You must be a hard core Harley-Davidson rider if you bought a brand new motorcycle in 1980 (when Harley-Davidson was owned by AMF) and you’re still riding it today, everyday. Joe Radnich bought this AMF Shovelhead 25 years ago, and massaged it into the road eating configuration you sere here. Joe handles all maintenance and motor work himself.
“The cases were first split just past a 100,000 miles, Joe said. “The second time was just before 230,000 miles, which as luck would have it, was just before the 100th (the Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary).” Joe wanted to ensure future reliability. “On the second rebuild I went to S&S cases, cylinders, and heads. Good move, quality stuff.” The transmission was upgraded to stay par with the motor modifications. “I installed one of the first 5-speed-in-a-4-speed case trannys made by Sputhe in ‘93.”
Even most hardcore riders don’t wind the clock as much as Joe does. This motorcycle is ridden hard on a daily basis for fun as well as basic transportation. Joe’s constant attention to routine maintenance continues to enable this Classic machine to accrue high mileage in a dependable fashion.
“The only time this motorcycle has been down were the two times it was rebuilt,” Joe said. “Otherwise it has been up and running all of its 25 years. I ride it to Sturgis (from California) as pictured every year.”
Of course when you’ve owned and ridden a motorcycle for the length of time as Joe has, the motorcycle inevitably takes on some of the personality of the owner. Riding the round trip to Sturgis from California (1300 miles one way) on a 25-year-old machine can present challenges to even the most experienced rider. Packing the gear you need for a long trip without a chase vehicle is the biggest. “I fabbed a rack for my saddlebags and sleeping bag,” Joe said.
Joe likes to participate in as many motorcycle runs as he can, motorcycle riders being sociable people. “The bike won Best In Class at the River Run in 1989,” Joe added, “Second place at the Redwood Run in 1995 (before the blower). I got married on the bike in 1982. The wife is gone but my Shovel is still faithful.”
Most Shovelhead riders are very special people (nuts), having to put up with an increasingly difficult task of finding spare parts. Sometimes Joe considers a new motorcycle for transportation. Joe gave it a shot, but it didn’t last. “Bought a new Dyna in ‘94 and a Buell S-1 Lightning in ’96,” Joe said grinning. “They’re gone, but the Shovel is still here.”
“Nobody but me has ever ridden, or turned a wrench on this bike,” Joe said. “It has never crashed, knock on wood. Two really helpful and patient people over the years have been Dick Ellavasky at Atlas Precision in Apple Valley, and Bob Howard in Phelan, CA.”
Motor specifications on the tech sheet say 2003 because of the complete rebuild at that time using almost exclusively S&S stuff. Shifting is performed using a tank mounted shift lever, of course the Atlas Precision “dragster” clutch is foot operated. The rear wheel sprocket has 47 teeth.
A Harley-Davidson frame, powder coated by Daytec. Keeps everything in place with special features that include early juice brake, round tube swingarm. The forward controls are truly custom having been fabricated by hand. Rear suspension is a pair of Progressive Suspension 440 R. shock absorbers.
The exhaust system is another one-of-a kind arrangement fabricated by the owner. Remember the good old days when custom meant custom? A modified OEM Keihen carburetor feeds the combustible mix through a Magna Charger gear driven supercharger. Compression ratio is 7:1, with valves operated by a custom spec camshaft by Comp Cams. A Hayden oil cooler helps keep things cooler than they would be without it.
Up front a dual rotor/caliper brake system from Performance Machine mounted on a Showa Wide-Glide provides dependable stopping power after a full boost blast.
If you’re riding around up in the high desert, and you happen to come up next to Joe, don’t bother trying to race, he will simply “blow your doors off,” no pun intended.
Thanks Joe for letting us photograph your “gotta be fun to ride” motorcycle.
–Buck
