OT: For all HD (Harley Davidson) Owners

[tidmack]

Man, you are getting hammered about the Sportster! What a lot of the guys here are not mentioning though is that the Sporty is probably the customizing favorite of many speed shops. That bike is SO customizable. . .like Chevy's 350. Do I think that after a season, you'll start looking for a bigger bike? Probably. Most do, BUT you might be in the category that really digs the Sportster and its endless possibilities. Just food for thought. . .

[SteelerFan]

Indyjeep,

I don't want to offend you, but don't go buy yourself a girlie bike. If you get it I would say in 2 months time you will want a bigger one. I own a 98 Softail Custom and If I were to get another I would steer away from the Softails (one reason Riggid mounted motor) I know the new twincam engines are better but still alot of vibration. If you want to stay on the lesser expensive side look at the dyna models the Super Glide is a nice starter. Your looking at $2,000.00 more. You also get the twin-cam motor, fuel injection, and a 6 speed trany.

Congrats on what ever you buy and I was just ribbing you about the girlie bike[]

for pipes if you get the dealer to do them go Screaming-Eagle, they make some nice slipons and the dealer can tune the engine to the new pipes. I like Vance and Hines my self.

Steve

Steve is that true of the 88TC balanced motor? Someone told me the new Softails with the balanced motors are fairly smooth. The reason I ask is I plan on buying a H-D myself one day.

[theplummer]

I hate to say it, but for the street "feederpigs", oh, I mean sportster's are kinda small. I akin them to the old "Cowasucki" LTD 454's. They make great drag race bikes, as their a 45 degree twin turn massive RPM's as apposed to a 60 degree twin cam 88". remember any mods requires 4 separate cams instead of two for the twin cam 88". and remember this years from now " There's no replacement for displacement".

Also, if you want the best sounding, best performing, quietest at idle pipes ever created, pony up for the Python's There awsome. when you crack the throttle and want them to destroy your eardrums they will, at idle they are "deeeeeep" but barely louder than stock. with a slight cam change, python pipes, and a performance ignition you'll be looking at close to 100 hp at the rear wheeel.

But, I'll assure you my next big twin will be a full on custom, because in the long run you get more performance, style, and clean lines, as apposed to a production bike with the wiring harnes attached outside the frame, rough powdercoated frame, with all visible welds. for the money this is a better way to start.

Although, I believe everyone that wants a motorcycle should own one before they decide what it is that they ultimately want in one, as they're as diverse as women.

Good luck and congrats.

[customsteve01]

Tom,

Good relply but I have one thing to tas

LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES!!!!!!!!!

How many time have you been riding in your car and a Jap. bike goes by you and you didn't even see him till he was past you. You usually hear the Harley before you see it. I have the Vance and Hines Pro-Pipe on my softail and it is not no where near as loud as straight pipes (been there done that) but it can be heard and thats the way I want it. They keep making cars more insulated to the outside noise that most of the time they don't even hear emergancy vehicles, don't even get me started on that tho.

Mark,

Didn't you notice the "Girlie Bike" comint I made yesterday???

Steeler,

Yes the 88TC engine is balanced and it is smoother than the Evo. but it is still riggid mounted to the frame. put the same engine on a Dyna or touring bike and just think how smooth it is. The differance is riggid mounted and rubber mounted.

My next bike will be an Ultra-Classic, I just don't know when I will get it. I just don't have the extra $$$ to trade up right now so I will keep what I have.

Steve

[CECAA850]

If you want a pipe louder than stock, but won't make your ears bleed on long trips then look at the Screamin Eagle slip ons. They give you a good boost in the mid RPM hp, where most of your driving is done. As allways, be sure you or someone else richens up your mixture accordingly. No disrespect, but in TX. we call them "Shortsters".

[mark1101]

Mark,

Didn't you notice the "Girlie Bike" comint I made yesterday???

Steve

Yeah, saw it after the fact. I think it's a pretty universal opinion. But...if you never rode a bike or lack experience, then a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do. Better safety first. Most can take the friendly teasing.

