Looking at Bikes

[itsallgood]

We have a gleaming new BMW Motorcycle dealership nearby and I stopped in to inquire about having some deferred maintenance done on my GS. They had a bunch of leather jackets hanging on a rack, so I walked over and took a close look. Bland and questionable quality, IMO.

 

[mygar]

I had a Sportster that I almost immediately put flat tracker bars on, as I'd had them on other bikes before that. My butt and back continued to thank me for the swap. Leaning forward a bit helped with keeping the weight off my butt, stopped jarring jolts directly up my spine, and fighting the wind was so much easier when leaning into it a bit.

I like the 48. It's probably the only Sportster I would purchase now. Enjoy it.

Interesting i thought if i would do anything with the bars i would go with small apes... the exact same that Harley put on the 48 specials. They feel real comfortable... of course this without any testing on the road.

But no mods for me... unless i have to. This is an expensive hobby... bike, insurance, registration, helmet, gloves... ughh.. But i tell myself that now i just have to pay gas and insurance renewal in future... right?

 

[Martinis at 8]

mygar, are you an experienced rider?

 

[mygar]

mygar, are you an experienced rider?

I rode a lot of 2 stroke as a kid but this my first street bike. Sticking to country roads near me and taking rider classes

 

[Martinis at 8]

I rode a lot of 2 stroke as a kid but this my first street bike. Sticking to country roads near me and taking rider classes

That's good. An HD is a big step if you have been away from it for a while. It is wise to do the country roads just as you say, and the MSF BRC and ERC courses are very good. David Hough writes some great safety books too. Things have gotten very dangerous with the advent of cell phones, so you have to be doubly cautious these days. My current ride is a 2007 Honda CB 250. Don't laugh <smile>. I kitted it up special for riding down in Mexico. I carry the common repair parts and tools in the panniers and personal items in a roll bag. I can fix everything outside of the engine on the road. Couldn't do that if I was riding a Harley or a Gold Wing, etc. down there. Fit for purpose. Incredible range on the 250 but the smaller engine bikes take a toll on you when you ride them long distance, which you probably know from your 2-stroke days. These rides are for a few thousand miles, generally 350 per day. Have to be in shape. Good luck with whatever choice you make there. Harley's are a good bikes despite what the Honda riders say

 

[mygar]

Yes distracted drivers are a concern. I dont have any desire to be in congested traffic. Open stretches of less traveled road is where i want a be.

Riding across MX sounds pretty adventurous. I have driven across quite a bit of MX in my early years... with some interesting stories to tell.

 

[scottyrocks]

Interesting i thought if i would do anything with the bars i would go with small apes... the exact same that Harley put on the 48 specials. They feel real comfortable... of course this without any testing on the road.

But no mods for me... unless i have to. This is an expensive hobby... bike, insurance, registration, helmet, gloves... ughh.. But i tell myself that now i just have to pay gas and insurance renewal in future... right?

I had apes on my current bike. They worked for me if I rotated them far enough forward that I am leaning forward slightly. Getting the weight off my spine and butt is my number one priority.

 

[davyjones007]

HD Sportsters are one of the best HDs to buy used. They are cheap and plentiful on the used market. Often times they are sold as a "girls" bike or beginner bike, which is just about the dumbest thing I've heard about bikes. People will tell you they have small tanks and harsh rides. They do have these things but not all of the Sportster family is like that. They are great bikes for what they were designed for and the engine is bulletproof. Plus yours has a great paint job. My first HD was a Sportster; XR1200. That was a great bike. Now if I could just find my old Honda NS400R in the Rothmans livery...

 

[Big J]

IIRC, Sonny Barger rode several HD Sportsters, it was his favorite bike.
I'd like to have seen one of the nay-sayers try to tell him it was a girls bike.

 

[mygar]

HD Sportsters are one of the best HDs to buy used. They are cheap and plentiful on the used market. Often times they are sold as a "girls" bike or beginner bike, which is just about the dumbest thing I've heard about bikes. People will tell you they have small tanks and harsh rides. They do have these things but not all of the Sportster family is like that. They are great bikes for what they were designed for and the engine is bulletproof. Plus yours has a great paint job. My first HD was a Sportster; XR1200. That was a great bike. Now if I could just find my old Honda NS400R in the Rothmans livery...

Im extremely pleased with the bike. It is very comfortable for me and plenty of power for its size. Im little over 5' 7" and a buck fifty... fits perfect. Taking time getting used to it.

Down the road... the only reason i would decide to go to another bike is if i want something that would be better to tour on. I mean its certainly not a caddilac ride... but not wanting that right now.

