Brilliant perspective of our beloved Sportster. I have owned numerous models during my 45 years of riding. With the introduction of the Revolution jobs they have lost me. I still have my 2006 XLC. Never shall we part.
Thank you for you kind words Rick, they're much appreciated. And, I, obviously, agree completely. RevMax may have a place in the world, but not in the Sportster world... Cheers, Chris
Among other bikes, I also have a 2008 Sportster. Only one or two of my friends appreciate the bike, but it is a wonderful bike. It's not a heavy touring bike, nor is it a sports bike, but it is an incredibly fun and great looking lightweight cruiser that I really enjoy riding. The Sportster is a great bike and it's sad to see it's demise in the Harley line.
I've started with a 2017 Roadster (ground clearance and good suspension), added a Custom fuel tank (a rounder, more British aesthetic with 4.5 gallons of capacity), a 48 rear fender (more tire coverage) and handlebars (a more upright riding position), and a Euro-style fender-mounted license plate (rather than the hideous side mount). I've also added a Screamin Eagle air cleaner and a Cobra 2-into-1 exhaust (I may upgrade the cams). This is a model that H-D could have easily built as the necessary parts were already on the shelf. I sometimes wonder if the marketing people are simply blinded by fashion.
I have inherited a 2003 Sportster hugger 883 to go with my M8 softail. I think its perfect for around town and local trips. Debating a 1200 conversion but its not a must. 500 pounds, Carb, and rigid mounted give it a wonderful feel. The screamin eagle II slip ons add a little sound but not bad enough to annoy the neighbors
bought a 1993 sportster last year,this weekend i pick up a 1994 for my wife :)Was last weekend at a HD dealer here in Norway for the first time ever,was looking at a Sportster S.Glad i bought a Sportster last year instead:)
I got my first Sportster in 1989 a 1200 and presently riding a 2003 xl1200s which I have owned about 17 years. I really like them, I have other bikes but the sporty gives the most smiles.
Hey up! I’m an English born but New Zealand raised biker who has lived in the land of Oz for the last four decades. I grew up on Triumphs and rode them all over NZ in my teens. Been riding for half a century plus one this year and the proud owner of a 1997 Sporty for the last 18 years. It started life as an 883 and I have ridden it over Eastern Australia, from Adelaide to Brisbane, several times over the years. Never let me down, loads of fun to ride in the twisties, it was far closer to the Bonnies and Tigers of the 60’s and 70’s than the retro versions I had been considering purchasing. I bought it secondhand from a friend who was less than mechanically minded shall we say, and so while it’s true that the bike has never let me down, I did need to do a couple of things straight after buying it, so it would be the reliable bike if has been. Somehow my mate had gotten the idea that the Primary chain-case oil was fed from the engine (which IS what happened with the aforementioned 1960’s-70’s Triumphs) and so the Primary case, clutch, and gearbox, we’re almost bone dry. Complete strip down of Primary, Clutch, and Transmission revealed an astonishing LACK of serious damage, but for a stressed Primary chain and mild heating of gears that showed up as a straw colour. What amazed me was that the clutch plates were all still perfectly serviceable and I put it all back together with a new chain, then rode it all over the country for the next ten years. Pretty early on I replaced the standard shocks with Progressives that were one inch longer than the factory ones and was rewarded by a mate who was following me on his Laverda Jota cursing the fact that he was grinding things in the corners, whilst I was not. He said that just wasn’t right and sulked for a while. I also changed the 883 front belt pulley for the 1200 one, because the 29 tooth 1200 one gave me lower revs at highway speeds and I didn’t mind the minor loss at takeoff. A few years back, I decided to strip the bike down to the last nuts and bolts and replace anything that needed it. The engine got an upgrade to 1275cc with one of the excellent kits from Hammer Performance. Naturally, I put in a bigger oil pump (2007 standard upgrade), a stronger clutch, and a some other minor mods. I stayed with the stock heads, mainly because I didn’t have the time to wait for them to go to the USA and then come back after being worked, but also because I didn’t have the cash. I ended up with nearly double the horsepower I had before the upgrade, significantly better fuel consumption, and a bike that has a spectacular power/weight ratio. The Carillo pistons are near enough the PERFECT weight for this engine and the Carby tuning wizard I took it to didn’t believe that I did not have the crank and rods balanced, it is that smooth. It’s my favourite bike out of all those I have owned and I don’t see myself selling it. Ever. It doesn’t have a power band, it just pulls like a train from idle to the rev limit I set at 6000. Since I am well past the Ton before I reach that point in top gear, I have all I need, and second gear through the twisties is heaven, with me just rolling on and then off, as needed. I rarely touch the brakes.
Afternoon Big Al - thanks for the comment. You sound like a real Sportster fan, which works for me. 😉 I love the Sportster too, even though I am 'less than mechanically minded' too, so lament its passing greatly. When I had mine, I'd have loved to put a Hammer kit on it but, alas, I never had the money. Nowadays, I need the electronics (cruise/traction, etc.), which isn't very fashionable in the Sportster community, but it's true. I wish Jochen Zeitz hadn't killed the Sportster though. But, he's the CEO genius and I'm an old, over-weight UA-camr: you see the problem. I'm guessing the similarities you remember from T100/T110 is technical? That is, there were no electronics or 'embelishments' on those old Triumphs, like the Sportster? I've never riden a Meriden Triumph, but I imagine a 500cc parallel twin would feel very different from a heavy Sportster. Anyway, it's nice to hear you being so passionate about your ride. Cheers Al, Chris
Thanks for that mate! Great stuff. I have a ‘14 XL1200C. Bought last year with 385 km. Absolutely love it! V&H slips ons & a new air box, corbin solo & it’s wonderful.
When you are a fast motorcycle there is nowhere to go but down. Sportsters, Norton Commandos, Kawasaki H-1 500 &H-2 750 , Z-900, there's always a faster bike.Sporsters had more than just speed 🚅 They have character that keeps buyers coming back for more.l love my Sportster and it doesn't have to be fast. It makes me smile 😊😁 every time l start her up. She's as eager to go down the road as l am. She purrs and sings as she is ridden. Like a good 🐎 horse she gives you a pleasure that is hard to describe and measure. Could be that's why I have had my Sportster for 25 years. Of course l have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years as well. Something to be said for both.
Afternoon Frank - great to hear from you again. As before, I am stunned and impressed that you've been riding a hard tail for 40 years. You must be a regular Iron Man! (I do miss my Sportster - maybe I'll be able to get another one day...) I agree about 'fast': speed isn't the buzz for me - it is for my brother, Mike, but he's stupid... I think you linked an image there, but I can't open it. I asked before Frank but you never said: how are you? Cheers, Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 l am haveing bach issues. Pain when standing and walking. My TR-6 is off the road at the moment. Needs a new carburetor.My back doesn't hurt 🤕 when I ride but l am staying local. Having leg and foot pain as well. I won't let them keep me off the road 🛣️. Love your history of the Sportsters. Thanks for asking. I hope you are doing well.
Nice to hear the Sportster love from across the pond. We had 2 in 2001 for a few years and a couple of years ago fell back into them. Have picked up 3 used Sporties for great prices including a 2000 with a Buell engine swap that is a blast to ride.
Morning Randy - yep, plenty of 'Sportster love' over here. Glad you've found some bargains for yourself... though, 3? Sounds like too many bikes for one bum. Of course, I'd be happy to sort that for you: I'll happily take one off your hands - or two, as I have a very large bum... Cheers Randy. 🙂
I have a 2001 1200. I will keep it forever. Its what a bike is supposed to be. It just puts a smile on your face. The only other bike take comes close to it was the old 650 Triumphs. It's the feel of freedom. You know you were on a bike after you get off of it😁. Enjoy
After the last Evo Sportster has rolled off the assembly line that will be the end of Harley for me. They sabotaged the Evo Sporty sales for 2022 by overpricing it so they justify its demise with low sales and justify the price of the Revcrap Sporty. From 2017-on they killed every model that I would be interested in. Now everything on the floor is either uninteresting or way overpriced. Bye Harley.
The Sportster does not have an identity crisis - it is the most versatile bike H-D ever made, hence the longevity of it's production run. The fact that some people think it an odd bike is their problem - definitions are for those with limited imagination !
@@chrisoftheot6272 Whatever do you mean by 'identifiable' - there were several 'regenerations' in an attempt to fulfil the original purpose of the Sporty - to try to keep up with the faster and more agile British bikes of the 1950's. It failed at the outset and never actually achieved it's goal, then the jap bikes just put it in the shade. Don't miss-understand me - I have a Sporty, my second one, along with a twin cam and have no interest in any other bikes - even the M8's or new sportsters as they just ain't anything like as characterful as the older ones. My bikes ain't standard as far as the engines go ( TC is over 130 bhp and torque, Sporty about 100bhp and 85 ftlbs) or for that matter much of the running gear, amd as for 'identifiable', well you can see they are Hartleys but only the boring ones (owned by boring people) stay standard !
Afternoon Thakery - sorry, I seem to have missed your reply, I do apologise! I think you're basic questions here would be answered fully with my History of the Sportster series. (I am just starting episode 5, it'll be a month or so before it's published though.) I too, like a TC, but I couldn't help but note your Sportster preferences, and that your current mount has 100hp. A HUNDRED! Did you bore it out to one gazzillion? (Maybe a Hammer 88" kit?) Wow - I bet that's an angry ride! I've never even seen a full-on mega bore Sportster, let alone ridden one, but I would sure like to! Would you do me a favour, watch my Sportster histories, and report back? I'd like to know what you think. Cheers (sorry, again, for missing your post), Chris
My Sporty, originally a 2006 XL1200R, now has Hammer 1250 cylinders and square dome pistons giving10'5 : 1, reworked heads - porting etc, a Hammer inlet manifold for a 45mm Mikuni, Hammer 560 cams, a set of roller rockers with a slight increase in ratio so it has 577 thou lift, S&S taper mufflers on standard downpipes and an S&S Stealth air cleaner. It also hsa Daytona Twin Tec TC88A which allows me to write my own ignition map.... very handy as with all the things I have done, any 'pre-set' map just doesn't work - they are all 'retarded' ! All I have done really is romove all the emmisions crap that bikes have gained over the years and made things 'as they SHOULD be'........ I have also fitted a 32 tooth gearbox pully so the bike does 23.78 mph per 1000rpm - I daren't use lower gearing or the front wheel is always in the air..... it'll do 100mph in third !
