Slightly Hardcore Biker
Want low seat height? Slightly classic? Reminiscent handling? Reasonable possibility of having to learn how to fix it?Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase
Look no further!
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Lis...?id=1454245765
And probably priced only slightly high
High miles, engine knock, rusty chrome, worn pegs...
Brakes as new
Fully qualified Sifter.
These guys should know better.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1987-Kawasa...pZrihK&vxp=mtr
Hardcore Biker
I like your thinking, took a nuda for a test ride , loads of fun even though I'm a midget.
Forum whore
You'll be off my Christmas card list.
"channellling the Pleideans"
Awwwww man, your Christmas card is the highlight of my year.
I thought elections were decided by angry posts on social media. - F5 Dave
"channellling the Pleideans"
I really like them and would own one if my shed was bigger.Want low seat height? Slightly classic? Reminiscent handling? Reasonable possibility of having to learn how to fix it?
Look no further!
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Lis...?id=1454245765
And probably priced only slightly high
I thought elections were decided by angry posts on social media. - F5 Dave
Fully qualified Sifter.
You sick fuck.
Forum whore
I want it. If the girl wasn't at University ..........
That's one thing Labour did not offer - a free motorcycle.
Forum whore
So where's the HD ride report - or are you busy getting a skull tattoo on your shoulder?
"channellling the Pleideans"
Yeah nah. I can't have a skull it would clash with the unicorn and rainbow on the other shoulder.
As for the ride report, well. I liked the bike. I did my same test ride that I ride any bike so over the hill via the Sign of the Kiwi, out to the Wheatsheaf, over Gebbies then back to to town. You get a bit of everything plus stunning scenery. Especially today. It was beautiul. And warm but not too hot. Actually the perfect day to be out riding.
The bike is a 2018 Harley Davidson Street Bob. I think its model designation is FXLSTFBBQWTF. something like that. 107 cubic inch which I worked out as 1900 cc. Six speed. single disc and high-ish handlebars. Complete redesign for 2018 vs last years model: the motor is bigger, now a dry sump, and is 4V with water cooled heads. The frame is new (lighter and stiffer) and the rear suspension is new. The old soft tails had shocks under the motors - this has something akin to a Yamaha DT400 monoshock (or, you know, a Vincent).
I have ridden 3 Harleys in my life. This one, a Street 500 which is our shop bike, and a Sportster Nightster a few years ago.
You'd think, if you had been carrying the prejudices against the brand that I have been carrying for many years, that the bikes would be utter shit. They aren't. They also have some features that you would think "Why the fuck don't all manufacturers do this?" Like the remote key fob thingy, and self cancelling indicators. You wouldnt buy a car without that shit but for a bike its all about a key, still.
Anyway, crank it up (hear the blip, flip the switch, hit the button) and its super quiet. there is a bit of burble but "everybody changes the pipes" - I hate obnoxiously loud bikes unless they are in MotoGP so I dont mind that. Get on it and the ergos are immediately right for me - I have the physical characteristics of a hobbit so short legs, long body, huge penis and hairy feet (ask your Mum). I can flat foot the thing. I have a nice leg reach to the pegs - I thought it would be too long initially but its fine. The handlebar position is not what I am used to but surprisingly OK up till around 110kph - seat is fine. It has a way better display than the one on my street triple. The thing has no gauges and the display is built into the clamp that holds the bars. It is way easier to read than the digital display on my street triple and has a rev counter too. Which is good. Plus a fuel range to empty which is a useful thing. Its hilarious reading the rev counter - 2300 rpm at 100kph in top.
That road over the hill is toight loik a toiger but the thing goes where you point it, and holds a line well. Ground clearance not as compromised as I expected.... I dragged a lot more hardware on the ground on the Street 500 than the Street Bob. I obviously wasnt thrashing it because it had only done 200km from brand new but it pulled out to pass any amount quickly enough in a "real world" speed from 60 to 110 kph. Nice light and neutral steering - sure its long, and in a sweeper you need some pressure on the inside bar, but a lot of that is to do with sensible tyre sizes particularly in the rear.
Niggles? I didnt think the front brake was that good and I didnt like the lever - I'd look for some reach adjustable levers for it and maybe some sintered pads. Its also too quiet.
The one thing I would spend money on? The front fork. Probably set up for someone heavier than me but it had far too much compression damping so it would kind of crash over bumps a bit. I wonder if it isnt a cartridge or bending washer fork but a fixed orifice type design. I am sure it is nothing that Rob Taylor couldnt fix. The rear was excellent. It only blew through its travel on an EQ pothole once.
I really rated it. I intend to take the Triumph Bobber (similar money) out over the same circuit in the next week or so.
TL;DR: functions like a proper motorcycle. Looks cool even in stock form. Some great features. I could live with one as a road bike.
And get this: $23000 ride away (with 12 mo rego included). That is an absolute bargain especially given there is a complete redesign and major improvements over the outgoing model. In fact it must be cannibalising sales from Sportsters something chronic because a sportster is ~$21k. In the US the steps are like $11kUS for a Sportster and a Street Bob is 25 % more but here the gap is 10%.
I thought elections were decided by angry posts on social media. - F5 Dave
Anorak
I posted the nuda for it Harley like sound without the midlife crisis connotations (they have a 45 crank.)
The mid size Duke from what you said you wanted the Sr400 for, seems to me to be a lot closer to the original brief governor.
Kinky is using a feather. Perverted is using the whole chicken
Fully qualified Sifter.
They've always been dry sump Old Bean. Glad you enjoyed it. As mentioned before, dropping the Dyna chassis, and making them all Softails, made perfect sense, and I always asked HD boffins why they hadn't done it ages ago.
Fully qualified Sifter.
Good job the fairings are in reasonably good condition then!
https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/mot...1455854641.htm
No8 Wire Extraordinaire
Turbo is stripped ready for rebuild;
But was found to be totally fuked and I can't get parts or find another. I was so passed off I beat the bike all over with a lump hammer. Felt bad about it so sprayed it black. Anyway my drug dealer says I owe him $1700 or he's going to break my legs so . . .
Edit: I love this thread. Thank you to all.
Don't you look at my accountant.
He's the only one I've got.
Slightly Hardcore Biker
[QUOTE=F5 Dave;1131069948]Turbo is stripped ready for rebuild;
But was found to be totally fuked and I can't get parts or find another. I was so passed off I beat the bike all over with a lump hammer. Felt bad about it so sprayed it black. Anyway my drug dealer says I owe him $1700 or he's going to break my legs so . . .
I think you're being a bit harsh, I mean, somebody has spent a bit of time on it, pulling all the good bits off and putting the tyre on backwards...
High miles, engine knock, rusty chrome, worn pegs...
Brakes as new
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