Cross country on a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 - what was I thinking?
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Two weeks ago I flew to Iowa to pick up my dad's Harley Sportster 1200. He decided he could no longer ride, so I jumped at it. For some reason I thought it was a good idea to ride it home to San Diego. This is a travel log of how that went down.
Filmed mostly on an iPhone 7+ with a Moondog Labs anamorphic lens and a DJI osmo. Most photos were taken with a Ricoh GRII
Follow Me here: / camerakungfu
People sleep on sportsters without ever realizing how awesome they are. I’m planning on riding my Harley 1200 to Canada from Florida in May! Liked and subbed for a fellow sportster
Redbeard The Kilted Rider 😎
Let me know I will ride
Canada welcomes you...👍🇨🇦
Yes!!!!
@James Owsley i'm down here in hollywood, james, lived in west palm for 30 years...i'm ready to get my suzuki s40 (looks like i might've found a decent deal on a used), and i'm considering driving up to the berkshires in massachusetts in june...any tips on doing the trip? it'll be my first long jaunt on a bike, and the s40 IS the bike i'm getting, so it's either i ship the bike or ride it, no option of getting a bigger bike :D
Im 64 and I own a 1998 xl1200c , bought it new and it now has 95,450 miles and no engine work done yet . Ive replaced the coil at 90,000 miles , the stator at 25,000 miles , the starter at 65,000. Now planning a 8000 mile trip across the usa :)
tatonka55 that 1991 to 2003 5 speed Evo Sportster motor was the best thing they ever made!
What do you call "coil at 90,000 miles , the stator at 25,000 miles , the starter at 65,000"? that sounds like work to me lol...
@@lennym1273 said engine work , all electric failures , all electrics are Japanese .
tatonka55 that’s awesome. Have a good trip. As for the video some people aren’t cut out for bike touring as clear with this guy. I want to go cost to cost on my sporty I am saving up for it now. I am saving for emergency repairs gas hotels/ camp sides I can’t wait to do this
You at least change the oil though?
Been there. Done that. The old 1200 is a good bike, and perfectly capable of long distances. Just get good apehangers, a decent seat, and a gas can.
I have a Dyna Wide Glide tank on my Sportster, holds over 3 gallons, perfect fit too.
used a superglide tank on mine for long trips.
The reason that Harley lasts so long is because of a bunch of fools keeps rebuilding them every few miles. The pyramids have lasted a long time too , but I wouldn't want to live in one. I have a friend who bought a new Harley two years ago and he has spent over three thousand dollars on repairs already , and it only has 8,800 miles on it. I have a Yamaha FJR and it has 74,000 miles and nobody has ever seen the engine except the people who built it. Fuck that Harley junk!
@@MrJimmy1437
Your reference to the pyramids only validates your ignorance, due to the fact that they have never been rebuilt in their 4000 years of existence.
As for my Harley, it also has never been rebuilt in its 31 years of existence, and it still runs and looks like brand new, which only destroys your claim.
Have a happy time riding your rice burner, and feel comfortable knowing everyone whom reads this is laughing at your IGNORANCE.
Ignorance my ass, I am not the one riding that outdated, ill handling, Harley crap!
I ride cross country on my 1999 RoadKing, twice a year, alone, and I love it, I meet people I normally don't, make alot of new friends, I wouldn't trade my Harley for anything
Oh amen I love my 2018 road king
One day I hope to take my FatBoy on a similar journey. 👍🤗
Try it on a sportster!!..lol..!!
Back in 92', I got a job with a Motorcycle Testing Facility, to 99'. We rode for Harley Davidson too. We would ride a pre-planned route 500mi a day, and I hated riding the Sportsters.
But now now in 2019' I own a Harley-Davidson Nightster (Sportster) XL1200N. "Love that motorcycle!"
I ride it rain or shine,
to and from work.
The Nightster has a very low seat height, and the rear shock-absorber doesn't have alot of travel. I can relate to trying to ride 2000mi on a trip!!..lol..!!
You obviously have never ridden a Honda ST a Yamaha FJR , or a Kawasaki Concourse You should try it and discover what a good bike is like!
