Sportsters and Big Twins...
- Thread starter G-Mac
- Start date
buck460XVR
Member
my two scoots..................
Bassamatic
US Veteran
Nice looking bikes!
I bought my sportster about a year ago when I decided to get back into riding. There was no doubt in my mind which one I wanted. It had nothing to do with money. I wanted a fast, nimble and light weight bike for day riding. My 1200 C fit the bill perfectly.
I bought my sportster about a year ago when I decided to get back into riding. There was no doubt in my mind which one I wanted. It had nothing to do with money. I wanted a fast, nimble and light weight bike for day riding. My 1200 C fit the bill perfectly.
I guess the BMW riders don't consider this a worthwhile discussion. Either that, or they are just out riding.
Evil One
Member
I dont see many BMWs in the back of trucks or on trailers... maybe they felt that had no input here... 
Jim
Jim
Faulkner
Member
I'm no geezer, but I still like riding in style. I love my '07 Ultra Classic.
Nathan Forrest
Member
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- Oct 1, 2009
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- 114
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The problem with Harley is the company's marketing success. There are enough of them around that seeing a HD even with the after market over chromed effect is "No big deal, another Harley ". I especially like the "sound" of the sawed off pipes and then there is the head to toe Harley logo paraphernalia. The brand has come a long way from Easy Rider and the Wild Angels.
-2 BMW MCs
-2 BMW MCs
FlYFiShErMaN
US Veteran
Sold my 65 Panhead about 4 years ago. I can not tell you how many passes she made at the all Harley drags in the Antique class. I agree, a Sporty is quick, but I never had one pull my Pan. I even burned a few rice-rockets on her. 86" S&S lower end, S&S Carb/Pistons and Andrews B grind Cam, Shaved Heads and a 4 speed gear box, shifter reversed for slamming the gears (strip or stop light to stop light) plus a bullet proof Barnett Clutch.
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I always loved the lean looks of the Sportsters. My first HD was a 1200 Sportster. It was black and silver, and I did a couple things to the engine that really made it a lot of fun. That bike would walk away from the big twins of the day, and is much more agile than the big bikes.
As I got into riding more, I got a Wide Glide, and then the 99' Road King Classic that I still have. The Road King is definitely a smoother ride than both the Sportster and WG, it's much more versatile (I like long rides), and I've got the engine and parts just the way I like them, so it's a keeper. I'm a pretty tall guy, so, to me, the Road King is more comfortable than the Sportster.
I never did understand why some guys look down on Sportsters (I think it stems from insecurities in other areas...
, they are a great ride. Bassamatic, that's a good looking XL; love the pipes.
As I got into riding more, I got a Wide Glide, and then the 99' Road King Classic that I still have. The Road King is definitely a smoother ride than both the Sportster and WG, it's much more versatile (I like long rides), and I've got the engine and parts just the way I like them, so it's a keeper. I'm a pretty tall guy, so, to me, the Road King is more comfortable than the Sportster.
I never did understand why some guys look down on Sportsters (I think it stems from insecurities in other areas...
, they are a great ride. Bassamatic, that's a good looking XL; love the pipes.
DustyJacket
Member
According to one of his books, he ride an HD because it is expected. He said (at the time) he would rather ride an import.
the quote may have been from the AMF days, where harley got it bad reputation.......
Plain Old Dave
US Veteran
Why bother with Hardly-Ablesons when Triumph have so many capable machines? Or if vintage iron's your thing, a Honda CB450 or dare to be different and ride an XS650 that's NOT a chopper or bobber.
H-D IMHO is a lot of money for a brand new 40+ year old bike. A Bonnie'll dust any ponderous, underpowered Hog they now make.
H-D IMHO is a lot of money for a brand new 40+ year old bike. A Bonnie'll dust any ponderous, underpowered Hog they now make.
DustyJacket
Member
Or you could be one of the throng trashing a brand, calling it names, and knowing not much.
Why do some people need to insist what is better?
Is a Corvette better than a Town Car? It kind of depends what the owner wants to do, and what they like.
I could do the 5k service on my HD with a socket set and an adjustable wrench. The 6k service on my BMW requires the same, plus multiple feeler guages for adjusting the valves, plus a Twinmax unit for synchronizing the throttle bodies. The HD was better at some things, and the BMW better at others, but hands-down the BMW is harder to maintain and eats rear brakes for lunch......
Cruisers are cruisers, tourers are tourers, sport bikes are sport bike. Having owned a Standard, a cruiser, and a sport tourer, I can say that each has filled its niche very well.
Ride what you like, and ignore anyone's diatribe against what you have. Each brand has it fanboys and nay-sayers.
Why do some people need to insist what is better?
Is a Corvette better than a Town Car? It kind of depends what the owner wants to do, and what they like.