Afternoon Thakery - your Sportster seems amazing, I'd always hankered after a Hammer kit. (Not sure I'd be doing 100 m.p.h in third gear though!) I've never heard of the Daytona tuners before - and would never have guessed a Twin Cam unit would work on a Sportster. But it must be nice to get the tune just as you want it. I can only dream! Cheers, Chris
I "test road" both the Nightster 975 and the Sportster S. I was curious what a bike with 121 hp felt like. The Sportster S was a missile! When my ride was over, I happily road my 48 home.
Hi Henry - you are the first person I've spoken to who has test-riden the Rev Max bikes. (I sat on the S model: Wow, it was uncomfortable!!) That's the thing about missiles, I suppose, they're really fast, but not an ideal motorcycle. Cheers, Chris
I have a 1999 Sportster 883, in 20-plus years I have put three hundred and seventy thousand miles on her on original engine. It may not be worth anything on the market it may not be worth anything to Harley but it's my first Harley and it's worth something to me. I am a Triumph guy and when I bought my Sportster people could not believe that I bought a Sportster and I said I bought a new dog too I didn't shoot the old one. All of my dogs are rescues this government phone doesn't translate what you say and sometimes it's too many words back to correct it but now it's translating perfectly imagine that. When I ride up on it and everybody is on brand new MH and they look at my bike and they kind of pity me and I tell them my bike is slow so to get the mileage I have on my bike I have to put in more hours of riding the bike and just like when I fly my plane it's real slow compared to what else is on the field but the whole point of riding or flying is to be enjoying it and not to be home that much sooner. When I'm in the Harley shop and people look at Sportsters I tell them all about mine and I have sold six Sportsters for them. Of course the salesman wanted them to buy nice big heavy expensive motorcycles so I spoiled the sale and they don't like it. Harley if you want to be different and a Sportster is if you want to be really different. My Sportster is a great Touring bike. I like having something different. When my Sportster needed a stator it got it, at 250,000 MI I wore out the whole front end from going up and down and up and down some guy bought a brand new 2009 Sportster and put a Springer front end on it so I was able to buy the whole front end with the updated brakes and my Harley guy put it on for me 400 bucks all together. I will never sell my Sportster!
Thanks for another great video Chris, I still have my 2011 XL883N which I've owned from new. The Sportster suits me fine at my time of life. Best Regards bluenose-1956
Morning Dave - great to hear from you again. Thanks for the complement too. I'd love to have stuck with my Custom, but those electronics - I just need them ('at my time of life'!). Cheers, Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 Hello again Chris, it was good to hear from you again, sorry about my late reply, I haven't been on your channel for some time. I'm having electrical problems with my 2011 XL883N, water ingression in my LED warning lights to be precise. Last year water got into the warning lights circuit board and my neutral light and high beam light failed. I replaced the harness with a new one and all was fine again until this year, water has gotten in again and my oil warning light has failed. This time I've bought a second hand harness from a 2008 XL1200C, the warning lights lens damaged on this harness and it is different to my 2011 lens, so I will source a new lens and hopefully the used harness will work fine and dandy. The warning lights setup is a terrible design by H-D which allows water to seep into the LED circuit board. Take care Chris, all the best from Dave.
@@davidmacgregor5193 Morning Dave - hey, great to hear from you again mate. Wow - you're on your third harness?! This must have cost a goodly wedge, especially since one was new. The trusty Sportster can be a frustrating beast at times, can't it? Even though I shall always love mine, it is now sold, alas, and I'm on a Triumph Speedmaster (a whole different world!). I was really close to getting a set of stainless screws & bolts from you, but then I sold it. Sadly. But it certainly had the smile-on-your-face effect. And the torque - I really miss that. Mine had an ECM re-program, which really helped the low-rev running. Amazing, actually. (It was Hilltop in Leicestershire who did the programming - which, they stress, is not a 're-map'. No idea why or how!) It was wonderfully effective though, and not something available on a Speedmaster, apparently. Anyway Dave, I'm glad your on the case and can sort it out. Also, you sound like you've got over the health issues - which sounded really scary to me - so I'm hoping those things are all in the past now. Enjoy the ride, Dave! Thanks for the note. Cheers, Chris
Just acquired my 5th Harley Davidson, a beautiful XL1200C Sportster. It is the only one of the five Harleys purchased used. Harley considers it obsolete. Won't even recognize it in the online parts store. The new Sportsters have been Bastardized just like the parent company Harley Davidson. Maybe my money and the recognition going to them needs to be obsoleted as well.
Why Evolution Sportster runs 200° in August in Florida to up. That's according to the thermometer in the dipstick in the oil tank. Can't get better than that.
I own a 77 shovel sportster that I built in my living room ground up….love it.. really enjoyed the video always thought a good move would be to put the VRod motor in the sportster …. make one version a V4 now you got a sportster it would eat up everything on the road…lol
Morning Jerry - interesting idea about the V-Rod engine, but isn't that the RevMax? (And, since this is derived from the Porsche Nova concepts, a V4 might work!) Still, it wouldn't be a Sportster to me... Cheers, Chris
I guess it really comes down to how you define sportster.. i’ve always personally seen it as a flat track dirtbike…. if you see it as a sport bike designed by Harley Davidson I think that’s totally different…. just my thought but then again the sportster is a multi platform that’s one of the things that made it great….. I think that’s gone….. reliability is the lurking question on the new sportster motor? Harley Davidson‘s been working on a V4 for years in the background…..
Morning Jerry - that issue of 'Sportster definition' is key for me. I imagine that this series of videos emphasises that I am firmly of the opinion that a Sportster has an Ironhead motor or an Evolution motor (NOT a RevMax/Porsche engine). I agree that the Sportster emerged as a flat-track type of bike. (For Allan Girdler, the iconic Sportster was the first XLCH: very flat-trackerist...) I was looking at the H-D Museum website and they have a (very short) Project Nova video which I shall have to watch. I think they have a prototype V4 from the 1970s. Cheers, Chris
I love my Sportster, but I took it off road chasing my German Shepherd on a trail going to the lake where she like to go swimming and having done the same thing on my Triumph 500 and comparing it to the Sportster I'm like wow the guys who wrote a Sportster in the dirt must have had cast iron balls.
I ride a 2021 Forty-Eight. I bought her last summer because she is a real Sportster. I was 2 years old when the first Sportster hit the road. My sweet Forty-Eight and I are retiring together, and I plan to ride her till the breath leaves this body.
I own three Sportsters. All carbureted EVO models, two 1200s and one 883. For, to start out with, a motorcycle of any kind is first and foremost a MACHINE. And to me than means no computers, no EFI, no ABS, none of that garbage. Other than a basic electrical system to turn the starter, charge the battery, and run the lights and ignition, it should be 100% mechanical. I bought my first Sportster nearly 20 years ago, and I bought it used. I have bought quite a few new Japanese bikes, but never a new Harley. Just too expensive. I had several Japanese bikes at the time, I got rid of one of them to get the Sportster. And immediately fell in love with it. It was everything I wanted in a motorcycle of that size. over the next several years, I sold a couple more of my Japanese bikes, and replaced them with used Sportsters. For me, the two main reasons, over 90% of the reason I love the Sportster, is the sound and feel. Two things no over refined Japanese bike ever had. I would have actually been at least sort of ok with a liquid cooled Sportster. Liquid cooling goes back to the Model T. It is ancient technology, and that is what I want in a motorcycle. I am not interested in riding a computer on wheels, and I do not want something smooth and quiet and overly refined. So if a liquid cooled Sportster still sounded and felt like an Ironhead or EVO Sportster, I could live with it. But these new "revolution max" bikes are just like Japanese bikes. so smooth and quiet they might as well be battery powered. No thanks. As for the M8 engine, I wouldn't even consider one. I test rode a Road Glide with that pitiful, pathetic engine when it first came out, to see if the rumors I was hearing were true. Sadly they were. H-D put a counterbalancer in the M8. WHY? Was there a need to destroy the Harley feel? While I have never owned a full sized Harley, I have ridden a couple. An 80 inch EVO and a couple of Twin Cam Dynas. They felt the way a Harley should. But the M8 literally had no feel or sound. Exactly the same as my last Japanese bike, a 1998 Honda Goldwing. It has taken me a lot of places with reliability and comfort. But it's about as exciting as watching water drain out of a sink. And so was the M8. No feel, I couldn't even tell that the engine was running. No sound with the stock exhaust, it was so quiet all I could hear was gear whine. In no way do I consider that bike, or any other bike with the M8 a Harley. Being a Harley to me is not just a name on the tank. Not just being made by H-D. It mostly comes down to the feel and sound, something which full sized H-D bikes have not had since the M8 engine came out. The Sportster was the only real Harley left. And now it's gone. But really, while the last of the EVO Sportsters have the Harley feel, and can come close to making the Harley sound with an aftermarket exhaust (to really get the Harley sound, and to eliminate the computer GARBAGE, any EVO or Twin Cam Harley can be converted to a carburetor) H-D seriously messed up the Sportsters looks. To me, a motorcycle, or at least a cruiser, should have bright shiny paint and tons of chrome. All three of my Sportsters do. I've added extra chrome. But H-D got rid of all the shiny paint and chrome on the last few years of the Sportsters, making them look like matte black BLOBS. You can no longer see the beautiful lines of the bike, they are hidden behind layers of matte black. And while it is possible to convert one to a carburetor, and put an aftermarket exhaust on it, there is no way to get rid of all that awful matte black. This was one of the biggest tricks ever played on motorcyclists worldwide. While I believe H-D may have been the first, every motorcycle manufacturer in the world now sells mostly matte black bikes, and they have successfully convinced millions of not very smart people that this was the latest greatest thing. Suddenly chrome and shiny paint were "bad" But that was never the reason for all the matte black bikes to begin with. The real reason was a shortage of chrome, which made it very expensive, and matte paint was cheaper than gloss paint. So it was all about cutting corners on manufacturing costs. But "almost" everybody bout the manufacturers lies, hook, line, and sinker. I suspect the price of used EVO and Ironhead Sportsters will rise dramatically. If Harley won't give people what they want, they will turn to the used market. It is now possible to build a new complete EVO or Shovelhead Harley without using a single H-D part. And they are far closer to being a Harley than anything H-D now makes. I for one an hoping H-D goes out of business. They scammed potential customers all through the '90s, charging twice MSRP, and now they have quit making Harleys altogether. It is time for them to go away.
