1971 Harley-Davidson Sportster

Description

Up for sale is a genuine XLCH 1971 Harley-Davidson Sportster with matching frame and engine numbers and clean California title. The VIN begins with "4A" which signifies that this is a true XLCH, and the same number, 4A15727H1, is stamped on both the frame and the engine (pictured)--hence numbers matching. The numbers match the title, which I have attached a picture of.  I have surrendered the title to the California DMV to transfer to my name with a new title issued.  Hopefully the new title will arrive by the time the buyer picks up, if not I will give the buyer a filled out and signed title transfer form so the buyer can still transfer title, and I will send the new title to the buyer.   I also have the DMV receipt showing that I am transferring title to my name.
The engine is out of the bike, but the engine and transmission is complete and in running condition.  I have the carburetor for the bike, and the only thing missing from the engine is the air filter and chrome air filter cover.  The person I bought this from also sold me an additional engine which is disassembled.   At the time the buyer picks up, if anything (other than air filter/cover) is missing from the engine I do have spares that I will give to ensure that the buyer receives a complete drivetrain.
The buyer will NOT need to rebuild the engine or transmission. On a sportster, the engine and transmission share the same case. I have checked the shifting and it is in working order.  One of the problem areas on Ironhead sportsters is that if the transmission is not maintained it  can fail and crack the engine case area which houses the transmission.   I have photographed the area and there is no signs of any damage or any repair work.   I have not attached the carburetor or the electrical wiring necessary to start the engine, but it is kickstart (only) engine and from trying to kickstart it, the engine turns and has good compression.   If you attach a fuel line and electrical, I have no doubts this engine will run.  The bike is located at my house which is about 6 miles from Disneyland.   I welcome prospective buyers to come and take a look in person.
The frame left the factory with this bike, and is in original and undamaged, straight condition, with no modifications done to the frame.  Usually on a 50 year old sportster people have turned it into a chopper and welded a hardtail to the frame, raked the neck, stretched the frame, etc.  Nothing has been done to this frame.  It has not been chopped or altered and is in factory specs.  The electrical wiring is still on the frame, and the person who disassembled the bike labelled the wiring so it should be easier to put back together.
The story behind this bike is that I have a shovelhead project, and I was going to get this engine to cut off the transmission and fit it to my shovelhead (called a "divorced ironhead"). When I saw that it was original and had the matching frame I could not bring myself to modify it and decided it was best to sell and get another engine to hack up rather than one with a matching original frame.
The guy I bought it from bought it years ago (when Ironheads were cheap) and rode it until 2014 when it was put into non operation (there are no back registration or other fees due).  He used this bike as a donor for his shovelhead chopper, but didn't use the engine and transmission.   It was stored inside a garage since then, not left out to rot and rust.  As stated the bike was running when it was put into storage.
For those who don't know much about Harley's or vintage motorcycles, this bike has potential for being worth quite a bit of money once completed.   This bike is an actual XLCH, which stopped production in 1979 and has a legendary reputation.   In the 60's and 70's there were actually two different sportster models.  The XLH which had an electric start and optional kick start, and the XLCH which is kickstart only.  (This bike has no electric starter). The XLCH is known as the X (experimental) L (lightweight) C (Competition) H (Hot) or "High Compression", which had domed pistons, polished heads, and was a higher compression engine than the XLH.
In the 1960's until 1971 the Harley Sportster XLCH was the Hayabusa of its day and was the fastest production motorcycle in the world.  See wikipedia on the fastest motorcycles in the world (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fastest_production_motorcycles). In 1971 this was the bike with the highest top speed (122mph), fastest quarter mile, and fastest 0-60 times.   This bike represents Harley at its best.  In 1972 Kawasaki introduced the Z1 4 cylinder bike which led to the Japanese domination of motorcycles and the development of the modern sportbike.  This bike is historically significant to collectors because the Harley XR750 race bike was built using the same engine cases as the sportster, but with a different top end to reduce displacement to 750cc as per flat track racing rules.  The XR750 is the winningest bike in AMA history.   The early sportsters are desirable because of their legitimate racing heritage.
The 1971 year is also desireable because of its "quirks" that later bikes don't have.   In addition to being kickstart only, from 1970 to 1974 the sportster had the shift lever on the right side instead of the left.  This was because in flat track racing the bikes have no brakes, and the rider has his left foot to the ground,  so the rider shifts with the right foot (and this is a feature on contemporary British bikes of the time).  In 1975 federal DOT regulations required the shifter on the left.  So this feature was only used for a few years.
Also in 1970 and 1971, Harley offered the optional "boat tail" seat on the sportster.   This was an ugly, unpopular option, but because of its weirdness is actually prized by collectors.  You can buy an original boat tail on Ebay and it would increase the value of this bike substantially.    If you google boat tail sportsters you will see them listed for sale on very high end auction houses.
The parts to complete this bike, like the forks, tanks, fenders and wheels are very inexpensive on either Ebay or Craigslist.   You can put this bike together for much less than you could sell it for.   And unlike new sportsters which depreciate, you could ride for years and it will appreciate in value.