New 07 Sportster Custom - Fast?
#11
10-30-2010, 03:25 PM
Road Warrior
Had a KLE 500 before my 1200C, the red line was 12 or 13,000 (maybe it was 14K, what ever it was silly) but didn't get on the pipe till 6 then it went as it should, and it went.
BUT,
to me the 1200 is for long hauls (250 ml or more, in Israel there aint much more), the KLE shook me to the core, hands hurt from the vibes after 100 ml, the seat was awful, and the mileage was no beter than the 1200.
Put this all together and I am pleased I upgraded, love the on demand torque, takes off from everyone, even the other metrics like the bike.
BUT,
to me the 1200 is for long hauls (250 ml or more, in Israel there aint much more), the KLE shook me to the core, hands hurt from the vibes after 100 ml, the seat was awful, and the mileage was no beter than the 1200.
Put this all together and I am pleased I upgraded, love the on demand torque, takes off from everyone, even the other metrics like the bike.
#12
10-30-2010, 05:57 PM
Having owned both (sportbike and Harley) I can tell you that the sportbike will mop the floor with ANY Harley, including the V-Rod.
Here's the kicker though, sportbikes are very difficult to get out of the hole quickly with. With their short wheelbase, lack of low end torque and somewhat high center of gravity wheelies are the most common result of trying to launch quickly. For the especially ham fisted, backflips can be the end result. 95% of the riders simple haven't developed the skill to launch a sportbike for all it's worth. It takes a lot a practice and a certain amount of skill to do it right. That gives you the advantage in a short race since the Harley's abundant torque and low CG make it relatively easy to launch. A good rider on a stock sportbike though can cut a 1.60-ish 60' time and that 60' is all they'll need to pull ahead of you. The 1200's are peppy but the modern sportbikes are hard to even imagine how fast they really are until you've ridden one.
Here's the kicker though, sportbikes are very difficult to get out of the hole quickly with. With their short wheelbase, lack of low end torque and somewhat high center of gravity wheelies are the most common result of trying to launch quickly. For the especially ham fisted, backflips can be the end result. 95% of the riders simple haven't developed the skill to launch a sportbike for all it's worth. It takes a lot a practice and a certain amount of skill to do it right. That gives you the advantage in a short race since the Harley's abundant torque and low CG make it relatively easy to launch. A good rider on a stock sportbike though can cut a 1.60-ish 60' time and that 60' is all they'll need to pull ahead of you. The 1200's are peppy but the modern sportbikes are hard to even imagine how fast they really are until you've ridden one.
#13
10-30-2010, 09:10 PM
agree with all of the above... but you can give your bike some more ponies-
let her breathe freely, with a better air cleaner and let that free flowing air get outta the rear easier with some less restrictive pipes. finally you need to adjust your fuel/air mixture with a fuel contoller. the factory setting is for the best fuel economy (mpg) that the bike can get. that setting is the opposite of performance.
i am running an arlen ness air intake, vance & hines straight shots and a techlusion tfi tuner. cant pop wheelies, but i can sure scare my +2!! and its plenty fast enough for me... definitely can feel the diff from stock.
let her breathe freely, with a better air cleaner and let that free flowing air get outta the rear easier with some less restrictive pipes. finally you need to adjust your fuel/air mixture with a fuel contoller. the factory setting is for the best fuel economy (mpg) that the bike can get. that setting is the opposite of performance.
i am running an arlen ness air intake, vance & hines straight shots and a techlusion tfi tuner. cant pop wheelies, but i can sure scare my +2!! and its plenty fast enough for me... definitely can feel the diff from stock.
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