I looked back at all of my posts on this thread, thinking that something somehow got misconstrued. But for the life of me nowhere had I posted where they were superior.

I like them, love to wrench on them better than riding them. Some people are not quite satisfied in buying something that they have no need to tinker with, try to improve, ect. ect. they ride Evo's.

Some people are simplistic in nature, don't want anything more complicated than them, they in turn ride shovelheads. Nothing on them you cannot fix on the side of the road, other than a top end, or lower end overhaul, although I am sure the earlier has been done somewhere.

Some people like to bench race, talk about who worked on their bike, and how much HP or torque they FIGURED (with no proof *aka dyno*) they were making with their current setup, they ride Twin Cams.

Kinda funny how what I term the Twin Cam class of riders don't really differ that much from the many road race bike riders, as very few of them tune/build thier own bikes.


I was born and raised in Wisconsin, grew up around many motorcycle clubs. Got hooked on them as a teenager, continued into adulthood. Went on a Factory tour in High School for our V.I.C.A. class trip. I guess you could say it is my heritage. Don't worry though I get just as many funny looks when I ask for a PBR.

Ryan

 

I owned a Yamaha Road Star. What a beautiful bike and a marvelous designed engine with the belt drive system. It was a smooth running machine. I ran it with Harley Road Kings no problem. Then one day I made the mistake of trying out a New Honda VTX. AWSOME is the only word I can use to describe the VTX. Shaft drive, 1800 cc, FI, OHC, 3 valve, dual spark plug per cylinder, V-twin motor and 5 speed trany--all mfg, and assembled in Honda's Plant in Mansfield ,Ohio. YES It IS AMERICAN MADE.

Anyway, I began dealing right after my test drive. In a week I had traded my Road Star for the VTX and have never have looked back. Just put on a new set of rubber on it at 12k miles, changed the plugs and differential oil and I am good to go.

I highly recommend you buy the windshield and sissy bar and saddle bags as you will want to add utility to your ride. There isn't a factory Harley or anything made that can hold a candle to it. And best of all left over models can be bought new complete with full factory warranty for $10,000 bare bones!

 

I started out with a 1982 Honda 4 cylinder, which I still have (in pieces right now!). I wanted to own a Harley and so got myself a 1200 Sporster. Found out that the solid mounted engine (pre 2004) gives out lot of vibration when crusing at around 70mph. So, bought myself a Fatboy. But now, I cannot get rid of my Sporster neither the Fatboy. Why? Torque ! guys Torque ! Exact same reason I gravitate towards trucks ! It is all about personal feeling.

The Sporster can really spin - I have a stock bone sporster and it can keep up good with all cruisers. It helps me cure my need for speed pangs. The Fatboy has some modifications done - but it is a true cruiser - I don't intend to drag race it. It is a very nice comfortable ride. The exhaust note is fantastic. I do not have any complain whatsoever.

I paid about $9000 for my 2002 Sporster and about $13500 for my 1999 Fatboy. I would like to own a V-Rod though at some point.

I would like to know how many Japanese parts Harley uses - I thought it was just the shocks and the carburetor.

 

Parks911: Buy what feels right to you, and only then if you have it that the bike is a dependable one. I'd never buy a new bike the first year it's available, just no proven dependability. Nobody wants to have a payment and then end up on the side of the road anyway.
You had mentioned Indian. I believe they went bankrupt. I recall seeing something on Two Wheel Tuesday about it - probably been 18 months ago at least.

 

One other thing I like about my Harley's is that it is real easy to fix and there is tons of aftermarket behind it. So, if I want to give my bikes a facelift after couple years, I can do without a second thought. In a small town like Jacksonville, IL, there are quite a few talented people who can do magic with Harley's in transforming them to a different looks. Not sure how much of that is behind a Honda or a Yamaha.

 

Yep, Indian went out of business last year again. I wish I would have known that then, I probally would have bought one.

I'm going out looking at bikes again tonight. Even going to demo ride a few.

 

Parks, check out these sites:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/sportster.htm
http://www.chuckhawks.com/triumph_bonneville.htm
http://www.chuckhawks.com/w650.htm
http://www.chuckhawks.com/bonneville_sportster_w650.htm

They're a few years old, but well-written reviews/comparisons of the three bikes. When/if I ever get a bike, it'll be a Sportster. http://economy.enorth.com.cn/zhuanti.../sportster.jpg

But... I wish they still made Triumphs like this: http://www.jwoodandcompany.com/2000/...esults/110.jpg

 

I think I bought a 1200 Custom Sportster tonight. I demo'ed one & was approved for the financing, just got to haggle with that damn salesman. He is giving me conflicting prices compared to Harley's web-site.


I will find out tomarrow if I commit or not.

 

If I may make a suggestion. Check out the Victory line of motorcycles. I worked for Polaris for a few years, and took one of our demo's on a poker run/weekend bike show/rally type gig. I had the only American built, non-Harley in the bunch. There were lots of modified bikes there with tons of performance work done to them, and the demo I rode had only been chipped/piped(the chip and pipes come as a matched pair for Victory's) and I out-pulled every one of the bikes that pulled up beside me and rolled on.

Normally I'm a sport/touring oriented kind of guy. I prefer the bigger sport oriented bikes like the FJ1200(Yamaha) and the older K100(BMW) style of bike.

I'll say this for Victory. A very nice ride for a cruiser, with a lot smoother shifting trans than any Harley, and way better handling. I've worked and ridden on many different Hog's over the years. They are what they are. Nice to look at, some are very nice to ride, but I wouldn't pay a dime for one. They cost way to much, the warranty isn't long enough, and you'll find yourself hungry for more power after less than 6 months.

My old FJ1200 can still beat any stock Hog cruiser off the line and for top end, as well as out-handle them, and do it with more reliability, and better fuel economy to boot.

The Victory series bikes actually prove to be much the same way, and for less money.

 

I'm not a racer when it comes to bike's. if I was, I'd probally be 6 feet under by now (I'm crazy).

Performance doesn't matter to me much. As long as the bikes carries my backside from place to place without a problem then it will be fine for me.


By the way......


I bought the Harley-Davidson.

 

Congratulations Parks, as a sprotster owner since 1998, I can tell you that you won't be disappointed. The sportster is the most responsive from upgrades, meaning you get more for your dollar. I have logged more than 30,000 miles on mine. It ran when a lot of my friends bikes were tore up. It never has left me on the side of the road. I have done a lot of work on sportsters and can tell you they are very easy to work on. If you have any questions on upgrades, or what fits what, give me a PM, I would be more than happy to give you any info that I have. I have also logged more than 400 dyno runs on mine, so some what of an expert in tuning sportsters. Hence the screen name MR XLH.


Ryan

 

A new thread has been started with pics.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...98#post2826798