"WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR MOTORCYCLE TODAY"

[oldironnow]

I like that little dude.

[whatarush]

That’s awesome 👍

[Fatfatboy]

Because of its lightness and ease of backing out of the garage it was starting to be my go to bike when I need to make a quick run to get something small that I could bungee on to the seat. Now I can use it as a grocery getter, commuter, and cook play bike, as long as I don’t have to get on the super slab.
I’ve only managed to top out at 58mph on flat tarmac. It makes up by being quicker in the turns.

[m143]

The little bugger is pretty cool

[oldironnow]

I’ve been riding the Buell lately, since Ratana’s idle has increased its surging fluxuation - need to get that bank of carbs open.

Fresh oil in both holes, with the standard flakes on the transfer case plug.

[Fatfatboy]

That's such a beautiful bike. Harley should of kept that bike going. I think it would have outsold the Sportster S.

I miss mine. If only mid controls were still available.

I hope parts stay available and you get to enjoy yours for many years to come.

[oldironnow]

I haven’t bought parts for a while.
Some critical stuff is obsolete.
Can’t remember what offhand.
The shift lever assembly. Had to go custom.
The mirrors were, in 2021-22 (?)
I cracked one and ended up putting shipping tape over it to hold off dealing with it.
Maybe the front isolator.
I did buy one earlier and put it on the shelf.
Also bought the rear isolator and some tie-bars.
Splurged on an entire throttle body because it was cheap and I had a job 😂

[hacksaw]

what sportster s? that new klown bike ? or a sportster s from the past.

I don't like Buells since Buell did away with the tubers. I don't like Buell himself for that matter. now the late Buell sportster engines were better than the rubber mount evos since they have a tranny trap door and some models had racier heads.
I think any bike would out sell the monstrosity they are calling a nighter s.  Sprints may have.

[Fatfatboy]

The new one. It does have some nice features but it’s $17k MSRP. The price tag kept me away even though I wouldn’t mind having one. I may go for a used one someday.

A Buell type sportster with air cooled Evo would be more affordable I believe. It also has a spot for a girlfriend.

Not everyone once TC and three or four modes and liquid cool

[hacksaw]

You are right about TC and all these modes.i don’t want any of it.
But what gets me is how ugly it is. That filler tank thing hanging off the front right down tube is just plain nasty . Whomever let that out of HD design needs to be lined up and shot .at least they would not need a blindfold since obviously they can’t see.

What happened to that nice xl roadster you had? brand new and you hung a bunch of expensive RSD jewelry on it .the only reason I didn’t consider buying one is the rubber mounted engine. Certainly better looking than the nightster S or anything Eric  Buell Ever made .

[Fatfatboy]

That S isn’t designed for old school HD riders. It’s pointed to the youth. And they seem to like it. Surprisingly I like it but I’m used to a low cost sportster so can’t get myself to pay that much for one.

The Roadster I had got traded in. I could no longer ride it for long rides because of lymphoma in the left leg plus the low bars started hurting my neck.
I could have swapped the rearsets to forwards and change the bars to 10” mini apes put the bike was just to tuff looking to swap it all out.
In 2020 HD came out with a Iron that had a nice burnt orange that I liked better than the flat black of my Roadster so I swapped it and the roadster went to a kid that worked at the dealer who loved the Roadster just as it was setup so everyone came out happy.

I’m sure you know this already but I enjoy a revolving stable. Just like playing with different toys.
Of course later I sold the 2020 Iron. A kid at work really liked the way I set it up and I wasn’t using it much so I sold it to him which paid for one of the Heritage Springers I bought in Florida.

I still have the 74xlch and like it more than the post 04 xl’s.

[hacksaw]

I don't see many kids buying Harleys. not sportster s for sure. first its ugly as sin. but more to the point what kid can afford one? I just don't think Harley has much to inspire kids like in my youth. the real 883 is gone. and boy did they rape buyers on the last couple of years pricing of them. the street models 500 and 750 didn't work out. and 25k break outs aren't cutting it for the burger flipping crowd.
I have never seen sportster s on the road anywhere.

the kids are buying royal enfield and triumphs, etc.

