Many motorcycle riders, myself included, wish they still had the first motorcycle they ever owned. Jay Ternes is not one of those riders. He, in fact, still has his first motorcycle. It’s a 1977 Harley-Davidson XLH, which he purchased in 1977 from a Harley-Davidson dealer in Iola, Kansas. Ten years earlier was the first year of electric start option for Sportster (XLH), and the last year for some kick start Sportsters was 1968. The factory bragged that late ’60s Sportsters pushed 60 horsepower, but when the Evo Sportster was released the factory claim was only 55 horses.
Jay says the original shiny red paint job was like a magnet. After spending three years at a teaching college in Emporia, Kansas, Jay graduated with a teaching degree. He then landed a job teaching at a local school. His first paycheck was used to purchase the motorcycle you see here. He has owned it ever since. Jay happily rode that motorcycle around in stone stock condition for more than 4 years, something most of us wouldn’t or couldn’t do. I know I would have been bolting on new pipes or some damn thing. I’ve never been able to leave a new motorcycle unmolested for long.
Jay allowed Frank’s Harley-Davidson, a long gone Harley-Davidson dealership, then operating in Spearfish, South Dakota to customize the Sportster with a Black paint job over laid with orange flames. The motorcycle stayed that way until Jay retired, at which time Jay had the bike painted completely black, and he chromed everything else that could be plated with the shiny stuff.
The Dakota V-Twin crew, Randy and son Nick performed the makeover to Jay’s specs. Dakota V-Twin also used a whole bucket of Hot Toppers to add icing to the cake. Every visible bolt head or nut has a Hot Topper on it. I gave up trying to count ’em all. The Ironhead Sportster was the motorcycle of choices for many late 1970s customizers. It was inexpensive, lightweight, and handled well. It didn’t take a boatload of cash to get an Ironhead running like a hardcore pavement burner.
Many Harley-Davidson enthusiasts and Big-Twin snobs think of the venerable Ironhead Sportster as a boat anchor. But as with any thoroughbred, the Ironhead requires a extra maintenance to stay in peak operating condition. Keeping any Ironhead maintained properly includes constant checking of all the hardware to make sure something hasn’t vibrated loose.
For guys like Jay, it’s worth the extra effort. In fact, Ironhead owners consider it an honor to be able to own and ride a piece of history. This motorcycle turns heads wherever it goes, and not just the heads of motorcycle riders. This is a handsome machine and attracts admirers across the board. That super buffed glossy black paint, and abundance of chrome says “Chopper” like nothing else ever will. Thanks Jay, for letting us photograph your pride and joy two-wheeler. I hope you and her have many more years of riding pleasure ahead of you.
OWNER: Jay Ternes (pronounced “Turnay”)
YEAR/MAKE/MODEL: 1977 Harley-Davidson XLH
FABRICATION BY: Dakota V-Twin
ASSEMBLY: Dakota V-Twin
BUILD TIME: 3 months
SPECIAL THANKS: Randy at Dakota V-Twin
ENGINE
YEAR/ TYPE/SIZE: XL Harley-Davidson
BUILDER: H-D
CASES: H-D
FLYWHEELS: H-D
RODS: Carillo
PISTONS: H-D
CYLINDERS: H-D
HEADS: H-D
VALVES: Del West Titanium
ROCKERS: S&S roller rocker arms
ROCKER BOXES: H-D
PUSHRODS: S&S solids
PUSHROD TUBES: stock
CAM(s): Sifton
LIFTERS: S&S solids
CARBURETOR(S): Keihin (the original equipment Bendix went in the trash)
AIR CLEANER: Hyper Charger
IGNITION: factory equipment points/distributor/circuit breaker type
EXHAUST: dual straight loud pipes
TRANSMISSION
YEAR/TYPE: stock
CASE: unit construction
GEARS: constant mesh/4-speeds forward/foot shifted
CLUTCH: stock
PRIMARY DRIVE: H-D chain
FRAME
YEAR/TYPE: H-D
RAKE: stock
STRETCH: zero
SUSPENSION
FRONT: factory hydraulic fork
LENGTH: stock
TRIPLE TREES: factory
REAR SWINGARM: factory
SHOCKS: stock shocks
FRONT
RIM/SIZE: 3.00x 19
TIRE/SIZE: 3.75 /19
CALIPER(S)/DRUM
REAR
RIM/SIZE: 19-inch
CALIPER/DRUM: internal expanding shoe on drum brake/mechanical/cable actuated
FINISH/PAINT
COLOR(S): Black
ACCESSORIES
RISERS: aftermarket unnameded handlebars
MIRRORS: Ness
HAND CONTROLS: factory
FOOT CONTROLS:factory
FLOORBOARDS: pegs/stock
HEADLIGHT: H-D OE
TAILLIGHT: H-D OE
TURN SIGNALS: none
LICENSE MOUNT: factory
SEAT: Le Pera semi-solo
SISSY BAR: N/A
CUSTOM OR SPECIAL FEATURES:
Custom Black Paint Hot Toppers on every nut and bolt head
