Harley Davidson adventure bike

[scumdog]

So you’re saying the technology is Vietnam war era?

They have advanced a little since then - like the M16.

Both not at all bad now...

[Drew]

Serious question. Have you ever actually ridden a well set up Sporty? I'm doubting it.

Don't be so bloody touchy Pete.

As an adventure bike, is a sporty motor any good? It's heavy, air cooled, and the gearbox is less than ideal for a quick down shift when things get interesting.

I have nothing against Harleys, would kill for a Fatboy, or an XR1200XX.

It's Ducati I hate, overpriced bits of shit that they are.

[Frodo]

Not my weapon of choice, but a very entertaining thread:
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=681994

He modified a 2003 Sportster to make a "Dirtster".

[Frodo]

For those who don't go the link above, here is a photo of the Dirtster



He later went with soft bags.

[unstuck]

For those who don't go the link above, here is a photo of the Dirtster

He later went with soft bags.

Looks ok to me. Tank still looks pretty small though, what sort of range has it got? Would sound pretty cool too going through some canyons and gullys.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Don't be so bloody touchy Pete.

As an adventure bike, is a sporty motor any good? It's heavy, air cooled, and the gearbox is less than ideal for a quick down shift when things get interesting.

I have nothing against Harleys, would kill for a Fatboy, or an XR1200XX.

Not being touchy Drew. Just asked a serious question. Which by the way...you didn't actually answer. Is a sporty motor any good as an adventure bike engine? Well...it's too heavy...but other than that...I think it's shit hot. I'd rather have an air cooled engine when out in the middle of nowhere. They're tractable as fuck (hence an HD powered bike holding the world land speed record for so long), easy to work on/fix on the side of the road. Reliable as anything made anywhere else. Frugal...narrow (unlike the boxer which a lot of people seem to love in PD form)...what's not to like?

[MIXONE]

I have nothing against Harleys, would kill for a Fatboy, or an XR1200XX.

It's Ducati I hate, overpriced bits of shit that they are.

That's alright Drew I once rode a RF900 and thought it was a POS the felt like riding a plank and had the character of a empty ballpoint pen.
Each to their own eh.

[Drew]

Not being touchy Drew. Just asked a serious question. Which by the way...you didn't actually answer.

I haven't ridden a well set up sporty, no.

That's alright Drew I once rode a RF900 and thought it was a POS the felt like riding a plank and had the character of a empty ballpoint pen.
Each to their own eh.

I obviously have to bust out a couple of these to stick up for me trusty steed.

No character ya reckon?

[MIXONE]

I didn't say that you can't ride or race them but that doesn't necessarily equal having character.It's an unmeasurable quantity that many bikes have but most don't.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I haven't ridden a well set up sporty, no.

So my point being...how the fuck would you know it's not a good engine for such a bike then? You know how Harley's *fire* eh? You must realize similar principles are only semi recently being used in Moto GP etc to achieve similar results right?

[Drew]

So my point being...how the fuck would you know it's not a good engine for such a bike then? You know how Harley's *fire* eh? You must realize similar principles are only semi recently being used in Moto GP etc to achieve similar results right?

I know how they fire, yes.

Similar principals? Kind of I guess. It is a long 'dead pulse' which works great for tyre life.

OK, I don't know how one would be in real life as an adventure bike. I was making an assumption like I always do, and now I seem to be being made to look dumb...like I always do.

As you were.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I know how they fire, yes.

Similar principals? Kind of I guess. It is a long 'dead pulse' which works great for tyre life.

.

Not just tire life Bro. Traction. This is why a 450 four stroke is faster than a 500cc two stroke, even though they're heavier and make less HP. Harley powered streamliners owned the world land speed record for years because of this. It's also why a sporty engine would (is) actually be not too bad an option for off road use. You'll also note that they make fucking good flat track bikes...and hill climbers. Sportster engines are fucking cool. Not just cause I raced one. If Ya ugly brother trades an XR1200 some time...ride it. Then get back to me. And they're not nearly as good as you can make 'em.

[BMWST?]

At my age I can put it down to Alzheimers.....

Bloody Keeway, been trying for the past 18mths to kill it. 21000k on it and still starts everyday, regardless of the temperature, rai, snow frosts, heat. Dang thing is so reliable I swear it cannot be Chinese! Get more problems out of my XS1100. Now where did I part that last night

considering the xs1100 is pushing 35 years old is that surprising?

[AllanB]

Great original post thanks.

I've previously stated my general dislike for the physical 'look' of adventure bikes - WTF can they not have some style?

That Sporty based on looks great and I see no reason at all as to why the engine would not suit the purpose. After all the worlds 'best' the BMW GS has had a heavy air cooled engine in it for decades ..........

[NiggleC]

I'm no fan of Harley's but this looks pretty good. As a design concept it's been well executed with some good suspension and going by the picture the geometry looks about right. Like others here i compared to the original R80G/S. To look at it shouldn't work but somehow it does. It would be interesting to compare this Harley to something like a KTM 990. It would come second but how far off the mark would it be?