Randy Hutchinson, Brother you are so correct !!!
Great story, respect for the ride. I to have a Sportster, changed the "cow milking" handle bars for the mini apes, a great improvement.
I had "buckhorns" on a Honda Magna and hated them. Twisting the throttle inwards caused my hand and wrist to ache like a toothache. I switched them to the same ones I had on a Suzuki GS650 which ironically enough, are the same style as on my standard 2005 Sporty which are very comfortable. My 2005 rubbermount 883 has very little vibration anywhere, only noticeable at very low rpm's. The 1200 in the same model does have more vibrations than the 883 but not nearly as bad as the "rigid" mounts.
I ride an 05 Sportster with the rubber mounted engine. Huge improvement. So much less vibration. Custom touring seat with a gel, and memory foam pad. Pure comfort. Have done 3000+ mile trips, no problem. Nice video.
Gel seat with memory foam pad? Sound super plush. Who makes that? Once I get a new tank and bars I'll be seriously looking at a seat. I felt like I was just sitting on metal most of the time.
@@camerakungfu I had a Corbin seat made for my long legs. The cushion was made for cars, I got it at Costco for $30 bucks, I had a black faux sheep skin cover made for it. Really makes all the difference in the number of miles I can ride in a day. This video shows the cushion before I had it covered, and slightly cut down in size. ua-cam.com/video/zF6HPEBq0PQ/v-deo.html
@@camerakungfu ….Mustang seats... reasonable price, great selection for sportsters, durable, style and comfort... way better than my stock seat was.
Rode my 1970 XLCH (883cc) in the Fall of 1970, from Bremerton, WA to West Chester, PA in 3 days each way. Navy dude on leave at that time. Greatest trip of my life.
Joe Skovrinski I’m from Lancaster and currently stationed at Ft Carson CO. I’ve done the ride on a sportster. Soooooo boring.
Sportsters and leaking tanks...i feel you there. Much respect for the journey and for documenting your travels.
I have an 08 1200 Custom with factory 4.5 gallon tank & rubber mounted engine. Longest ride so far less than 100 miles, after watching this video & reading comments I wouldn't hesitate to cross a few states.
In 1986 I drove from Montreal to California to Vancouver back to Montreal staying in Canada all the way back home on my xlh 1000 rigid. It took me most of the summer working my way home, and I would do it again tomorrow if I was in my 20's, and my back could take it lol. You're right on about not the smoothest ride around, and eating bugs at 70 MPH is no picnic but who said riding was always suppose to super easy. I think that's what makes the adventure what it is. nice looking bike. Keep the shiny side up.
I have a 91 1200 super E S&S carb teardrop filter, man I dig that bike, no rubber steel eng. mounts, no windshield has sissy bar and saddlebags, all in all a fun bike to ride. Thumbs up on ur ride.
Great story, great video. You just proved any bike is an adventure bike, doesn't need to be a BMW GS, a KTM or an Africa Twin Swiss-Army-Knife-of-a-bike. The memories you make make the ride. I rode my 2010 Yamaha Stratoliner DLX 1900 7000 mi. through 21 stares in 17 days in 2012 with good friends. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. My dream trip is Palm Springs, CA to Deadhoarse, AK. Don't know if it'll happen, but I can hope & plan. Ride on!
I’ve had ridden and owned several bikes throughout my life. The best one? My 2002 sportster 1200c by far has outclassed even my other Harley’s I had. The 2004 models and up have the rubber mounts which make them more comfortable but as far as Harley’s being lousy travel bikes well…you just have to take the right one out for the long haul.
You will look back on this adventure and smile. Not many do it on a sporty anymore. Yes the older sportster's were vibration kings LOL. You've learned a lot, First trip you took way to much, but you know that now. Looks like you stayed off the highways. Thanks for sharing,
I could tell some stories about an old, hard-tailed Indian Chief with a springer front end I rode all over. Of course I was much younger then and could soak up punishment better. So know I ride my '93 883 Sporty. Better shocks, springs and handlebars make a big difference.
