Go Sportsters

[Kirk the Jerk]

I just take mine with me. I don't trust people with my helmet...

When I go on a ride/campout sorta thing, I use a wire bike lock cable with padlock, or keep it in my tent.

I don't mind carrying my helmet, if anything it's a handy shopping basket.

[Ditmo]

I've just gotten used to carrying my helmet with me if I'm on my sportster or my TU250. If I'm on the Wee I lock it in the top box. I had a friend who had his helmet messed with when he had it locked on his bike. Somebody dumped a coke in his helmet and smeared ketchup in it. I guess I'm in the out of sight out of mind camp. I'm too paranoid to leave my helmet out in the open.

[Wanna Ride]

Quote:

Like this?



Progressive springs up front with 3/4" preload spacers, 15wt fork oil, SE brace, lightweight cafe fender. 13-1/2" Superglide Sport shocks out back, minimum preload, rebound damping set on 8. Drilled rotors, EBC kevlar pads, Continental tires.

I tried a similar set up on my 2006 Roadster. I tried FXDX shocks, but not sure what year they were. I found the spring to be too stiff, even for my 270 lbs. When leaned over in a turn, the inital rate of the spring would compress, but the final rate was so stiff the rear tire tended to skip over small bumps instead of compressing.

Even with the compression holes drilled out in the fork damper rods, 15w caused over damping, even without Race Tech Emulators. (This was a few years before Ricor Intiminators came out.)

However, I would guess your set up would work for riders over 300 lbs.

Banksy - go to XL Forum and ask your fender question there, more likely to find someone who has tried it.

Garandman - have you written any ride reports with Ricor Intiminators and shocks?

[garandman]

Originally Posted by Wanna Ride

I//
Garandman - have you written any ride reports with Ricor Intiminators and shocks?

No, I want to get around 1,000 miles on them.

I'll state right now that if your Sportster rides better than your Ducati, the Ducatis I've ridden are all bad ones. They're a lot better than stock.

[83XLX]

Originally Posted by Wanna Ride

I tried a similar set up on my 2006 Roadster. I tried FXDX shocks, but not sure what year they were. I found the spring to be too stiff, even for my 270 lbs. When leaned over in a turn, the inital rate of the spring would compress, but the final rate was so stiff the rear tire tended to skip over small bumps instead of compressing.

Even with the compression holes drilled out in the fork damper rods, 15w caused over damping, even without Race Tech Emulators. (This was a few years before Ricor Intiminators came out.)

However, I would guess your set up would work for riders over 300 lbs...

I'm not quite that heavy...I like stiff suspension, but I found the FXDX shocks behave pretty well if I set the rebound damping on about 8. Lighter settings let the strong springs overpower the shocks. As for the front end, we're talking apples and oranges - I have the old 35mm front end, and 15wt oil works well in it.

[BrianK]

Originally Posted by Bloodweiser

II have come to the conclusion that harley owners are straight crazy when it comes to the value of their bikes.

Not just HD owners, although they do take things to new heights.

The word "invested" should be banned from MC ads. As in "... I've got $XXX invested in this bike...." No, you SPENT $XXX on the bike. That money's up and gone. Mods have NEGATIVE value. If you can get the price of a comparable stock bike, you're doing well. And by the way, your bike lost 40% of its value when you rode it off the lot.

Excuse the rant, but wading through all these "investment quality" ads pisses me off.

[Bloodweiser]

Originally Posted by BrianK

Mods have NEGATIVE value.

I'm not so sure of this blanket statement.
Although I whole heartily agree about the investment thing.


If I saw 2 bikes, one had all the shit on it I wanted and the other didn't -
I'd pay a bit more for it. Mods just limit your target market for resale.


I guess I look a bikes a bit different than most modern riders.
I like old bikes, so to me, you know, stock is better.
But with harley guys - it doesn't seem to matter if it's painted something stupid, or has some shit chopped off, or the wrong headlight -
you can still sell it for an average price. Now if you took an old guzzi and did the same shit to it - it'd be worth precisely squat.


Like Kirk's bike - he could get more for his bike than a similar stocker.
TerriTory's too.
Do that same shit on a Honda cruiser and it be less.


Why?

[Bloodweiser]

and look what's on ebay right now





An '09 Nighster.
Your's for only $29,999

[IRideASlowBike]

Originally Posted by Bloodweiser

and look what's on ebay right now





An '09 Nighster.
Your's for only $29,999

[hockeygoon]

Like a rhinestone cowboy...

[Ginger Beard]

Originally Posted by Bloodweiser

and look what's on ebay right now





An '09 Nighster.
Your's for only $29,999

[Terrytori]

I've modded every scoot I've ever owned including 3 seriously tricked
Sportsters. Doing so is the equivalent of putting wings on your money.

You know it's going to fly the coop and it ain't ever coming back.

[spenny]

Originally Posted by Terrytori

I've modded every scoot I've ever owned including 3 seriously tricked
Sportsters. Doing so is the equivalent of putting wings on your money.

You know it's going to fly the coop and it ain't ever coming back.

Yup, that's what owning motorcycles does, haha.

[Dirt Road Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Terrytori

I've modded every scoot I've ever owned including 3 seriously tricked
Sportsters. Doing so is the equivalent of putting wings on your money.

You know it's going to fly the coop and it ain't ever coming back.

Originally Posted by spenny

Yup, that's what owning motorcycles does, haha.

Motorcycles, cars, women...

[dhr]

Picked this up on Monday. 2001 883 Custom with 47K, after tax and getting the registration up to date $2400. Going to ride it 2k through Nevada, Oregon over the July 4th weekend. Probably going to sell it once I get back to buy a non custom Sportster as I don't care for the forward controls and the 21 in front.