Harley knows it. We know it. Neither the "S", nor the "Nightster" are Sportsters. Sadly, the Sportster will die when the final bolt is torqued on the last 883 Iron or 48 that rolls down the assembly line.
I owned a Sportster from 1987 to 1997. I don't agree with you about the engine not making it a Sportster. Look at the air cooled R80 GS, the R100GS, then R1100 GS, R1200GS with water cooling, now the R1250GS and soon R1300GS. They are still GSs despite the changes in size, cooling, cams etc. In my opinion it is past time to evolve the Sportster to at least some contemporary performance like it was in 1972 when they went to 1000cc. Building a 60 horsepower aircooled engine weighing in around 525 pounds isn't that competitive when buyers look for what you get for the money. My beef with Harley was back in 1986 marketing the bikes as starter bikes or bikes for women or bikes if you can afford a big Harley . I thought it was funny because the "big Harleys" were slower than my Sportster. They didn't treat customers wanting a Sportster like step children like the did the Vrod and Buell customers but they did treat you like the airlines do for coach customers. I understand profit margins and sales commissions and sales people have their favorites but Harley since the late 1980s have treated customers wanting anything that wasn't a big Harley like 3rd class citizens or worse. To me that was when the Sportster started to die due lack of respect.
Morning Dad (is that okay?) - I was fair-stunned with the hurt passion your post exposes. As a Sportster fan (and now, ex-rider), I don't feel disrespected by Harley, even though I am hugely disappointed. Your GS comparison is an interesting one. For me, the GS will always be the first generation model, which was such a great idea from BMW. Today, it still looks like a great bike. I have no love for modern adventure bikes (so ugly!), but I'm old now, so who cares? If we accept the modern GS is a pukka GS (not really like the first ones), then I'd site the continuity of design which makes them so: switching to liquid cooling with bigger engines didn't really change the GS ethos or aesthetic. As you say, they're still GS. But RevMax bikes have no lineage to Sportsters, only V-Rod, which is fine, but they cannot be properly called Sportsters. Perhaps an M80 "Sportster type" bike would tempt you back to Harely? Thanks for the considered reply: very interesting point of view. 🙂
@@chrisoftheot6272 Perhaps some differences in treatment is due to the differences in culture and location. About1984 or 1985 Harley was on its knees here in the U.S. they were literally beginning potential customers to take test rides and even take a bikes home overnight. Then as know the Evolution engine came out for the bigger Harleys and followed by the Sportster line. The brand caught fire with doctors, lawyers, dentists and other professional people leading the way with their buddies joining in with many if not most not ever having ridden motorcycles before. The deep pockets of the professionals quickly drove up the prices and availability of the more expensive bikes in the 1990s. The much higher prices quickly started excluding the traditional blue collar rider. Then Harley decided that many of the smaller dealers that stood beside them in the lean years weren't posh enough for their new clientele and they pulled their franchises and sold them to big multi city or state dealerships. The staus of many of the upscale pretend outlaw bikers was tied to the motor size and the prices they could pay. These guys were ditching Sportsters as soon as their real bike came in and that is the way dealers were treating the Sportsters as a bridge bike only. I've seen many a Dentist and his wife out riding in to gas station with him on his big Harley and her on a Sportster. Sometimes the would fall over when bumping j to each other. We would pick them up and marvel at the $2000 of gear they had on and their lack of riding skills. No my friend I didn't leave Harley nor did many blue collar riders they left us and the dealers who carried them who had a passion of the motorcycles. Sorry just noticed this came from my other channel, I also have Justdad.
Thanks for the reply - I am stunned that Harley would treat customers like this (as 'second class' if they bought a Sportster, back in the day). I've read othersin the US say similar things. Incredible. Surely Harely were just shooting themselves in the foot? Very strange. Here (Britain), I've never noticed that - nor the 'girls bike' nonesense. There are plenty of Harley haters here, and they hate Sportsters as much as any other Harley! The lovers just love all Harleys (like me... except the RevMax...). Cheers, Chris
I think this engine patent they filled for was for the new CVO Street glide and Road glide. They have VVT added to the M8 engine and I think water cooled heads. All HD seems to really care about anymore are the big twin bikes. I go out for a ride on my Sportster on a Saturday and it seems like 90% of the bikes I see are baggers. 😔
Afternoon Jim - many thanks for the comment. It is really sad that H-D have ditched the Sportster - I have been lamenting it for several years now! Glad you've still got yours. I think the patents (balancers, etc.) were filled a long time ago now, long before the 121 CVOs were in the offing. I rather think they added the VVT from the patents, which were orginally for another Milwaukee bike (what has been called the M80 as it was guessed to be an 80" engine). But, alas, we'll probably never know now. I may have a word with Jochen one of these days... Cheers Jim, Chris
Love the look of the 48 but a 5 speed doesn't cut it and understand the suspension both front and rear are woeful....so a good bike for perfect pavement, in town.
The Sportsters character is the gas tank. The tank denotes the motorcycle. You picture a set of Fat Bob tanks and you picture a big dresser Harley, you see a Triumph tank you picture a Triumph Etc even without the label.
I like the historical perspective. It's a little known fact, but the K Model was supposed to be a high camshaft OHV called the KL. But development time ran out and it still had problems so they came out with the side valve K instead.
Afternoon Brown - many thanks for the reply, and for the appreciation of the 'historical perspective'. I had no idea that the K was supposed to be OHV. Can I ask where you got this information? Very interesting! Cheers, Chris
Hi Brown - I got a notification that you've left a comment, but I can't access it anywhere. (Flamin' UA-cam...) Can you re-post it please? (Sorry mate!)
Yes, the K series wasn't the sharpest move for H-D - but it did pave the way, so-to-speak. Alan Girdler called the K 'an apprentice Sportster': seems apt!
@@chrisoftheot6272 K Model was more an act of desperation and necessity. HD needed a new bike to fight the mid-weight British imports. So when the KL OHV didn't pan out, they slapped a side-valve K top on a modified KL bottom and called it a day. K sits between two worlds as an oddball machine with both modern and antique features. Doesn't Girdler mention the KL OHV in his book?
I sure miss the days that when you rode by on a Harley Sportster people would turn around and say Look ! it's a Harley ! and you were the one ridding it. Those days are way ,way gone. Now Harley , Honda , Suzuki , Yamaha and whatever they all look about the same and sound about the same. Just sad. j-d
God bless the SVM Stormbreaker. Now thousands of people around the world 🌎 🌍 will get to know what a pleasure riding a Sportster is. Rebuildable forever and rideable forever ♾️. Thousands of custom parts and hop up parts are available as well as service from any independent shop. It will go on forever ♾️.
You hit a spot for me there Frank: I love the idea that the Sportster may live on. BUT! Despite there being a Stormbreaker at the last two EICMA shows in Italy (2023 & 24), I can find no-one who's ever ridden one, or even seen one in the wild. The (slightly strange) website ChinaMotorWorld.com put a price of €9,900 on them, but these bikes have never been sold in Europe. Have you got eyes on one? I NEED to know more about the Stormbreaker! Cheers, Chris
Thanks Klayton - much appreciated. I take it Bart put you onto my channel? I watch his, and have his Brough video cued-up and ready to go... Cheers, Chris
The RH1250 S did what it was meant to do. It brought new people into the brand. I was looking at the modernised Indian Challenger, Semi -modern Scout or the Honda Rebel, I never even looked to Harley. The RH1250 S was announced and I signed up two days later even though I had been shopping for a new bike for 12 months. Harley is not ditching its existing customer base (The air cooled V-twin will be there for 20-30 years). The Sportster S is the same as the Pan America, they don't expect the existing base to be the primary market. I can put up with the "It is not a REAL Harley" crowd. I just own a great bike that is exactly what I was looking for.
Harley screwed up with the new Sportster , they should have put the 150 HP Adventure bike motor in the base Sportster and put the Sport back in it, they already have super slow non sporty evo sportsters in the line up I predict the new bikes will last no longer than the Street 500 and 750 models , they could have made the Evo Sportys with say 107 inch motors that could have big bore cylinders on them like they did with the hogs
Back then, Harley had to choose between the Nova Project or the Evolution project. Now they're better positioned to where they can field the M8's, the RevMax platforms, as well as the new unitized pushrod engine in development (I think it's still a go). I believe it will carry the Sportster name well and full once established. Looking at other American automakers like Ford and GM, they're making new pushrod engines again, so I don't think Harley is gonna kill theirs off either.
