Just wondering about Harleys.

[merc16]

Bvcamp, got any more pics of your Sporty? And some details...

[AZbiker]

Originally Posted by ph0rk

Man. I hate that used XR1200's are so rare. Why aren't there any other H-D's with similar ergos? a 30" seat and flat track bars are damn near perfect. Gimmie a fat boy with similar ergos without dropping thousands just to get the seat up to 30" (Fat Boy Tall?).


Oh, and mid controls, of course.


I just don't get the 25-27" seat heights and forward controls, you pretty much have to pass on the brand entirely (victory too) to escape that, other styling factors aside. Toys are great, but where are the useful tools?

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a Harley, I just can't stand low seat cruisers.

Nobody wants them, at least not in enough numbers to make a profit.

[JerryH]

First of all, If you actually want a Harley, there is nothing else to compare it to. There are certainly a lot of other nice bikes out there, but nothing that compares to a Harley. You either love them or you don't. I do. I have never owned one, but plan to change that soon, since the prices have come so far down. I have put quite a few miles on a couple of Sportsters, and I was impressed. The sound and feel are awesome. There is nothing else like it. Unfortunately the Sportster, even the 1200, is simply too small for me, at 6' 240 with a 34" inseam. You can put forward controls on them to help with that, and you can also get better seats and a rider backrest, which would be major improvements. But it still looks and feels like a tiny bike, mostly because it is. It is a small frame wrapped around a big engine.

I have sat on, but never ridden a big twin. But that was enough. I want one. Bad. Probably something in the Dyna series. I loved the old Dyna Wide Glide, don't care for the looks of the newer one. I would also be perfectly happy with a Dyna SuperGlide, the cheapest of the big twins.

The Victory and Triumph are also really nice, but they are not Harleys. Harleys have a sound and feel far removed from anything else, which is probably why they sell so well. They remind me of an American V8 with a hot cam and an open exhaust. They are not that fast for their displacement, but they sure sound like it, and you will have no doubt that you are sitting atop a very large internal combustion engine.

Then there is the Harley aftermarket, which is second to none. Anything you might want for a Harley you can find at least 10 companies making it. Aftermarket oem parts are also available all the way back to 1903. So you can buy a Harley and keep it forever. It can be rebuilt over and over again. You can even buy complete replicas of the early engines, Knuckleheads, Panheads, Shovelheads, etc, only built to modern standards. Harleys are not disposable bikes.

But please, whatever you do, don't buy a Japanese copy of a Harley. I would be too embarrassed to be seen on one. There is nothing wrong with Japanese bikes, I've owned a boatload of them. But I have never owned a Harley copy. A Harley is a 100% American design (yes it has some foreign parts on it, everything does these days) that has a heritage and history behind it. It is the real thing, warts and all. The Japanese copies are just fake lookalikes.

[Rinty]

Max:

The good thing about Harleys is that it's easy to find places that rent them. I would suggest that you take one out for for a day or three, and see what you think. Get one with road bars, so you can stretch your legs out.

I'm not really into cruisers, but I had a lot of fun on the Harley I rented a while back.

[alii1959]

Originally Posted by JerryH

First of all, If you actually want a Harley, there is nothing else to compare it to. There are certainly a lot of other nice bikes out there, but nothing that compares to a Harley. You either love them or you don't. I do. I have never owned one, but plan to change that soon, since the prices have come so far down. I have put quite a few miles on a couple of Sportsters, and I was impressed. The sound and feel are awesome. There is nothing else like it. Unfortunately the Sportster, even the 1200, is simply too small for me, at 6' 240 with a 34" inseam. You can put forward controls on them to help with that, and you can also get better seats and a rider backrest, which would be major improvements. But it still looks and feels like a tiny bike, mostly because it is. It is a small frame wrapped around a big engine.

I have sat on, but never ridden a big twin. But that was enough. I want one. Bad. Probably something in the Dyna series. I loved the old Dyna Wide Glide, don't care for the looks of the newer one. I would also be perfectly happy with a Dyna SuperGlide, the cheapest of the big twins.

The Victory and Triumph are also really nice, but they are not Harleys. Harleys have a sound and feel far removed from anything else, which is probably why they sell so well. They remind me of an American V8 with a hot cam and an open exhaust. They are not that fast for their displacement, but they sure sound like it, and you will have no doubt that you are sitting atop a very large internal combustion engine.

Then there is the Harley aftermarket, which is second to none. Anything you might want for a Harley you can find at least 10 companies making it. Aftermarket oem parts are also available all the way back to 1903. So you can buy a Harley and keep it forever. It can be rebuilt over and over again. You can even buy complete replicas of the early engines, Knuckleheads, Panheads, Shovelheads, etc, only built to modern standards. Harleys are not disposable bikes.

