I need therapy for rainy days.

I love riding my 2006 Harley Davidson Softail it is the ultimate form of self-care (I am a School Counselor) that can keep me sane when I spend so much time helping others. I decided that on days were I could not ride I needed a fun hobby and I have been searching for a project bike to make into something personal and a reflection of me.

What did I do instead?

I bought a 1982 XLSA 1000 Iron head Roadster. This is an anniversary edition celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Sportster. They made 700 something these bikes. I will make a post about the historical parts of this bike. I went on the hunt for a bike to make a bobber out of, not one to restore. This bike grabbed me and said "buy me." I did not buy on emotion, instead I bought it because it reminded me of growing up and watching my dad, plus helping him fix and restore cars. My passion lies in bikes, so I bought this thing not knowing if it would run.

Seriously, I never fired it up I pushed it to make sure it turned, but did not start it (no fluids).

Does it run?:

My wife wanted that answer pretty quickly or I was going to have an unfortunate accident with a chainsaw. ;) I had to clean out the fuel tank, plus fill it with fluids and hope that it would run. I was able to place the battery out of my softail into it (did not fit, but we fudged it) and get it to turn over. I had a fuel leak (stuck fuel float), but nothing smacking it with a screw driver did not fix.

What is Next?

I ran it around the block and realized the clutch system is not working right. I guess it is time to learn and investigate the different problems and issues the bike needs. I was able to get it running which is always step one of a bike. My dad told me the first step to restoration is to get it running that will tell you how the rest of the project will go.