Got the harley bug.....
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4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Got the harley bug.....
thanks for all the great responses.. i am getting great feedback on some of the concerns i have with the sportster model. I do have the oppertunity to try an '05 1200Csportster with the sundowner seat, i should give it a try just to see what it is like. I know its no FL, no sportster will ever be an FL. i just like the styling of the sportster.I read that heat is a huge issue with thebig twins when you ride around in town, andafter being on a fuel injected FL i see what theymean. does anyone herehave a sporty with fuel injection? and if so does it get hot? man i thought i was going to burst into flames being on the FL in town, i think that the FL is a good highway bike, six speed is really nice, but i like backroads and going throughlittle towns.and i don't wanna heat up especially ifi got leather on.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 615
Likes: 4
From: Hugoton, Kansas
RE: Got the harley bug.....
Hey man great to hear your choice on the bike. Im like you, limited on budget, but I've ridden my 1200 custom all over, without half the shocks, etc set up on it.
I got some great deals on a pair of throwover saddlebags at leatherup.com 44 dollars, and front toolbag 14 dollars, and yes leather. My windshield is a slipstreamer, it is not quick release but can be removed with a wrench in about 5 minutes, total package on the shield, mount brackets included complete was 140 from motorcycle supply warehouse.
The other things i added was an arlen ness big sucker, rejetted the carb, and put on some cycle shack slip on turnouts later. Im just about to 12000 miles on it, still love that bike. I admit, I would love to have a bigger bike, but I like what a buddy of mine said. Keep the sporty til its paid for, dont trade it, and then get the second bigger bike and have both.
Sounds like a deal to me. I got my custom due to that it was all I could afford monthly at the time, and the fact taht I needed to learn to ride more than what I grew up on, which was a 50 cc honda minibike. Im 34, had wanted a harley since i was about 14, but on a teacher's salary, my custom was in my range, but I bought it brand new and love that thing, and its a part of me.
Hope too hear more about your experiences and rock on man.
I got some great deals on a pair of throwover saddlebags at leatherup.com 44 dollars, and front toolbag 14 dollars, and yes leather. My windshield is a slipstreamer, it is not quick release but can be removed with a wrench in about 5 minutes, total package on the shield, mount brackets included complete was 140 from motorcycle supply warehouse.
The other things i added was an arlen ness big sucker, rejetted the carb, and put on some cycle shack slip on turnouts later. Im just about to 12000 miles on it, still love that bike. I admit, I would love to have a bigger bike, but I like what a buddy of mine said. Keep the sporty til its paid for, dont trade it, and then get the second bigger bike and have both.
Sounds like a deal to me. I got my custom due to that it was all I could afford monthly at the time, and the fact taht I needed to learn to ride more than what I grew up on, which was a 50 cc honda minibike. Im 34, had wanted a harley since i was about 14, but on a teacher's salary, my custom was in my range, but I bought it brand new and love that thing, and its a part of me.
Hope too hear more about your experiences and rock on man.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 848
Likes: 8
From:
RE: Got the harley bug.....
If you want a touring bike, get a touring bike. I have toured extensively with my 1988 solid mount4spd chain drive Sportster and its grueling... especially when you are riding with guys with big bikes with 6spd trannys. Cruising at 80+mph on a big bike with a 6spd is pleasurable. Cruising at 80+mph on a Sportster is pretty grueling.
I have dumped a fair amount of money and time into my Sportster to make it more touring friendly... J.E.T stage 2.5, fat bob tank, dyna wide glide bars, forward controls, bags, king and queen seat, Forcewinder, V&H Straightshots.. etc... and its still a Sportster underneath it all.
The best way to describe my bike when cruising at 75-80mph is:
Tons of vibration
Tons of clattering, banging and all kinds of other weird Sporty engine noises.
The motor sounds like its ready to detonate because at 80mph with a 4spd its SCREAMING
Pretty stiff ride even with the suspension set at the softest setting
My bike is an animal. Its dependable as all heck, its rocket fast (80hp at the rear wheel), and it looks really cool. To me.. its a real motorcycle and is exactly what I think of when I think of a Harley Davidson.
If you insist on touring with a Sportster, get a rubber mounted 5spd.
