Finally got a Big Twin

[wuluf]

Rode my 1200 Sportster 5000 miles in 10 days from northern CA to Milwaukee and back for HD's 95th anniversary party. That was much younger ago.
In 2000 I bought this 01 Dyna and still occasionally ride it. I do miss youth!

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

 

[jjrr]

That's a beauty. I have an 09 dyna super glide custom with only 5k miles that I enjoy on the back roads and away from lots of traffic. I'm planning to ride the blue ridge pky some soon.

 

[CajunBass]

Well, if a Sportster is a "girley bike" I'd hate to think what my first bike, a Yamaha Majesty Scooter would be. A 400 CC with a CVT transmission. I rode that thing for 20,000 miles, commuting back and forth to Richmond from Fredricksburg.

It was fun bike. I crashed it once, didn't get hurt, fixed the bike and kept going. Then one day I stopped at the local BMW dealer to get a pair of gloves. They had a like new K-1200LT on the floor, with 3000 miles on it. I swung my leg over it and my wife said, "You look good on that. You should get it."

So I traded in the Yamaha and became a Beemer Rider. I had never ridden a bike with a clutch, or a foot brake, and certainly nothing that weighed (as best I remember) about 700 lbs or so. The day I picked it up, I rode around the parking lot a time or two, never getting out of second gear. I finally decided "now or never" and headed out onto the street. Made it all the way home, then dropped it trying to turn around in the driveway. I had to get help to get it back on it's wheels. I did eventually figure out how to pick it up by myself after a few more drops.

Rode it back and forth to work for a couple of years. Rain or shine, spring, summer, fall and winter. Just never in the snow. At least I never started out in the snow. Did get caught one night on the way home, but the roads didn't get bad. For cold I had a heated vest, heated grips and seat, and a snowmobile suit, and a full face helmet. It wasn't bad at all.

Then my wife got sick, and I retired to take care of her. A motorcycle was something I could do without. The last time I rode it was up to the church to meet the truck that was going to take it to it's new owner in Idaho I think. It was a long time ago.

I sorta miss it once in a while.

 

[dave1918a2]

When I was growing up a few kids had the Lambretta motor scooters. 125 CC's and fun. I only owned one Harley and a couple of Yamahas, Norton, Royal Enfield and Hondas. Put 175K on a Valkyrie with only standard maintenance. Quit riding after a new hip. Hard to get on and off.

 

[wood714]

I had a Sportster, first thing I did to it was put a set of wide glide conversion trees on it.

Always hated the narrow front end.

 

[armorer951]

Great looking m/c. A question from someone who's never owned one, but only scooped up the remnants of them and their owners over the years.

Why are the majority of these larger bikes so unbelievably loud? Are owners removing the mufflers or baffles or whatever they are called for some reason, or are they actually manufactured this way?

Wow, talk about sustained damage to what little peace and quiet remains in the neighborhoods.

 

[Bald1]

Great looking m/c. A question from someone who's never owned one, but only scooped up the remnants of them and their owners over the years.

Why are the majority of these larger bikes so unbelievably loud? Are owners removing the mufflers or baffles or whatever they are called for some reason, or are they actually manufactured this way?

Wow, talk about sustained damage to what little peace and quiet remains in the neighborhoods.

Harleys are like 2 wheeled hot rods. Nobody can leave it stock. I'd rather my bikes sound good than loud. This is part of the reason Harleys have a reputation for being less reliable than jap bikes. It's because guys mess with them. Sometimes it doesn't go as planned. If you're going to customize a bike/ motor everything has to work in harmony. Sometimes guys throw stuff together because it's cool. This is my 01 bobber built on a 1200 custom with to much to list. And my 95 Fatboy. It's lowered 2", wide tire kit, polished wheels, porker pipes, chrome and stainless "everything". Only thing I wish it had was a sixth gear on Highway.

 

[JohnHL]

Great looking m/c. A question from someone who's never owned one, but only scooped up the remnants of them and their owners over the years.

Why are the majority of these larger bikes so unbelievably loud? Are owners removing the mufflers or baffles or whatever they are called for some reason, or are they actually manufactured this way?

Wow, talk about sustained damage to what little peace and quiet remains in the neighborhoods.

Carter, I was in the motorcycle business for 40 years.

Retired in 2008.