I do disagree with you on the maintenance contracts. last I heard it even covered tires. but as the bikes become more technical I sure am not buying a 20k motorcycle to work on it. or even worry about it. there maybe some diff I don't know between extended warranty and maintenance contracts.
royal Enfield 3 year warranty is enticing. I like to play with parts and build old stuff on my fun time. maintenance sucks. hell bmw has specials where they come out and pick up your bike no cost.
that's for this old man! lol.

there was an orange sportster a few years back that looked like a tracker. an bare bones 883. I was going to have it 1200 kitted right from the dealer. keep it stock 883 looking except for the standard Harley tax. I wish I had. but it might bhave been a rubber bike. I can recall.

my problem is I don't like having bikes sitting around I seldom use. I am not a collector , dust collector maybe, but having a garage full of battery tenders is annoying. lol.

[Fatfatboy]

I believe you’re talking about the 883r


It was made in 2003 and 2007.
I’d prefer the 2003. Good looking bike. I see them pop up for sale every now and then. A lot of them have been ruined with apes, straight pipes and forward controls.
Probably one of the best looking modern sporties imo.

Edit: 2002 and 2006 were also years it was made. 2006 it was offered in black and an another in silver I believe.

[hacksaw]

Yes that’s the one!
I think I passed bcz of the rubber mounted motor .
Although if it had efi I may have gone for it .
Very nice with a 1200 kit and a more standard looking ( but not sounding ) exhaust .

I agree straight pipes , but especially forward controls and apes are ruinous . But can easily be addressed .
I think now there are aftermarket items that could help with the rubber mounting crap .
Still the lack of a trans  trap door sucks.
You know how much these motors weigh?
To have to pull the motor to split cases to do tranny work is sick. Another drawback is the 883 cylinders can’t be bored on later models .
I imagine the graphics and orange paint is available some where .
I got too many projects as it is .
But I crave another sportster

[hacksaw]

Asking 4k 5,000 mikes on it
1995 xl 1200

All that touring crap comes off  and mid controls go back on . Maybe  even a 3.2 tank .
If I bought it . Even if I am not prepared to do so at this time .
Prices are down thus winter. A guy had a shock low mikes 883 he wanted 2 grand for it . 2002!
But I just don’t have the spot for it . Some of my stuff has to go . And I just haven’t got to work in the garage as my time is taken on the house shit.

[oldironnow]

I’d like a ‘90s Sportster.
Elemental.
AFAICT, the 2002 was carbed, 2-into-1, and solid mounted.

2003 went EFI, 2-2, and rubber.

I had a silver 2006.
Gorgeous bike with triple disc brakes.
Put drag bars on it and rode around with my feet on the passenger pegs because I didn’t want to buy a new exhaust system that would enable rearsets (or maybe XR1200 footpeg assemblies (i think, or aftermarket).

Started like a new girlfriend whether it was 20 or 120.
Handled very well for its design brief.
Was so fun.
Trackdays (Big Willow was too fast for its RPM limit 😁 so much of the track was simply a flat-out freeway ride.
Buttonwillow was fun to dice with new Group C riders on Gixxers…. The 883R was so long and heavy that late braking passes with minimal trail braking due to jiffy stand or exhaust dragging… “ziiiing….zing..zing..ziiiiiiiiiing”)

Cautious trolling on dirt roads.
Explored the Black Rock Desert playa (it’s like riding on an inch-thin mattress. Once up to about 60 a weave would setup)

My son and I pushed it harder than normal, and it developed a weird low-speed handling quirk. If there was a pavement seam at a stop sign, the front tire would ‘grove’ with it, and the bike would torque to fall over right before one could get their foot down. Huge dab. Really unnerving and irritating. Could never figure it out. We even had the geometry checked out at a Computrak shop. The guy said it was fine.

I think we just wore out the stock rubber mounts, and we were in the process of trying to get the polypropylene XR1200 Vance&Hines racekit mounts when the bike was assaulted by a Honda car and died.

Bummer.

[hacksaw]

Great story .
However I have never seen a 2003 rubber mount XL.

[oldironnow]

hacksaw wrote

Great story .
However I have never seen a 2003 rubber mount XL.

Yeah, i’m not exact on that date, so likely off.
I tried to look into the 883R history, but I’m not getting good returns.
Maybe if I look into that XL website.

[oldironnow]

[oldironnow]