Go Sportsters

[garandman]

Originally Posted by pescatore

Hey I just noticed the background - you're in my 'hood! I live in Southie - nice to see another Sporty around here. Looking forward to hearing some long term experience with the new seat. Did you have it done around here somewhere?
-s.

I live on Mercer St. I had the saddle done at Allen's Auto Trim in Peabody.

Originally Posted by NJ-Brett

Now that looks like a sensible bike!
Like the bars, like the ground clearance, like the higher seat.
Just put some good shocks on the back and it seems like a very nice to ride standard bike.

I have Ricor IAS shocks on order. Currently on special for $630. But while they quote 2-3 weeks delivery I'm at week six.


The stock rear shocks are a joke. They seem designed to transmit road shocks straight to your spine.

[Ginger Beard]

Originally Posted by NJ-Brett

I think there are mowers with more HP then my bike has.
Really.

Touche!!

[NJ-Brett]

NICE!
I went cheap and just got the progressive 440 heavy duty shocks, $200.00 I think they were.
1000% better, able to handle the load of 2 up with ease, some real damping, much more wheel travel, more ground clearance.
I don't know why the moco would not put reasonable shocks on the bike to start, even if they make it low with limited travel, they could still include some damping at both ends. Must turn a lot of people off so they trade up to a big twin bike?
My 86 883 had reasonable shocks on it, as did my 87 low rider custom, I never thought about needing to upgrade the suspension.
The 883 needed a new seat to be all day comfortable (the soft pillow look seat) and that was it. The low rider needed nothing at all.

After riding Triumphs for many years, when they went out of business, I did not feel good doing cross country trips on a bike you could not get parts for, so I traded the Triumph in on the 883. I remember the 883 being very similar to the Bonneville, light, nimble, good brakes, fat tires, small gas tank, some vibration, all day comfortable with the new seat. I never has a bit of trouble with the 883 despite the abuse.
Harley had a trade it in and get 100% twards the next bike so I got the low rider custom. I loved that bike with its big gas tank.
I don't remember that bike feeling as heavy as the 2009 1200L, I remember dirt riding it at a club meet, they had a dirt drag contest and I practiced until they told me I was making too much dust.
As a dirt drag bike, it really sucked, or maybe it was me, or the vast amounts of booze I drank, but the bike was great sliding it around and so on.
I would not try any of that with the 1200, at least not without as much booze...

Originally Posted by garandman

I live on Mercer St. I had the saddle done at Allen's Auto Trim in Peabody.


I have Ricor IAS shocks on order. Currently on special for $630. But while they quote 2-3 weeks delivery I'm at week six.


The stock rear shocks are a joke. They seem designed to transmit road shocks straight to your spine.

[Kirk the Jerk]

Originally Posted by garandman

Man...sorry, but those things are fugly. Just look like Billet Barge junk.

I'm sure they "operate" as advertised, but if you're gonna make a "race shock," why put all that billet crap all over it?

[BrianK]

Originally Posted by Kirk the Jerk

Man...sorry, but those things are fugly. Just look like Billet Barge junk.

I'm sure they "operate" as advertised, but if you're gonna make a "race shock," why put all that billet crap all over it?

Ricor makes VERY high quality stuff.

Garandman, you may want to investigate a set of their Intiminators for your sporty's forks. They are fantastic.

Me, I did the Intiminators and a set of Road King shocks, with no air preload, in my wife's Nightster. That and a Mustang seat transformed the bike.

[Terrytori]

Originally Posted by Kirk the Jerk

Man...sorry, but those things are fugly. Just look like Billet Barge junk.

And you are an authority on design aesthetics because...

[Kirk the Jerk]

Originally Posted by BrianK

Ricor makes VERY high quality stuff.

I don't doubt it for a second. But the design just makes the shock look like cheap junk.

Originally Posted by Terrytori

And you are an authority on design aesthetics because...

Oh, get over yourself man...haha.

I don't need to be an "authority on design aesthetics" to hold an opinion. I bought a Sportster because I want to see all the mechanical goodies, not to cover it all up with billet shrouding junk. Function over form can have just as much style.

[Terrytori]

Originally Posted by Kirk the Jerk

I don't need to be an "authority on design aesthetics" to hold an opinion. I bought a Sportster because I want to see all the mechanical goodies, not to cover it all up with billet shrouding junk. Function over form can have just as much style.

Opinions are like assholes... everybody has one. I think you're hacked up Iron
Is a fine, fine looking scooter. Love the bar treatment, like it's rawness. It's also just one color on the palette. There are lots of ways to do a Sporty.

I got over myself a long time ago, man.

[Cakeeater]

I'm going to interrupt this little spat about design to say: I looked at your gallery images Terrytori you have linked on your page.

Ho
Ly

Sh
It
!

Fantastic "paintings". Really really nice.

Cakeeater

[Terrytori]

Originally Posted by Cakeeater

I'm going to interrupt this little spat about design to say: I looked at your gallery images Terrytori you have linked on your page.

Ho
Ly

Sh
It
!

Fantastic "paintings". Really really nice.

Cakeeater

Greatly appreciated , Cake. I thank you.

terry

[Cakeeater]

Plus...Some of your bike pictures are stunning. I'm new here so just getting my feet wet.

I have only the most basic knowledge of shooting but in my work I interact with many people who do what you do...and your stuff is really top notch. So kudos to you.

[garandman]

Originally Posted by Kirk the Jerk

Man...sorry, but those things are fugly. Just look like Billet Barge junk.

I'm sure they "operate" as advertised, but if you're gonna make a "race shock," why put all that billet crap all over it?

they're due in this week. I'm probably going to black out everything, anyway.

They will certainly look better than the chrome OEM shocks.

[pescatore]

Originally Posted by garandman

I had the saddle done at Allen's Auto Trim in Peabody.

Good experience? Would you recommend them? Looks pretty good from here.

Originally Posted by garandman

The stock rear shocks are a joke. They seem designed to transmit road shocks straight to your spine.

Yeah, no kidding. Even the cheap Progressive 412s I just installed were such a huge upgrade. I can't believe I tolerated that crap for as many years as I did. I bottomed out on practically every pothole even at max preload. Going on a long ride this weekend (ME/NH/VT/NY) to try the 412s out - I got the HD springs, hopefully they aren't too stiff. If only my 4.5G tank and new side cases were here instead of in transit...

[garandman]

Originally Posted by pescatore

Good experience? Would you recommend them? Looks pretty good from here.

Allen's has done a lot of work for me, including an SV650 saddle, car interiors, seat repairs etc. Small shop but good work and fair prices.

I was at Boston ND and they mentioned someone else who does a lot of saddles, don't remember the name. The plus for Allen's if you want this is you could just tell them "Do it again." Price was $240.

[plugeye]

Originally Posted by garandman

The stock rear shocks are a joke.

yes. only slightly WORSE than solid struts