I ran motorcycle dealerships (Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Bombardier, Sea-Doo).

Ridden and fixed every one of the bikes listed above and hundreds more.

In answer to your question, manufacturers are restricted by the government to 83db (total sound).

But the aftermarket was pretty much unrestricted

We did a land office business in loud pipes for all the "biker wannabes" that bought machines from us (and they were in the majority).

You will hear the usual lame argument, "Loud pipes save lives."

Ha, ha. (look at all the crashed bikes with loud pipes.)

ATTENTIVENESS SAVES LIVES!!!

Nothing else.

To their credit, most of them were really nice people, just posers.

That seemed to make them happy though.

And that's what counted.

John

 

[Faulkner]

Great looking m/c. A question from someone who's never owned one, but only scooped up the remnants of them and their owners over the years.

Why are the majority of these larger bikes so unbelievably loud? Are owners removing the mufflers or baffles or whatever they are called for some reason, or are they actually manufactured this way?

Wow, talk about sustained damage to what little peace and quiet remains in the neighborhoods.

I would go so far as to say the majority are NOT loud, but rather it's the loud one's that get your attention.

I ride a Harley and mine has stock exhaust. All my riding buddies are the same.

 

[zeke]

Great looking m/c. A question from someone who's never owned one, but only scooped up the remnants of them and their owners over the years.

Why are the majority of these larger bikes so unbelievably loud? Are owners removing the mufflers or baffles or whatever they are called for some reason, or are they actually manufactured this way?

Wow, talk about sustained damage to what little peace and quiet remains in the neighborhoods.

When the air intake, fuel delivery system and exhaust are done in concert, significant horsepower or torque improvements can be made. Air cooled v-twins are an outdated design (aka classic/elemental) design that loses considerably to modern emission standards. Just changing the exhaust can make it louder to varying degrees, but without accompanying air intake/fuel changes, performance may not improve much.

And yes imo, too many make theirs's way too loud just to be noticed. As far as loud pipes saving lives, attentiveness, skill and well maintained machine are all important. However, have seen people in cars recognise a bike was close to them by the exhaust, and deer being turned away from crossing the road.

 

[SS336]

Sweet!

This is my girly euro-bike, and I wouldn't trade it for a harley even under torture.

Like you Guzzi, very nice. I had a 72 850 Eldorado and this 83 Lemans III for most 90's.

 

[SS336]

Nice bike G-Mac, like the color scheme. Hope you enjoy it for many years.

 

[sceva]

This is my Great Grandfathers Twin; A 1919 Indian Twin. Photo probably taken in the mid to late 1920's

 

[zeke]

Like you Guzzi, very nice. I had a 72 850 Eldorado and this 83 Lemans III for most 90's.

Always wanted to try a Moto Guzzi, unfortunately never had the opportunity.

 

[JohnHL]

Many years ago, I had a Moto-Guzzi "Convertible" (torque converter instead of a clutch) come in to the shop that wouldn't move under its own power.

It had a failed torque converter.

I've pulled and replaced too many engines to count, but the Guzzi was the only one where I mounted the engine on a stand, pulled the rear wheel and swing arm, un-bolted the engine, and lifted the frame off the engine, and rolled it forward on the front wheel, like a wheel barrow!

Didn't take the engine out of the frame, I removed the frame from the engine.

Unusual, to say the least.

Also, like BMWs, Guzzis tend to "torque" (lean opposite to the crankshaft rotation).

It was a fun business to be in.

Motorcycles attract girls!

I could tell you stories, but I would get banned...

John

 

[G-Mac]

Quit riding after a new hip. Hard to get on and off.

I've had a hip and knee replacement. No problem swinging a leg over the Harley, but it is difficult getting on my Beta dirt bike. Most modern dirt bikes are tall and I'm short. I actually raced amateur vintage motocross events a couple of times after the hip replacement and probably will again.

 

[wood714]

When the air intake, fuel delivery system and exhaust are done in concert, significant horsepower or torque improvements can be made. Air cooled v-twins are an outdated design (aka classic/elemental) design that loses considerably to modern emission standards. Just changing the exhaust can make it louder to varying degrees, but without accompanying air intake/fuel changes, performance may not improve much.

Remember back in the day all you had to do was buy a new set of mufflers, air cleaner, and a jet for your carburetor?

