Harleys, what are they like?

[Dak]

The bikes that is, not the owners. Maintainence wise? Belt drives? I'm possible looking at a 1200 Sportster, 1997. 40,000km, any thing to look for?

[scumdog]

The bikes that is, not the owners. Maintainence wise? Belt drives? I'm possible looking at a 1200 Sportster, 1997. 40,000km, any thing to look for?

Got one exactly like that in the garage, it's the wifes. - I look for a red thing with two wheels and some chrome.

PM me and I'll tell you all.

[doc]

Lifters would be the only thing that would be on the horizon, as far as Im concerned. Belts are pot luck. They are a machine that doesn't need much maint, other than oil changes, use only sportrans in the primary and you will be fine. You will find you will be cleaning more than maintaining a HD compared to some of this other stuff.

[scumdog]

The Mrs (normajeane on KB) 1200 'S' Sporty has 43,000km on it now and apart from oil/filter changes and tyre the only repairs it has had has been fork-seals this year and a belt replaced 'just in case'. (plus a faulty oil light switch a few years back.)

[Crasherfromwayback]

The bikes that is, not the owners. Maintainence wise? Belt drives? I'm possible looking at a 1200 Sportster, 1997. 40,000km, any thing to look for?

You shouldn't be paying anything over 7 k for one I'll tell you that much...all they're worth now. I can sell you a 2003 for just under 10

Pete

[Dak]

This is the one in question, http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=239374088

[scumdog]

This is the one in question, http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=239374088

It's an 'S' - buy it, top brakes, adjustable suspension/forks - best of the breed.:niceone:

EDIT:Spoilt only by forward controls and the length of the handle-bars but that's just my opinion.

[hospitalfood]

rode one once, really liked it.
IMO there is an image attached to harleys that is not really me, so if i get one i will probably axe the branding.

[AllanB]

IMO there is an image attached to harleys that is not really me, so if i get one i will probably axe the branding.


May as well buy a Jap cruiser then and save some $, as a Harley is, well, a Harley, and part of the reason for buying it.;)

[Big Dave]

rode one once, really liked it.
IMO there is an image attached to harleys that is not really me, so if i get one i will probably axe the branding.

IMO that's lame, Foodie! It's one of the proudest heritages on two wheels. Allan is right - or a Thunderbird - just as noice sans perceived stigma.

[Molly]

I'd like a black, stripped-down 1200 Sportster. Lowered a bit. Cool bikes IMHO. Changing belts is easier than the big blocks too.

[Big Dave]

Street Bob. Debaffled, nicer switch gear, job done.

I'm very comfortable with the image. :-)

[JimO]

Street Bob. Debaffled, nicer switch gear, job done.

I'm very comfortable with the image. :-)

you mean the leather waistcoat, harley underpants, socks, wallet on a chain, harley aftershave, accountant by day biker by night look (mind you you dont look to much like a accountant please dont kill me)

[Big Dave]

you mean the leather waistcoat, harley underpants, socks, wallet on a chain, harley aftershave, accountant by day biker by night look (mind you you dont look to much like a accountant please dont kill me)

There is no more a stereotypical Harley rider than there is a sportsbike rider or scooter rider.

There are people who ride them. Some are cool. Some aren't. The brand of bike has nothing to do with it.

[hospitalfood]

May as well buy a Jap cruiser then and save some $, as a Harley is, well, a Harley, and part of the reason for buying it.;)

not really a jap cruiser kind of guy either. to be honest i don't like jap bikes despite the fact that they win a lot of races

[Big Dave]

not really a jap cruiser kind of guy either. to be honest i don't like jap bikes despite the fact that they win a lot of races

Thunderbirds are go!

How much have I got to spend for you? Keeping the XB?

[hospitalfood]

you mean the leather waistcoat, harley underpants, socks, wallet on a chain, harley aftershave, accountant by day biker by night look

i guess there are others who share my opinion.............

[hospitalfood]

Thunderbirds are go!

How much have I got to spend for you? Keeping the XB?

not sure what your getting at with spending for me ?

the XB is very loved and i would like to keep it for life. i also feel the same way about my old bmw.

1 is to many and a thousand never enough

[doc]

May as well buy a Jap cruiser then and save some $, as a Harley is, well, a Harley, and part of the reason for buying it.;)

Protest lodged. Sporties are not cruisers. If a guy is seen riding one its sort of like the "antichrist" in Hog circles.

[Big Dave]

not sure what your getting at with spending for me ?


I'm excellent at spending other people's money on motorbikes. I'd say you need at least 4 more at this time.

[Big Dave]

Protest lodged. Sporties are not cruisers. If a guy is seen riding one its sort of like the "antichrist" in Hog circles.

I ride Sportys. Needs a Red nose and the Long shoes to complete the act. That XR1200 is a sweet unit though.

[hospitalfood]

I'm excellent at spending other people's money on motorbikes. I'd say you need at least 4 more at this time.

lol, you are right. at the moment funds are super tight and i contemplate selling a rifle or two or some fast lenses to fund a r series bmw bobber project

http://74.54.120.132/dbbp/coolest/bmw_12.jpg

[Big Dave]

If I had 40 large spare after I bought that Street Rod.

Ka-ching!
<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/.Pictures/misc4/megamotopic.jpg">

[hospitalfood]

yeah thats pretty!

[AllanB]

lol, you are right. at the moment funds are super tight and i contemplate selling a rifle or two or some fast lenses to fund a r series bmw bobber project

Cycle World magazine has a nice feature of a couple of BMW's in the October edition (I subscribe so get them early). Very cool.

[Big Dave]

yeah thats pretty!

Out of the hundreds I have now tested and ridden properly - that is the best one. It's 10K more than I would personally consider spending and doesn't carry a passenger. But fark.

