Hey all,
I've been interested in restoring and collecting sportsters, but the information I find online can be contradictory or incomplete. I'm currently working on a mid 1970's sportster, but hope to find a late 1950's or early 60's bike to restore. What is the best book out there on collecting and restoring sportsters? There must be a bible of some kind for restorers. Thanks!

I would go to the shop manuals to bring back the bike as close to original as it can be. I know that there are special little bits that collectors know about that will make an original bike original. The bigger market for that are the Indians and old Harley baggers. For example experienced collectors know that at the back of a Harley Electra glide or Duo-glide gas tank there is a imperfection that came from the factory. When the owners say original paint if you look for the imperfection and it is not there it has been repainted. I don't think that there are any books about what your looking for about Sportsters. Maybe you can be the first to write it.

Good luck and keep us up to date on how your doing.

Glider, Thanks for the recommendation on the shop manual. I'll try to pick one up. I know that sportsters don't quite bring the attention some of the bikes you mentioned do, but they were popular and influential. I'm kinda surprised there isn't more on them. Maybe you are right, and someone still needs to do it. It would be a big job.

Good on you glider!!