'm 75 and when I grew up nobody from my area had much cash. We bought old cars from the junk yards and learned how to get em runnin wiith borowed tools and the help of the older neighborhood guys. Workin on cars and bikes was a way of life for us if you wanted to ride or drive. I still kickstart the three bike I still have left. I live in the past I guess which is five with me and it's the way I like it

[@buttcrackcycles]

Right on man

[@MrAirmentbob]

i ride my 82' shovel fxrs to work still. modern vintage. when i feel like riding a little faster; ill ride my 110 twin cam fxr.

[@buttcrackcycles]

A shovel FXR is my dream bike, "modern vintage" like you say!

[@Spike_6280]

Great video. Learned a lot. It made me want to appreciate the older Harley's and the efforts to keep them on the road even more. My friend owns a '75 Shovelhead and can wrench on it to a point, then a local shop does the rest. Thanks.

[@buttcrackcycles]

I don't think there's a local shop here I would trust with anything older than 1990s, and even that may be pushing it!

[@benderbender1233]

t0tally w0rth it!!! 🤘😎🤘

[@SaddleTrampTV]

As far back as 79 (maybe even to 77) up to 1990, the sportster bottom end was pretty much the same.

[@SaddleTrampTV]

When an evo vibrates, it just shakes you. When a shovel or an iron vibrate, something's coming loose.

[@BlainesGarage]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you on the part about things coming loose. I’ve got a 63 FLH, a 76 SuperGlide, and an 83 Sportster and I refuse to use loctite on anything. I feel that some people just don’t realize how tight something needs to be to ensure that it doesn’t come loose.

[@SaddleTrampTV]

@@BlainesGarage That's fine

[@buttcrackcycles]

Lil loctite and a torque wrench and periodic "Hmm I should wiggle everything before I ride" goes a long way on one of the old "Milwaukee Vibrators" 🤣 just part of the fun!

[@SaddleTrampTV]

@@buttcrackcycles Yep

[@thomasobrien5976]

Totally agree

[@jeffdavis7665]

I am building a 73 ironhead. Had it for years. That was very well said! I also own a Sportster 48. Two different animals. Me and my old ironhead are one when I go down the road. Keep up the good work 👍

[@buttcrackcycles]

Love my Ironhead! Those 48s are pretty neat, I bet they would be great commuters!

[@jeffdavis7665]

@@buttcrackcycles yes it does well. Gets you where you need to go. I do like the big front tire on it. Makes it handle very well

[@benderbender1233]

ir0nheads rule!!! 🤘😎🤘

[@KennyQuestShow]

I get the vibes from my evo softail and my evo sportster and don’t care what label their given or box they fit in their fun to own and ride.

[@jeffreyyeater1780]

I just acquired a 2009 fat bob. Love the bike , runs great , but it doesnt have soul . My 95 fatboy w/ evo sounded so good between gears etc. With the fuel injection they just dont have the proper burp between shifts . Just my opinion.

[@yoso585]

I wouldn’t use “old school” to describe a material object. But as an action or method; the old school way, as an example. I diagnosed this the old school way. Or you can start it old school. But no such thing as an old school thing. Carbed bike, Ridged mount, Hard Tail, and at some point vintage, but primarily because of age and rarity. Something to consider b

[@kickstartonly]

I agree with your first thoughts. My daily is a 98 evo prior to that I owned shovels I’ve never ridden a bike newer than my evo so to me it’s a new bike and the pinnacle of HD I would never own a shovel as a daily again. Great vid dude 🤘🏽

[@JoeybarriosBarrios1971-in6xy]

Hey bud I've owned a 70s sportster and a few 80s sportsters I now have a 94 to me there all the same , they have all had their share of wrench time , whether its an evolution or an iron , love it or leave it is what I say lol

[@eazyrider6122]

Vintage is 50 years or older. Your 1983 is a Classic not a vintage. Ya got to wait 10 more years buddy. My 1973 Shovel just turned vintage. Classics are anything older then 20 year and upto 50 yrs. But saying all that like you say its been distorted now back years ago it was clear as i stated. I know this becase i was waiting years for mine to become Vintage.

[@tylerthrash3155]

I agreed man these older bikes pre 2004 have sold sound and grit. I have a 21 heritage I love it but it doesn't have as much soul as my 2002 sportster chopper. 100% agree with your video and I'm now a new subscriber

[@TheMaximaKing]

Keeping doing what your doing man, I'm following. One of my bikes is a 1976 ironhead and I enjoy your content. Yes you have to work on these so its nice to have other bikes to ride when its down!