@@johnoakes3106 I can understand, I've been riding since I was 19, 72 now still riding, still have my 1980 shovelhead, been all over with it, have a nice Roadglide now for comfort. I;m too big for a Sporty now, bought one new in 68 when I can home from Vietnam, Enjoy the ride.
well ... it's certainly not for whiners )))
I rode a Yamaha XS650 from San Diego to Forest Grove , Oregon and back. My 1980 Sportster to Forest Grove , from Whidbey Island lots of Weekends. Still ride a 1983 FXWG, love that shaking, vibrating 4 speed Shovelhead.
I laughed and felt your pain through the entire video. Very down to earth and entertaining. Well done, CKF.
I dug it. The video. The journey. I'm a little jealous. You know.. the trips where everything goes as planned don't leave you with many stories to tell afterward. Trust the adventure!
A great adventure ! I love it . That's what life is all about man . Wish I had more time for these kinda journeys . Thanks for sharing it with us .
I have a 99' sportster 1200 and a suzuki boulevard s50 804cc. Two different animals at all.
I drove them for periods and always they look as a new experience, and allow me to appreciate their lovely individual characteristics. Best Regards, riders.
Nice present from your Dad. Many of you trip problems are because of the 2004 model year. Starting in 2007 Sportsters were upgraded with rubber mounted engines. Really reduces vibration felt by you and likely thats what caused the fuel tank to leak. IMO you would have been safer buying a used fuel tank on ebay or a boneyard. The other 2007 upgrade was fuel injection. Better starting, fuel consumption, power. There are better seats for comfort and forward controls for long legged people. Really liked your video. You are resourceful and got no quit in you. I would bet seeing this video made your Dad proud.
ive watched this 3 times. still enjoy it
Thats a memory maker for sure. I will have to tell my oldest son to watch it. He just bought a 2019 Sportster 1200. I have a 2019 Sportster 883. Reminds me of the time I was in the Navy. I was transferred from Scotland to San Francisco. My Triumph Spitfire broke down in Laramie WY. They ended up rebuilding my engine because it overheated on the east coast and took until I got in the higher elevations with like 3,000 more miles on it to have ti bit the dust. I was a trip I will always remember. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Well I'm convinced I'm going to take my 79 Roadster on a trip all the way around Lake Michigan Thanks for the inspiration love you pictures I got Road fever because of you thank you
Foghat?
I put 14,000km's on one in 3 weeks last summer and I took a week off for a wedding. I went from Vancouver to San Diago the long way. I actually found it pretty comfortable.
Riding the Harley made it epic. If you rode a BMW it would have just been another 2000 mile bike ride bike ride.👍
Nah, with the BMW you could go on trails to see things you'd never see in an HD. There's a reason why their called "adventure bikes".
Awesome, I rode my Harley Ultra Limited from Los Angeles to NYC Times Square in May of 2016. The most amazing journey ever. Plan on doing it again..in the next few months. Keep pounding those miles brother!
Awesome! Keep the rubber side down and give my regards to Broadway.
My best day was 700 miles on my '04 Sportster, but it has a rubber mounted engine and I added a Mustang seat (best purchase ever for that bike). I have a Road King now, so the sporty will be a short range bike.
Don't do that. It probably misses you.
great that you and the bike made it home in one piece , great video👍
From Chicago, Illinois to Bovina, Texas 19hrs 1300 miles did an accidental detour threw Oklahoma left at 3am got there at 11pm 2 half hour rest stops same day on a 1995 xl1200 Sportster. 😎😈
I just bought a used 2010 XL1200c with 5,000 miles on it. It's completely stock with the exception of a windshield. I'm not crazy about the handlebars either but overall I like it a lot better than my 1985 XL61 ironhead which I rode from New Orleans to Dallas and back. If I ever decide to take a long trip I'd change out the handlebars and the seat. Other than that the engine has twice the horsepower than my old sportster, has a rubber mounted engine and a belt drive... oh and most important of all, the new sportster has a 4.5 gallon tank which beats the hell out of the 2.5 gallon peanut tank that the xl had... Would I ride 2000 miles for a free sportster? Yes, I definitely would. Nice video, thanks for posting.