 

[rocketeer]

IIRC, Sonny Barger rode several HD Sportsters, it was his favorite bike.
I'd like to have seen one of the nay-sayers try to tell him it was a girls bike.

Barger is quoted in a few magazine features as saying 'They' should have gone over to Japanese bikes years ago.

 

[Peter Mackin]

If Harley made planes would you want to fly on one ,,,I say this as a 1340owner for 25 years,

 

[Bfd70]

IIRC, Sonny Barger rode several HD Sportsters, it was his favorite bike.
I'd like to have seen one of the nay-sayers try to tell him it was a girls bike.

Sonny Barger from “Hell’s Angels” written in 2000.
It’s always been important for Hell's Angels to ride American-made machines. In terms of pure workmanship, personally I don't like Harleys. I ride them because I'm in the club, and that's the image, but if I could I would seriously consider riding a Honda ST1100 or a BMW. We really missed the boat not switching over to the Japanese models when they began building bigger bikes. I'll usually say, "F*** Harley-Davidson. You can buy an ST1100 and the motherf***** will do 110 miles per hour right from the factory all day long ... While it's probably too late to switch over now, it would have been a nice move because Japanese bikes today are so much cheaper and better built. However, Japanese motorcycles don't have as much personality.

 

[JMax]

Barger is quoted in a few magazine features as saying 'They' should have gone over to Japanese bikes years ago.

“They” collectively would never go for that. Sure, some pop-ups, cop clubs or associations may, but not “them”. Though I have seen prospects running security on certain runs riding crotch rockets, but they run ahead to smoke out trouble lol. That’s rare and counter to the ethos.

 

[Bfd70]

Yeah, he might have meant it, but also liked to stir the pot.

 

[JMax]

Yeah, he might have meant it, but also liked to stir the pot.

I’ll go with stirring pot.

 

[Edward]

Sonny Barger from “Hell’s Angels” written in 2000.
It’s always been important for Hell's Angels to ride American-made machines. In terms of pure workmanship, personally I don't like Harleys. I ride them because I'm in the club, and that's the image, but if I could I would seriously consider riding a Honda ST1100 or a BMW. We really missed the boat not switching over to the Japanese models when they began building bigger bikes. I'll usually say, "F*** Harley-Davidson. You can buy an ST1100 and the motherf***** will do 110 miles per hour right from the factory all day long ... While it's probably too late to switch over now, it would have been a nice move because Japanese bikes today are so much cheaper and better built. However, Japanese motorcycles don't have as much personality.

I'd disagree on personality these days, but yes, he had a point. Of course, it has nothing to do with quality of bikes, then or now: had Japan been a US ally in WW2 rather than an enemy, it would be different. Most of the hardcore MCs to this day still specify "an Allied Nations motorcycle with at least 750cc engine" (some in the US require Harley specifically, others it's just the habit). All pat of the culture of reverence for the US forces - then and now. (Which has always wryly amused me - given the whole pride placed in outlaw status, distrust of the police and so on, but that, of course, id their entitlement.) I think it varies more here in the UK, though I've never seen anyone from the 81 on anything other than a Harley.

“They” collectively would never go for that. Sure, some pop-ups, cop clubs or associations may, but not “them”. Though I have seen prospects running security on certain runs riding crotch rockets, but they run ahead to smoke out trouble lol. That’s rare and counter to the ethos.

I'd be surprised if any of them were Japanese, for obvious reasons.

 

[JMax]

I'd disagree on personality these days, but yes, he had a point. Of course, it has nothing to do with quality of bikes, then or now: had Japan been a US ally in WW2 rather than an enemy, it would be different. Most of the hardcore MCs to this day still specify "an Allied Nations motorcycle with at least 750cc engine" (some in the US require Harley specifically, others it's just the habit). All pat of the culture of reverence for the US forces - then and now. (Which has always wryly amused me - given the whole pride placed in outlaw status, distrust of the police and so on, but that, of course, id their entitlement.) I think it varies more here in the UK, though I've never seen anyone from the 81 on anything other than a Harley.



I'd be surprised if any of them were Japanese, for obvious reasons.

They were ninjas. But yes, rare, for obvious reasons.

 

[Edward]

They were ninjas. But yes, rare, for obvious reasons.

Interesting. Is there any sort of US-brand equivalent? Triumph do a racer-style bike now (though I doubt it's cheap!).

 

[JMax]

Actually, I believe HD is doing something similar in 2019. Some sort of naked street fighter but not a ninja-type bike.

Edit:: that these guys would splurge on. I think there are some custom builders that do it