[invisiblehand1]

Hmm

think hard. As the owner of an old sporty, you have to be very comfortable with incredible vibration, electrical gremlins, and bits not loctited on falling off (bit like riding british, only the bits fall off faster).

The rubber mount ones - 2004 I think onwards are much more pleasant to live with.

If you like jackhammers, then ride through the pain, because the basic bike is great fun, and as tough as it gets.

On a fine day cruising the bays, there is no finer ride on earth.

But there's a good reason why sporty owners carry full toolkits.

[usa-vtwin]

To some its gay! LOL or 1/2 a Harley...but I was on a learners for farks sake. I love my bike and its old school look. The enjoyment factor is 10/10 for me. Sure I could go faster on a sport bike, but frankly I don't wanna :girlfight:

[sinned]

If I had 40 large spare after I bought that Street Rod.

I may have lost something in translation. Is a Street Rod a bike you would place in your 4 bikes to own list? Is a Street Rod with that motor and lacking potato potato a real Harley?

Reason I ask is - one day - I may buy a Harley but not sure if a Xxx Rod is the real thing.

[scumdog]

Hmm

think hard. As the owner of an old sporty, you have to be very comfortable with incredible vibration, electrical gremlins, and bits not loctited on falling off (bit like riding british, only the bits fall off faster).

The rubber mount ones - 2004 I think onwards are much more pleasant to live with.

If you like jackhammers, then ride through the pain, because the basic bike is great fun, and as tough as it gets.

On a fine day cruising the bays, there is no finer ride on earth.

But there's a good reason why sporty owners carry full toolkits.

Ya musta being doing something wrong - 'cos my iron-head wasn't THAT much grief.:girlfight:

And the rubber-mount version kinda ruined the Sporty I reckon.

[Phurrball]

There is no more a stereotypical Harley rider than there is a sportsbike rider or scooter rider.

There are people who ride them. Some are cool. Some aren't. The brand of bike has nothing to do with it.

I agree with everything preceding the the last sentence.

But if you believe the HD BRAND has nothing to do with it, you're in cloud Cuckoo land BD! The stereotype holds some water, perhaps more so that the stereotypes for scooterists and squidly ones. Say 'Motorbike' to Mr Joe Public, and he'll probably think of a Harley - I'd a say a bit of that is down to the corollary effects of VERY successful image marketing.

The brand has EVERYTHING to do with it for significant (conjecture and anecdote™) portion of those that own and ride.

Harley are master marketers - to the extent of successfully marketing a fully branded lifestyle to go with the bike. No one else does that to the same all-encompassing extent. And they've got a great market captured - the cashed up boomers looking to recapture their youth. (Not everyone of course, but if I were on HD's marketing team...)

Don't get me wrong, Harley's are nice bikes if taken as what they are (yerp, have ridden a Dyna of some sort, and enjoyed it more than I expected). I think their flaws add something that a supremely competent all-round jappa just couldn't capture - hence the legacy to build the marketing on, and a formula they don't depart far from ('cept for the xxxx Rods for those that wanted top-end power :buggerd:).

That sort of lifestyle-image marketing will always leave a reasonable portion of thinking onlookers cold. They aren't the target market anyway...

Now, Buell OTOH, much more about the merits of the bike :twothumbs:( I think you'd agree BD)

Trumpy - somewhere in-between. Heritage to bank on and competent, characterful bikes. Not quite the same all-encompassing lifestyle to buy into.

If I were to have a cruiser, make mine a Victory plz!

[rosie631]

Ya musta being doing something wrong - 'cos my iron-head wasn't THAT much grief.:girlfight:

And the rubber-mount version kinda ruined the Sporty I reckon.

+1 Did mega miles on my old ironhead and it gave me a real good run.

[Headbanger]

But there's a good reason why sporty owners carry full toolkits.

I once fell off my sporty and landed heavily on the bag of tools I was carrying.

Hurt like hell, Left a mean bruise.

[chap]

The bikes that is, not the owners. Maintainence wise? Belt drives? I'm possible looking at a 1200 Sportster, 1997. 40,000km, any thing to look for?

easy to work on. only got new belt after 8 years due to stone hole,but belt was still useable. can the factory suspension and they corner well. good all rounder:2thumbsup

[scumdog]

easy to work on. only got new belt after 8 years due to stone hole,but belt was still useable. can the factory suspension and they corner well. good all rounder:2thumbsup
The bike he's looking at is an 'S' model Sporty - comes with good adjustable suspension, really good brakes.:yes:

[chap]

The bike he's looking at is an 'S' model Sporty - comes with good adjustable suspension, really good brakes.:yes:

nice one:2thumbsup second the buy it:ride:

[popelli]

The bikes that is, not the owners. Maintainence wise? Belt drives? I'm possible looking at a 1200 Sportster, 1997. 40,000km, any thing to look for?

service history

is the mileage genuine?

proof of ownership

belt drives are easy to change on a sportster and they either break or they don't - don't worry about it

evo sporties have a bullet proof motor and require less maintenance than a jap bike

if the price is right buy it

[invisiblehand1]

yeah, each to their own, but my sporty is the first bike that left me hitching in the last 15 years (Ive been riding for 28 years). It was a crappy electrical thing where the vibration tore a lead from the battery off. But it was 34 degrees outside Masterton last Christmas, and i was pissed off.

But was I surprised to find that the nut to get the battery strap off is 3/8 but the battery connections are 10mm. Weird shit like mixing metric and imperial, funky fittings - why IS it so hard to get the battery out compared to my old bonnie? and crippling vibration is all part of the game.

That said, ride through the jackhammer and you ARE Joe Cool.