1980 Sportster kick start? Other issues?

[1957flhchop]

I sold my Pan a couple years ago and I miss having an iron head bike. I don't want to spend what it would cost to replace the Pan, so I am thinking of compromising with a really good looking 1980 Sporty bobber. I have 2 questions before I get serious:

1) Is there any way to install a kickstart on this bike? I see kits for "up to '79" and even some for EVO sportsters, but none for the late Shovel Sportster.

2) Are there any other common issues with the year Sporty that I should look out for... or avoid it altogether?

Thanks in advance.

[RooDog]

1979 and 80 Sporties were bastard years. Personally I would avoid a Sportster all together. For about the same money you should be able to find a Shovelhead worth having, and they all take kickers....
....RooDog....

[Andygears]

1979 and 80 Sporties were bastard years. Personally I would avoid a Sportster all together. For about the same money you should be able to find a Shovelhead worth having, and they all take kickers....
....RooDog....

Agreed, kicking a Sporty is no fun, the design of the kicker sucks!

Andygears

[kevsett]

I had an 80 Sportster in the late 80's and could never find a kicker kick through H-D or the aftermarket to add to it. I always had a strong battery and no starter/alternator problems but did want the kick start option. I'm supposing someone used at-home engineering to add one but not sure about buy/bolt-on options.

[FL54]

I gave a ‘78 XLCH to a long term,loyal employee years ago as a parting gift when I sold the business. He looked into adding a starter and found it could be done but too many things had to be changed and it wasn’t worth it. And besides, kicking a Sportster is no fun. Agree with others, get a big twin shovel.

[1957flhchop]

1979 and 80 Sporties were bastard years. Personally I would avoid a Sportster all together. For about the same money you should be able to find a Shovelhead worth having, and they all take kickers....
....RooDog....

Normally I would avoid a Sportster as well. I just happened upon this one which has already been rebuilt to my liking(rigid frame, springer, peanut tank. etc) and the guy is asking $3,500. I spent several months looking for a big twin Shovel and the cheapest one I found was $3500 for basically a motor/trans/title. The few I found that were close to what I want to end up with(has to be a rigid) were Panhead prices. Crazy

FYI, if it was unclear, I have zero interest in riding a stock Shovel and the "Panhead prices" I was referring to was chopper prices.

[guppymech]

I think the issue with the '80 Sportster and 'no' kicker is in stock form the rear brake master cylinder sits where the kicker would be. On a chopper with forward controls this wouldn't be a issue. In '84 the sportster clutch drum incorporated the alternator magnets so from that year on there was no way to mount a kicker but on the genny Sporty's I think it could be done. The guys in the Iron Head section of the XLForum.net would know if and how a kicker would fit a '80 model. Oh, FYI on the EVO Sporty kicker kits, the engineering behind them is junk, they a mostly for looks.

Tom

[1957flhchop]

Thanks for the info guys. Unfortunately, the bike sold Friday night so I guess I don't need to worry about it.

[RooDog]

Why was this Sportster stuff in the Shovelhead section????

[RUBONE]

Why was this Sportster stuff in the Shovelhead section????

Note the "Shovelhead Section" reads "Shovelheads, and all other models. Shovels are on the upper end of this forums reason for being, and other models are everything that H-D built not in the other forums. If someone wants to discuss an AMF snowmobile it is OK.

[RooDog]

OK, Robbie, I'll accept that, but I have a problem with some folks out in the world who refer to Iron Head Sportyies as "Shovelheads" It is just a pet peeve of mine, and I am not wrong about that. A Shovelhead is a Big Twin FL or FX Harley, and an Iron Head Sportster XL is NOT a Shovelhead, regardless of what the rocker boxes look like.....
Sadly, that is my take on that..... I'll keep the rest to myself....
....RooDog....

[panhead]

I have problems with a lot of folks out in the world, but I don't see it as a problem if someone uses the wrong name for a model.