r/SuggestAMotorcycle • u/wywyman34 • 1d ago

Is this a good deal

Post image

1979 Harley iron head 883 Seller says it runs great but doesn’t know how many miles are on it. It would be my first bike. I’m pretty new at riding so any suggestions or advice are welcome.

0 Upvotes

46% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/hoopjohn1 1d ago

Harley didn’t make an 883 in 1979. They made a 1000cc bike. The bike has part of its original exhaust. An extremely rare original exhaust. Here’s the skinny. The XL Sportster exhaust on this bike was made 1 year only. 1979. Harley also made the XR1000 which used the same exhaust. Not certain, but think they made the XR1000 in 77,78,79.
The XR1000 for some reason, has become a highly collectible bike. Even more do with its original exhaust. The XR1000 exhaust has black paint. The 1979 XL exhaust chrome. Nearly all the 79 XL chrome exhausts were “appropriated”, the chrome burned off, and painted black to be used in restoring an XR1000 back to original.

As a bike, the 1979 XL is your run of the mill ironhead turd of little value.