But please, whatever you do, don't buy a Japanese copy of a Harley. I would be too embarrassed to be seen on one. There is nothing wrong with Japanese bikes, I've owned a boatload of them. But I have never owned a Harley copy. A Harley is a 100% American design (yes it has some foreign parts on it, everything does these days) that has a heritage and history behind it. It is the real thing, warts and all. The Japanese copies are just fake lookalikes.

That is exactly why I always considered a Harley. Especially the aftermarket. You can make a Harley anything you want it to be. Allows you to make, remake, and remake again as your mood changes. When I bought my Road King I had no idea I would be spending so much....but, it now fits me better than anything I have ever owned. A word of warning: IT IS VERY ADDICTIVE, BE VERY CAREFUL. So far: new seat, backrests, luggage rack, removed heel shifter (with nipple to cover shaft), dongle to keep passing lamps always on, new handlebars, new grips, and windshield on order. Most of this is genuine Harley stuff...it is often cheaper and well made. My local dealer goes out of its way to make you happy with your purchases and gives rewards. If you are so inclined a place to kick back as well. It has been an amazing experience...even though I bought a used bike they still treat me as well as anyone. I don't fit the "normal" Harley mode: ATGATT, Hi-Viz, and full face helmeted I am as welcome as any pirate. This is the only bike I have taken on an over night trip. I have ridden in four states. I have put over 5k on it in less than 6 months, with most of that being my 14 mile (round trip) commute each day. I am constantly amazed at how really good this bike is.

I have ridden many different bikes....owned a few. I have owned Suzukis, Kawasakis, Yamahas, and Triumphs. Before I bought the Harley I rode Ducatis, Suzukis, Kawasakis, Hondas, Triumphs, and BMWs. For the way that I ride nothing really compares. I really wanted a Suzuki M90/C90, but this is better. Better aftermarket, better dealers, better workmanship. And, it isn't a throw away......I really hate buying orphans (you know models that are no longer supported). I wondered for years why so many people absolutely love their Harleys...beginning to understand. I guess I am bathing in the Kool-aid now, aren't I. But, like my Apple computers, there really is a reason why the fans are such fanatics.

[JerryH]

If you still love your Harley after 5,000 miles and 6 months, you always will. Many people get a Harley because they like the look, the image, and want to be part of the "scene" But right after they get it, they wind up hating it, because it makes noise, and vibrates, and gets warm. That to me is a big part of what a Harley is all about. It is a very visceral experience. Good and rough. You are not insulated from it like you are with so many other modern things. But that is what many people actually want. Smooth, quiet, no character, just a nice 2 wheeled transportation appliance. Honda makes exactly what they need. It's called a Goldwing. I know, I have one. But things are going to change.

[Ratchdaddy]

Harleys are like genital warts, they just grow on you. I have owned 5 Harleys and one Buell over the years. They really do grow on you like old jeans, old jackets, and old trucks. I love the classic lines of certain old motorcycles like the sportster, Japanese UJM's, old Beemers, and Guzzis. I guess that is why my daily ride is the F800GS but I found an old sportster recently for a play bike.

[Ratchdaddy]

HHKIWI I would love to get some info about your seat. I am 6'0" and my back is destroyed. Since my Sportster I have owned a VStrom and a F800GS and I find the riding position very comfortable. When I picked up an old Sporster a month ago I could not figure out why it hurt my back so. I finally did some measurements and figured out that the seat to peg ratio is what is off for me. I was considering trying to mount an older buddy style seat or trying to modify my own seat. I like the look of your seat and the extra height. What is the story on that seat?

Ratch

[hhkiwi]

Originally Posted by Ratchdaddy

HHKIWI I would love to get some info about your seat.

I get asked about the seat on a regular basis. Here's a link to a previous post on it: http://advrider.com/forums/showpost....postcount=1705. I really don't know why something similar is not readily available for late model Sportsters.

The closest seat to mine is the Biltwell Banana: http://www.biltwellinc.com/index.php...duct_list&c=36. It would fit your 96 Sportster but it's not available for rubber mounts.

[JerryH]

If I owned a Sportster, this is probably the type of seat I would want for it:

http://www.westendmotorsports.com/dr...e-p-24081.html

along with forward controls and a riders backrest. I would definitely prefer an '03 or older, not crazy about the rubber mounted engine. It would not be a touring bike, it isn't big enough. So since it would be limited to shorter trips, I would want to feel that engine.

People have ridden cross country on Sportsters, they have ridden cross country on Honda Rebels. But they were probably smaller than me.