Harley Davidson Super Sprint 350

[PitbullMidwest]

A friend showed me his pride and joy yesterday, a 1971 HD Super Sprint 350 with just over 6000 original miles. What a honey of a bike!

The bike was a graduation gift to a friend of his back in '71 (the friend's dad owned a Harley dealership). The friend rode it for a while and then asked my friend to store it for him (he owned a small u-store-it business). When he moved from Arizona back to Iowa the friend told him he could have the bike since he had no desire to ever ride it again.

The bike is obviously in new condition, except for one thing, the choke lever is missing and no one remembers why it would have been removed. Does anyone have any idea where we could find parts for this bike? He would like to find an original as opposed to say a JCWhitney part. So far the internet has come up dry (at least for him).

If I get a chance I'll snap a few pics if there is any interest.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue">If I get a chance I'll snap a few pics if there is any interest. </font>
Snap away! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[popeye]

As soon as my son gets home I will tell you where to get the part. He is building custom motorcycles and worked the parts counter for a Harley dealer for a while.
Mike

 

[TresCrows]

The Harley Sprint was made for Harley by an Italian company. I think there was a 250 and a 350. I think there was a scrambler version also. I think they slightly predated and were concurrent with the first Honda CB/CL/SL 350, the first truely modern Jap bike which came after the Dreams. The CB was a overhead cam parallel twin. The CB350 could make mence meat of a Harely Sprint. The thing I liked about the Sprint was the single cylinder. Single cylinder bikes are way cool. I once owned a Ducati 350SS. It was a single cylinder desmo mill. I cannot remember off hand what Italian company made the Sprint series for Harley or their little Baja 100 dirt bike. I really wish Harley would make something other than huge crusier bikes--Buell you say--nah--nice concept--needs a decent engine. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. Please--pictures of the Sprint /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. J

 

[PitbullMidwest]

<font color="blue"> The Harley Sprint was made for Harley by an Italian company </font>

They where made by Aermacchi. The kid next door rebuilt Sprints as a hobby and I think you are right, he had both the 250 and 350 versions.

Some bike collectors in Arizona told my friend that this particular bike is some what rare because it is a street version with a single seat as opposed to the common "buddy seat".

The reason the original owner didn't put many miles on it was she didn't embrace the Harley lifestyle the way her folks did. Anyway, I don't have a digital camera so the owner said he would use up some film to get me the pics. Patience, please. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[popeye]

My son said try Vintage Cycles on the net, and he mentioned one other place that is here in Houston,TX. For parts. I will email you with the name of the shop here when he gets back in town.
Mike

 

[TresCrows]

HD does currently market a bike not totally unlike the Sprint. It is sold through their Buell dealers and is called the Buell Blast. It has a single cylinder 30ish horse mill and is intended to attract new riders and young riders with a bike that is simple and fun to ride. They, of course, hope also to capitalize on brand loyality--fair enough. The Blast is not quite full size and is kinda nifty. The 350 Sprint of course was built during a time when a 350cc bike was considerd respectable size. I am realy hopefull when everyone gets crotch rocketed out, posed out and cruised out that maybe nice little fun to ride bikes might become popular again like they once were--from the Beach Boys---3rd gear--hang tite--the bike they were talking about in the song was probably a little Honda. Hey, HD, howabout a modern Sprint, say about 450 size and single cylinder, hey Honda, howabout a 180S like the old 90S (circa late 60's) but adult size.

Anyway, waiting on those pics of the way cool Sprint.

No, the attached pic wasn't made for TBN /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, I was about to go for a ride when my wife snapped it for my Mom /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. I think she will be as favorably impressed as she has been with all my other bikes--not /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. This poor little bike only has 70 horses and can only top about 135 but it wheelies and stoppies better than anything since (well not including the last one of these I owned) my Duck 350SS. I think after all these years, I am just a squid /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. J

 

[TresCrows]

Sorry, but I had to post this pic of the CR450F. The badest dirtbike on the planet /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif. This was only a temporary infatuation since 60 plus horses on a 220 lb dirt bike made me reconsider my desire to teach them younguns what a good arsekicken might be like. Well, this sucker will put some hair on your chest /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif for sure. Well, when I get the Bultacos up and running I think me and this critter will part company /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. Hopefully the two of us will still be in one piece--more or less. Now I remember why I quit racing MX 28 years ago. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. J

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Bultaco's, now that brings back a memory or two. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Bud lost his right leg at the knee in a motorcycle--truck collision. Truck ran the light, bud lost the leg. We called bud "Stump" for all the wrong reasons. He refused to give up his fun. Water skied with just one leg sticking out of those blue jean shorts. And of course he decided he'd do his riding in the dirt, fewer pickemups.

When I first met him he had a Matador. Then when the Pursangs came out he got a two fifty. The reason he went with the Bultacos was it was easy to run a jackshaft from the right shift over to a lever just under the brake. Brake and shifter were on the left side, easy for him. Heck on me when he'd lose it on a hill and I'd have to go up and either take it over the top or bring it back down the hill. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Then there was the crash outside of Phelan California where I ended up waking up forty five miles later. My 238 Green Streak wasn't worth a hoot motocrossing. But darn that little hussey could climb a hill. That Sunday a Pursang was going up just a tad further than I was. I figured a faster approach might make the difference.

Oooh that hurt, broken helmet, wrist, hole in knee, concussion, twisted this and that and more like everything else.

Bultacos, gotta smile. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JohnMiller3]

Hi J,

Do you know anything about the Honda 550 Four?