Silly HD question but...

**Paul in NZ** · 27th July 2010, 17:05

I'm a silly guy...

Old Iron head HD sportsters... My memory of them is not good... as in pretty diabolical but time has a habit of producing cures to most things... What are old iron sporties really like to live with?

**Crasherfromwayback** · 27th July 2010, 17:15

Utter shite.

**Motu** · 27th July 2010, 17:47

They make a pre unit Triumph look up to date and high tech.They can be updated with some later and better bits,and can be made to go like a Doberman after a robber....and as controllable.But you will be yearning for the reliability of the worst Triumph you've ridden.The totally apeshit surge as the touchpaper ignites,and you are left hanging onto drag bars with your feet in the wrong place is exciting...but not something to live every day with.

**sinned** · 27th July 2010, 17:51

Buy a new one, they are well priced and excellent machines. Why bother with old shit unless it has some real classic value; then don't ride it but put on display.
That is my opinion.

**Paul in NZ** · 27th July 2010, 19:04

Originally Posted by sinned

Buy a new one, they are well priced and excellent machines. Why bother with old shit unless it has some real classic value; then don't ride it but put on display.
That is my opinion.

Yes - all good but the iron ones almost fit a certain requirement...

**Paul in NZ** · 27th July 2010, 19:05

Originally Posted by Motu

But you will be yearning for the reliability of the worst Triumph you've ridden..

Yeah - I kinda remembered that being the case....

**Motu** · 27th July 2010, 19:31

There is no denying the attraction - they are raw and uncouth like no other bike,with an approach to engineering as alien as a French car.If I came across one for as much as they are really worth I'd snap it up.....but a $500 shit box seems to have an extra zero on the end.I want value for money,not to pay for the name.

**Voltaire** · 27th July 2010, 19:58

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an approach to engineering as alien as a French car

Hmmm, I had a Citroen 2CV once...gear lever stuck out of the dash, the windows swung open,and it only had a 600cc twin, smaller than my BMW of the time....one of my favourite cars ... so I'm guessing an iron head Harley would be cool to own but not really that practical....

**Motu** · 27th July 2010, 20:09

Yeah,like the Peugeot 404 - Pull the button up to lock the door,push down to unlock.WTF? Talk about belligerent,just because everyone else does it one way,that means there is another way for the French to do it.It was the same for HD - everyone else uses a bowden cable for the throttle,so we will use a stiff wire cable,so now the rider can pick their nose with their right hand.

**doc** · 27th July 2010, 20:26

They wrecked a few knee joints when the kicker pawl slipped. You need a rebuild kit for the generator if you want to go past the distance you can travel in one day. Dont mention the 4 speed gearbox problems. They look better when someone else has one.

HD didn't get any reliability until they produced the evo, others will say thats when they lost their character.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 27th July 2010, 20:41

Originally Posted by doc

They wrecked a few knee joints when the kicker pawl slipped. You need a rebuild kit for the generator if you want to go past the distance you can travel in one day. Dont mention the 4 speed gearbox problems. They look better when someone else has one.

HD didn't get any reliability until they produced the evo, others will say thats when they lost their character.

And an evo is only an alloy top end on a shovel. OK if left stock...but not reliable if hot rodded.

Twin Cams are the only truly reliable big HD motor built. And they have as much character as any. Although five speed Sportys are good too.