I guess im getting old.
Discussion
Allways loved the sound of harley davidson and looks of it. Allways thought that they are heavy underpowered very basic gas drinkers. Today went for a test ride of iron 883.
my daily rider is 09 gladius around london.
Went in with thoughts it will feel like a heavy 125. But after a short test ride was quite pleasantly surprised.
First thoughts while sitting on and familiarising myself with controls. My god its small! And it shakes! While idling i could clearly see everything shaking!
I was mostly riding on quiet residential roads with a very short run on a 40mph highway stretch.
But after 5 minutes bike started growing on me. Shakes? But in a pleasant low rumbly kind of way. Narrow? Would make filtering so much easier. Underpowered? Certainly didnt seem so(Im sure had i taken it on motorway or had a seat for pillion and a gf on the back i would change my mind) as strange as it sounds, brakes had a better feel than my gladius. Handling? Very unusual after gladius. Not good or bad but just different. Suspension? With my fat ass comparable if not better than my 9years old gladius suspension. Heavy? It isnt light. But didn't seem much different from my gladius. I guess all the weight is very much down low. Only time vibrations was too much was when I tried doing 40mph 2 gears too low! Kicked into correct gear and it become quite smooth.
Overall with couple more years insurance no claims bonus in my pocket... if i would not need a bike primarily for commuting.... if i would not have to park it in a driveway.... if i could afford a second bike.... this baby harley might very well be my choice.
If i had to say something bad... for the life of me i couldnt get in neutral. (But the sales guy did it easily). Mirrors are.....completely useless. And looking at the size of tank, trips to petrol station would be too often for my liking. And kick stand looked as it would bend just by looking at it.
Next wednesday off to test fat bob with my girlfriend. Free test ride. So why not?
my daily rider is 09 gladius around london.
Went in with thoughts it will feel like a heavy 125. But after a short test ride was quite pleasantly surprised.
First thoughts while sitting on and familiarising myself with controls. My god its small! And it shakes! While idling i could clearly see everything shaking!
I was mostly riding on quiet residential roads with a very short run on a 40mph highway stretch.
But after 5 minutes bike started growing on me. Shakes? But in a pleasant low rumbly kind of way. Narrow? Would make filtering so much easier. Underpowered? Certainly didnt seem so(Im sure had i taken it on motorway or had a seat for pillion and a gf on the back i would change my mind) as strange as it sounds, brakes had a better feel than my gladius. Handling? Very unusual after gladius. Not good or bad but just different. Suspension? With my fat ass comparable if not better than my 9years old gladius suspension. Heavy? It isnt light. But didn't seem much different from my gladius. I guess all the weight is very much down low. Only time vibrations was too much was when I tried doing 40mph 2 gears too low! Kicked into correct gear and it become quite smooth.
Overall with couple more years insurance no claims bonus in my pocket... if i would not need a bike primarily for commuting.... if i would not have to park it in a driveway.... if i could afford a second bike.... this baby harley might very well be my choice.
If i had to say something bad... for the life of me i couldnt get in neutral. (But the sales guy did it easily). Mirrors are.....completely useless. And looking at the size of tank, trips to petrol station would be too often for my liking. And kick stand looked as it would bend just by looking at it.
Next wednesday off to test fat bob with my girlfriend. Free test ride. So why not?
Test rode 1690 Street Bob last year, quite enjoyed it.. but they are a bit expensive..
I was tempted as my Dad is currently building something HD custom using a 1450 FXDF as a base..
If i go back to look at customs again, I will be checking out the Scout for sure instead of Harley.. none of the Soft tails do anything for me.
I was tempted as my Dad is currently building something HD custom using a 1450 FXDF as a base..
If i go back to look at customs again, I will be checking out the Scout for sure instead of Harley.. none of the Soft tails do anything for me.
Harleys are good fun if you like that type of thing (which I do).
With regards to power - I've got an 883 Sportster and I regularly have the Mrs on as pillion and it remains comfortably nippy even at motorway speeds. As for the size, forward controls helped immensely with that for me, although I had to replace the dirty great ape hangers it came with with something more sensible and 'normal'!
Depending what year you ride the rubber mount (modern) ones are better on the vibrations in some ways, but worse in others - its a very different beast to solid frame mounted ones, but you do get used to it. Although as you noticed, the mirrors are about as useful as tits on a bull at over 30mph!
I bought mine around two years ago, although I wanted a Bonneville America I ended up with the Sportster purely based on insurance - they wanted £1800 fully comp for the Bonneville with commuting into London, but the Sportster is only £182 a year!
If I could change one thing I'd like a bigger fuel tank, for my commute the peanut 3.3 gal one means I am filling up every two-three days - although you get used to not having a fuel gauge after a while (the fuel lights seems to pop on a different levels for different bikes of the same model!).
Oh and yeah, took me months to get the hang of the neutral on it as the gears are rather agricultural and "clunk" through well, bar neutral which requires a bit of a softer touch.
With regards to power - I've got an 883 Sportster and I regularly have the Mrs on as pillion and it remains comfortably nippy even at motorway speeds. As for the size, forward controls helped immensely with that for me, although I had to replace the dirty great ape hangers it came with with something more sensible and 'normal'!
