1980 Harley-Davidson Touring

First off we are reviewing this together. I'm partial and you need to know that. I prefer older bikes. 1980 ushered in the first 1320cc "80 Cubic Inch Displacement" thus the 80-80. The last "Shovel Head" design. It had a reputation and quite frankly it wasn't a great one. A few years later the ownership changed, the evolution happened, and history was made that changed the market forever. From an old way of trying to compete with the modernization of the Japanese motorcycle industry to out mastering the masters this bike represents the "old guard", the old way, and sadly a failed way that gave way to what we have today.

Out with old and in with the new. This change in era's was more then the competition, the change in import regulations, the manufactures, the engine styles, the reliability factors, the quality issues, or even todays "designer rack" style of motorcycling. The change affected much more in the mindset of what having a bike was all about. Owning a Harley was knowing every little detail of a machine that required constant attention. It was more then just buying a bike, riding it, polishing it, changing the oil every so-often, and then putting it away for the next ride. When the era changed so did everything. Before you ever rode these out of the garage or driveway, you needed to perform some checks that should have surpassed anything a pilot does before he fly's his plane.Bolts, nuts, oil levels (hey these leak!), cables, covers, screws, you name it you better check it and if you didn't use Loctite, you better double check it. Milwaukee Vibrator does not belong to the evolutions.

The Heritage models hit the market and all those after market things started coming in forms unlike before. Chrome this, chrome that... I stripped off the fairing of this old Shriner's bike,(yes it was uniform clone parade bike) and I repainted it two-tone cream and brown, I had many parts brass plated. Saddle bags, leather strips off the throttle, and a custom leather seat...a few more things here and there...I had a Heritage, not an "off the rack" model with some extra fruit salad, a wholly created actual Heritage. Mine didn't come off the showroom floor all ready made. It took a little extra vision, some work, plus a little more work to maintain. But that's what I am, this was what it was, a different bike, a bike with a signature, a bike with a soul and character of its own...by its owner. A bike that required attention, attention to detail. Something that made you invest yourself into it's being. That's the era change in a nutshell, this bike the 1980 80 incher is the end of an era that still lives in the hearts and minds of many, still rides today. If you venture to bikes from this era, you are crossing a line in time that has requirements that are unlike the bikes of today. Reliability is placed on your shoulders and not the factory or the machines reputation. If you need a mechanic for anything other then a major engine rebuild, then you don't need to cross this line, it's not for you. These fabled bikes broke down on the side of the road? That happens. What you don't understand is that many times nothing was broke and the rider was only checking his ride...

Is comfort a choice? Reliability is a bike that you drive hard and put away wet, still starts and runs? Never needs the shop? Just keeps on ticking and all you do is change the oil and give it a shine? Or is comfort knowing you are the master of your machine?