Hey back again with another noob question. I have fond a 1995 sporty 1200 with a little over 31k on it and am wondering if that is a lot. the guy is asking $2800. I haven't seen it in person yet. Only on the internet. I was just wondering if it was worth my time to go take a look at it cuz its kinda out of the way

 

That's less than 2,000 miles/year and the engine should go for several times that without an issue.

As long as the bike's been maintained there's nothing to worry about IMO.

 

That is what I was thinking.... I have been looking for one with really low miles, but the thought occurred to me that for a bike made in the 90's to have less than 10,000 mi on it it defiantly sat a whole lot without fresh gas and old oil. now I'm thinking I just got to look for one that has been really taken care of. I just needed to know if there was a specific life span on these 1200's.

 

yeah, my concern would be that it could have sat for a few years with no miles...
you should be able to tell with a test ride. be sure that the bike is cold when you start it- then start it up and take it for a ride. you will know whether the carbs are gunked or not once the engine is warmed up. gotta be a bit heavy right handed, but its not hard to tell.

 

I hear ya... what would the bike act like? just dying out? and also how about checking the front forks? noob here haha

 

I'd say go for it. The price is actually pretty low. I had a 94 with less miles that was my first Harley. That thing screamed when I got it right.

One thing to look for is the condition of the carburetor bowl. This newfangled gas has a tendency to eat the plastic. I had a problem with acceleration and flames shooting out of the back of my pipes. Come to find out, the carb was dumping fuel into the oil. My indy said he could open up the oil tank and light the oil on fire. One of the other symptoms was that I ran out of gas, switched to reserve and it was empty, too. Stranded me a coupla times.

 

[QUOTE=01ntrainultra;10214452] I had a problem with acceleration and flames shooting out of the back of my pipes. Come to find out, the carb was dumping fuel into the oil. My indy said he could open up the oil tank and light the oil on fire./QUOTE]

WOAH! I take it there is no way to tell that from just looking at the outside of the carb?

 

No, but you would definitely know about it when you started the bike, or took it for a test drive.

I put a Mikuni carb on it, and the whole thing cost me about $250. That made a lot of difference in the performance of the bike, too.