Does anyone remember when the XLCH ruled the roost?

[fanocool]

I do. 6 years old in '62 and grew up off the highway. Remember the awesome sounds of the "big kids" running "CH's" down the slab. I know times have changed and the "CH" has become gereatric but I will never forget the day Joey Fallabella let me sit on his on a hot July day in 1962. It looked kinda like this.

Joe has since passed and who knows what became of that sporty....but if'n I'm still alive after payin off college for my three kids, I'm gonna find one for my self.
Has here EVER been a better lookin' scoot?

 

[pbslinger]

My buddy bought a 1969 XLCH in 1971. I helped him work on it so he let me ride it. I learned a rule about motorcycles, the harder they are to start the better the feeling when they do.

Raced a Yamaha XS650 with a hundred pound girl holding on tight.

 

[66TAS]

A '77 XLCH was my first H-D way back when. Racked the frame 10 degrees, stretched the forks a bit.....ahh what a cool scooter that was.

 

[cowboy117]

I had a '62 XLCH!Very fast;bought used in 1966.Thanks for making me remember it!Ran it on Texaco Fire Chief premium gas.

 

[rimfired]

Everything you need for speed and nothin ya don't. This is an early '74 (last of the right foot shifters) XLCH. Bought it used in '76 and have kept it mostly original for the last 34 years. It's for sale now, gettin too old to kick that high compression motor. The "CH" stands for Competition Hot.

 

[perrazi]

remember them well. broke a collarbone the first time i was on one. decided flying was a lot safer than riding motorcycles.

 

[Bib]

XLCH's only ruled the roost when there wasn't a Norton Atlas around!

 

[cowboy117]

XLCH's only ruled the roost when there wasn't a Norton Atlas around!

I bought my XLCH from a dealer[friend].One day,about three weeks after i bought it,i ran into the guy that sold it.He owned a Norton Atlas[later replaced by the Commander]-i raced him and beat him-the next time i saw him,he was on a new Sportster! [true story]The only bike that ever beat me was a Triumph Bonneville from Detroit.I don't know what he had,but it wasn't stock!

 

[wheelman44]

then came bronson

 

[fanocool]

Ok c'mon. Its 1962. You have the coin for a new two wheeled road burner.....The Norton is ok if you're an ascot wearin' pipe smokin "gentleman"
But really, is there really any question which is he cooler looking bike

.....Norton?

.....Harley?
After all...there is only ONE real NOOOORRRTON!

 

[Bib]

No question that the XLCH is a better looking bike. They both were advertised as having 60HP...the Norton was about 100 lb. lighter. My brother had a '65 Atlas...nothing on the roads around here could touch it back then (1967). Then came the Honda fours.............

 

[Revolver-time]

I had a 71'XLCH. Forks were 6" over and on the rear was a 15" Perrelli radial. It had shorty turn outs. At dusk you could see the flames in the exhaust. It used a 44mm Mikuni carb. A King/Queen highback seat was backed up by a #1 sissy bar. If I hadn't lost it to my first wife in a divorce, I would be riding it today. GO HARLEY or GO HOME!

 

[DeadAye]

nothing on the roads around here could touch it back then (1967). Then came the Honda fours.............

Although I've always been a BigTwin guy -- In 1968 I had a BSA Rocket 3. Honda 4s? HA!
We live about 60 miles from Memphis - And work. I *needed* a Sporty at one time and bought one. I believe I had it for almost 2 weeks - By the time I got to work or back home I couldn't feel any part of me that touched the bike! Went back to a Hog and still ride my '93 Heritage Softail ---OOOOooooooooooooooo - NICE

 

[viceunit]

My first street bike was a '74 XLCH, all black. Rimfired - looking at that photo of your bike brings back some memories! Once I got the kick-start ritual down it was like an anti-theft device because it would not start unless you did everything just so in the right sequence. When I sold it I tried to train the new owner in the starting procedure. When he was thoroughly exhausted after kicking it 30 times I had to fire it up for him. I assume he learned how to do it because I never heard from him again. My current bike is a 2006 Screamin' Eagle Ultra. It will not lift the front wheel in a 1-2 shift like my old XLCH could!