I could do the 5k service on my HD with a socket set and an adjustable wrench. The 6k service on my BMW requires the same, plus multiple feeler guages for adjusting the valves, plus a Twinmax unit for synchronizing the throttle bodies. The HD was better at some things, and the BMW better at others, but hands-down the BMW is harder to maintain and eats rear brakes for lunch......
Cruisers are cruisers, tourers are tourers, sport bikes are sport bike. Having owned a Standard, a cruiser, and a sport tourer, I can say that each has filled its niche very well.
Ride what you like, and ignore anyone's diatribe against what you have. Each brand has it fanboys and nay-sayers.
Big Cholla
Member
My 38th motorcycle to own in my lifetime: 2008 Harley Davidson Road Glide.
............. Big Cholla
............. Big Cholla
mkk41
US Veteran
At 6ft and over 250 , I'd look mighty silly and be mighty uncomfortable on a Sportster. Though my first bike was a 1964 XLCH.
After riding my faithful '68 FLH Electra-Glide for almost 20yrs , sometimes 300days per year.
Along with a more than a few trips on my custom built (by me) 93cu. , 5-speed Panhead Chopper , which will suck the headlights out of most Sportsters and Triumphs.
I finally jump into the old man bike Evo crowd with my 'new' 1997 ex Police Roadking FLHPi
Man , this thing stops , goes , and handles like no bike this size should. Air shocks , air forks and air ride seat , this thing is relatively plush. And I can tote & fetch lots of stuff with those big saddlebags and tour-pak trunk. If and when the motor gets tired , a 100cu. S&S crate motor will replace it.
After riding my faithful '68 FLH Electra-Glide for almost 20yrs , sometimes 300days per year.
Along with a more than a few trips on my custom built (by me) 93cu. , 5-speed Panhead Chopper , which will suck the headlights out of most Sportsters and Triumphs.
I finally jump into the old man bike Evo crowd with my 'new' 1997 ex Police Roadking FLHPi
Man , this thing stops , goes , and handles like no bike this size should. Air shocks , air forks and air ride seat , this thing is relatively plush. And I can tote & fetch lots of stuff with those big saddlebags and tour-pak trunk. If and when the motor gets tired , a 100cu. S&S crate motor will replace it.
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mkk41
US Veteran
Sounds like someone who would prefer a Glock or some other modern plastic wonder-pistol to an 'antiquated' revolver.
Evil One
Member
OP
I stopped in at a "new" Triumph dealership a couple years ago.
After looking closely at the ID tag on the frame, I noticed it said "Made in Thailand".
So much for the "return of the Brit-bike", eh?
At least if you buy a Yamakawahonzuki you KNOW it's Japanese...and possibly even made in the U.S.A....
I'm just sayin'....
Interestingly, the parallels between Harley-Davidson and Smith & Wesson are similar- both producers of classic versions of an item, both under varying ownership over time, both American-made, cult-like followings, etc.
Likewise, to many of their fans, they're the only choice, for better or worse, and nothing matches the experience.
Great pics, folks. Long live H-D and long live S&W.
Likewise, to many of their fans, they're the only choice, for better or worse, and nothing matches the experience.
Great pics, folks. Long live H-D and long live S&W.
Evil One
Member
Not much different than the pile of parts made in other countries that go into and onto Harleys...
We are a global economy, and its near impossible to get a somewhat complex piece of machinery that is made of parts made in 1 place.
Jim
We are a global economy, and its near impossible to get a somewhat complex piece of machinery that is made of parts made in 1 place.
Jim
Snowbandit
Member
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- 529
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mkk41
US Veteran
Not only that , but the shifter forks in the transmission are actually forged by , Smith & Wesson. Their transmission gears are made by S&W via MIM process.
In 82 I bought a FLHS sport ( shovel, spoked wheels, 4 speed. Always wanted a Harley after my 79 CBX, 82 KZ1000, and numerous other CB900f's. Boy was I disapointed with that Harley. Afterwards only rode Kawi's 1000. Finally in 01 bought a Superglide at Maroney's in upstate NY. It was ok but traded it for an 02 Fatboy. Then traded that for an 04 Peace Officer Edition Road King. In my opinion, each was slow, heavy and not at all enjoyable to ride. Harley will never get another cent of mine. But, if you enjoy them fine. They definitely have an image of an older guys retirement bike. My next bike will be a dual purpose 650 something. Light nimble and can go off the beaten path to find a nice lunch spot with the wife. Too each their own
DWFAN
US Veteran
Ya gotta start some where.
"62 composite sporty. 1200cc, 110hp. It can get out of it's own way quick.
78 1/2 FLH Classic Custom. 1340cc, 85hp. Goes good for the size.
DW
"62 composite sporty. 1200cc, 110hp. It can get out of it's own way quick.
78 1/2 FLH Classic Custom. 1340cc, 85hp. Goes good for the size.