Don't know what to tell you, I took a '98 sporty from San Diego to Sturgis then the UP of Michigan and back to SD over the course of a week and a half. Yes the wind sucked, my tires were v'ed by the time I got back to where it would fall into a turn and yes catching a big hardshell bug in the face hurts. I carried two 1.2 gallon gas cans because my buddy had 5 gallons on his bike and there were a couple spots where they came in handy but usually 80-100 miles was all my butt could do in one run. Longest day was 700+ miles Pueblo, CO to Sturgis. My hands tingled for a week after and to work around the cramped seating I would put my feet on rear pegs and lean onto gas tank. I had a throttle buddy on the grip plus the lock to help with the return spring pressure. Only problem was loosing electrics to the instruments 150 miles from home, turned out to be a chafed wire in the headlight bucket. Good times, good memories, Bought an FLH to take some one with me the next year but still have the Sporty. Oh by the way, H-D lengthened the frame when they rubber mounted the engine, plenty of room now.
Very cool that you stuck to the two lane blacktops. That's where America (what's left of it) is.
I went up to Alaska from Wi last summer alone 7700 miles in 11 days.
Mistake #1 is that you rode a sportster cross country. They aren’t a touring bike. Road glide, street glide, Road King... these are touring bikes. I’m almost positive you were in immense pain after you finally arrived in SD. But yeah, mosquitos (or any flying insects) hurt like hell but the pain doesn’t last long. Rode from Las Vegas to Phoenix recently and a bug got me right in my arm... I heard the little guy go POP. Thought it actually broke skin but it was just the guts 🤣. Anyway, try this ride on a touring bike and you’ll have a far better experience
I also have the same bitwell helmet but mine is flat black with a fogged/almost silver shield.
HAVE YOU STILL GOT IT GIVE IT TO ME I WILL RIDE IT IN IRELAND
Windshields are really nice on longer trips. Especially if you encounter a swarm of bugs. I forgot where me and my brother were but we encountered alot of grasshoppers and my windshield saved me but my brother on the other hand didn't have a windshield and all I could hear through the helmet intercom was ow ow ow from him. Needless to say he had many welts after that encounter.
I cant remember how i would ride without one? geez when i take mine off im like hell no! too much wind and buffeting around
in a john lennon accent "you forgot to stop and smell the roses"
Yeah, once I realized the tank wasn't holding fuel I just went for it. After patching it three times on the trip it finally held for more than eight hours. A couple days after I got home the tank gave up and dumped all the gas onto my garage floor while I slept. I should make the trip in reverse... with a new tank.
Ya, but he took some picture of some daisies.
I rode my 1200 all over the west states many times. Yes it's tough to ride 650 a day but after day 2 it's just fun. I was 50 then. My first time was from Mpls. to L.A. I took a lot of pictures but the best ones are my memories. Get out there and just do it...
I had a 1979 sportster back in the day, it was the same thing, pretty sketchy on the highway. I always rode it in town and avoided the highway. Now I have a Dyna, much better on the highway. But the big cruisers are what you really want, you'll fall asleep riding those on the highway LOL
ah memories, 14 years ago was my 1st tour honda shadow spirit 1100? miami to lake okechobee to DC then East Lansing michigan to oklahoma and the grand canyon. Had a big ol plywood sissybar and tank bag. i loved being able to pull offroad anytime and set up camp on the low! 2 years ago drove a 250 chinese rebel knock off i got for $500 from santa barbra to Taos through the mojave at high noon 122 degrees. and almost ran outa gas,(i was on the edge of panic, felt like my gloveless hands were on fire) hid in the culverts under the road every 30 min to cool down. pulled into needles and ole timer said watch out when it gets 124! I found the local river and stood in it for 30 minutes before i cooled down. flagstaff was a godsend. glad i did it, never again. seems like make more friends riding a bike
Plan on running my 49 panhead from AZ to Sturgis. Giving myself plenty of time.
As a fellow SD 1200 daily rider, good on ya, and welcome home.