When I bought my 14 Street Glide, I had to buy a complete exhaust system, new backing plate and filter for my AC...I wanted it to keep the stock look, and a computer type tuner for it. Probably cost around $2,500 just to make it sound like a Harley should.

 

[wood714]

When I lived in Ohio a neighbor of mine was a true old school biker. In 1940 him and a friend rode their Indians from Cincinnati to San Francisco and back. He let me scan a few pics they took on the way.

How close were gas stations back then? Looks like some of the trip was unpaved roads.

 

[zeke]

Remember back in the day all you had to do was buy a new set of mufflers, air cleaner, and a jet for your carburetor?

When I bought my 14 Street Glide, I had to buy a complete exhaust system, new backing plate and filter for my AC...I wanted it to keep the stock look, and a computer type tuner for it. Probably cost around $2,500 just to make it sound like a Harley should.

The 73 XLCH learned on had a man start, no oil filter, split bars, grab and pray brakes (sporty's first front disc) and greatly simplified electrics. Never was much of a mechanic, but fortunately the previous owner had it set up pretty good with a new carb. It also had drag pipes with a single cross baffle (now called a torque plate?).

The 48 sportster owned has slip ons with quiet baffles, K&N filter element and cheap air/fuel adj. The increase in torque is noticeable, and only loud if i twist it hard. When i first got it, couldn't ride 30 miles at speed without getting a headache, and i wear a full face.

 

[G-Mac]

Here's a pic of my 1988 Sportster XLH-883 Standard. Doesn't look to bad for being 35 years old. Original paint.

 

[zeke]

Here's a pic of my 1988 Sportster XLH-883 Standard. Doesn't look to bad for being 35 years old. Original paint.

looks good for it's age!

 

[wood714]

Here's a pic of my 1988 Sportster XLH-883 Standard. Doesn't look to bad for being 35 years old. Original paint.

Here ya go. Fixed the pic for ya.

 

[Bald1]

Wood714, those pics are great. Love the kidney belts/back brace.

 

[G-Mac]

Here ya go. Fixed the pic for ya.

Thank you! The first time I tried, it was upside down. Went back into "My Pictures", flipped it upside down, and tried posting again. It was still upside down! I gave up.

 

[Walkin Horse]

I recently sold my trike, which I bought to haul a a big girl around. I sold a Road King Police bike to buy the trike. After I sold the trike I bought a Dyna Switchback. Not a Road King but it's two hundred pounds lighter and has saddle bags and a windshield.

 

[mmb617]

In 1988, I bought a brand new Harley Davidson Sportster. Thirty-five years later, I still have it.

It just so happens that I also bought a brand new Sportster in 1988 and I still have mine too. I don't ride it much anymore but here's a pic taken last year.

 

[delcrossv]

… or a girly Sportster, the Porsche Boxter of the Harley family

I don't know where that comes from. That attitude sure wasn't prevalent in the 80's when I was riding the '74 XLCH. Must be some poser thing.

S&S "special application" cases and dual carb STD stage 3 heads for the new 116" sporty build I'm putting together with #1 son.
Axtell 4" bore cylinders on order.
and yeah, I know it's sitting on the case backwards

 

[JohnHL]

I've never heard of an XL series (Sportster) being called a "Porsche Boxster", but way back in the early 1970s, when I first got into the motorcycle business, I did hear hear "Big Twin" riders refer to Sportsters as "your sister's bike".

But it was good natured ribbing.

John

 

[yaktamer]

When I saw the thread title I thought the OP was Danny DeVito talking about Schwarzenegger.

 

[zeke]

I don't know where that comes from. That attitude sure wasn't prevalent in the 80's when I was riding the '74 XLCH. Must be some poser thing.

Always admire people who can do things that will be forever beyond me.

While have seen various references to sporty's over the years, none to my face. While not comfortable by any stretch of the imagination, my 73 XLCH could easily pick it's wheel off the ground shifting to second gear. Attributed this to it's light weight (almost 100 lbs lighter than current versions) and lower gearing. I was young, and it was fun (excepting hwy cruising).

Some people may not be old enough to realize that 1200cc's was the size of the older "big twins". On the roads am preferring now a days, very rare to see any other motorcicles, let alone any larger ones or ones with a skinny front tire and high handlebars. Fortunately there are various options for varying purposes/styles. Then again, am not seeing many sportsters on the interstates up here.