Thinking about getting a Harley
- Thread starter G-MAN
- Start date
- Status
Means certain death for sure
I hope you bought a good brain bucket. Course, you'll need a good jacket and gloves too. I'd also look into something like Draggin Jeans. Or are you going dress as some kind of puesdo bad guy like many boomer Harley riders do? Those guys always crack me up.
Btw, the AVG Tech 7 was an electronically air conditioned helmet back in the 80s. Made in Italy and cost $600 new. Wasn't a sucess cuz the AC part wasn't designed right. Snell and DOT approved they can be found real cheap these days. I re-engineer them with new parts while bettering the design so they work pretty well afterwards. The styling is a bit dated and they're a tad heavier than todays helmets but nothing beats one on a hot summer's day other than not wearing a helmet at all.
Congrats on the new ride G-MAN !
SWEET.
The Harley, Ducati, and BMW are cousins.
The Harley, Ducati, and BMW are cousins.
Nice Bike G_MAN. Enjoy it, but be ready to spend money
. It doesn't stop with the bike purchase, there's always some accessory you'll want. Just be sure to shop around - not every part has to come from the HD dealer. JP cycles, Custom Chrome, etc all make nice stuff and better yet you won't pull up to the next guy/gal on their Sporty and see the same parts you have. Anyhow - I ride a Softail Duece now, but also still have my first Harley..an '84 Ironhead 1000cc Sportster. Great bike, but rough since it's a rigid mount motor with just a 4spd tranny! My wife started with a 1999 883 Custom, loved it. She just traded for a lowrider however, but she still has a soft spot for Sportys
ENJOY AND BE SAFE. And you;re a wise man - that Harley oil whether 360 dino or Syn 3 is garbage and over priced....just don't waste your time trying to convince the stealership of it
ENJOY AND BE SAFE. And you;re a wise man - that Harley oil whether 360 dino or Syn 3 is garbage and over priced....just don't waste your time trying to convince the stealership of it
Quote:
Nice Bike G_MAN. Enjoy it, but be ready to spend money. It doesn't stop with the bike purchase, there's always some accessory you'll want. ...
ENJOY AND BE SAFE. And you;re a wise man - that Harley oil whether 360 dino or Syn 3 is garbage and over priced....just don't waste your time trying to convince the stealership of it
Yeah, I've already made the first mod to the bike: Got rid of the totally useless stock mirrors and put on a set of extended LTRs. I can actually see what's behind me now. I can't believe Harley can legally put those stock mirrors on a bike.
I'm having a set of pull back handlebars put on like the ones that come on the 883L. The stock bars just aren't very comfortable to me. Also, a set of crash bars. And that will be it for mods for a while.
As for oil, I'm sure the Harley Syn3 is a decent $4.00 oil. But there is no way I'm going to pay the $8 to $10 per qt that most dealers charge for it. I already told the service mgr at my dealer that I'd be bringing my own oil when I bring the bike in for its 1000 mile break-in servicing. He frowned, but said they'd put in whatever I wanted.
I'm seriously considering going to the BMW dealer and getting the Castrol TWS 10w60 that they spec for the M3.
The more I read up on the wide range in oil temps that are normal for the Evo engine (anywhere from 150 to 300), I think this is one engine that actually needs a 50 or even 60 weight oil. For year round operation, I'm thinking the Castrol 10w60 may be the ideal oil.
Just my opinion on the subject, owning a Harley doesn't mean someone thinks they are "mean and tough". My dad had a Harley for 10 years following 3 #@$%! bikes before that. 2 of my uncles on his side have Harley's as well and both of them started out on #@$%! bikes. Theres a certain feeling and sound you get from a Harley that you probably won't get from any other bike out there. It's all a matter of personal preference. To me its the same thing as how I along with many others like older cars with V8's because they just give a good feeling while driving, while another guy on here might say to me why would you ever own one of then? Buy a highly refined Honda or Toyota, they're a much superior vehicle. Well in my mind the ""highly refined" vehicle costs at least 3 times what my Cutlass cost to purchase and restore, will cost more for repairs over the next 500k miles and 20 years, and just doesn't feel exciting to drive.
Sorry is didn't realize the abbreviation for Japanese was a swear word. ^^
Nice bike GMAN. Hope you have fun with it. About the supplying oil, when I was a service advisor I had lots of people being their own oil for oil changes. If they asked about synthetic I told them if they wanted to use it they'd be better off buying it at Canadian Tire on a good sale and bringing it, cause the only synthetic we stocked was Mobil 1 5w30 and the price was terrible on it compared to anywhere else.
Nice bike GMAN. Hope you have fun with it. About the supplying oil, when I was a service advisor I had lots of people being their own oil for oil changes. If they asked about synthetic I told them if they wanted to use it they'd be better off buying it at Canadian Tire on a good sale and bringing it, cause the only synthetic we stocked was Mobil 1 5w30 and the price was terrible on it compared to anywhere else.
Harleys used to sound pretty anemic with the factory pipes, but not anymore. While not as loud as most aftermarket pipes, the OEM ones give a nice rumble, but not enough to pi$$ off the neighbors. Here's a guy on Youtube who filmed his 07 Sportster. Take a look and a listen.
American thunder: There is no substitute.
American thunder: There is no substitute.
Overpriced.
Nice bike! don't ruin it with loud pipes
Yes, loud pipes are very annoying
I can handle the loud, it's just straight through pipes on hd's sound ratty and untuned at anything other than idle or steady cruise. Crack the throttle and they sound like the muffler broke off an old thrashing machine.
I hope you have better luck with you Harley Sportster than my oldest son's buddy has with his. Bought new back in June, the bike has been in the shop for problems that have left him stranded out on the road. Once for a broken clutch cable and just recently, a melted ignition coil. Plus it is leaking oil.
At least yours has a cast front wheel where his is spoke. Nothing wrong with a spoke wheel but his also has the solid rear aluminum wheel along with the spoke front. Looks funny to me.
Congrats and good luck. Ride safe!
At least yours has a cast front wheel where his is spoke. Nothing wrong with a spoke wheel but his also has the solid rear aluminum wheel along with the spoke front. Looks funny to me.
Congrats and good luck. Ride safe!
- Status
Similar threads
