1978 Harley-Davidson XL-1000 Sportster

The 1978 Harley-Davidson XL-1000 Sportster was designed and released in honor of Harley-Davidson's 75th anniversary.

Though Harley-Davidson's 75th anniversary took place while under the ownership of AMF, that certainly didn't prevent the release of special models to herald the occasion.

**The Harley-Davidson XL-1000 featured dual front disc brakes.**

Sportsters haven't typically been chosen to carry such honors, but along with some specially trimmed Big Twins, Harley built a limited run of celebratory XL-1000s in 1978. Highlighting the jet-black paint were gold striping and gold-tinted cast wheels, while a saddle trimmed in genuine leather added a touch of class.

**The Harley-Davidson XL-1000's** **speedometer** **and tachometer emerged from the headlamp housing.**

Also on hand were a special 2-into-1 exhaust header and dual front disc brakes. All Sportsters that year boasted a new electronic ignition system to replace the old points and coil setup.

To learn more about Harley-Davidson and other classic motorcycles, see:

Harley-Davidson Motorcycles
How Harley-Davidson Works
How Choppers Work
Chopper Profiles
Classic Motorcycles
How Motorcycles Work