DW
Been gone two years.. I still miss it.. SNIFF....sorta like sellin' a Smith.. You know there'll be another one but you always miss the one you sell...
Of course I was working at the dealers when I put this together
Thank god for employees dicounts..
03 Ultra Classic
Removable Pizza Box..
95 Cubes
95 Horses
105 Ft lbs. Torque
Of course I was working at the dealers when I put this together
Thank god for employees dicounts..
03 Ultra Classic
Removable Pizza Box..
95 Cubes
95 Horses
105 Ft lbs. Torque
Some of my buddies ride Harleys, but we rarely ride together because they just can't keep up. I don't ride particularly fast, but I ride a lot of crooked roads. My bikes are 30-year-old European twins or 650cc dual-sport bikes, not modern sport bikes. Frankly, it is appalling that $15,000-20,000 motorcycle is so incompetent in real-world riding conditions.
Of course, my pals always want me to try their bikes, so I have ridden quite a variety. I have yet to try a harley that didn't drag hard parts cornering at a moderately brisk touring pace.
A few years ago, one guy was just so proud of his new FLDGWXYZ Softail Springer Whatever that he talked me into going for a ride with him, and then got me to try his bike. I suffered for about 40 or 50 miles; my butt hurt from chafing on the seat, and my right knee had a big bruise from the air cleaner. My back hurt so bad from leaning back that I knew I was going to have to see a chiropractor. My riding reactions were all off from having to slow down for right-handers so I didn't drag the pipes. Finally, I pulled up and waited for him to catch up on my 20-year-old 150,000-mile, covered-with-road-grime BMW with drum brakes (sometimes it's not just the bike, the riders can't ride either). When I asked for my bike back, he begged me to let him ride mine a little bit longer. He bought a BMW a couple of weeks later.
Another buddy, who has a little more realistic view, as well as several real motorcycles in addition, refers to his two Harleys as "butt jewelry". That about sums it up: they can look nice, and if you are willing to settle for the mediocre performance they at least get you out into the countryside.
Of course, my pals always want me to try their bikes, so I have ridden quite a variety. I have yet to try a harley that didn't drag hard parts cornering at a moderately brisk touring pace.
A few years ago, one guy was just so proud of his new FLDGWXYZ Softail Springer Whatever that he talked me into going for a ride with him, and then got me to try his bike. I suffered for about 40 or 50 miles; my butt hurt from chafing on the seat, and my right knee had a big bruise from the air cleaner. My back hurt so bad from leaning back that I knew I was going to have to see a chiropractor. My riding reactions were all off from having to slow down for right-handers so I didn't drag the pipes. Finally, I pulled up and waited for him to catch up on my 20-year-old 150,000-mile, covered-with-road-grime BMW with drum brakes (sometimes it's not just the bike, the riders can't ride either). When I asked for my bike back, he begged me to let him ride mine a little bit longer. He bought a BMW a couple of weeks later.
Another buddy, who has a little more realistic view, as well as several real motorcycles in addition, refers to his two Harleys as "butt jewelry". That about sums it up: they can look nice, and if you are willing to settle for the mediocre performance they at least get you out into the countryside.
kraigwy
US Veteran
Sturgis 2009
My Sporty:
Captain America II for the movie Easy Rider II, the first Cpt America was stolen after the movie and never recovered.
My Sporty:
Captain America II for the movie Easy Rider II, the first Cpt America was stolen after the movie and never recovered.
Some of my buddies like S&W wheelguns, but we rarely shoot together because they just can't keep up. I don't shoot particularly fast, but I shoot a lot of demanding courses. My guns are hi-cap European semi-autos. Frankly, it is appalling that $600 revolvers are so incompetent in real-world shooting conditions. Etc., etc., etc.
Like I was saying...
shooboy
US Veteran
Me thinks I'll keep my appalling Harley Wide Glide that I paid $6850 for, knowing full well that I can sell it at any time for what I paid for it. If you really want to be appalled, look at the prices of parts for imported bikes. Try buying engine parts for an import model that were made for just one year because they are constantly tweaking specs on those bikes, and get back to me with the price of that stuff. I can go buy Harley parts just about anywhere, or just drive down the highway and find some parts that fell off someone else's Harley !
Okay, seriously now, just get out and ride boys. It doesn't matter what you ride, just ride. That's the beauty of having the choice to buy whatever you'd like. I can't stand the bashing of brands. I like my H-D because I can fix just about anything on it myself. Let's ride, Shoo
Okay, seriously now, just get out and ride boys. It doesn't matter what you ride, just ride. That's the beauty of having the choice to buy whatever you'd like. I can't stand the bashing of brands. I like my H-D because I can fix just about anything on it myself. Let's ride, Shoo
Marshwheeling, people that I ride with have all different kinds of bikes and none of them are snobs about what other people ride. Also, we don't have a show off trying to go faster than everyone else. Sounds like your "friends" need to come and ride with us.
