For those here who've been HD owner/riders/supporters for a long time and even for a short time what is your opinion on which were the better years. All opinions are welcome. Heck even "cool" could be considered creditable criteria,lol.

Despite the excellence of the modern technology there are those who decree "Panheads Forever!!!". Still others "Shovelheads Rule!" and so on and so on. With that said cast your opinion. I'm shy but I'll start,lol.

Having owned a '63 FL,'81 XLS,'83FL,'96 Buell S2T,'98FL, '01 FL and now happily my 2012 Ultra I have some reflections (fancy word to describe people who live where it snows and cannot ride so have to find motorcycle related things to do).

1) The AMF and post AMF years have nothing on the styling of the pre AMF years. Don't get me wrong MOCO is first in fit finish and styling but those pre AMF years kill it. Just look at the pictures of some of that older iron,especially the Glides. Not brow beating the styling thru the years because MOCO truly has continued to step up, especially the Willy G years in the styling the department but those pre AMF years are some of the best in my opinion.

2) In the pre AMF years you can by comparison, of especially the newer technology bikes fix most everything on the side of the road. And good thing because that older pre AMF/post AMF technology was ornery, cranky and cantankorous. My Pan beat me to death for over 25 years. I paid a price to feel cool (in my own mind). By the AMF years at least, it was for the most part electronic inginition(Shovel) an if I remember correctly you could swap out to P/C on the side of the road. Don't ask me how I know.

3) Todays bikes ergo post AMF years and with the EFI not feeling the repairs on the side of the road so much. Up until this 2012 Ultra I always purchased the shope manaul and the shop tools manual. I'm not bothering with the 2012. Why? Have you looked at the schematics of EFI. I'll just hope I have cell tower power.



4) Knuckles and Pans had advanced and retarded spark but could be upgraded later on the auto advance and retard distributor but were still quirky. Or Mags were okay options and looked cool too. Shovels minimized the cantankerousness of the older bikes but were still very much hands on. Hydrolics versusu solid lifters became a consideration. Hydrolics being self adjusting but were known to "flood out".

For me, reflecting on all the bikes I've ridden and my age....I'm loving my 2012 and all its modern technology glory. I'd rather be riding the wrenching and if I get that ha kering I still have my '83 FL which is S&S carbed and either electronic ignition or P/C depending what happened,lol.

pre AMF had a lot of nice rides, but all you had till 52 was a dresser or servicar, then the K model came to try to get the british market, even went to the right toe shift. Stayed that way till 71 when the fx came out which was the 3rd year of amf, 2nd year of amf sticker on a Harley. I bought a 69 ch in 69, didn't want no slow ass dresser. chopped the ch. The motors and trannys had their problems badk then either due to the machines that built the bikes, same ones that built the knuckle or union problems, a lot of sabatoge done on the bikes. then the company bought back and the evo's, better machines to build the motorcycles. the evo's hade their problems but after the shovel they were great ride without tools. A lot of my friends said they were nice bikes but throwaways, that proved to be wrong thier price is still 3 thousand dollars more than shovels. Now to the twin cam, I got a 2000 flhtcui, 191,000 miles now and I bought it brand new. Great bike nothing compares, with minumum work got 88HP 102# torque. been cross country twice on it, never a worry never a proble except a battery in Reno. Over those miles have broken the swingarm 3 times, now it is has plates welded on and it isn't breaking anymore. The plastic cages for the bearings in the transmission came apart, the bearing in the door for the countershaft, that was an education on the new transmissions. But like all the time with a Harley just build it better, Baker direct drive 6 speed, nice transmission. Then there was the proble with the cam chain tensioners, rfeplace by Harley at 70,000 or so, replaced by me at 137,000 miles with a gear drive settup with 510 lift, nice for the riding I do. If they had the hydraulic setup at that time I would of went with that. Yeah the air suspension suck in the front, easy fix Progessive gas shocks now up front. Also the alternators suck, magnets tend to move in the rotor, the one I have now has the magnets wrapped in stainless, haven't replaced it yet and it has been on the bike for 54,000 miles.
My dragbike is a 76 shovel but it is far from Harley, 125HP 127# torque, less than 400 pounds of kick ass.
alll in all I live to ride and when I want to ride it is on the 2000, no fear of anything on the road, well maybe deer, that is the only thing to stop me from getting home on the Ultra. The ch spent a few nights away from me till I could get truck to haul it home. Once I chopped it, it always got me home on big road trips of over 500 miles each way.