Wow - car makers are producing new pushrods? I never knew that! Wild world... I'm glad you're confident about the potential M80 - oooh, I hope so too. (And Nova v. Evo: that was a great Harley decision!)
I own a 2006 883c bought in 2011. with only 4024 miles on it. in the shop right now having some work done. thinking of trading for a 2022 Honda Monkey. love the bike just do not ride it.
I predict these new sportsters will be a dud here in the US... just like the v rod. Harley has lost its way right now... I'm sure it will get worse before it gets better.
Morning Marvel - well, I'm not sure that Harley has 'lost its way', even if I do disagree with some of Mr Zeitz' decisions. (I'm sure he'd be devastated at that!) Still, he's a management super-guru and he'll get Harley-Davidson into tip-top form. That said, I see that the Forty-Eight in the US is now $12,300. Ouch! (I definitely disagree with that!) And the RevMax focus, about the M80 - I disagree with that too. I imagine that's why he's a rich, highly accomplished CEO, and I'm... not. Incidentally, when the S model first came out over here, I was curious to know if it would sell. I asked Harvey, the sales guy at the local dealership (for many years), if it was selling well. He said, "Yes, definitely." So, I imagine it is already a success, rather than a 'dud'. (It's a nice enough bike, but it's no Sportster.) Cheers Marvel, Chris
I have been riding Harleys for a touch over 40 years. I sold my stroked Shovelhead that I rode for 24 years to buy the Sportster S. This new bike is a blast to ride with power and torque to spare. The Vrod bikes are now in great demand now that they have been discontinued.
@@johnbarrett7534 John - I can hardly believe it! You sold a Shovelhead for the S model?! Incredible! (I bet the ride has improved no end!) Still... I think I'd have kept the Shovel as a second bike and, maybe, got a second-hand S (if that's what floats your boat). There are hundreds of second-hand S bikes in Britain already, even though it's a very new model. I trust you'll enjoy you new bike John. All the best to you.
First Harley, 49 years riding, mostly Triumph. A few metrics too... 2014 XL1200C, Bought it used last year with 385 km on it. Absolutely love it. Seat upgrade.
I don't care what anybody says I think the Nova why is a beautiful motorcycle and if they gave you the chance I would have bought one such a shame overly conservative management makes such foolish decisions if they come through with the Nova and then with the V-Rod and then kept Buell Motorcycles they could have had a separate showroom with the Buell Motorcycles and Anova V4 and the V-Rod which would bring in new customers and they would have the old stores where they could sell the older design motorcycles to their regular customers, they would have two shares of a big pie instead of one. Everything they have done has been a mistake. I truly feel sorry for them. I might just build another building and fill it full of bargain Sportsters.
I'd give you one piece of advice if you're waiting for a Sportster. Go see if you can buy your' old Sportster back. I have three real Sportsters (Ironheads), and I gave my '86 Evo 883 to my son. I'm not waiting for H-D to make me a "New" Sportster. Here in the USA we say "Hold out both hands. wish in one and S..t in the other. See which one fills up first". H-D has written off the Sportster lovers, the people that kept them alive. Regards.
Afternoon (agan) Dean - thanks for the information re: US saying. How delightfully evocative! (Thanks for the mental image...) Still, it's a fair point. But, as far as Harley are concerned, they have made a 'new Sportster'. As far as you and me are concerned, it's not a Sportster at all. Obviously. I love your 'real' Sportsters are Ironheads note: every Harley fan in the world knows which models, or eras, offered 'real' Harleys - and they're all different. (Some believe only side-valves are 'true' Harleys, others don't think the Sportster 'really counts'. I believe a 'real' Harley is an Evo. Go figure...!) The gent who bought my beautiful Custom, Phil, has now died and left it to his young son for when he's old enough to ride. As I told him, that's a true Harley legacy. Your son is a greatly blessed fella'; good on you both. Cheers, Chris
This is THE COOLEST Video Ive seen on Harleys in months! I cannot believe the 20% Hike Ive seen on pricepoints. Indians are great bikes but they dont have the infrastructure to compete, so Harley is basically raping everyones wallet. Also, what are they calling a 48 a “Cruiser” for? Wth? Harley need to fire their Woke idiot marketing team and get their shit together
Love your channel. But please understand I am a red blooded American white male Irish/polish beer drinking rum loving sailor in his 50s. As a kid in the USA I was told just say no to drugs and don't take a ride from a stranger. Now we have "lyft,Uber " and an experimental drug you must take to go out your house. Harley has lost there way since willy G left. They are part of the bud light crew now. The jobiden 6' safe gang the it's ok to be a map group. You want purple hair that cool even if your not in a rock n roll band. Let your freak flag fly baby. You and I are old dogs that made it through the covid purge. We have morals we actually know what's right n wrong. "It's the end of the world as we knew it & I feel fine" God bless you brother get you an old low milage xl say 1989 or 90 there's got to be 10k left on the black market and eat meat. Watch demolition man if you get a chance ❤❤❤
Ps I road rice from the 70s till 94 got an 883 in 94 then a 84 fxr late 94 still ride the low rider but just got a 1976 1liter and f ING love the old bowling ally bike nothing like a AMF. it's a part of history where has it been? How many titties has it seen how many beers drank working on her and she's still ticking nearly 50 years later
Morning Brent - nice to hear from a 'a red blooded American white male Irish/polish beer drinking rum loving sailor': what's not to love?! I agree with the wierd 'modern world' malarkey; it seems that this world is a place I fit into less and less as I get older. (I'd try purple hair, but I just haven't got enough left to colour...) Still, the modern world does have it's benefits: big TVs with satelite tuners; bikes and cars are much cheaper; and we can get our shopping delivered to our front door. As for Harley 'losing their way', well, things have changed enormously since 2012, but I don't think Willie G. retiring is the problem. I liked the way Harley were going with Matt Levatich as boss, but the 'More Roads to Harley' program was unsustaibable - alas! Jochen Zeitz is a genius CEO, but I was horrified when the Sportster was cancelled - and the 'M80' project. But he's a genius CEO and I'm, well, not. So, like many, many things in the modern world, I may hate it, but I have to accept it. Sad though. Also, I think chocolate is cheaper nowadays (very good thing, obviously) and, although I am also beer lover, medication for many years means I can't drink alcohol - gasp! - but now there is alcohol-free Guiness: wonder of wonders! It's the only alcohol free beer that tastes nice. So, it could be worse, sailor! Cheers Brent, Chris
I came of age in the seventies riding a smooth, reliable, quiet BMW R60/7 in college. At the time I couldn't understand why anyone would want a loud, smelly, unreliable semi-antique that required an amazing amount of maintenance and repair, all to be able to enjoy cycling. During that period I also owned the legendary Honda CB750 for the same reasons. I see these bloated H-D's as transport for old men who somehow see themselves as 'outlaws', daring, whatever. Usually I see the guys riding these with pot bellies over jeans and a gray ponytail. It'll take more than overpricing and false patriotism to keep this very flawed brand going in future times.
So, obviously, you are a foreigner to the USA? From your post, I'm going to guess that you don't (cannot) do any of your own maintenance? Harley Davidson (was) actually, a way of life for most riders. We can see it was, and is not, your "cup of tea". Although, your anti patriotic views are duly noted. Keep riding your "safe bikes", we will stay on our bikes that real men ride, of course, that is, if you are not a woman! 🙂
Yeah, well I have never understood why anyone would want to ride a motorcycle that you can literally fall asleep on, either, but I can say that I have owned my Sportster for many years and it has never let me down, nor does it require a huge amount of maintenance. However, I have met BMW riders who think that 200 miles in a day is a long ride, which is ridiculous, as I don’t regard anything less than 500 miles as a decent day’s ride. The CB750 was very reliable etc, but the moat frightening bike I have ever tried to het to go round corners. It handled like a concrete mixer on two wheels, but hey, if that’s your thing, you can keep it. I don’t usually bag people for what they ride, but if you wanna throw insults around, I can sure oblige you. I have 51 years of riding in sun, rain, hail, and snow, behind me and I have one pet hate; people who are motorcycle snobs. Thqt goes for Harley riders as well as any other kind of motorcycles. I noticed that you said that you ‘always felt like…’ but never mentioned how many different types of motorcycles you’ve actually ridden? So, an uneducated rider in terms of experiencing what other people ride and then criticising their choices is arrogant enough for you to be ostracised by all thinking people. You deserve everything that comes your way.
Brilliant perspective of our beloved Sportster. I have owned numerous models during my 45 years of riding. With the introduction of the Revolution jobs they have lost me. I still have my 2006 XLC. Never shall we part.
Thank you for you kind words Rick, they're much appreciated. And, I, obviously, agree completely. RevMax may have a place in the world, but not in the Sportster world...
Cheers,
Chris
Among other bikes, I also have a 2008 Sportster. Only one or two of my friends appreciate the bike, but it is a wonderful bike. It's not a heavy touring bike, nor is it a sports bike, but it is an incredibly fun and great looking lightweight cruiser that I really enjoy riding. The Sportster is a great bike and it's sad to see it's demise in the Harley line.
Morning Ty - obviously, I agree completely. It's a real tragedy that H-D have stopped producing it. Sigh...
Cheers,
Chris
If you get a chance toss a leg over an iron head you'll be buying one
I am still stuck in the shovelhead era... the new rev max bikes could well have been hondas as far as I am concerned.
The engine on the 883 cost them $400 to make. They made enough money tho.
I've started with a 2017 Roadster (ground clearance and good suspension), added a Custom fuel tank (a rounder, more British aesthetic with 4.5 gallons of capacity), a 48 rear fender (more tire coverage) and handlebars (a more upright riding position), and a Euro-style fender-mounted license plate (rather than the hideous side mount). I've also added a Screamin Eagle air cleaner and a Cobra 2-into-1 exhaust (I may upgrade the cams). This is a model that H-D could have easily built as the necessary parts were already on the shelf. I sometimes wonder if the marketing people are simply blinded by fashion.
