Harley Sportsters

[Sketchy Snr]

Sweet.

When?

And I'm not fussed who wins.

See sportsters enthusiasm alive and well Good shit.

[Shadows]

Only criticism of the wife's Sportie was that the suspension lacked adjustability. May be better on the new XR though.

The standard suspension on the XR is non adjustable.

[usa-vtwin]

mainly because of affordability at this stage, however I love this bike. Rosie can attest it leaves her for dead in the bendies lol...gets lots of looks, sounds the part, and traffic light acceleration wont shame me against big blocks. For the outlay I'm very happy..I do want a big block, but good things take time. I'm just enjoying the wind..forward controls open the bike up.

[MadDuck]

Soon as I've had my wrist operation done from trying to ride an XR1200 off with the streeing still locked! Real sporty expert me!

That really should be front page news.....

Cant believe it didnt at least make KB front page!

I will watch with interest as this race gets closer.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Cant believe it didnt at least make KB front page!

I will watch with interest as this race gets closer.

Hehehe...actually...I did put up a thread about it at the time!

[buellbabe]

Yep! I consider the Sportster an entry level HD and my reasoning is the price... many years ago I bought my first HD, an 883 sporty. I totally loved that bike, it was fabulous off-road and handled everything it got thrown at LOL. Yes I wanted more top end so eventually traded on a 1200 then inherited a Sportster Sport...those things went like cut-cats and I had heaps of fun on it down the drag strip LOL.
So yep that little Sporty was a stepping stone to bigger and more pricey models... (of course I saw the light and went to Buell but thats another thread LOL!).

YO! Oldguy, I also like the look of the XR1200. In fact I have demo-ed one...its got ground clearance for Africa Yeeeeeeeeeee HAAAAAAAAAA but mate! SO seriously lacking in grunt compared to the Buell...Trust me, you will be itching to get back on the Bolt after riding it.

[Big Dave]

>>its got ground clearance for Africa <<

You reckon? I found that it's not bad for a Harley - but the ground clearance is its biggest 'fault'. Wrong word - but the rest of the package's capability exceeds lean angle.

I do agree it's not as fast as a bolt - it's significantly more comfortable though.

[buellbabe]

Yep I DO reckon but I am comparing it to last years Nightster which is as low as the 1200L.

As far as being more comfortable? Well I'm a bit smaller than you LOL. I find the Firebolt a supremely comforable bike to ride (in fact I have toured the Sth Is on one). I find the upright sitting position on most HDs really uncomfortable after a while...

Each to their own...

Oh BTW even my tired old X1 pisses all over it for grunt and top-end ass hauling!

[boomer]

mRosie can attest it leaves her for dead in the bendies lol...

fookin oxymoron if ever i heard one..

[martybabe]

Pic 1. is a real entry level Harley

pic 2. is a real nice piece of kit called the XR1200X with different suspension to the XR1200 and it is adjustable now, at least at the back.

I just might put my money on one of those black beauties, 90 horses, ground clearance, suspension and brakes, nom nom nom.

[Molly]

There is still that feeling the riders on the big blocks look down on you though as if ahh you havn't growen up yet.

You'll always get wankers that want to play some sort of cock measuring contest with their possessions. Harley SE owner at a RT open day a few months ago just stood by his bike telling people how much he'd paid for it. 46.... 46 .... 46 .... 46 (meaning $46,000) that's all he was saying. In the end I thought he must be referring to his IQ.

A stripped-down, black Sportie is one mean looking bike and at at least near 900cc it's always going to be a substantial ride. Go for it!

[Shadows]

>>its got ground clearance for Africa <<

You reckon? I found that it's not bad for a Harley - but the ground clearance is its biggest 'fault'. Wrong word - but the rest of the package's capability exceeds lean angle.

Right on there. Just like my Sport the XR starts to wear down hard bits before it wears the edges of the tyres.

Good enough, though.

[Sketchy Snr]

I like the look of this. Sorry Buellbabe this is just pure class

[crusa]

Being the smallest of the range they could be called entry level. They also get called girls' bikes, or Skirtsters.

Compared to the rest they are also lighter, more nimble, in most cases quicker, and at the moment I find them more fun to ride than the big blocks, so I couldn't give a fuck what they get called.

In fact I couldn't give a fuck so much, now I have two of them.

My wifes 08 sportster is a good bike to ride,more nimble than mine heaps of power has got the pipes done and tuned by triplezee has about 75hp at the back,

[Kiwibacon]

My first Harley was a 1200R Roadster Sportster, mag wheels twin discs.
I fitted it with a free breathing kit, dyna jet kit, progressive front springs, and rear sport shocks and short fat pipes.
While the fuel range is not as great as the bigger HDs, it handled better, excellerated better, outbraked and was a blast to ride.... I wish i still had it.
one more thing.... it was one of the most reliable bikes i have ever ridden.
Value for money they are great
Well done HD.
For two up riding you cant go past a big block HD, one up, sportys cant be beat in my view. I would ride one any day and be happy.
I ride a lowrider now, and thats a different story.....