New Questions

Shirley -- a round for all my new friends, in the big cups, please.

John Thomas Smith...

Thanks... a cold IPA is good after a day at work

spacecriter (Bill C)...

Yeah, fill that big cup w/ whatever Larry brought. Don't nobody light
any smokes around me.

spacecriter (Bill C)...

Almost perzaktly what I did almost 6 years ago, except the wife took
the Honda when I bought the Dyna. Definitely a good way to go.

So, I've been told by a lot of people that if I start out with a
Sportster as my first bike, that I'll be itching to trade up quickly

John Thomas Smith...

Maybe... or maybe not!

My first/only Harley (but not first scooter) was a 1994 1200

I had it lowered (I'm 5'6") and paid the "Harley tax" to have the
carb rejetted and SE pipes, then replaced the horrible 2.2 gallon
tank myself with an aftermarket 4.? gallon tank, as well as taking
off the stock seat in favor of a Mustang (can't remember model)

As well as the usual 'round town and short trips, I rode from WA to
Sturgis in 1996 and then down to Tahoe in 1998... at which time I
rode 750 miles in one day to get home, when that trip was over

I never had any problem keeping up with the BT riders when part of
a group, and with the few comfort mods I made I also rode just as
far in a day as anyone else in the group wanted to go... and having
a rubber mounted engine in the new models should be even better

Had to sell it 'cause I hurt my shoulder and couldn't ride, but now
that my shoulder is better I'm looking at getting another Sportster,
which will be the 1200Low model... I figure on having to pay the
"Harley tax" again for carb jets and pipes, but will decide later if
I think the stock seat needs to be replaced like the last one

I do think the other advice about starting with a used UJM is good,
so while you are learning (did you know that stepping off after not
putting the kickstand down means your ride WILL fall over?) you are
not risking a lot of $$ AND you get some actual experience on how
YOU like to ride... so you'll have a better idea of what you need

TigerJohn

John Thomas Smith

Pious Audio...

Thanks, ya'all -- you're all cool to take the time to help me out. I
know everyone is right about buying a jap bike first and tearing it up

http://www.pacifier.com/~jtsmith

and that I might be better off starting with a 'better' bike from the
get-go. My problem is that at this point, I can't spend much more than

al...

Buy an '07 Ultra. When you realize you can't ride it sell it to me
cheap. Or, do what Schmoe said...

the price of a new Sportster on a bike, so if I were to get a bigger
bike I'd have to go a few model years back (quite a few, maybe).

The question is: are there any model years that were really bad? I
know that in the late 90s Harley used a nylon breather element in some
of its engines that were failing and causing major engine damage -- and
I've been told that some of the 80s bikes are pretty rough (I don't
intend to go back that far anyway).

Anyway -- what should I avoid due to known mechanical/quality issues?

Jinks...

Lets get past the "buy new/buy used/by jap" stuff & get to
your question. There's *some* issue with almost any year/make/model
of automotive product.
Not sure where you got the "knowledge" that the late 90's
nylon breather gear failed & caused "major" engine damaged, but you've
started with bad "knowledge". Some of the nylon gears failed, but
mostly the problem comes from other parts failing, shrapnel imbedding
it's self in the nylon & gouging the case. The problem is usually
found while rebuilding the motor for what ever failed, & can be
corrected by replacing the gear with a larger size & honing the bore.
Some '89/90 Evo motors came out with porous cases. Most of
those have been repaired/replaced or died.
Early Evo motors had a tapered, keyed shaft that the clutch
basket rode on. The clutch basket tended to split at the key way.
That can be resolved with a steel ring around the clutch basket
casting.
Twinky (Twin Cam) motors have a nightmare of a chain cam drive
system that requires some intense maintenance. It can be resolved by
replacing the cam drive system with a gear drive. They are noisy.
Any used Harley you're considering (present day back to Evo)
will be anywhere from a few months old to a quarter century old.
There are some great ones & there are some disasters out there. If
you shop for a used big twin try doing it like this:
Take along a volt meter & a compression gauge. Look the bike
over. If it isn't clean, shinney, & well maintained, thank the seller
for his time & leave.
Next, ask the owner if he minds you running a cold compression
test. If he objects thank him for his time & leave. If he's ok with
that then the two cylinders should be very near identical (you'll have
to look up the values yourself).
Next, start it. If it starts easily let it warm & listen to
it. Ignore the pipes & listen to the motor. Use the volt meter to
see if the charging system is working. You should read 13.5 to 14.5
VDC at the battery above 1500rpm. Ride the bike around the
neighborhood enough to test the transmission, clutch, & brakes. If
it's free of stumbles, backfires, missed shifts, grinding gears, etc.
then it's *probably* in good condition. Talk $.
Of course I did all these things on a '93 FXR I bought several
years ago. Fine bike, & I rode it for about a year before one of the
lifters died. I caught it quickly, do my own repairs, & it only cost
me a couple of hundred. A shop would have gotten closer to a grand...
(new lifters, cam, cam bearing, oil, gaskets, labor, etc.).
Motorcycles are expensive. You know what you can handle, we
don't. We'll help when it breaks, but what to buy is your decision.

Jinks ('86fxrs,'02 K1200LT,'95 Triumph Sprint)
#64

Remember, "No good deed goes unpunished"

Pious

Jeff B...

Ya know, I'll jump in here because I sorta know what I'm talking about - but
just from my limited experience. A couple years ago I was in about the same
situation, and I took *almost* all these peoples' good advice (riders
course, shop around, check several models, etc). The one part I didn't take
was getting the beater first. I bought a new Sporty and I haven't regretted
a moment of it. It fits me perfectly, runs about as well as I care to push
it, and it's taking me on vacation (Colorado To El Paso TX) next week. If
you get what *you* want I'd bet you'll be just as satisfied. Just do your
best to take your time and avoid buyer's remorse. If you have to have a
Sportster, I'd bet you'll hate anything else. If you just want to ride for
now, get the UJM and trade up later. There's just nothing worse than
climbing on any ride and constantly thinking "Gee I wish this was a [insert
whatever 1st choice]."

Finally: My free advice is worth every penny you paid for it ;-)
JeffB
2005 XL883L

'03 Buick Regal, 3.8SC (I don't have a bike, yet, and I was getting
jealous of all the fancy tags).