I have inherited a 2003 Sportster hugger 883 to go with my M8 softail. I think its perfect for around town and local trips. Debating a 1200 conversion but its not a must. 500 pounds, Carb, and rigid mounted give it a wonderful feel. The screamin eagle II slip ons add a little sound but not bad enough to annoy the neighbors
Sportsters Forever. Great video. Thank you. Greetings from Maryland.
Thank you Douglas, I appreciate the high praises greatly - thanks again.
Cheers,
Chris
bought a 1993 sportster last year,this weekend i pick up a 1994 for my wife :)Was last weekend at a HD dealer here in Norway for the first time ever,was looking at a Sportster S.Glad i bought a Sportster last year instead:)
I got my first Sportster in 1989 a 1200 and presently riding a 2003 xl1200s which I have owned about 17 years. I really like them, I have other bikes but the sporty gives the most smiles.
Hey up! I’m an English born but New Zealand raised biker who has lived in the land of Oz for the last four decades.
I grew up on Triumphs and rode them all over NZ in my teens. Been riding for half a century plus one this year and the proud owner of a 1997 Sporty for the last 18 years.
It started life as an 883 and I have ridden it over Eastern Australia, from Adelaide to Brisbane, several times over the years. Never let me down, loads of fun to ride in the twisties, it was far closer to the Bonnies and Tigers of the 60’s and 70’s than the retro versions I had been considering purchasing.
I bought it secondhand from a friend who was less than mechanically minded shall we say, and so while it’s true that the bike has never let me down, I did need to do a couple of things straight after buying it, so it would be the reliable bike if has been. Somehow my mate had gotten the idea that the Primary chain-case oil was fed from the engine (which IS what happened with the aforementioned 1960’s-70’s Triumphs) and so the Primary case, clutch, and gearbox, we’re almost bone dry.
Complete strip down of Primary, Clutch, and Transmission revealed an astonishing LACK of serious damage, but for a stressed Primary chain and mild heating of gears that showed up as a straw colour. What amazed me was that the clutch plates were all still perfectly serviceable and I put it all back together with a new chain, then rode it all over the country for the next ten years.
Pretty early on I replaced the standard shocks with Progressives that were one inch longer than the factory ones and was rewarded by a mate who was following me on his Laverda Jota cursing the fact that he was grinding things in the corners, whilst I was not. He said that just wasn’t right and sulked for a while.
I also changed the 883 front belt pulley for the 1200 one, because the 29 tooth 1200 one gave me lower revs at highway speeds and I didn’t mind the minor loss at takeoff.
A few years back, I decided to strip the bike down to the last nuts and bolts and replace anything that needed it. The engine got an upgrade to 1275cc with one of the excellent kits from Hammer Performance. Naturally, I put in a bigger oil pump (2007 standard upgrade), a stronger clutch, and a some other minor mods.
I stayed with the stock heads, mainly because I didn’t have the time to wait for them to go to the USA and then come back after being worked, but also because I didn’t have the cash. I ended up with nearly double the horsepower I had before the upgrade, significantly better fuel consumption, and a bike that has a spectacular power/weight ratio. The Carillo pistons are near enough the PERFECT weight for this engine and the Carby tuning wizard I took it to didn’t believe that I did not have the crank and rods balanced, it is that smooth.
It’s my favourite bike out of all those I have owned and I don’t see myself selling it. Ever. It doesn’t have a power band, it just pulls like a train from idle to the rev limit I set at 6000. Since I am well past the Ton before I reach that point in top gear, I have all I need, and second gear through the twisties is heaven, with me just rolling on and then off, as needed. I rarely touch the brakes.
Afternoon Big Al - thanks for the comment. You sound like a real Sportster fan, which works for me. 😉 I love the Sportster too, even though I am 'less than mechanically minded' too, so lament its passing greatly. When I had mine, I'd have loved to put a Hammer kit on it but, alas, I never had the money. Nowadays, I need the electronics (cruise/traction, etc.), which isn't very fashionable in the Sportster community, but it's true.
I wish Jochen Zeitz hadn't killed the Sportster though. But, he's the CEO genius and I'm an old, over-weight UA-camr: you see the problem.
I'm guessing the similarities you remember from T100/T110 is technical? That is, there were no electronics or 'embelishments' on those old Triumphs, like the Sportster? I've never riden a Meriden Triumph, but I imagine a 500cc parallel twin would feel very different from a heavy Sportster.
Anyway, it's nice to hear you being so passionate about your ride.
Cheers Al,
Chris
Thanks for that mate! Great stuff. I have a ‘14 XL1200C. Bought last year with 385 km. Absolutely love it! V&H slips ons & a new air box, corbin solo & it’s wonderful.
Amen to that! :-)
When you are a fast motorcycle there is nowhere to go but down. Sportsters, Norton Commandos, Kawasaki H-1 500 &H-2 750 , Z-900, there's always a faster bike.Sporsters had more than just speed 🚅
They have character that keeps buyers coming back for more.l love my Sportster and it doesn't have to be fast. It makes me smile 😊😁 every time l start her up. She's as eager to go down the road as l am. She purrs and sings as she is ridden. Like a good 🐎 horse she gives you a pleasure that is hard to describe and measure. Could be that's why I have had my Sportster for 25 years. Of course l have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years as well. Something to be said for both.
Afternoon Frank - great to hear from you again. As before, I am stunned and impressed that you've been riding a hard tail for 40 years. You must be a regular Iron Man! (I do miss my Sportster - maybe I'll be able to get another one day...) I agree about 'fast': speed isn't the buzz for me - it is for my brother, Mike, but he's stupid...
I think you linked an image there, but I can't open it.
I asked before Frank but you never said: how are you?
Cheers,
Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 l am haveing bach issues. Pain when standing and walking. My TR-6 is off the road at the moment. Needs a new carburetor.My back doesn't hurt 🤕 when I ride but l am staying local. Having leg and foot pain as well. I won't let them keep me off the road 🛣️. Love your history of the Sportsters. Thanks for asking. I hope you are doing well.
Nice to hear the Sportster love from across the pond. We had 2 in 2001 for a few years and a couple of years ago fell back into them. Have picked up 3 used Sporties for great prices including a 2000 with a Buell engine swap that is a blast to ride.
Morning Randy - yep, plenty of 'Sportster love' over here. Glad you've found some bargains for yourself... though, 3? Sounds like too many bikes for one bum. Of course, I'd be happy to sort that for you: I'll happily take one off your hands - or two, as I have a very large bum... Cheers Randy. 🙂
I have owned 3 sportsters, 1980 XLH, 1988 XL 1200, and my current 1974 XLH, love these bikes.
Afternoon Pastor - gotta' love that '74 XLH - and it'll be in the next history video... at some point...
Cheers,
Chris
I have a 2001 1200. I will keep it forever. Its what a bike is supposed to be. It just puts a smile on your face. The only other bike take comes close to it was the old 650 Triumphs. It's the feel of freedom. You know you were on a bike after you get off of it😁. Enjoy
'It just puts a smile on your face.' That's the whole nine-yards Dennis! Cheers mate.
After the last Evo Sportster has rolled off the assembly line that will be the end of Harley for me. They sabotaged the Evo Sporty sales for 2022 by overpricing it so they justify its demise with low sales and justify the price of the Revcrap Sporty.
From 2017-on they killed every model that I would be interested in. Now everything on the floor is either uninteresting or way overpriced. Bye Harley.
The Sportster does not have an identity crisis - it is the most versatile bike H-D ever made, hence the longevity of it's production run.
The fact that some people think it an odd bike is their problem - definitions are for those with limited imagination !
Morning Thakery - I think my point was that the Sportster was a great bike, and clearly 'indentifiable': but not any more.
Cheers,
Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 Whatever do you mean by 'identifiable' - there were several 'regenerations' in an attempt to fulfil the original purpose of the Sporty - to try to keep up with the faster and more agile British bikes of the 1950's. It failed at the outset and never actually achieved it's goal, then the jap bikes just put it in the shade.
Don't miss-understand me - I have a Sporty, my second one, along with a twin cam and have no interest in any other bikes - even the M8's or new sportsters as they just ain't anything like as characterful as the older ones. My bikes ain't standard as far as the engines go ( TC is over 130 bhp and torque, Sporty about 100bhp and 85 ftlbs) or for that matter much of the running gear, amd as for 'identifiable', well you can see they are Hartleys but only the boring ones (owned by boring people) stay standard !
Afternoon Thakery - sorry, I seem to have missed your reply, I do apologise!
I think you're basic questions here would be answered fully with my History of the Sportster series. (I am just starting episode 5, it'll be a month or so before it's published though.)
I too, like a TC, but I couldn't help but note your Sportster preferences, and that your current mount has 100hp. A HUNDRED! Did you bore it out to one gazzillion? (Maybe a Hammer 88" kit?) Wow - I bet that's an angry ride! I've never even seen a full-on mega bore Sportster, let alone ridden one, but I would sure like to!
Would you do me a favour, watch my Sportster histories, and report back? I'd like to know what you think.
Cheers (sorry, again, for missing your post),
Chris
My Sporty, originally a 2006 XL1200R, now has Hammer 1250 cylinders and square dome pistons giving10'5 : 1, reworked heads - porting etc, a Hammer inlet manifold for a 45mm Mikuni, Hammer 560 cams, a set of roller rockers with a slight increase in ratio so it has 577 thou lift, S&S taper mufflers on standard downpipes and an S&S Stealth air cleaner.
It also hsa Daytona Twin Tec TC88A which allows me to write my own ignition map.... very handy as with all the things I have done, any 'pre-set' map just doesn't work - they are all 'retarded' !
All I have done really is romove all the emmisions crap that bikes have gained over the years and made things 'as they SHOULD be'........
