2nd & Likely Final Attempt at Buyin a Harley

[Cheesehead]

That 97 Heritage Classic is beautiful....

Cheese

[Ranger99]

ha-ha! !


haven't heard "lucas-prince of darkness"
in a really long time.
amal carbs are really only even fairly
marginal for use as paperweights,
so the good fairy must have run mr.
murphy out of the shop.
i wouldn't mind having one of the new
trumpets if they didn't cost so much.
might be hard for me to go away from
a shaft after so long

[kc2htv]

Thanks Cheese. Its all good..

[geezerbiker]

Your right Cheese. The Japanese electronics, fuel injection, and lighting, HAVE improved the Harley performance, and reliability.  Now if we could just get some to admit it, and realize we are all the same when comes to riding.

you left off gauges, switches, forks shocks and wheels.  Long before HD started installing FI, they were installing Japanese carbs...  Don't worry about the pistons, those are German...

I think if you go by weight, Harleys are more than 50% American...  I'm not saying they're bad bikes but I don't buy the all American attitude...

As for bikes turning heads, I used to ride a 850 T3 Guzzi and it got attention where ever I rode it.  Even most Harley riders liked it.  I had open megaphone exhaust on it for a couple years (Dunstalls with the guts blown out) and it would drowned out even open piped Harleys...

These days I ride a 79 Yamaha XS1100 and it'll take most Harleys if I choose to take them on.  It's never left me stranded and the worst problem I had with it was a broken switch...

Tony

[Dee]

While shopping bikes yesterday I learned the part about forks and the Harleys. The reason I found this out, is that the salesman that sold me my "new to me" 2009 C109RT TK9 Suzuki 1800cc Boulevard said the forks are the same ones on the Harley.
I ran across this one by accident, it only had 2000 miles on it, and was in mint condition. The Dealer had it on consignment. After riding this bike, there is no comparison to the Harley, or my 1600 Kawasaki. The 1600 Classic has a new home, and this 1800 Boulevard stays at my house.

[guzzijohn]

Quote from Geezerbiker:
"As for bikes turning heads, I used to ride a 850 T3 Guzzi and it got attention where ever I rode it.  Even most Harley riders liked it.  I had open megaphone exhaust on it for a couple years (Dunstalls with the guts blown out) and it would drowned out even open piped Harleys..."


For those of you that have not heard an open piped Guzzi you are missing a treat. If you closed your eyes and heard that T3 motor you would think that you were listening to a well warmed over Chevy small block. The bike on the left is a 75 T-3 the one one the right is a 2011 1200cc Norge model, both Guzzis. I have had the Norge up to 140mph with bags and trunk on it on a private runway.
GuzziJohn

[AtlLaw]

this 1800 Boulevard stays at my house.

Good lick Dee!
 
That is the newer (more displacement and fuel injected) version of my bike!     If they are anything like my '03 it is cast iron tough!     Mine will be my last bike I guess... 
 
Just remember to use synthetic rice! 

[Dee]

This is my last one to Richard. It will last as long as I will. I only use V-Twin Castrol synthetic on my bikes, so no need to change now. This 1800 is crankin out somethin like 115 horses, so I can't complain there, I'm wonderin about the fuel milage, but hey! I found what I really want, and it did't cost an arm and a leg. Just an arm. This is really a nice bike, and not a scratch on it.

[Ranger99]

is that air or liquid cooled?
what final drive?
what size and brand of tires?
what does the oil smell like?

[Cheesehead]

What's the top speed?   

Cheese

[Dee]

Liquid cooled.
Shaft drive.
Tire size I'll have to get back with your but really BIG.
It smells oily
 
Cheese 110 mph comes really quick from 75 mph, but I'll just have to take the speedometer's word for the next 40 mph. At 63 I no longer possesses the intestinal fortitude. 

[Ranger99]

sounds good.
i like the liquid cooled for these
nice summers here when you get
caught at a long light, or in stop and go
on the freeway.
shaft is the way.
tire size is irrelevant. (until replacement
time comes) just joshing on that line of query.

[Cheesehead]

Your right Cheese. The Japanese electronics, fuel injection, and lighting, HAVE improved the Harley performance, and reliability.  Now if we could just get some to admit it, and realize we are all the same when comes to riding.

you left off gauges, switches, forks shocks and wheels.  Long before HD started installing FI, they were installing Japanese carbs...  Don't worry about the pistons, those are German...

I think if you go by weight, Harleys are more than 50% American...  I'm not saying they're bad bikes but I don't buy the all American attitude...

As for bikes turning heads, I used to ride a 850 T3 Guzzi and it got attention where ever I rode it.  Even most Harley riders liked it.  I had open megaphone exhaust on it for a couple years (Dunstalls with the guts blown out) and it would drowned out even open piped Harleys...

These days I ride a 79 Yamaha XS1100 and it'll take most Harleys if I choose to take them on.  It's never left me stranded and the worst problem I had with it was a broken switch...

Tony

The only time my Harley ever left me stranded is when one of the front forks broke, one of the "made in Japan" parts.

Cheese

[hillbill]

ha-ha! !


haven't heard "lucas-prince of darkness"
in a really long time.
amal carbs are really only even fairly
marginal for use as paperweights,
so the good fairy must have run mr.
murphy out of the shop.
i wouldn't mind having one of the new
trumpets if they didn't cost so much.
might be hard for me to go away from
a shaft after so long

yur a brother from another mother! the new trumpets are actually fairly resonable used.chains dont bother me much as ive learned how to maintain them. it is more work tho.
 
 my prob is i keep seeing panheads and shovelheads for sale. i got the money but have too many bikes already.
 

[Ranger99]

i don't mind a chain too much.
rode plenty enough of 'em
with a chain. i can't see a
well maintained shaft drive
giving up the ghost several hours
from the house.
of course, two spare master links
are required equipment long distance
riding with a chain. if you have 'em,
you'll never need 'em. if you only have
one, you'll snap the replacement.
in the bad old days, when every thing
had chains and two or more would
ride a goodly ways off, we'd split
the cost of a chain and links for a
spare. never needed it cuz we had
one right there with us. nowdays,
i have some smaller sized jumper cables
cuz nothing has an auxiliary kick
anymore. guess how i came to toting
those everywhere? 

[Dee]

Jumper cables. Hmmmm not a bad idea. I don't miss chains.

[Ranger99]

if you've ever installed one less than
8 feet from 70 mph traffic on a scalding
hot bike going "snic-snic-snic" from
the heat, sitting on the 100 degree
plus hot a$$-phalt . . . .well. . . .
you'll know why i don't like chain
final either.


yes - the jumps are a wise contingency,
especially on those dark stretches with
nothing for miles, like IH 40 between
little rock and memphis, or between
alexandria la and lafayette.
no motorcycle batteries to be had there.

[geezerbiker]

Properly maintained  chains don't break.  Most guys don't lube the chain or inspect the chain then go off a long trip on a wasted chain and then are pi$$ed because it breaks...

Tony

[Oldshooter]

I was on a road trip to Rhode Island a few years back had had a flat in Gadsden Alabama. I was riding my Dresser. Well seems a pebble(1/4") had made its way under my final drive belt. It was completely embedded in the belt. The mechanic changing my tire showed it to me and plucked it out with a screwdriver. It was a Yamaha shop(no Harley parts) don't even know how they came to have my size tire. Anyway I left with a 1/4 inch hole in that belt. Went to Rhode Island back to Texas and rode it that way until I changed that rear tire the next time. The shop that changed it told me that it happens all the time. I was amazed and had a healthy respect for those Kevlar belts after that. I still have that belt in my stuff somewhere. may use it again sometime!