I didn't like you at first. You mentioned that it was, "an American bike - So there's that" and I instantly was hooked. THANK YOU for keeping the spirit of this country and the freedom to go on an adventure at will. It shows character that you just did it and dealt with a couple of hiccups along the way. You are a true cowboy!
I'd ride that AMERICAN bike ANYWHERE .
P.S. The clowns who want to brag about their foreign bikes are the ones who are first to sellout at the slightest of a discomfort - they should let their wives ride the harley . She'd probably man up sooner.
In 2008, rode a 2008 Goldwing from Fillmore, NY to Oceanside, CA and back. 16 days 6000 miles.
Now that’s a damn trip!
A cross country trip on a Sportster? That's actually really cool
I had a 2003 sporty loved her,I now have a fat boy with windsheild,IDK if its the seat/ or these wonderful ape bars that i lowered down,I bought it 2nd hand it came this way, but its still not very comfortable did 150 miles and had to take advils lol ,being 54? not riding for a while weather? or bike set up? i think its just all of them
The Sportster can be perfectly fine for cross country riding but NOT stock by any stretch of the imagination. Also a bike that sits for a while is going to have dried up and cracked rubber hoses. When I got mine in Florida back in 2011, I had to replace the whole fuel like including the fuel pump. Everything gave up me in this regard and gas started leaking more and more until I changed everything. No issues whatsoever after that. I spent as much on accessories as on the bike itself (I was after the fuel efficiency of the 883 engine). Once you have the bike properly outfitted with the right seat (Corbin !!!), the right suspensions (Progressive's !!!) and bags, highway pegs, windshield of course, mini ape bar..., you can go as far as you want for little gas. Don't give up on this fine bike, just transform it for yourself. And yes, this particular Sportster is NO REFLECTION whatsoever of what other Harley's have to offer. RIDE SAFE and have (more) fun !!!!
I do love Corbin seats and I won't give up on it. That is the truly amazing thing, there are a dizzying number of aftermarket parts to choose from. I do wonder how much progressive suspension will help though. And I have to buy them for my KLR so funds are a bit tapped at the moment anyway.
Cheers
@@camerakungfu: I do have Progressive suspensions front and back on my 883C. It's night and day. Harley might as well put steel rods for suspensions in their stock suspensions for the Sportster (to be honest, I haven't tested a more recent model). Progressive shocks plus a good seat and the experience is completely transformed. IF you like your Sportster, it is a worthy expense to make.
The sportster was never built as a long distance cruiser so there’s no surprise you had problems. The sporty is a boulevard cruiser or drag bike made to ride T2T (tavern to tavern) and Harley Davidsons ‘beginners bike’. There’s a reason you were probably the only person riding cross country on one. Harley’s Electra glide is one of the great cross country bikes and solidly built to do it. Apart from that, the Goldwing and most BMWs were probably the only other bikes you saw attempting it. Those three have been the standard continental touring machines for decades. It’s a much better experience on a bike built for the run.
Dosent sound like a mistake ta me....your living a dream and dont even realize it...you'll figure it out one day .. maybe..if not you'll sell the bike for a mini van..Haha hope you chose the two wheels and have many more golden memories...loose the luggage,,,
Mary'sville Cal. to Atlantic City NJ. on a 450 Honda then back to Cali and this guy whins about riding a Sportster practically a road couch by comparison.
A minivan with a Harley sticker makes me want to say, "Rip that minivan off that Harley sticker.".
I've done numerous cross country trips on 4 different bikes and all, except the first one went well. The first was on a Honda 750/4 , and the others were on three different Harleys. An FX, which got converted to an FXE, after a trip from Cheneville, Quebec, to Albany, IN THE RAIN. The others were a Softtail Custom and a Softtail Classic. The last trip was from Worcester, Ma. out across Canada and up to Alaska , returning by way of US Route 20 , from Newport Oregon , to Worcester. 10,000 miles, almost to the inch, and not a lick of problems. My point is this. These jaunts were on big bikes, properly loaded and well planned. A sporty is not big enough for a trip like this video shows. Even properly loaded like this one was, it makes for an uncomfortable , unsafe ride.
