Go Sportsters

[Ginger Beard]

Originally Posted by Barnone

WTF? Braking can be measured and is not subjective but is objective. Even riding any bike (not Sportster hating here) as an "old standard" there will be times when good brakes are required.

He asked "How are the brakes?". To me that meant comparatively in regards to whether or not the bike can be safely ridden without having the fear of death put into you. I wasn't trying to debate stopping distances. I was merely trying to point out that the brakes are fine if ridden with the mindset that these bikes are NOT abs equipped sport tourers but more reminiscent of older standards like the CB750,etc. (my Sportster stops way better than my CB) and if ridden as such the brakes work fine. "Good brakes" is subjective, it just depends on what your idea of "good" is , who is actually riding the bike, where it is being ridden and how. To be clear even two up with a loaded bike I have always felt in control when braking and have never needed better brakes even when running through the twisties or panic stopping. If we are going to compare them to the brakes on a bike like a new ABS equipped ZX14 it can be said that they are not good.

[Ginger Beard]

Originally Posted by HapHazard

^ I gotta say it again - it's impossible to take a bad picture of 83XLX's bike (no matter which look he transforms it to).

x2 ! Love that bike.

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by Birdmove

If you don't mind the shortened XLs, you might take a look at the "Superlow". It comes with radial tires and some nice radial wheels, and a bigger 4.5 gallon tank.
I love the looks of the 48, Iron, Nightster, etc, but after riding the two that I owned, I don't know if I could live with a Sportster that shoots showers of sparks in the corners..

This makes no sense to me. You are saying "take a look at the "Superlow" that has 24.7 lean to the right and 24.4 to the left then in the next setence you state that the 48 (XL1200X) and the Nightster (XL1200N) throw sparks.

The XL1200X 48 has 27.8 right lean (deg) / 26.1 Left
The XL1200N Nightster has 29 degree right and 30 Left available lean.
kk

STAY away from the Super Low IMO. It is a bike that should not be marketed to new riders.

The XL883N has a seat that is only .5 inches taller and it actually turns!

[83XLX]

Originally Posted by Ginger Beard

x2 ! Love that bike.

Thanks, guys. It's a cool, fun old bike, for sure, in whatever configuration it's in at the moment...

[Barnone]

Originally Posted by slowoldguy

I would say that stopping distance from a given speed can be measured, but even then tires, road surface, and road conditions are all variables. Brakes can be grabbier than I like. Brakes can fade. Brakes can require more effort. Braking can be non-linear.

So while shortest stopping distance from a given speed is "objective", that is just the beginning. There are important "feel" considerations beyond that. As an example, brakes suitable for racing would probably not please me on the street even though they would be objectively "better".

Of course there are other factors in stopping distance besides the brakes on a vehicle. And we are not talking about brakes for racing here.

I though the question was about brakes on a particular motorcycle.

[Birdmove]

I think this person is looking at lowered Sportsters anyway. The Superlow is the first HD that comes stock with radial tires. Also the big tank. The SL can improve with longer shocks and fork tubes like the other models. I also stated that the XL883R and XL1200R models would be my choice in the used market. Both have better cornering clearance and dual front disk brakes.

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

This makes no sense to me. You are saying "take a look at the "Superlow" that has 24.7 lean to the right and 24.4 to the left then in the next setence you state that the 48 (XL1200X) and the Nightster (XL1200N) throw sparks.

The XL1200X 48 has 27.8 right lean (deg) / 26.1 Left
The XL1200N Nightster has 29 degree right and 30 Left available lean.
kk

STAY away from the Super Low IMO. It is a bike that should not be marketed to new riders.

The XL883N has a seat that is only .5 inches taller and it actually turns!

[Ratchdaddy]

Originally Posted by 83XLX

Thanks, guys. It's a cool, fun old bike, for sure, in whatever configuration it's in at the moment...

That is what I love about Sportsters. Cruiser, cafe, bobber, chopper, flat tracker, tourer. You can make it whatever you want.

[Birdmove]

Beauty!! My 1984 was actually called the XLX 61 and had no tach. Exhaust was flat black as were the handlebars. It was a stripped down model--just the way I like them.
Had three problems. First, it would ping going uphill on a hot day even running premium. Second, the tank rusted through after maybe two years. Three, it broke the clutch throwout mechanism under the left side engine cover. The last was fixed under warranty. That darn 1000cc Sportster gave me 66 mpg time after time commuting from Bonney Lake, Wa. to Seattle.

[theKite]

Originally Posted by Ratchdaddy

That is what I love about Sportsters. Cruiser, cafe, bobber, chopper, flat tracker, tourer. You can make it whatever you want.

Don't forget adventure tourer, check out "The Project That Should'nt be", Jimmy the Hog, and RTW Doug in these forums.
Rob

[Ratchdaddy]

Originally Posted by theKite

Don't forget adventure tourer, check out "The Project That Should'nt be", Jimmy the Hog, and RTW Doug in these forums.
Rob

RTW Doug's last trip was what inspired me to renew my relationship with the Sportster.

[frog13]

Originally Posted by Birdmove

Beauty!! My 1984 was actually called the XLX 61 and had no tach. Exhaust was flat black as were the handlebars. It was a stripped down model--just the way I like them.
Had three problems. First, it would ping going uphill on a hot day even running premium. Second, the tank rusted through after maybe two years. Three, it broke the clutch throwout mechanism under the left side engine cover. The last was fixed under warranty. That darn 1000cc Sportster gave me 66 mpg time after time commuting from Bonney Lake, Wa. to Seattle.

I had the same model...XLX-61.When I speak of that bike,folks say I'm lying about the gas mileage you quoted....i cannot explain why the XLX-61 gave such great gas mileage,but it did!.I had no problems with rust or mech's braking though!....wish I still had that bike!.

[bk brkr baker]

Buell motor and suspension /wheels /brakes. Single tube frame. As in a single piece of tubeing.

[Photog]

I just peed.

[Randy]

Originally Posted by bk brkr baker

Buell motor and suspension /wheels /brakes. Single tube frame. As in a single piece of tubeing.

I like it!

It has a back to basics styling that I found so appealing about my S1






Not so sure about a sportbike with a single tube backbone frame though.

[Photog]

Originally Posted by Randy

I like it!

It has a back to basics styling that I found so appealing about my S1






Not so sure about a sportbike with a single tube backbone frame though.

Nice S1! I think a tuber Buell is going to be my next bike, if the planets align. Everything about 'em hits all the right notes for me.