Only in Colorado can you have a sixty degree day and enough ice on a lake to do some ice fishing. You can see out on the ice a couple of fisherman trying their luck. About five years ago in February I can remember a speed boat pulling a couple of skiers on a sixty degree day, but that was back when Al Gore was still preaching to us about global warming.
That is Longs Peak in the background, also known locally as the “twin peaks”.
I have noticed a new trend in motorcycle blogging, baby pictures! So seeing how I can be a little trendy, I thought I’d throw in this post before this boy gets any older, and posting baby pictures are a thing of the past.
It’s been two months since the world has been blessed with another Electra Glide In Blue baby. The newest addition to the family comes from my number two son. This boy just missed being a New Years Eve baby for 2010 by about fifteen hours. I thought it was about time to share this miracle with the world.
Born in the United States of America on Dec. 31st at approx 8:40am, this boy weighed in at 8 lbs-3oz. He stands 21 inches tall. Reports are big hands and big feet. I have to go by the reports because he’s about 1,000 miles to the east of me, and I hate going east. Something strange happens to me when I cross the mighty Mississippi and head east, and I’ll save that info for a possible future post.
In 1972 Harley introduced the 1000cc Iron Head Sportster, replacing the 900cc. To accomplish this, for some reason they cast the cylinders using a wall thickness of 3/32. This is why the 1972, E73’s can’t be bored more than .030 over. The bolt hole patterns are also unique for 1972 and early 73 cylinders. For what I have seen and read, the cylinders and heads for 72-E73 Sportster are not compatible with any other years.
Also new in 72 was the Bendix/Zenith carb. The Sportster had the Tillotson diaphragm carb since 1966.
1973 brought on mandatory turn signals and 35mm Kayaba forks with single disc front brakes for more stopping power. Late 73 1000cc cylinders and heads did not change until the introduction of the Evo engine in 1986.
1972 production numbers;
XLH (7,500)
XLCH (10,650)
1973 production numbers;
XLH (9,875)
XLCH (10,825)
The 1972 XLCH is owned by Peter, he has quite a collection of old Harleys. You can check him out here.