[Indyjeep]

For the fact that at my house I will not only have a Sportster at my house but a Road King Classic sittin in my driveway also. So when I get everything down thats when Ill be able to ride that. So, booya hah, no really I don't mind the teasing. I know quite a few people(male) that have Sportsters and have done tons of mods to em. And plus again for a beginner I think its a good decision instead of spending the extra money...and like I said in about a year and a half Ill have an extra $500 a month to spend. So....ya

Adam

[Tom Adams]

Good lord Steveand just when I was beginning to like you. [] []

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Please tell me that you really dont believe in the Loud Pipes Saves Lives crap. The only reason that people hear a loud pipe bike (notice Im not singling out HD for there are other cruisers out there) is because of the seemingly incessant throttle blipping. If your modern day HD or whatever wont idle without having the throttle blipped, theres something wrong. And just what the hell is THAT all about? The damn bike is fuel injected and will idle all by itself all day long. Now, back in the day.I blipped the throttle on my motocrosser to keep it from loading up and fouling a plug. And the only reason 4-stroke guys blipped their throttles was because of long cam timing or they had flat slide carbs, etc. No, for some reason, riders just love to hear the sound of their machine..rrruuUUUMMM, rrruuUUUMMM, rrruuUUUMMM, rrruuUUUMMM, rrruuUUUMMM, rrruuUUUMMM, rrruuUUUMMM, rrruuUUUMMM, rrruuUUUMMM. "Hey everybody.....look at me. I can make my bike sound cool." rrruuUUUMMM, rrruuUUUMMM, rrruuUUUMMM, rrruuUUUMMM. Good ged man ever been to bike week and listened to that sh*t for 5 days??? Anyhow

For the record, there is no documented scientific proof that Loud Pipes Saves Lives. Any proof is anecdotal at best. Its in the same category as those deer whistles folks put on their bikes. Yep had them deer whistles on my Buick for 10 years and never hit a deer. Sheesh..

Tom

[customsteve01]

Indyjeep,

All ribbing aside, Congrats to you and your dad on the new bikes. Please post a pic when you get them. We would all like to see your new toys. Remember no matter what you do, always keep em shiney side up. Enjoy your new ride and if you ever venture out East toward Virginia let me know and maybe we can hook up.

Tom, Tom, Tom..................

I am so disapointed in you...[] I thought at least you would understand. There may not be any sientific proof that louder pipes save lives but with all the boneheaded cage drivers out there I want all the help I can get to make them notice me. And if making alittle noise gets me noticed then all the better.

My bike has a medium performance cam (Andrews EV-27), head work, a Mikuni carb (not fuel injected), and the Vance and Hines pro pipes. My bike will idle just fine without blipping the throttle, plus I like the way it sounds.

And yes I have been to Daytona and Sturgis plus many other bike rallies and I love the sound of thunder for a week at a time.

Steve

[j-malotky]

Being from Milw, WI (the land of HDs) I can't resist posting in this thread.

The sportster is a girls bike at least in this town.

Take lessons and learn defensive driving. That will help a lot more than loud pipes.

I always laugh at guys who decrease there exhaust pressure without rejeting there carbs. A real dumb ashe move.

If you want a starter bike to have for a few years, you should look at used. It would be worth a trip to Milwaukee. Most everyone here has a Harly or two and used ones go real cheap compared to the rest of the US.

JM

[Tom Adams]

" I am so disapointed in you... I thought at least you would understand. There may not be any sientific proof that louder pipes save lives but with all the boneheaded cage drivers out there I want all the help I can get to make them notice me. And if making alittle noise gets me noticed then all the better."

Well get in line there fella. There's a whole bunch more ahead of you that's disappointed in me. LOL....[]

Ok mister smartie pants, explain this to me. I probably have well over 500K mosickle miles under my belt (a*s?) and many of those miles have been in commuting situations. I bet I can count on one hand the number of close calls I've had. And ALL of my mileage (well....except for the ZX9R) has been on bikes with stock mufflers. Yet, I hear the loud pipe crowd (pun intended) yak endlessly about how many times they've been cut off or someone pulled out in front of them or pulled over on them or whatever. If those obnoxious pipes help, how come they're always having close encounters and I'm not? Huh? Huh? See?? Can't explain it huh? [] [] []

Listen....I'm just funnin' with you for the most part. I'm ok with a little rumble but you've got to agree that some pipes are just plain obnoxious. IMHO, if riders had better skills in the risk assement department (you know, playing the "what if game") they'd never place themselves in a position where they'd have to perform an accident avoidance manuever. Seriously, how many guys do you ride with that practice maximum braking drills routinely? Hell - how many even know how much braking potential their bike has?? When that soccer mom minivan pulls out ain't the time to practice. Well, enuff of my drivel. I'm starting to irritate myself! LOL....[]

Well.....I'm outta here for the day. Hope I don't get too many stares on the way home. I've been using this new technique of driving my pickemup. Whenever I get in traffic or am passing someone or come up on an intersection where someone has the stop sign, etc. I just lay on my horn. I mean, everybody knows that Loud Horns Saves Lives. Hell, I ain't been hit yet. [] [] []

Tom

[jheis]

I'll second what Tom said.