Fun bike for around town, my buddy did a similar ride on his and said no ass left when he got to California and said never again on a sportster.
Sportsters still had frame mounted engines back then. All HD have rubber mounted engines now. Not nearly as much vibration.
Unless you’re doing under 70mph, then they (Sportster) vibrate too much. At least the one I tested had the stock exhaust. Nice and relatively quiet!
Your year was rigid mount hence the harshness. 04 Harley switched to rubber mount and made it more tolerable for long trips
Very ballsy to ride a sporty that distance! Loved all the pictures.
Nice video. The 1200 Sporty was never intended for long rides. But if you must, it can do it. The most I ever rode on my old Sporty was from Riverside to Bridgeport in the Calif High Sierras. That was about 450 miles one way. Once I moved up to my Dyna with the rubber mounted engine, you can do much more miles in comfort. When I moved up to my Road Glide, well that bike just eats up the miles without any effort. Again, nice video and you will always remember this ride in the years to come.
I did it on my '78 iron head back in '01. Stopped outside Denver eastbound to adjust the points, then replaced a broken chain on the trip west in Richfield UT.
I road cross country twice, once goin, once comin. From N.J. to C.A. on a V 65 Magna 1100, fully dressed, the love of all. Took 4 days. Oh Yeah! Did 950 miles first day. Slept in motels.
Enjoyed the Video, what an awesome adventure, older Sportsters do vibrate alot, Try doing a trip on a larger bike, something rubber mounted, larger tank, I ride a 2009 FXDC Superglide, 14" Ape hangers, Stage 1. 72 MPH 6th gear it has the wonderful harmonic balance between the sound and the light Vibration, soothing, relaxing feel. I dont use a windshield, has it pros and cons. Prefer the wind myself, to each his own. That bike will suit you well in Cali, that that Sporty up the PCH.
Enjoyed the video; next time swap out that peanut tank for a good 4 or 5 gallon touring tank. But still carry extra gas. Been on many of similar trips.
Yeah, my main ride has a 6 gal tank, but I still bring the rotopax on multi-day rides. One for gas and one for water, there’s a little bit of desert out here.
Cool 😎 Factor OFF CHART!
🇺🇸👍✅
I did 4 k on my Springer Classic few years back, the wife and I...towed a large trailer the whole way. That was 40k miles ago.
Oh, to be young and stupid again..... I rode Oklahoma City to Boston twice on a little Kawasaki 440LTD. Brutal ride on such a small bike, but it's a fond memory. Many years on now and I'm looking forward to taking my Road King out from Chicago to Boston in the coming summer. Motels for me. These old bones don't take to sleeping on the ground much any more.
those bars were for holding on. i remember sliding around and the shifter was on the wrong side. all that was much older stuff than your bike. ride safe.
1980 Kansas to Monterey California
21 yr Buck Sargent.
No guts no glory.
If the only problem you had was the leaking gas tank on a 25 YEAR OLD bike, you had a great trip! The sportster is no a touring model by any means. I have a Road glide and ride in north west Canada. LOL i have to ride 400 miles just to get to a city of 100k. My trips each summer are a minimum of at least 3500 miles. If you have the right harley its not hard to ride 500-700 miles in a day if you need to be some were.
I had Buckhorn handlebars on my 76 Sportster, I loved them but I was 24 at the time.
Just bought a 2020 XL1200 NS. This video is great, funny.
I actually really dig the look of the 2020 models. Did you get the black, silver, or blue?
@@camerakungfu I got Black. Tank is red, white, and blue ... AMF style graphics. Ever thought about the El Diablo run. Hope to see more. I miss San D. Good times.
I saw all the up and down motion the bike was doing as you rode through town. Now add the noise and vibration, you were in motorcycle Hell for that trip. Is that why I always see small groups of Harley riders taking breaks along the sides of roads?