I have also fitted a 32 tooth gearbox pully so the bike does 23.78 mph per 1000rpm - I daren't use lower gearing or the front wheel is always in the air..... it'll do 100mph in third !
Afternoon Thakery - your Sportster seems amazing, I'd always hankered after a Hammer kit. (Not sure I'd be doing 100 m.p.h in third gear though!)
I've never heard of the Daytona tuners before - and would never have guessed a Twin Cam unit would work on a Sportster. But it must be nice to get the tune just as you want it. I can only dream!
Cheers,
Chris
I "test road" both the Nightster 975 and the Sportster S. I was curious what a bike with 121 hp felt like. The Sportster S was a missile! When my ride was over, I happily road my 48 home.
Hi Henry - you are the first person I've spoken to who has test-riden the Rev Max bikes. (I sat on the S model: Wow, it was uncomfortable!!) That's the thing about missiles, I suppose, they're really fast, but not an ideal motorcycle.
Cheers,
Chris
I have a 1999 Sportster 883, in 20-plus years I have put three hundred and seventy thousand miles on her on original engine. It may not be worth anything on the market it may not be worth anything to Harley but it's my first Harley and it's worth something to me. I am a Triumph guy and when I bought my Sportster people could not believe that I bought a Sportster and I said I bought a new dog too I didn't shoot the old one. All of my dogs are rescues this government phone doesn't translate what you say and sometimes it's too many words back to correct it but now it's translating perfectly imagine that. When I ride up on it and everybody is on brand new MH and they look at my bike and they kind of pity me and I tell them my bike is slow so to get the mileage I have on my bike I have to put in more hours of riding the bike and just like when I fly my plane it's real slow compared to what else is on the field but the whole point of riding or flying is to be enjoying it and not to be home that much sooner. When I'm in the Harley shop and people look at Sportsters I tell them all about mine and I have sold six Sportsters for them. Of course the salesman wanted them to buy nice big heavy expensive motorcycles so I spoiled the sale and they don't like it. Harley if you want to be different and a Sportster is if you want to be really different. My Sportster is a great Touring bike. I like having something different. When my Sportster needed a stator it got it, at 250,000 MI I wore out the whole front end from going up and down and up and down some guy bought a brand new 2009 Sportster and put a Springer front end on it so I was able to buy the whole front end with the updated brakes and my Harley guy put it on for me 400 bucks all together. I will never sell my Sportster!
Thanks for another great video Chris, I still have my 2011 XL883N which I've owned from new. The Sportster suits me fine at my time of life. Best Regards bluenose-1956
Morning Dave - great to hear from you again. Thanks for the complement too. I'd love to have stuck with my Custom, but those electronics - I just need them ('at my time of life'!).
Cheers,
Chris
@@chrisoftheot6272 Hello again Chris, it was good to hear from you again, sorry about my late reply, I haven't been on your channel for some time.
I'm having electrical problems with my 2011 XL883N, water ingression in my LED warning lights to be precise. Last year water got into the warning lights circuit board and my neutral light and high beam light failed. I replaced the harness with a new one and all was fine again until this year, water has gotten in again and my oil warning light has failed. This time I've bought a second hand harness from a 2008 XL1200C, the warning lights lens damaged on this harness and it is different to my 2011 lens, so I will source a new lens and hopefully the used harness will work fine and dandy. The warning lights setup is a terrible design by H-D which allows water to seep into the LED circuit board.
Take care Chris, all the best from Dave.
@@davidmacgregor5193 Morning Dave - hey, great to hear from you again mate.
Wow - you're on your third harness?! This must have cost a goodly wedge, especially since one was new. The trusty Sportster can be a frustrating beast at times, can't it?
Even though I shall always love mine, it is now sold, alas, and I'm on a Triumph Speedmaster (a whole different world!). I was really close to getting a set of stainless screws & bolts from you, but then I sold it. Sadly. But it certainly had the smile-on-your-face effect. And the torque - I really miss that. Mine had an ECM re-program, which really helped the low-rev running. Amazing, actually. (It was Hilltop in Leicestershire who did the programming - which, they stress, is not a 're-map'. No idea why or how!) It was wonderfully effective though, and not something available on a Speedmaster, apparently.
Anyway Dave, I'm glad your on the case and can sort it out. Also, you sound like you've got over the health issues - which sounded really scary to me - so I'm hoping those things are all in the past now.
Enjoy the ride, Dave! Thanks for the note.
Cheers,
Chris
Just acquired my 5th Harley Davidson, a beautiful XL1200C Sportster. It is the only one of the five Harleys purchased used. Harley considers it obsolete. Won't even recognize it in the online parts store. The new Sportsters have been Bastardized just like the parent company Harley Davidson. Maybe my money and the recognition going to them needs to be obsoleted as well.
Why Evolution Sportster runs 200° in August in Florida to up. That's according to the thermometer in the dipstick in the oil tank. Can't get better than that.
I own a 77 shovel sportster that I built in my living room ground up….love it.. really enjoyed the video always thought a good move would be to put the VRod motor in the sportster …. make one version a V4 now you got a sportster it would eat up everything on the road…lol
Morning Jerry - interesting idea about the V-Rod engine, but isn't that the RevMax? (And, since this is derived from the Porsche Nova concepts, a V4 might work!)
Still, it wouldn't be a Sportster to me...
Cheers,
Chris
I guess it really comes down to how you define sportster.. i’ve always personally seen it as a flat track dirtbike…. if you see it as a sport bike designed by Harley Davidson I think that’s totally different…. just my thought but then again the sportster is a multi platform that’s one of the things that made it great….. I think that’s gone….. reliability is the lurking question on the new sportster motor? Harley Davidson‘s been working on a V4 for years in the background…..
Morning Jerry - that issue of 'Sportster definition' is key for me. I imagine that this series of videos emphasises that I am firmly of the opinion that a Sportster has an Ironhead motor or an Evolution motor (NOT a RevMax/Porsche engine).
I agree that the Sportster emerged as a flat-track type of bike. (For Allan Girdler, the iconic Sportster was the first XLCH: very flat-trackerist...)
I was looking at the H-D Museum website and they have a (very short) Project Nova video which I shall have to watch. I think they have a prototype V4 from the 1970s.
Cheers,
Chris
I love my Sportster, but I took it off road chasing my German Shepherd on a trail going to the lake where she like to go swimming and having done the same thing on my Triumph 500 and comparing it to the Sportster I'm like wow the guys who wrote a Sportster in the dirt must have had cast iron balls.
I ride a 2021 Forty-Eight. I bought her last summer because she is a real Sportster.
I was 2 years old when the first Sportster hit the road. My sweet Forty-Eight and I are retiring together, and I plan to ride her till the breath leaves this body.
That's exactly how it should be! Good on ya'. :-)
Cheers,
Chris
I own three Sportsters. All carbureted EVO models, two 1200s and one 883. For, to start out with, a motorcycle of any kind is first and foremost a MACHINE. And to me than means no computers, no EFI, no ABS, none of that garbage. Other than a basic electrical system to turn the starter, charge the battery, and run the lights and ignition, it should be 100% mechanical. I bought my first Sportster nearly 20 years ago, and I bought it used. I have bought quite a few new Japanese bikes, but never a new Harley. Just too expensive. I had several Japanese bikes at the time, I got rid of one of them to get the Sportster. And immediately fell in love with it. It was everything I wanted in a motorcycle of that size. over the next several years, I sold a couple more of my Japanese bikes, and replaced them with used Sportsters. For me, the two main reasons, over 90% of the reason I love the Sportster, is the sound and feel. Two things no over refined Japanese bike ever had. I would have actually been at least sort of ok with a liquid cooled Sportster. Liquid cooling goes back to the Model T. It is ancient technology, and that is what I want in a motorcycle. I am not interested in riding a computer on wheels, and I do not want something smooth and quiet and overly refined. So if a liquid cooled Sportster still sounded and felt like an Ironhead or EVO Sportster, I could live with it. But these new "revolution max" bikes are just like Japanese bikes. so smooth and quiet they might as well be battery powered. No thanks.
As for the M8 engine, I wouldn't even consider one. I test rode a Road Glide with that pitiful, pathetic engine when it first came out, to see if the rumors I was hearing were true. Sadly they were. H-D put a counterbalancer in the M8. WHY? Was there a need to destroy the Harley feel? While I have never owned a full sized Harley, I have ridden a couple. An 80 inch EVO and a couple of Twin Cam Dynas. They felt the way a Harley should. But the M8 literally had no feel or sound. Exactly the same as my last Japanese bike, a 1998 Honda Goldwing. It has taken me a lot of places with reliability and comfort. But it's about as exciting as watching water drain out of a sink. And so was the M8. No feel, I couldn't even tell that the engine was running. No sound with the stock exhaust, it was so quiet all I could hear was gear whine. In no way do I consider that bike, or any other bike with the M8 a Harley. Being a Harley to me is not just a name on the tank. Not just being made by H-D. It mostly comes down to the feel and sound, something which full sized H-D bikes have not had since the M8 engine came out.
The Sportster was the only real Harley left. And now it's gone. But really, while the last of the EVO Sportsters have the Harley feel, and can come close to making the Harley sound with an aftermarket exhaust (to really get the Harley sound, and to eliminate the computer GARBAGE, any EVO or Twin Cam Harley can be converted to a carburetor) H-D seriously messed up the Sportsters looks. To me, a motorcycle, or at least a cruiser, should have bright shiny paint and tons of chrome. All three of my Sportsters do. I've added extra chrome. But H-D got rid of all the shiny paint and chrome on the last few years of the Sportsters, making them look like matte black BLOBS. You can no longer see the beautiful lines of the bike, they are hidden behind layers of matte black. And while it is possible to convert one to a carburetor, and put an aftermarket exhaust on it, there is no way to get rid of all that awful matte black. This was one of the biggest tricks ever played on motorcyclists worldwide. While I believe H-D may have been the first, every motorcycle manufacturer in the world now sells mostly matte black bikes, and they have successfully convinced millions of not very smart people that this was the latest greatest thing. Suddenly chrome and shiny paint were "bad" But that was never the reason for all the matte black bikes to begin with. The real reason was a shortage of chrome, which made it very expensive, and matte paint was cheaper than gloss paint. So it was all about cutting corners on manufacturing costs. But "almost" everybody bout the manufacturers lies, hook, line, and sinker. I suspect the price of used EVO and Ironhead Sportsters will rise dramatically. If Harley won't give people what they want, they will turn to the used market.