Depending what year you ride the rubber mount (modern) ones are better on the vibrations in some ways, but worse in others - its a very different beast to solid frame mounted ones, but you do get used to it. Although as you noticed, the mirrors are about as useful as tits on a bull at over 30mph!
I bought mine around two years ago, although I wanted a Bonneville America I ended up with the Sportster purely based on insurance - they wanted £1800 fully comp for the Bonneville with commuting into London, but the Sportster is only £182 a year!
If I could change one thing I'd like a bigger fuel tank, for my commute the peanut 3.3 gal one means I am filling up every two-three days - although you get used to not having a fuel gauge after a while (the fuel lights seems to pop on a different levels for different bikes of the same model!).
Oh and yeah, took me months to get the hang of the neutral on it as the gears are rather agricultural and "clunk" through well, bar neutral which requires a bit of a softer touch.
I'd love a soft-tail, but right now I just cannot justify the cost - perhaps in a year or two's time - plan is for the Mrs to get her big-girl licence during that time, she'd then want the Sportster as she's already started eyeing it up, and I'd simply have to get the soft-tail then!
srob said:
You’ll still get from cafe A to cafe B as quickly as most power rangers 
Give over 
OP, if you didn't feel the weight of it, try making steering a quick 's' shape as though you were dodging a pothole or a squashed hedgehog!
With regards to the vibrations, I presume these bikes shake their bolts loose?
Loyly said:
srob said:
You’ll still get from cafe A to cafe B as quickly as most power rangers
Give over OP, if you didn't feel the weight of it, try making steering a quick 's' shape as though you were dodging a pothole or a squashed hedgehog!
With regards to the vibrations, I presume these bikes shake their bolts loose?
rimaarts said:
Underpowered? Certainly didnt seem so(Im sure had i taken it on motorway or had a seat for pillion and a gf on the back i would change my mind) as strange as it sounds, brakes had a better feel than my gladius.
Around town you won't notice a lack of power cos there's plenty of torque. If the brakes on any Harley have "better feel" than any other bike, that other bike's brakes need looking at!
IMHO, Triumph makes really cool looking "old-school" bikes.
Triumph Bonneville Bobber - that's a damn good looking bike!
Street scrambler looks stylish as well.
I rode Indian Scout for the lulz two years ago.
First recessed pothole, I thought my spine compressed about an inch, there is no support for the body from the legs so all punches go straight up the spine.
Triumph Bonneville Bobber - that's a damn good looking bike!
Street scrambler looks stylish as well.
I rode Indian Scout for the lulz two years ago.
First recessed pothole, I thought my spine compressed about an inch, there is no support for the body from the legs so all punches go straight up the spine.
Edited by Ho Lee Kau on Wednesday 18th April 12:18
Ho Lee Kau said:
IMHO, Triumph makes really cool looking "old-school" bikes.
Triumph Bonneville Bobber - that's a damn good looking bike!
Street scrambler looks stylish as well.
Maybe.Triumph Bonneville Bobber - that's a damn good looking bike!
Street scrambler looks stylish as well.
But they were designed by Triumph's marketing department as retro bikes and, as such, lack a sense of authenticity.
Old 883 and 1200 Sportsters may be chuffing old things that look like a jukebox, but at least they aren't the figment of a marketing manager's imagination.
In the unlikely event that I was tempted by a Harley, I think I would probably have a word with myself and then buy an old 1970s Meriden Bonneville.
Pat H said:
Ho Lee Kau said:
IMHO, Triumph makes really cool looking "old-school" bikes.
Triumph Bonneville Bobber - that's a damn good looking bike!
Street scrambler looks stylish as well.
Maybe.Triumph Bonneville Bobber - that's a damn good looking bike!
Street scrambler looks stylish as well.
But they were designed by Triumph's marketing department as retro bikes and, as such, lack a sense of authenticity.
Old 883 and 1200 Sportsters may be chuffing old things that look like a jukebox, but at least they aren't the figment of a marketing manager's imagination.
In the unlikely event that I was tempted by a Harley, I think I would probably have a word with myself and then buy an old 1970s Meriden Bonneville.
Pat H said:
Ho Lee Kau said:
IMHO, Triumph makes really cool looking "old-school" bikes.
Triumph Bonneville Bobber - that's a damn good looking bike!
Street scrambler looks stylish as well.
Maybe.Triumph Bonneville Bobber - that's a damn good looking bike!
Street scrambler looks stylish as well.
But they were designed by Triumph's marketing department as retro bikes and, as such, lack a sense of authenticity.
Old 883 and 1200 Sportsters may be chuffing old things that look like a jukebox, but at least they aren't the figment of a marketing manager's imagination.
In the unlikely event that I was tempted by a Harley, I think I would probably have a word with myself and then buy an old 1970s Meriden Bonneville.
The funny thing about harley riders (here in NA anyways) is that they all think they're some sort of non-conforming rebel, at the edges of society's norms. Whereas the vast majority are old, overweight, retired middle managers that all wear the same clothes.
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