What did you do to Your Sportster Today?
#9701
For most of us old-timers, the forward controls are "new". They started after the choppers became popular in the early 70's. Easy Rider and other movies had a lot to do with it.
The Sportster actually started out as a lightweight bike to compete with the Brit bikes the vets were bringing home from Europe. The BSA's, Triumph's, Norton's, etc. were kicking H-D's butt at the race track and the Sportster came along and kicked back very successfully. (Sort of like the way Shelby's AC Cobra kicked Ferarri's butt, but that's another story.) The Sportster kept H-D from going bankrupt. A lot of Big Twin owners don't know that.
The first Sportster had the European mid-controls with the shifter on the right side and the brake on the left until the US standards required all motorcycles sold in the US to have uniform controls: left side shifter, right side brake, one-down and the higher gears up. My 2005 Sport with mid's are exactly like the first several bikes I owned and rode of my friends. When I first bought a metric bike with forward controls, I was completely out of my element with the recliner chair position and longer wheelbase. Instead of whipping through the turns I was intimidated by them, but I continued to ride because the ride was "cushy". I owned three cruisers with forwards before I came back "home" to my mid's.
Now, I'm a 70-year-old man whipping through the turns and lifting my butt off the seat at railroad crossing, pot-holes and speed bumps. I can ride for hours in complete comfort on my bike with the stock Sportster solo seat that came with it. (When it wears out, I will replace it with the same style made by Mustang.) The Honda Shadow that I traded in limited me to a half-hour ride before my bad back kicked in my sciatica and a combination of pains and numbness would bother me for days or weeks. My mid-controls make me a kid again. I only stop for pit-stops now. At the end of a 200 mile ride, I feel great.
The Sportster actually started out as a lightweight bike to compete with the Brit bikes the vets were bringing home from Europe. The BSA's, Triumph's, Norton's, etc. were kicking H-D's butt at the race track and the Sportster came along and kicked back very successfully. (Sort of like the way Shelby's AC Cobra kicked Ferarri's butt, but that's another story.) The Sportster kept H-D from going bankrupt. A lot of Big Twin owners don't know that.
The first Sportster had the European mid-controls with the shifter on the right side and the brake on the left until the US standards required all motorcycles sold in the US to have uniform controls: left side shifter, right side brake, one-down and the higher gears up. My 2005 Sport with mid's are exactly like the first several bikes I owned and rode of my friends. When I first bought a metric bike with forward controls, I was completely out of my element with the recliner chair position and longer wheelbase. Instead of whipping through the turns I was intimidated by them, but I continued to ride because the ride was "cushy". I owned three cruisers with forwards before I came back "home" to my mid's.
Now, I'm a 70-year-old man whipping through the turns and lifting my butt off the seat at railroad crossing, pot-holes and speed bumps. I can ride for hours in complete comfort on my bike with the stock Sportster solo seat that came with it. (When it wears out, I will replace it with the same style made by Mustang.) The Honda Shadow that I traded in limited me to a half-hour ride before my bad back kicked in my sciatica and a combination of pains and numbness would bother me for days or weeks. My mid-controls make me a kid again. I only stop for pit-stops now. At the end of a 200 mile ride, I feel great.
Last edited by boomerguy; 10-09-2019 at 08:31 AM.
The following users liked this post:
Packgrog (10-09-2019)
#9702
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Posts: 27,076
Received 4,632 Likes
on
2,735 Posts
....
Now, I'm a 70-year-old man whipping through the turns and lifting my butt off the seat at railroad crossing, pot-holes and speed bumps. I can ride for hours in complete comfort on my bike with the stock Sportster solo seat that came with it. (When it wears out, I will replace it with the same style made by Mustang.) The Honda Shadow that I traded in limited me to a half-hour ride before my bad back kicked in my sciatica and a combination of pains and numbness would bother me for days or weeks. My mid-controls make me a kid again. I only stop for pit-stops now. At the end of a 200 mile ride, I feel great.
Now, I'm a 70-year-old man whipping through the turns and lifting my butt off the seat at railroad crossing, pot-holes and speed bumps. I can ride for hours in complete comfort on my bike with the stock Sportster solo seat that came with it. (When it wears out, I will replace it with the same style made by Mustang.) The Honda Shadow that I traded in limited me to a half-hour ride before my bad back kicked in my sciatica and a combination of pains and numbness would bother me for days or weeks. My mid-controls make me a kid again. I only stop for pit-stops now. At the end of a 200 mile ride, I feel great.
#9703
The following users liked this post:
Dudepants (10-09-2019)
#9704
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Posts: 27,076
Received 4,632 Likes
on
2,735 Posts
The weather forecast after today is pretty dismal, could be the last real nice day for riding this year, so instead of the vehicle maintenance and yard work I should be doing...
... enjoyed the only kind of road anywhere near me that never gets clogged up with traffic. Was 71 degrees when I headed out, still high 60s when I got back. Gas tank is near the bottom now, time for that non alcoholic premium winter fill up. But if I have to fill it again after that, I won't complain, just depends on when they start pouring the salt on here. Just in case, think I'll put the wimpshield on, 40's forecast next week and I'm liking a little comfort in my old age.
... enjoyed the only kind of road anywhere near me that never gets clogged up with traffic. Was 71 degrees when I headed out, still high 60s when I got back. Gas tank is near the bottom now, time for that non alcoholic premium winter fill up. But if I have to fill it again after that, I won't complain, just depends on when they start pouring the salt on here. Just in case, think I'll put the wimpshield on, 40's forecast next week and I'm liking a little comfort in my old age.
#9705
#9706
Rode over the the dealer this morning to pick up 3 quarts of oil as the bikes due for it's 15,000 service. Thought I'd price a pair of chrome strut supports/frame rails since the one's on my SuperLow are black.
SWEET JESUS... $280 for the pair of chrome ones. Good God, they are just two pieces of stamped sheet metal with some chrome on them.
Gunna have to rethink this...
SWEET JESUS... $280 for the pair of chrome ones. Good God, they are just two pieces of stamped sheet metal with some chrome on them.
Gunna have to rethink this...
#9707
07 883 Oil Drain Hose replaced
I noticed a few weeks ago that under the Sportster was an oil spot. Finally got around to checking it last Sunday and discovered it was the oils drain hose coming from the oil bag. I picked up a new hose this week in Pensacola as I had to fly out of Pensacola for work.
i put it on this evening after I found my Dremel to cut the crimped clamp off. I bought FI clamps to use but got the wrong size. After finding a worm gear clamp to use , all is well. It took about 30 minutes including the time to hunt for a clamp.
i put it on this evening after I found my Dremel to cut the crimped clamp off. I bought FI clamps to use but got the wrong size. After finding a worm gear clamp to use , all is well. It took about 30 minutes including the time to hunt for a clamp.
#9708
#9709
I noticed a few weeks ago that under the Sportster was an oil spot. Finally got around to checking it last Sunday and discovered it was the oils drain hose coming from the oil bag. I picked up a new hose this week in Pensacola as I had to fly out of Pensacola for work.
i put it on this evening after I found my Dremel to cut the crimped clamp off. I bought FI clamps to use but got the wrong size. After finding a worm gear clamp to use , all is well. It took about 30 minutes including the time to hunt for a clamp.
i put it on this evening after I found my Dremel to cut the crimped clamp off. I bought FI clamps to use but got the wrong size. After finding a worm gear clamp to use , all is well. It took about 30 minutes including the time to hunt for a clamp.
#9710