It is now possible to build a new complete EVO or Shovelhead Harley without using a single H-D part. And they are far closer to being a Harley than anything H-D now makes. I for one an hoping H-D goes out of business. They scammed potential customers all through the '90s, charging twice MSRP, and now they have quit making Harleys altogether. It is time for them to go away.
Condolences from a Milwaukee yank who preferred Brit limey bikes in the 60's and 70's.
this is why i bought a Triumph Bonneville Speed Master!!! to hell with this "new" Harley vision!
Harley knows it. We know it. Neither the "S", nor the "Nightster" are Sportsters. Sadly, the Sportster will die when the final bolt is torqued on the last 883 Iron or 48 that rolls down the assembly line.
I owned a Sportster from 1987 to 1997. I don't agree with you about the engine not making it a Sportster. Look at the air cooled R80 GS, the R100GS, then R1100 GS, R1200GS with water cooling, now the R1250GS and soon R1300GS. They are still GSs despite the changes in size, cooling, cams etc.
In my opinion it is past time to evolve the Sportster to at least some contemporary performance like it was in 1972 when they went to 1000cc. Building a 60 horsepower aircooled engine weighing in around 525 pounds isn't that competitive when buyers look for what you get for the money.
My beef with Harley was back in 1986 marketing the bikes as starter bikes or bikes for women or bikes if you can afford a big Harley . I thought it was funny because the "big Harleys" were slower than my Sportster.
They didn't treat customers wanting a Sportster like step children like the did the Vrod and Buell customers but they did treat you like the airlines do for coach customers.
I understand profit margins and sales commissions and sales people have their favorites but Harley since the late 1980s have treated customers wanting anything that wasn't a big Harley like 3rd class citizens or worse.
To me that was when the Sportster started to die due lack of respect.
Morning Dad (is that okay?) - I was fair-stunned with the hurt passion your post exposes. As a Sportster fan (and now, ex-rider), I don't feel disrespected by Harley, even though I am hugely disappointed.
Your GS comparison is an interesting one. For me, the GS will always be the first generation model, which was such a great idea from BMW. Today, it still looks like a great bike. I have no love for modern adventure bikes (so ugly!), but I'm old now, so who cares?
If we accept the modern GS is a pukka GS (not really like the first ones), then I'd site the continuity of design which makes them so: switching to liquid cooling with bigger engines didn't really change the GS ethos or aesthetic. As you say, they're still GS. But RevMax bikes have no lineage to Sportsters, only V-Rod, which is fine, but they cannot be properly called Sportsters.
Perhaps an M80 "Sportster type" bike would tempt you back to Harely?
Thanks for the considered reply: very interesting point of view. 🙂
@@chrisoftheot6272 Perhaps some differences in treatment is due to the differences in culture and location. About1984 or 1985 Harley was on its knees here in the U.S. they were literally beginning potential customers to take test rides and even take a bikes home overnight.
Then as know the Evolution engine came out for the bigger Harleys and followed by the Sportster line. The brand caught fire with doctors, lawyers, dentists and other professional people leading the way with their buddies joining in with many if not most not ever having ridden motorcycles before.
The deep pockets of the professionals quickly drove up the prices and availability of the more expensive bikes in the 1990s. The much higher prices quickly started excluding the traditional blue collar rider. Then Harley decided that many of the smaller dealers that stood beside them in the lean years weren't posh enough for their new clientele and they pulled their franchises and sold them to big multi city or state dealerships.
The staus of many of the upscale pretend outlaw bikers was tied to the motor size and the prices they could pay. These guys were ditching Sportsters as soon as their real bike came in and that is the way dealers were treating the Sportsters as a bridge bike only.
I've seen many a Dentist and his wife out riding in to gas station with him on his big Harley and her on a Sportster. Sometimes the would fall over when bumping j to each other. We would pick them up and marvel at the $2000 of gear they had on and their lack of riding skills.
No my friend I didn't leave Harley nor did many blue collar riders they left us and the dealers who carried them who had a passion of the motorcycles.
Sorry just noticed this came from my other channel, I also have Justdad.
Thanks for the reply - I am stunned that Harley would treat customers like this (as 'second class' if they bought a Sportster, back in the day). I've read othersin the US say similar things. Incredible. Surely Harely were just shooting themselves in the foot? Very strange.
Here (Britain), I've never noticed that - nor the 'girls bike' nonesense. There are plenty of Harley haters here, and they hate Sportsters as much as any other Harley! The lovers just love all Harleys (like me... except the RevMax...).
Cheers,
Chris
I can't imagine why anybody would get misty-eyed over anything HD says or does...from the USA.
I think this engine patent they filled for was for the new CVO Street glide and Road glide. They have VVT added to the M8 engine and I think water cooled heads. All HD seems to really care about anymore are the big twin bikes. I go out for a ride on my Sportster on a Saturday and it seems like 90% of the bikes I see are baggers. 😔
Afternoon Jim - many thanks for the comment.
It is really sad that H-D have ditched the Sportster - I have been lamenting it for several years now! Glad you've still got yours.
I think the patents (balancers, etc.) were filled a long time ago now, long before the 121 CVOs were in the offing. I rather think they added the VVT from the patents, which were orginally for another Milwaukee bike (what has been called the M80 as it was guessed to be an 80" engine). But, alas, we'll probably never know now. I may have a word with Jochen one of these days...
Cheers Jim,
Chris
I love my Sporty..... 2019 Roadster! It will always be Sportster to me. Never a cruiser. I will be trading up soon but I will never forget my sporty.
Love the look of the 48 but a 5 speed doesn't cut it and understand the suspension both front and rear are woeful....so a good bike for perfect pavement, in town.
The Sportsters character is the gas tank. The tank denotes the motorcycle. You picture a set of Fat Bob tanks and you picture a big dresser Harley, you see a Triumph tank you picture a Triumph Etc even without the label.
I loved my old 99’ 1200 custom. Fun bike
I like the historical perspective. It's a little known fact, but the K Model was supposed to be a high camshaft OHV called the KL. But development time ran out and it still had problems so they came out with the side valve K instead.
Afternoon Brown - many thanks for the reply, and for the appreciation of the 'historical perspective'.
I had no idea that the K was supposed to be OHV. Can I ask where you got this information? Very interesting!
Cheers,
Chris
Hi Brown - I got a notification that you've left a comment, but I can't access it anywhere. (Flamin' UA-cam...) Can you re-post it please? (Sorry mate!)
Yes, the K series wasn't the sharpest move for H-D - but it did pave the way, so-to-speak. Alan Girdler called the K 'an apprentice Sportster': seems apt!
@@chrisoftheot6272
K Model was more an act of desperation and necessity. HD needed a new bike to fight the mid-weight British imports. So when the KL OHV didn't pan out, they slapped a side-valve K top on a modified KL bottom and called it a day. K sits between two worlds as an oddball machine with both modern and antique features. Doesn't Girdler mention the KL OHV in his book?
Give me a couple of days Brown, I'll check Girdler's Sportster book and get back to you...
I sure miss the days that when you rode by on a Harley Sportster people would turn around and say Look ! it's a Harley ! and you were the one ridding it. Those days are way ,way gone. Now Harley , Honda , Suzuki , Yamaha and whatever they all look about the same and sound about the same. Just sad. j-d
God bless the SVM Stormbreaker. Now thousands of people around the world 🌎 🌍 will get to know what a pleasure riding a Sportster is. Rebuildable forever and rideable forever ♾️. Thousands of custom parts and hop up parts are available as well as service from any independent shop. It will go on forever ♾️.
You hit a spot for me there Frank: I love the idea that the Sportster may live on. BUT! Despite there being a Stormbreaker at the last two EICMA shows in Italy (2023 & 24), I can find no-one who's ever ridden one, or even seen one in the wild. The (slightly strange) website ChinaMotorWorld.com put a price of €9,900 on them, but these bikes have never been sold in Europe. Have you got eyes on one? I NEED to know more about the Stormbreaker!
Cheers,
Chris
As a Dyna rider I say “welcome to the club “
Always liked the XLCR & the XLXR1000
Afternoon Mick - they are classics today, and sort after by collectors, but not many liked them back in the day.
Cheers,
Chris
Just wanted to say, I'm here watching (and subbed!) because Bart,
(thanks bart!)
Just wanted to give a shout-out
Thanks Klayton - much appreciated. I take it Bart put you onto my channel? I watch his, and have his Brough video cued-up and ready to go...
Cheers,
Chris
Even though a rubber Mount fuel-injected Sportster has no parts in common with the old Sportster, it is still a sportster. Righteously so!
Radiators are for cars.
The RH1250 S did what it was meant to do. It brought new people into the brand. I was looking at the modernised Indian Challenger, Semi -modern Scout or the Honda Rebel, I never even looked to Harley. The RH1250 S was announced and I signed up two days later even though I had been shopping for a new bike for 12 months. Harley is not ditching its existing customer base (The air cooled V-twin will be there for 20-30 years). The Sportster S is the same as the Pan America, they don't expect the existing base to be the primary market. I can put up with the "It is not a REAL Harley" crowd. I just own a great bike that is exactly what I was looking for.
