Sportster front end ?

[paysonpan]

What was the last year for chrome steel sliders on a sportster front end prior to going to aluminum? I have a complete front end a buddy out of state might be able to use and I am trying to identify it for him. I don't have a camera so I can't just take a photo and send it. Thanks very much for any help.

[Breeze]

1973 was the first year of Japanese Kayaba forks.  I don't know if '72 had steel sliders or not.

[eglideic]

1973 was the first year of Japanese Kayaba forks.  I don't know if '72 had steel sliders or not.

Ditto on the Kayaba, and 1972 and earlier bikes still had drum brakes.

[Maddog]

68 to 70 2 different sliders,,,,,70 had its only year slider,,,, 71 to 72 had a different slider,,70 an earlier used a fork boot  an the slider had a ring at the top edge for the boot to fit over, 71 to 72 used a regular fork boot,,,an had a different top to the slider,  hope this helps you    

[paysonpan]

Thanks for the info!! Forgot to mention the lower triple clamp has a stock bracket with a hole for a padlock similar to later Wide Glides. My guess from the info you guys posted is that the fork is early 70's.

[Maddog]

that would be my guess too,

[Speeding Big Twin]

Forgot to mention the lower triple clamp has a stock bracket with a hole for a padlock similar to later Wide Glides. My guess from the info you guys posted is that the fork is early 70's.

Is there any ID stamped on the padlock bracket or anywhere else on the lower triple clamp? Beginning with 62 models, Sportsters and Big Twins had additional original component identifying numbers stamped on some parts and that additional ID often consists of one capital letter followed by either three or four numbers. For 1970 models the letters used were apparently either K or L.

I haven’t got letter info for 71 or later and sometimes the letters used can overlap so for 1971 the letters used MAY have been L or M.     Eric 

[paysonpan]

Speeding big twin
Yes on the padlock area   there is   the  letter N followed by 1365. This probably identifies the front end as  a 1971. Right?
Thanks for your help

[Speeding Big Twin]

The letter N could indicate the lower triple clamp is 1971 but I cannot say for sure because my info only goes from 62 through 70. And remember the additional ID is only stamped on the lower clamp so you'd need to be sure the top clamp and the fork legs are original to the lower clamp. Depending on year, it seems that either two or three letters could be used for the one yearâ€"for example, J, K and L were all apparently used for 1969. And some letters overlap on occasion, with K and L again being used for 1970 as I mentioned previously.

Also as I mentioned above, L and M could have been used for 71. And I suppose it’s possible that 1971 could also have been indicated by N but I can’t say for certain.

Some time ago I contacted Pete Simet at H-D Customer Service and asked him for clarification regarding exactly what letters corresponded to what year(s) but he declined to provide the information. He directed me to the H-D legal department so I contacted them and I received a reply from Enrique T Breceda, Senior Corporate Counsel, but he also declined to provide the info saying it was considered proprietary.

It seems the only way to check with H-D about any additional ID is if the owner provides all the said ID, plus the serial number/VIN and belly numbers. Then Pete can check the records and see if all the numbers were originally assigned to the one bike but even that apparently depends on what year the bike is because it’s unknown exactly what info Harley still has available.     Eric   

[Breeze]

I checked my cop theft book, and it shows M,N,P and R as letters used on 1971 triple trees.

[Speeding Big Twin]

Thanks, Breeze. I’ve got three references to some of this info, including one from a Jammer Handbook circa 1980â€"82 but which is now on the Jammer Cycle Products website and one from Connecticut police circa 1981 which was posted on the Hydra-Glide forum in August-September 2009. The third is from the CHP circa 1971 and the other two appear to have stemmed from there because some of the errors they contain are exactly the same as those in the CHP document. The CHP info can now be found on the Vintage American Motorcycles website and I’ve posted a link to it below:

http://www.vintageamericanmotorcycles.com/v/Stolen+motyorcycle+infornation/

I’d be interested in reading any other info from the book you have. Are you able to post any of it? Thanks.     Eric

[Breeze]

Eric; My book is the 2007 Connecticut State Police Book. It is divided into so many sections by year and location, that posting would be futile. Sometimes it confuses me    looking stuff up.  I will try and find answers to your questions though.

[Speeding Big Twin]

Cheers, Breeze. If you could tell me what letters were used for 1972 to 1980 that would be a big help.     Eric