I guess you found out what anyone would know, Sportster is not a comfortable bike for long distance. It is known to be reliable in those years and up. I had big twins and then made a mistake buying a Sportster, done in this reverse fashion, one quickly realizes how uncomfortable the Sportster is. Still a great motorcycle tho
Great journey. Good on you - you did what most only talk about. You've earned your opinion and I give it weight due to your experience. It would be good to see some bike stats. Year? Mileage? (maybe I missed it somewhere) Mods? There are always things that can be done to improve vibration, noise, wind, etc. Like some others have said, seems like the newer sportsters may have addressed some problems (fuel injection, NVH stuff). BTW - another reason i give your opinion weight: you [presumably] didn't drop thousands of dollars into buying one after pining for one for years; it was your dads. Consequently, the odds are higher of you giving us the straight up experience, not filtered through the little voice in one's head that says "hey man, I just spent a bunch of money on this thing, i'd better like it." In any event, a good watch!
I have a 2015 Hawley Spoatah. It's not a travel bike. . I go 200 miles round trip to home and back twice a year-----that's enough. Stay 50 Mph for less vibration or about 2200 rpm. It's not a good 70 mph bike---it's gets to tiresome and uncomfortable. But, it's a fun bike tho, but not for distance travel. have fun, ride safe.
Yeah I feel yer pain brother. Had one of those and yer right they will beat the hell out of ya.
And I read all the comments of man up and shit. The sportster was never meant to be a distance bike. A bar hopper yes. That’s why they make the roadking and the electra glide.
Great video.
My takeway... throw my tube of JB SteelStik in the bags... never know.
You ride what you got. What happened with the carb? Was it that bad or just dirty? The view looking "across" the road is novel with bike videos. Gotta remember that. Overall, liked the vid (thumbs up, of course).
Mostly It just dirty though there was an accelerator pump rod that was corroded. That seemed to be the main cause for hesitation. A little Scotch Brite and some carb cleaner took care of that (for now anyway). I tried the across the road shot mainly because I wasn't sure how through the windshield shots would look and I wanted to cover my bases. Thanks for watching.
Loved the video.
How did that biltwell sissy bar bag work out? I’m searching for a bag now and I’ve been eyeing that one.
It worked out great, it never shifted en route and was easy to get in and out of. One thing that can't be overstated is the usefulness of a bright interior. I have several bags that are black with a black interior that I can never find what I'm looking for without emptying the whole thing. The Biltwell's are bright orange and everything stands off against it.
So first of all Sportsters weren't made for long distance riding! These are what Wide glides, Road Kings etc! These bikes are made for the long Highway miles! Sportsers are barhoppers. Much respect to you riding a Sporty that far!
It's a Sportster with tricycle bars! Might as well rode a huffy from k-mart.. road trips needs. Road bike
My Dad gave me a name so quit the whining and count yourself lucky ol’ boy. Your Dad also gave you a sense of adventure and for the record - You deserve respect for pushing yourself a bit. One thing I would have like more of was your bike in the ‘arty farty’ shots you took. It would have made them significantly more interesting and more accessible with what you were trying to achieve, especially as the majority watching this are bike guys. Well done... when you do this bike up in tribute to your Dad and to suit your style, please do a step by step video diary. Many of us would enjoy your progress especially with your videography style. Sydney Australia.
I have a 94 Sportster and wouldn’t do that. But I had a 01 Harley Heritage Custom and it was a very comfortable ride. Would have rode it all day anywhere.
Love the Sportster , love the music...thanks
I've got some tunes for your ride.
open.spotify.com/user/madmanonwheels/playlist/3HRTvOSZbmBVk7UAUoNuHK?si=isVLVFXdRBu38l5Pm-E5pw
From 2004 on, the Sportster has a rubber mounted engine. Whole different ball game. Any frame mounted engine, in the HD line, is going to vibrate your teeth out. Rubber mounted engines are very comfortable and you don't feel any vibration from the engine at speeds. If you think that 1994 or so Sportster vibrates, try my old 1976 Stroker Sportster. No filling would be left in anyones mouth even Rosanne Barr's.
My head is filled with those amalgam fillings from the 70’s - 80’s leeching mercury into my skull. sounds like I should spend a weekend on your ‘76 and knock those suckers out!
@@camerakungfu Yep, I have the 60s and 70s mercury fillings, but the only one that has broke so far is the porcelain filling. Good ride you had on that Sporty!