I just hope they have gotten rid of all of the inherent problems that the new Milwaukee 8 engine has.
Harley screwed up with the new Sportster , they should have put the 150 HP Adventure bike motor in the base Sportster and put the Sport back in it, they already have super slow non sporty evo sportsters in the line up I predict the new bikes will last no longer than the Street 500 and 750 models , they could have made the Evo Sportys with say 107 inch motors that could have big bore cylinders on them like they did with the hogs
I have a 2009 883 XL. I like it.
Hi Kal - I loved my XL too. Nothing like it. :-)
Cheers,
Chris
When I look at 2021 Softail Standard, I see a bike that should have been named the Sportster .
The politics of modern corporate BULLSHIT!
Back then, Harley had to choose between the Nova Project or the Evolution project. Now they're better positioned to where they can field the M8's, the RevMax platforms, as well as the new unitized pushrod engine in development (I think it's still a go). I believe it will carry the Sportster name well and full once established. Looking at other American automakers like Ford and GM, they're making new pushrod engines again, so I don't think Harley is gonna kill theirs off either.
Wow - car makers are producing new pushrods? I never knew that! Wild world... I'm glad you're confident about the potential M80 - oooh, I hope so too. (And Nova v. Evo: that was a great Harley decision!)
I own a 2006 883c bought in 2011. with only 4024 miles on it. in the shop right now having some work done. thinking of trading for a 2022 Honda Monkey. love the bike just do not ride it.
I predict these new sportsters will be a dud here in the US... just like the v rod. Harley has lost its way right now... I'm sure it will get worse before it gets better.
Morning Marvel - well, I'm not sure that Harley has 'lost its way', even if I do disagree with some of Mr Zeitz' decisions. (I'm sure he'd be devastated at that!) Still, he's a management super-guru and he'll get Harley-Davidson into tip-top form.
That said, I see that the Forty-Eight in the US is now $12,300. Ouch! (I definitely disagree with that!) And the RevMax focus, about the M80 - I disagree with that too. I imagine that's why he's a rich, highly accomplished CEO, and I'm... not.
Incidentally, when the S model first came out over here, I was curious to know if it would sell. I asked Harvey, the sales guy at the local dealership (for many years), if it was selling well. He said, "Yes, definitely." So, I imagine it is already a success, rather than a 'dud'. (It's a nice enough bike, but it's no Sportster.)
Cheers Marvel,
Chris
I have been riding Harleys for a touch over 40 years. I sold my stroked Shovelhead that I rode for 24 years to buy the Sportster S. This new bike is a blast to ride with power and torque to spare. The Vrod bikes are now in great demand now that they have been discontinued.
@@johnbarrett7534 John - I can hardly believe it! You sold a Shovelhead for the S model?! Incredible! (I bet the ride has improved no end!) Still... I think I'd have kept the Shovel as a second bike and, maybe, got a second-hand S (if that's what floats your boat). There are hundreds of second-hand S bikes in Britain already, even though it's a very new model.
I trust you'll enjoy you new bike John. All the best to you.
First Harley, 49 years riding, mostly Triumph. A few metrics too... 2014 XL1200C, Bought it used last year with 385 km on it. Absolutely love it. Seat upgrade.
I don't care what anybody says I think the Nova why is a beautiful motorcycle and if they gave you the chance I would have bought one such a shame overly conservative management makes such foolish decisions if they come through with the Nova and then with the V-Rod and then kept Buell Motorcycles they could have had a separate showroom with the Buell Motorcycles and Anova V4 and the V-Rod which would bring in new customers and they would have the old stores where they could sell the older design motorcycles to their regular customers, they would have two shares of a big pie instead of one. Everything they have done has been a mistake. I truly feel sorry for them. I might just build another building and fill it full of bargain Sportsters.
I am going to get a xs1200 while I can still find one
will said I love the nighttrain
I'd give you one piece of advice if you're waiting for a Sportster. Go see if you can buy your' old Sportster back. I have three real Sportsters (Ironheads), and I gave my '86 Evo 883 to my son. I'm not waiting for H-D to make me a "New" Sportster. Here in the USA we say "Hold out both hands. wish in one and S..t in the other. See which one fills up first". H-D has written off the Sportster lovers, the people that kept them alive. Regards.
Afternoon (agan) Dean - thanks for the information re: US saying. How delightfully evocative! (Thanks for the mental image...) Still, it's a fair point. But, as far as Harley are concerned, they have made a 'new Sportster'. As far as you and me are concerned, it's not a Sportster at all. Obviously.
I love your 'real' Sportsters are Ironheads note: every Harley fan in the world knows which models, or eras, offered 'real' Harleys - and they're all different. (Some believe only side-valves are 'true' Harleys, others don't think the Sportster 'really counts'. I believe a 'real' Harley is an Evo. Go figure...!)
The gent who bought my beautiful Custom, Phil, has now died and left it to his young son for when he's old enough to ride. As I told him, that's a true Harley legacy.
Your son is a greatly blessed fella'; good on you both.
Cheers,
Chris
Sportsters will be around forever Harley won't!
This is THE COOLEST Video Ive seen on Harleys in months! I cannot believe the 20% Hike Ive seen on pricepoints. Indians are great bikes but they dont have the infrastructure to compete, so Harley is basically raping everyones wallet. Also, what are they calling a 48 a “Cruiser” for? Wth? Harley need to fire their Woke idiot marketing team and get their shit together
Thanks for the warm praise Jay, it's much appreciated. :-)
Love your channel. But please understand I am a red blooded American white male Irish/polish beer drinking rum loving sailor in his 50s. As a kid in the USA I was told just say no to drugs and don't take a ride from a stranger. Now we have "lyft,Uber " and an experimental drug you must take to go out your house. Harley has lost there way since willy G left. They are part of the bud light crew now. The jobiden 6' safe gang the it's ok to be a map group. You want purple hair that cool even if your not in a rock n roll band. Let your freak flag fly baby. You and I are old dogs that made it through the covid purge. We have morals we actually know what's right n wrong. "It's the end of the world as we knew it & I feel fine" God bless you brother get you an old low milage xl say 1989 or 90 there's got to be 10k left on the black market and eat meat. Watch demolition man if you get a chance ❤❤❤
Ps I road rice from the 70s till 94 got an 883 in 94 then a 84 fxr late 94 still ride the low rider but just got a 1976 1liter and f ING love the old bowling ally bike nothing like a AMF. it's a part of history where has it been? How many titties has it seen how many beers drank working on her and she's still ticking nearly 50 years later
Morning Brent - nice to hear from a 'a red blooded American white male Irish/polish beer drinking rum loving sailor': what's not to love?!
I agree with the wierd 'modern world' malarkey; it seems that this world is a place I fit into less and less as I get older. (I'd try purple hair, but I just haven't got enough left to colour...) Still, the modern world does have it's benefits: big TVs with satelite tuners; bikes and cars are much cheaper; and we can get our shopping delivered to our front door.
As for Harley 'losing their way', well, things have changed enormously since 2012, but I don't think Willie G. retiring is the problem. I liked the way Harley were going with Matt Levatich as boss, but the 'More Roads to Harley' program was unsustaibable - alas! Jochen Zeitz is a genius CEO, but I was horrified when the Sportster was cancelled - and the 'M80' project. But he's a genius CEO and I'm, well, not. So, like many, many things in the modern world, I may hate it, but I have to accept it. Sad though.
Also, I think chocolate is cheaper nowadays (very good thing, obviously) and, although I am also beer lover, medication for many years means I can't drink alcohol - gasp! - but now there is alcohol-free Guiness: wonder of wonders! It's the only alcohol free beer that tastes nice.
So, it could be worse, sailor!
Cheers Brent,
Chris
Agreed!!!!
Get a Buell Super Cruiser
I came of age in the seventies riding a smooth, reliable, quiet BMW R60/7 in college. At the time I couldn't understand why anyone would want a loud, smelly, unreliable semi-antique that required an amazing amount of maintenance and repair, all to be able to enjoy cycling. During that period I also owned the legendary Honda CB750 for the same reasons. I see these bloated H-D's as transport for old men who somehow see themselves as 'outlaws', daring, whatever. Usually I see the guys riding these with pot bellies over jeans and a gray ponytail. It'll take more than overpricing and false patriotism to keep this very flawed brand going in future times.
So, obviously, you are a foreigner to the USA? From your post, I'm going to guess that you don't (cannot) do any of your own maintenance? Harley Davidson (was) actually, a way of life for most riders. We can see it was, and is not, your "cup of tea". Although, your anti patriotic views are duly noted. Keep riding your "safe bikes", we will stay on our bikes that real men ride, of course, that is, if you are not a woman! 🙂
Blah blah whine....blah blah whine...
Yeah, well I have never understood why anyone would want to ride a motorcycle that you can literally fall asleep on, either, but I can say that I have owned my Sportster for many years and it has never let me down, nor does it require a huge amount of maintenance.
However, I have met BMW riders who think that 200 miles in a day is a long ride, which is ridiculous, as I don’t regard anything less than 500 miles as a decent day’s ride.
The CB750 was very reliable etc, but the moat frightening bike I have ever tried to het to go round corners. It handled like a concrete mixer on two wheels, but hey, if that’s your thing, you can keep it.
I don’t usually bag people for what they ride, but if you wanna throw insults around, I can sure oblige you. I have 51 years of riding in sun, rain, hail, and snow, behind me and I have one pet hate; people who are motorcycle snobs. Thqt goes for Harley riders as well as any other kind of motorcycles.
I noticed that you said that you ‘always felt like…’ but never mentioned how many different types of motorcycles you’ve actually ridden?
So, an uneducated rider in terms of experiencing what other people ride and then criticising their choices is arrogant enough for you to be ostracised by all thinking people.
You deserve everything that comes your way.
crap!!