How can Harley Davidson appeal to younger riders? + Poll.

[Voltaire]

[QUOTE=Crasherfromwayback;1130561320]

Lastly...bet I can ride an 883 round Manfeild quicker than you can ride your Kawasaki.

Just out of interest does the 883 make as much power as a mid 70's 1000? as I can on a good day get past one on my BMW R90/6 around Manfield , not so much the mid 60's 900 Sportster though.....

[AllanB]

[QUOTE=Voltaire;1130561861]

Just out of interest does the 883 make as much power as a mid 70's 1000? as I can on a good day get past one on my BMW R90/6 around Manfield , not so much the mid 60's 900 Sportster though.....

76 Z900 Kawa (want........)

Engine: 903 cc air-cooled 4-cylinder,[1] 82 bhp @ 8,500 rpm [4]
Bore x Stroke: 66 mm x 66 mm
Weight (wet): 246 kg (542 lbs)
Production: 85,000 (est.) between 1973-75[1]
Transmission: 5-speed, chain final drive
Carburetion: 28 mm Mikuni
Tires: 19-inch front, 18-inch back
Brakes: 11.5-inch disc front, 7.9-inch drum rear[3]
Top Speed: 130 mph[4]


2012 883 HD

Fucking hard finding engine specs on any HD!!!!
Colour yes!

It weighs the same as the above Kawa
Engine Torque- 55 ft. lbs. @ 3500 RPM (75 Nm @ 3500 RPM)
HP is a mystery but I recal it is no higher than a new bonnie so 60 ish or below.



Chalk and cheese engines though, you cannot really compare the two. Bonnie and Sporty yes or Guzzi 750.

[granstar]

Loaded well and truly Scummy. Yammy not as nice as the Harley, being a short arse would own an 883 but really they should bring it out as a 1000. Just saying and we know the history, Japs plagarised Triumph motor plans and made the XS model heaps better than the T120 ever was ...But!.
I owned both (in the 70's) 650 Triumph and XS 650 C, the Yammy albiet reliable was a pig, sold it and bought another Trumph 650.


Your Beemer needs tuned then. R90/6 @ 67 hp, 65 sportster 60hp, 75 sportster 57 hp , 883 is 70 Nm err..HP= Torque in Newton meters x RPM go figure, i was asleep in maths class dreaming about bikes
Re- loads...then depends on who is riding the bike.

[AllanB]

Knew I had read a comparison. Heres online version. As they say, forget the specs go for the fun!

If they were all $8k in NZ I bet a shit load of these bikes would be owned by riders of all ages. So maybe that is the OP answer - a $8k Sporty.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/co...e/viewall.html

[Voltaire]

Your Beemer needs tuned then. R90/6 @ 67 hp, 65 sportster 60hp, 75 sportster 57 hp , 883 is 70 Nm err..HP= Torque in Newton meters x RPM go figure no good at maths

I don't believe any of the figures they quoted back in the day, The R90 probably has about 50 BHP, about the same as a modern Thruxton.

[Motu]

The Sportster was made to compete with the British 650's of the era, and back to back they are on a par - just depends on your personal preference for vibration periods and location of oil leaks. As I'm still happy riding 650 2 valve twins, a 2 valve 883 is a good ride for me. The 1000 was made to keep up with the 750's when they became the big new capacity - so you can put a 1000cc Sportster against the Trident, Commando or CB750 of the Day. This is for the American market remember, so doesn't take in handling or stopping. Having ridden a worked 1000cc Sportster with drag bars, I can confirm that it scared me more shitless than the other 3.

[ducatilover]

2012 883 HD

Fucking hard finding engine specs on any HD!!!!
Colour yes!
.

45hp at the wheel plus or minus a couple for a late injected 883. So I expect 60-65 at the crank? Dunno a lot about how much the lose through the drivetrain though.
A little under 50 lb/ft at the tread too (just over 60nm in the new moneys)
Which is expected in an engine of the size doing under 6krpm
Should be around the same hp as one of my shitheaps and just a little more torque

[Big Dave]

It's called EQ these days. The ability to understand other people.

Some of you knob jockeys completely lack it.

Because a vehicle doesn't suit *your* criteria it's derided as inferior.

[Crasherfromwayback]

[
Just out of interest does the 883 make as much power as a mid 70's 1000? as I can on a good day get past one on my BMW R90/6 around Manfield , not so much the mid 60's 900 Sportster though.....

All I can quote is lap times. I've done 1 min 19 flat round Manfeild on my Twinsport 883.

[Voltaire]

All I can quote is lap times. I've done 1 min 19 flat round Manfeild on my Twinsport 883.

WOW, I was looking at the lap times for last year of the CMCRR and your 3 seconds ahead faster than the Triumph Trident ( on meths), 850 Moto Guzzi and 12 seconds up on the XLCH 900. , you should come classic racing.

[Monkfish]

I don't believe any of the figures they quoted back in the day, The R90 probably has about 50 BHP, about the same as a modern Thruxton.

according to my research the modern Thrux has around 68 bhp.

http://www.bentleymotorrad.com/printpdf/351

just as an FYI.

[Voltaire]

Fixed that for ya

The sales blurb says 68HP not BHP

http://www.bentleymotorrad.com/printpdf/351

just as an FYI.

[swarfie]

Fixed that for ya

Lot of BS talked about HP....can all depend on who's twisting the handlebar bit...That might stand for Hire Purchase

[Monkfish]

Fixed that for ya

ye sorry HP not BHP

Lot of BS talked about HP....can all depend on who's twisting the handlebar bit...That might stand for Hire Purchase

Yes there is, but I cant find a single review that contradicts the 68 hp figure.

[Paul in NZ]

Pointless comparisons....

60's and early 70's american 'performance' was all about standing 1/4 mile times. And a good 900 XLCH could be very good at that indeed. Its arguable that a good Triumph 650 was a better allrounder but .... Frankly you needed to be a bit of a gearhead to build a 'good one' of either brand.

The success of bikes like the CB750 and Z1 was not just about pure performance but rather the arrival of 'performance' as a product that was easy to access and use. It was also the beginning of an era dominated by new type of rider.

Seminal bikes are often ones that arrive at a time when the market changes and they meet the needs of the refreshed market. Like now for instance - sports bikes are last weeks new - ADV bikes are in...

Its arguable that while HD have never much been affected by these trends as they have usually had a distinct fan base. However times are tough and you can't help but wonder if any maker is wise to have just a premium brand in its portfolio. While they can attract some new riders with models like the 48 etc they will never pick up any sales in the new trends segments.

In my opinion the bike HD really missed the boat on when retiring Buell was the Uylsses... Updated and tweaked they would be selling well at the moment.