I would not mind owning any Harley but not for long rides. I left out all the lightweight Harleys so don't get in my case for that, I know about the sprints thw americhies or however you spell them. the only good single for Harley was the 30.50 engines, Just my opinion. Deerslayer

The AMF years were not the total failure as many have portrayed those years of Harley-Davidson motorcycle production. The AMF years were definatley not the best years of Harley. The AMF years were the first years of production line builds by HD and were kinda the precursor for the MANS years (manufactured as needed) System after the 1982 take over/buyout. The AMF bikes were notoriously noted for their shabby craftsmanship, were leaky and unreliable. A reputation that still haunts the Harley Davidson motorcycle to this underserved day. Meaning those who still think HD's are leaky and unreliable are carrying a burnt out torch of yesteryear. The prverbial beating of the dead horse,lol. The HD'd of today has been pretty much been bullet proof since the EVO years began.

Personally I'm glad that many still don't realize that Harleys freaking rule. Hate to see every ahole and their brother on a Harley. Too many aholes on HD as it is,lol.

Pre AMF versus AMF versus post AMF years

The styling of the bikes that came out in the 60's seems to be the fundamental and foundation elements of the styling of today's bikes. I really like the bikes I see down at the local HD store - my next one is a the fat bob - with the 2 headlights and forward controls. I sat on that and I was home.

Where did that look come from? back in the 60's choppers and customs...

I think right now we're getting the best of both worlds - the ability to buy a warranty factory custom with all the bells and whistles - new and reliable well built machines.

I wanted a 60's era Electra glide since I was 8 years old - I got it in my Road King - different name - same bike... only with the technology of the time - 1994 - Carbed Evo with 5 speeds... but at that time that bike was unbelievable and I felt very lucky to get it.

So I'd have to give my answer as:
Pre AMF they laid the foundations
AMF they experiences the learning curves
Post AMF they got it right... and even though some of the "improvements" weren't always the best way to go they keep trying to really improve their products and are making the best bikes now - IMHO...

Well said RK. Encapsulates the over view very accurately. In other words I agree and you took the observation to a new level. I would like to think thats what I was trying to say in a long drawn out disertation,lol. The HD bikes of today are exactly old style look with todays technology.

I like that double headlight Fat boy too just not as much as that 110 anniversary fatboy low. I'm only 5foot 7inches and seem to be getting shorter as I get older?

In the early post AMF years the EFI/Carb is a double sided issue with good and bad about both. Twin cam in the big twin...why? Its just another moving part(tensioners) that have to be kept an eye on and can cause serious failure if not caught on time. Not sold on the 17" front wheel on the E Glides. 16" was forever.

In the pre AMF years and about up to 1983-1984 kick option was the best. When did they stop making kickers?

maybe 85 with the last 4 speed for the last factory kicker. Baker makes a kicker kit for the 5 speeds and 6 speeds also. Don't think they make a kicker for the new 7 speed out of Baker

About the AMF bikes in 1976 I was considering buying a 1976 harley davidson super glide liberty edition. I found this article on ye old cycle shop site and thought that it would be a interesting read. The article is from October 1975. Hope you enjoy it!

Thanx-
Here's why...

1984ish - I had a buddy, bought a Honda - Sabre - v65, I loved that bike - the new cool of the day.
We used to sit around and talk about how great it would be if we could drop that engine in an electra glide.

Fast forward 10 years - I go to Maui and rent a fat boy and take it to the top of Holyokala to see the sun rise. On the way up that volcano - it was pitch dark, sharp winding switch backs, deadly drop offs... I loved it!! Scrapping the floorboards on that rented bike and roaring up that road was a blast. I was hooked - I hadn't looked at bikes in years.

I went into the dealership when I got back home - and there was my dream bike... the 1994 Road King.
Here in front of me was the bike I coveted since childhood - only with reliability - a true freedom machine. The bike that looked like a bike from 30 years ago with all the goodies of the day. I dreamed how nice a RK would be up that volcano...

I remember the Liberty Edition - I saw one back in the day - that was a beautiful bike.

And MOCO will not be making this limited edition ever again,lol. They made a Sportster,Super Glide, Dresser only. As the story reads in WIKI sounds like MOCO(who do not display this edition in their museum) ran chicken sh*t politically correct afterwards because of the brewing controversey of the confederate flag. The flag is not a statement of racial divide for many. Its heritage not hate in most cases, ergo the General Lee in Dukes of Hazard.:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley-Dav ... te_Edition