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New member, old rider, in central Oklahoma

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  • New member, old rider, in central Oklahoma

    I've been dragging my feet long enough on a project, and joining this forum is a stab at hopefully getting the ball rolling.

    I acquired a 1965 FLFB Super Solo-Foot Shift (according to VIN specialist Ola at HD) from the estate of a deceased friend in 2012. He purchased this bike from a co-worker in 1989, and so I've been involved with this motorcycle in one way or another ever since. The previous owner was the second owner, and purchased it from an earlier co-worker of his (at another job). The original owner purchased the bike new in Dallas, TX in 1966, according to owner #2. Also according to VIN specialist Ola at HD, the bike's manufacturing date was 3/9/65...this could be important to understand certain factory changes within the model year.

    The original owner, for reasons unknown to me, put tanks and fenders from a 1966 FL on the bike. Aside from this, it was basically stock.

    By the time I got possession of the bike, the tanks and exhaust system had disappeared.

    The bike has a unique bit of history, in that it was used in the filming of Born On The Fourth Of July starring Tom Cruise and directed by Oliver Stone. A talent scout who I had done some commercial work with in the 1980's called me looking for period correct police motorcycles for a late 1950's parade scene, and this lead to the bike being used for this purpose. In the opening credits of the film, five police motorcycles roll down the street as part of a 4th of July parade, and this bike is one of those.

    I have a lot of questions, about parts, what is correct, what helps/hurts restoration values, etc., but I will save those for specific posts in the panhead section of this forum. I've already read several '65 panhead posts and I see there is a lot of expertise here.

    I am in possession of the Greg Fields Harley Panhead guide.

    My ultimate hope is to complete the restoration, and park the finished bike on my friend's grave in KC, MO and take a few photographs.

    My daily ride is a bone stock 2001 FLHRCI. I also have a 1976 FLH (since 1982), undergoing a ground-up rebuild (NOT a restoration), and a 1939 EL basketcase (with a title) that I picked up in Texas about 25 years ago...not much left of it that is worth anything, but since I have the title, I count it in the collection

    177001_10151145619261274_1058661793_o.jpg205572_10151145584851274_807421352_n.jpg318947_10151145584976274_1398139615_n.jpg378925_10151145585146274_207587193_n.jpg622084_10151145619666274_4754714_o.jpg
    Last edited by Bluze101; 02-17-2016, 12:09 AM. Reason: Add photos

  • #2
    Hi and welcome Bluze...and thanks for the photos! Always nice to see a nice looking Panhead like yours!

    But it does beg the question.....how did your Pan wind up on top of that fallen down guardrail?
    Pisten Bully is Harry Roberts in Vermont.

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    • #3
      Owner #3 and I were on a ride from Dallas to Austin, on our way to the Easyrider Rodeo at Manor Downs in the spring of 1989. He threw a chain on the panhead, and I rode on into Austin to find a new o-ring chain (per his request). When I returned to Round Rock (where the break down occurred), he had horsed the bike onto the guard rail to get the rear wheel off the ground and facilitate mounting the new chain.

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