 

[mkk41]

My first motorcycle was a '64 XLCH. Bought in 1976 for $500. Everything was in boxes with several fresh chrome parts (Browns Chroming) and the frame and sheetmetal was painted in good ol' 'red lead'. It belonged to the son of some family friends. He got drafted while rebuilding and never came back. Pop helped me buy it and finish rebuilding it.

Actually got hit on it coming home from taking and passing my M/C test. I was sitting at a red light when a pickup truck rear ended me. The driver was busy playing with his new 40 channel CB. Sound familiar?

 

[feralmerril]

I had a 63, 64, 69 harley dressers. Along with them I had a 1958 700 cc Indian/enfield. I later found out it was the last indian named motorcycle made by royal enfield. After that I had a 65 750cc royal enfield, and another basket case in one. Also had a 58? triumph t-110 and I think a 1965 norton scrambler, looked almost like the one pictured except I think the engine was tilted forward at a angle. I belive I read that only 11 indians were imported from enfield that last year they still carried the indian name. I didnt know what I had!
I raced a new hot duster, broke my smiths 120 mph speedo on that 1965 royal enfield intercepter. When I got through I had to do a top end. The older indian was a single carb 700cc, the newer 1965 intercepter was 750cc and had dual carbs. Besides the nameplate, that was about the only differance.
Kicking those enfields to life could sometimes be a interesting experiance. Once it knocked the heel off my cowboy boot and batted it across the yard. Another time it put a hole through my levis, my leather boot and brusied my calf bad. Around 1965 those interceptors were considered the hottest bike you could get.

 

[fanocool]

Update to old thread

When it comes to these bikes there are many opinions. But that's what life is all about. I am finally taking the plunge and have commissioned a very knowledgable Sportster builder to build me the dream bike of my early days. We will start with a 65 CH and Kurt will build it to my specs, of course along with his expert consultation. If all goes well, it will be done in June of 2012. Any old Sporty fans may enjoy Checking out his work at
TAGTOPPERS - Home - Ellenton, FL , there a few builds can be viewed in various stages as well as links to YouTube videos of finished bikes.
If anyone is interested in this project, let me know and I will be glad to update.

 

[Indiana George]

Absolutely interested!

A '77 XLCH was my first H-D.

No such thing as the current "boutiques" for accessories . . . you modified the parts or had them custom made before sending them on to Brown's in Paducah, KY for chrome plating: rear fender struts, turned lower legs, wrinkle black jugs, S&S carbs, cams, chromed triple trees, etc.

Great memories of a fun machine!

 

[Marshwheeling]

The Sportster had a rep, but I don't recall that it ever ruled anything.

My college roommate had an XLCH. It would leave my 305 Yamaha flatfooted at stoplights, but he could not keep me in sight up on Grizzly Peak Blvd.

Another buddy bought a new one in 1972. It was fun at 100 mph on a country road with a young sweetie hanging on tight. I paid the same amount for a BMW 750 the same year. It out-ran, out-cornered, and out-braked the Sportster. There was no way the Sportster could stay close on any road. I could ride a couple hundred miles farther in a day, and still pee yellow instead of red. The BMW ran for 35 years and a couple hundred thousand miles on the original top end. Along the way, I stopped many dozens of times to lend a hand to broken-down Sportster riders.

 

[NE450No2]

Not to take anything away from Harley..

I have owned and ridden several different bikes over the years, but I can still remember around 1974/1975 or so when I first rode a buddies Suzuki.
I remember it was water cooled and it was purple.

I gave it the gas and the front wheel came a little off the ground, and I thought I was on a Rocket...
It had a very unique sound as well... It was scary fast...........