Not today but yesterday I/we returned home from a 5-day trip thru the Northeast, left RI, picked up my friend in MA, hit NH, VT, NY and looped back around into MA then back to RI. She was able to hit the Kancamagus Highway and the Mohawk Trail. Although it may have only been 700 miles, it was her very first real road trip since getting her license in April. And she did it in a Sportster 1200 Custom. Kudos to her for toughing it out. Thanks to the members in the Sporty section that helped us get this bike road ready.

 

I'm not sure "toughing it out" is really how to describe riding a Sportster. I put 258 miles on mine today with a mixture of twisty roads and fast highway.

 

Hey Andy, I know you 'visit' the Softail section, but you must have missed this same post above with some additional wording...
I won't post the entire link, but rather I'll just say see #12636 in the "What did you do to your Softail" thread...

T.

 

lol. I'll save him the trip. While I'm definitely spoiled with my Softail. That lil 1200 Custom is the most uncomfortable bike I've ridden. Not saying you can't tour on them, but I don't think I'd want to.

 

As a light weight person and short **** my Superlow front suspension is okay but the back needed work. The shock absorber length is 11.5 inches but after doing some basic maths a 12" shock adds so little to the ride height but has a much better amount of travel. As I wasn't getting any sag with the HD shocks getting some with the 12" has probably brought the ride height to the same place anyway.

I went with K-Tech here in the UK although I suspect I could have got the same deal from Hagon but for less money. The important thing is the shocks have separate adjustment for damping. I cheaped out and went for rebound only as compression added an astronomical amount to the price.

I have had my seat modified to have a gel pad and 3D mesh inserted but kept the look of the stock seat as the shape is perfect for me.

The Superlow has the further forward mid controls but they are not so far forward and it is possible to stand up. This can be very important if a pothole is unavoidable.

I don't think you need to spend vast amounts of money to make the ride so much better.

 

In defense of 04FXDI , my 2003 Sporty still beats me up a bit, even after deplacing the rise bushings, suspension, pegs, and grips. It's way better, but at times the sustained vibration can make my hands and feet feel a little numb. It's perfectly fine for the majority of riding that I do, but if I were to ever want to do some serious highway miles for a long trip, I'd probably want something like a Softail. I'm not sure I'll ever be ready for a full size touring bike, but something smoother would be nice if I'm going to be cruising at 70mph for more than a minute or two.

 

I removed both wheels from my Iron 883, I'll be getting my Avon Cobra Chrome tires fitted on Friday, the front wheel spindle came out easily, the rear spindle was a bitch to remove, there is corrosion in the centre of the spindle due to water ingression. I will clean it up with a Scotch Brite pad and grease it before re-installation.

The positive terminal on the MotoBatt battery completely sheared off, it is one of those with a loose caged nut, the battery is only fourteen months old, so the terminals don't like vibration and I don't like style of terminals.

I have replaced the MotoBatt with a Dutch HVT brand of battery, it has solid lead threaded terminals that are at the edge of the battery case, just like on the stock H-D battery. It is a well made battery which should give me years of reliable service.

 

Although I don't go out of my way to ride in the wet I do use water from a hose to wash it. I use the very nice Permatex Anti-Seize Lubricant (that turns everything silver no matter what) and the inner parts and axles on my bike have not corroded.

 

That stuff seems to get everywhere whenever I use it. Never sure how.

John