I have dumped a fair amount of money and time into my Sportster to make it more touring friendly... J.E.T stage 2.5, fat bob tank, dyna wide glide bars, forward controls, bags, king and queen seat, Forcewinder, V&H Straightshots.. etc... and its still a Sportster underneath it all.
The best way to describe my bike when cruising at 75-80mph is:
Tons of vibration
Tons of clattering, banging and all kinds of other weird Sporty engine noises.
The motor sounds like its ready to detonate because at 80mph with a 4spd its SCREAMING
Pretty stiff ride even with the suspension set at the softest setting
My bike is an animal. Its dependable as all heck, its rocket fast (80hp at the rear wheel), and it looks really cool. To me.. its a real motorcycle and is exactly what I think of when I think of a Harley Davidson.
If you insist on touring with a Sportster, get a rubber mounted 5spd.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 2
From: Denver, Colorado
RE: Got the harley bug.....
ORIGINAL: jgcable
If you want a touring bike, get a touring bike. I have toured extensively with my 1988 solid mount4spd chain drive Sportster and its grueling... especially when you are riding with guys with big bikes with 6spd trannys. Cruising at 80+mph on a big bike with a 6spd is pleasurable. Cruising at 80+mph on a Sportster is pretty grueling.
I have dumped a fair amount of money and time into my Sportster to make it more touring friendly... J.E.T stage 2.5, fat bob tank, dyna wide glide bars, forward controls, bags, king and queen seat, Forcewinder, V&H Straightshots.. etc... and its still a Sportster underneath it all.
The best way to describe my bike when cruising at 75-80mph is:
Tons of vibration
Tons of clattering, banging and all kinds of other weird Sporty engine noises.
The motor sounds like its ready to detonate because at 80mph with a 4spd its SCREAMING
Pretty stiff ride even with the suspension set at the softest setting
My bike is an animal. Its dependable as all heck, its rocket fast (80hp at the rear wheel), and it looks really cool. To me.. its a real motorcycle and is exactly what I think of when I think of a Harley Davidson.
If you insist on touring with a Sportster, get a rubber mounted 5spd.
If you want a touring bike, get a touring bike. I have toured extensively with my 1988 solid mount4spd chain drive Sportster and its grueling... especially when you are riding with guys with big bikes with 6spd trannys. Cruising at 80+mph on a big bike with a 6spd is pleasurable. Cruising at 80+mph on a Sportster is pretty grueling.
I have dumped a fair amount of money and time into my Sportster to make it more touring friendly... J.E.T stage 2.5, fat bob tank, dyna wide glide bars, forward controls, bags, king and queen seat, Forcewinder, V&H Straightshots.. etc... and its still a Sportster underneath it all.
The best way to describe my bike when cruising at 75-80mph is:
Tons of vibration
Tons of clattering, banging and all kinds of other weird Sporty engine noises.
The motor sounds like its ready to detonate because at 80mph with a 4spd its SCREAMING
Pretty stiff ride even with the suspension set at the softest setting
My bike is an animal. Its dependable as all heck, its rocket fast (80hp at the rear wheel), and it looks really cool. To me.. its a real motorcycle and is exactly what I think of when I think of a Harley Davidson.
If you insist on touring with a Sportster, get a rubber mounted 5spd.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 867
Likes: 1
From: Texas
RE: Got the harley bug.....
Congrats on getting the license.
Depends on what you mean by touring, but the sportster can work pretty well for reasonble length trips.
I would suggest a better seat for longer trips (mustang would be my preference), and shocks, leather bags are fine but you might be better off with a backrest, solo seat and a rack on the back and getting a tourmaster (or other brand) luggage set. That way when you want to just cruise around town you don't have to have bags (although they can come in handy for short trips too.)
Don't know if you are considering buying new or used but a lot of times you can get a much better deal on a used bike whether you go with the sporty or a bagger.
Depends on what you mean by touring, but the sportster can work pretty well for reasonble length trips.
I would suggest a better seat for longer trips (mustang would be my preference), and shocks, leather bags are fine but you might be better off with a backrest, solo seat and a rack on the back and getting a tourmaster (or other brand) luggage set. That way when you want to just cruise around town you don't have to have bags (although they can come in handy for short trips too.)
Don't know if you are considering buying new or used but a lot of times you can get a much better deal on a used bike whether you go with the sporty or a bagger.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Got the harley bug.....
If you do get the sportster, just try to avoid states that are windy/breezy.
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