It isn't riding Harleys across the country... it's riding a bike that was not made for long hauls on highways. Things are different on a 900 lb Electra Glide... and trucks don't bother you. I've ridden a Suzuki 750 with a Vetter setup to Florida a few times and to Virginia Beach several times (from Ohio). I've ridden a BMW Sport touring bike across country too... hard seat... wish the bars were higher. But my choice for long hauls now is a Harley Electra Glide Ultra Classic... 6 gallon tank... 48 MPG at 70+ MPH... 750 mile days are easy.
Yeah the Electra Glide looks super comfy. I always think they look super sluggish and a pain to steer but then I get UA-cam recommendations of police skills competitions and my mind is blown.
Wow. All the complaining about Sportsters vibrating too much and too rough of a ride by the people below. Get a bigger seat. If you can't handle the little bit of vibration get in a car. I rode nation wide on an AMF Sportster and an AMF Superglide for 170,000 miles. The last thing to complain about is vibration. Jeesh!!!!!
Good on you ! More people need an adventure like that ! I’ve done it three times . Metric bikes 😇
Dude...you remind me of me...having a GREAT time that others wish they could have, enjoying freedom, and complaining and finding all things wrong...(I hate wind) and not being able to sleep at night...and that Harley vibration....what a pain in the ass...nothing like my sweetie Ducati. :-)
Brutally honest - dig it.
I have driven my 883 xl sporster more than 450 miles a day while going from Finland to Rome Italy. Easy bisnes.
Not bad for a Harley - only carb rebuild and leaking gas tank.
What was that cool music for the first 4 mins or so?
Oh yeah I forgot about that Harley vibration. Fuck. 883 is not good but the 48 is so much worst..the front wheel bounces when sitting at red lights.. It's ridiculously too much but my vulcan, you cant barely tell it's running by looking at it. They did a great job mounting and dampening the motor but the front pulley would need to be changed to a32 teeth pulley for cruising at 80mph comfortably without feeling you need to shift into a non existent 6th gear
My Evo 883 Sportster was fine.
When I got out of the army I rode my superglide from Newton, IA to my new home in Olympia, WA. My shit got stolen in Omaha (cops didn't give a shit until I told them I had a handgun in my bag). Rained on me the whole time. Snowstorm as I crossed White Pass.
I'm glade I did it...but never again. I have a self imposeeded 200 mile range on my Harley now. Anymore then that and I take the Honda ST1100.
thats quite a good vid, i like my harley 1200
If you try a rubber mounted engine on a 2005 Sportster on up you will find very little vibration.! i would take mine anywhere in the United States but I'm to old..!
Nice video Mr. Fu.
I would not be too hard on the sportsters, I've done a couple Ironbutts with a 99 custom plus a trip from Chatham On to Laredo Mexico and back on a 4 day weekend just over 3300 miles.
Oh, please. I was on my 71 Triumph T120/650 in Big Sur on Hwy 1 and met a guy with Kansas plates who rode in fully packed on his Kawasaki 500 Mach III. I did own a 74 Sportster XLCH and those peanut tanks of 2.4 gallons are way too small. You have to be conscious of looking for gas. The reserve is only good for about 20 miles.
Even fewer than 20 miles when the tank is leaking on your leg. Also, please tell me you still have the Triumph, those T120's are awesome. Personally, I always preferred the simplicity of the 110's single carb but the 120's were faster.
@@camerakungfu Right. Sorry, it was the Tiger 110 (single Amal carb) and not the Bonny. First year they move the oil tank into the frame. Cost was $100 less. Would have bought a Norton Camando 850 if I had the money. I did eventually sell it. Loved shifting on the RIGHT SIDE. Later bought a Z1 in 1975. Current sled is a 2003 ZRX1200r.
Oof, 2000 miles on a Sportster, no thank you. I'd have sold it for a plane ticket after the 2nd JB Weld. But still, it looked like a nice little adventure. Hope you had more fun than misery.
Is the gas tank still leaking?
I ended up buying a used one locally for $50 including the cap!