When you loud pipes folks go cruising along setting off car alarms and see people's lips moving (obviously you can't hear them), believe me, what they're saying is definitely not "wow, there goes a cool dude on his Harley."

James

[SteelerFan]

Steeler,

Yes the 88TC engine is balanced and it is smoother than the Evo. but it is still riggid mounted to the frame. put the same engine on a Dyna or touring bike and just think how smooth it is. The differance is riggid mounted and rubber mounted.

Steve

Thanks for your reply Steve. Happy motoring.[]

[Flason]

I know Harley has an almost Scientology cult like following, but expand your horizons a little. There are many metric (Jap for the non-PC out there) cruisers that will run rings around the HD's.Here is 102ci that will smoke a HD with anything less than a Stage 3 kit installed. It will take the V-Rod in the first 3 gears but with around $2K in engine work, even the V-Rod won't have a chance. Even with engine work done, it runs thousands less than a V-Rod or equivalent HD. And when I go to the local Bike Night's, even the HD owners like this bike. Now even though I said all that, my favorite bike is still a Fat Boy. I just like the style. The Yamaha has the Road Star, which is Fat Boy like, but it's not a Fat Boy. If I had a spare $11K at the time, I would be displaying a picture of the Fat Boy instead of my Warrior.

[customsteve01]

Like the picture of your cornwall[]

By the way I didn't buy my Harley for the performance. It is worth today what I paid for it 5 years ago, can you say the same?????

Steve

[Flason]

It is worth today what I paid for it 5 years ago, can you say the same?????

Steve

Believe it or not, these are holding their value better than a lot. My buddy bought a 05 Road King and was going to trade it for a Street Glide and it was a sin what the dealer offered him. The Street Glide is a sweet looking ride too. Still not a Fat Boy, but not to shabby. I am also not a speed freak. I had a scare 25 years ago and don't want to ever have access to speed like that again. Anyway, thought I'd post of my bike the way most Harley owners see it. [] (And I don't mean parked!!)

[oldbuckster]

The only thing Loud pipes are good for; To get stopped and pay a ticket for loudness, to make people notice you, wake people up in the middle of the night, after you leave the bar. They do not make a bike faster, in some cases they hurt performance. Loud pipes on bikes or cars, are no different to me than the kid with a 1000 watt sub woofer thumping the neighborhood. Mellow, throaty, deep exhaust notes are MUSIC to my ears, but Loud is just RUDE, and actually somewhat childlike. To each his own, want to ride LOUD, get your check book ready, you will pay a fine, sooner or later!!!!

[Tom Adams]

Like the picture of your cornwall[]

By the way I didn't buy my Harley for the performance. It is worth today what I paid for it 5 years ago, can you say the same?????

Steve

Ohhhhh.......now I understand. Silly me. It's an investment. And here I thought you bought your bike to ride. [] []

Tom

[SteelerFan]

Mike, I was sitting on a red Warrior at Barney's a couple of weeks back. Really liked the bike except for the pipe, which I see you fixed on yours. Have you seen the new Suzuki M109R yet? Cool bike and I was suprised at how comfortable it is. []

[Flason]

Mike, I was sitting on a red Warrior at Barney's a couple of weeks back. Really liked the bike except for the pipe, which I see you fixed on yours. Have you seen the new Suzuki M109R yet? Cool bike and I was suprised at how comfortable it is. []

I sat on one of the M109's at the bike show in the Sun Dome a few weeks back. The only thing I really didn't like about it was the shaft drive. Other than that, it looks really nice. It weights around 100lbs more than my bike but the extra 30+hp would more than make up for the extra weight. I have been itching to get a more traditional cruiser for a while but I always end up buying more speakers. That and I really like my bike. We're off to Leesburg today for the Bike Fest. Should be a nice ride. Last year it rained most of the day and wasn't a lot of fun. Remember, Blues Fest is next weekend.