[@northforksfords8665]

1970 FL w/ 80 ci S/S shovelhead top end and delkron bottom end. 👍

[@GJM866]

Great video about the older Harleys. Had a 1983 ironhead sportster and a 1991 evo sportster. Ironhead was much different, I agree with you 100%. Both awesome bikes, but I wish I had the ironhead back!

[@scotttitus7479]

Great videos I own a 82 iron head and several evos all sportsters love them all but I have to agree with you there is something very special about iron head sportster I was fortunate to find mine it's very dependable when maintained the new ones fuel and go but iron heads when working on it you bond that's what it's all about awesome iron heads rule

[@kennethanderson1685]

❤❤❤❤

[@neodutch]

Vintage is manufactured between 1919 and 1930.

[@Rif_Leman]

"Vintage" is a status. "Old School" is a style.

[@L2fish]

But an 86 Evo will not fit in an 85 ironhead frame

[@dennytuma]

if it don't have a carb it's not a motorcycle

[@PotatoeJoe69]

For you the cutoff is between Ironhead and Evo. You also said that the Shovelhead is basically a Panhead with a different top end, which is true -- but certainly, you should also know that the Evo Sportster engine, is 90% identical to the Ironhead engine. The only real, major difference is displacement and head design. The Evo sporty engine is even more similar to an Ironhead than a Shovel is to a Pan. I digress. I 100% get what you're saying and feel the same way. Currently all I have is a 2020 FXST, which I put an S&S 465 cam in, drag pipes, springer front end and some apes. Despite the bobbed out, old school look, reality and ability to essentially tune the entire bike via Bluetooth and FP3, I still feel a constant draw too purchase an old Evo softail and turn it into a bobber, because no matter how much money and parts I throw at this M8 bike, now matter how long I spend in the garage turning wrenches on it and changing this or that... it just does not feel, look or sound like an old school Harley.

[@SmittyInVegas]

I have a 2014 big twin. Runs absolutely perfect. Six speed transmission. Super smooth ride. I thought it was going to be a great bike for me. I never ride it. It doesn’t idle down like a carbureted bike. I call it a robot. It has a computer instead of a soul. Smitty

[@kennethwise7108]

I love all of my Evo's, that's all I collect

[@warrenp2022]

I pretty much agree with your conclusions. I have had a few bikes over the last 50+ years, different bikes for different times and interests. Wish I had all of them in my garage now. The one I really shouldn't have sold was the 1977 Kawasaki KZ1000 that I bought used in 1978 to replace the 1976 Kawasaki 900 that a fellow offered me too much money for me to keep it. The 1977 was being ignored in the garage while I was playing with my Harley Panhead engined 1981 FXE. I had the Kawasaki for 25 years, it never broke down, took me across the country several times, was more than fast enough for me, I should have kept it just for it's loyalty if nothing else but a neighbor came asking, still kicking myself. So the Pan was bought in 1998, even after all the troubles it has had and all the time in the garage figuring out improvements, it is still my main bike. It is 88 inches and kick start only, when it agrees to start. So, though I will keep it as long as I am alive, I bought a "old man bike" with electric start for days when kicking is too difficult. I just can't get interested in newer bikes, found an Iron Head Sportster at an estate sale, I bought the 'pig in a poke' not running, without any solid information history. It sat in a shed for over 25 years except the engine did a lot of quarter mile trips. Finally started going through it this year, 1978 XLCR frame, Sputhe engine cases, four spark plugs, new S&S 1200 kit (74 cu in), Andrews V9 lumpy cams, S&S super B carb, intake and heads ported and polished professionally, got lucky. Still lots of wiring and brake repairs and I wonder what kind of road manners an ex-drag bike will have but the thrill of adventure is back! Back to this classification thing, all three bikes are old, I can't call them vintage since all are modified hot rods, old school might work.

[@buttcrackcycles]

Those 70s Kawasakis are pretty tough bikes, in my opinion. The Japanese really turned the motorcycle world on end back then! Gotta give the panhead some loving too though.

[@warrenp2022]

@@buttcrackcycles I had to edit the above post because I hit the post button by mistake, it is a long post.

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

👍👍👍👋