New H-D model; i'm confused

[ponch]

Originally Posted by glwilson

WE ARE! You have to be truly "tough" to own one; especially when you hang-out on a Kawasaki site!



I think your thoughts hit the nail on the head Jared. It is an appealing bike that is small (easily handled); and is in a price-range for many to afford -- especially younger individuals that may have limited money. With regard to customizing it... the options are literally endless for those that have a creative-mind (rather than mindless).

Hey, and I ride a beemer. Grey Poupon anyone?

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by rflnomad

wow, maybe I was off on my outlook. It seems to get a better view than I thought it would. I am still in the mode of a 'custom' type vehicle is 'customized' by its owner to show their personal (artistic) view.
Kris (Netnorske) old Sportster is exactly what I mean. Kris, that oldie is amazing. Mag, Kick start, right side shift....
I do have a soft spot for old stuff. I go in the garage and just stare at the GTO sometimes. It is so amazing. Never had any interest in one of the newer (Holden) models. Too sanitary. MAYBE that is it!!!! The newer factory type customs are a little too refined for me! That is why the FXWG and the GTO are so dear to me; they are not for everybody.

Wow, just learned a bit of myself on this website...

I almost forgot about the right side shifter. That took some getting used to. The only thing I added to the bike was the paint job and a set of chrome air shocks, which were really handy. I could soften it up for solo riding or just swing into any service station and add a touch of air when I had a cutie on board...! I remember the tank being small...like 2.5 gallons or something. It had no fuel gauge, so when it sputtered, you had to quickly flip the fuel switch to reserve and start looking for a gas station.

[danimal2]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

I almost forgot about the right side shifter. That took some getting used to.

A buddy of mine's dad had a Sporty with the right side shifter. I rode it and it definitely took some getting used to. He had the front end extended but not raked and it was a real handful. You'd get the bars just past center going either way and the whole works would just kinda flop. You had to be ready for it. How did yours handle? Looks like yours had a bit of an extended front end without being raked too.

Originally Posted by jlreeves

I dont think I would have chosen the year 1972 for the model though. That was right in the middle of the AMF years.

Have to agree here. Wow! A buddy of mine bought a 77 Sporty while we were in the military. That thing shook itself apart in a couple months. Literally had parts falling off it all the time. He tried to keep up, but ended up dumping (selling) the thing. Terrible bike. Definitely seems like they have a better handle on the quality control thing now.

Originally Posted by cnc

There must be a market for them or they wouldn't do it.

Absolutely. I'd have to say one thing Harley is very good at is watching what people who buy their bikes do with them after the sale. They have half a dozen Sporty models for 2012 and they're all pretty much designed after what their customers have done to customize their own rides in years past.

Then the Japanese manufacturers copy Harley..........

This would be my choice if I were to use it as Jared suggested (canyon carving and around town).

Love the fat tired bobberesque Germanic look (exile fan). Also a bit of a minimalist. Look what I did to my Nomad. I took off 50 lbs of stuff when I first bought it to get it where I wanted. The first thing that would go away on this sporty would be the funky looking belt guard. You'd have to be twisted up some kind of awful to get anything tangled in that belt.

[jandreu]

Originally Posted by glwilson

A majority of the motorcycle "buyers" do not do their own work, nor any customization (beyond bolt-ons). Most do not have the facilities to do their own work beyond oil-changes and such.

So... to say they are selling bikes to "mindless" people appears to be more of a reflection of your distaste of anything Harley.

I could include all bike companies within the premise of your statement, and besides... there isn't any company that offers more add-on parts than HD.

Greg, your a little touchy about HD's I'd say. The Nomad is the first non HD bike I've owned so I'm very familiar with them and do appreciate HD's however the whole HD lore use to be that you "made it your own" so you could be a proud rider and when someone asked you if that was your bike and did you do the work you could say 'F**kin A". HD's have now mostly turned into RUB machines, not pointing any fingers, except for the few folks who truly appreciate riding a machine that does have lots of options, decent handling and plenty of power if you know how to get it.

Here's a pic of my last HD that I did all the custom work on before the MoCo came out with any of the so called "custom" designs.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by jandreu

Greg, your a little touchy about HD's I'd say. The Nomad is the first non HD bike I've owned so I'm very familiar with them and do appreciate HD's however the whole HD lore use to be that you "made it your own" so you could be a proud rider and when someone asked you if that was your bike and did you do the work you could say 'F**kin A". HD's have now mostly turned into RUB machines, not pointing any fingers, except for the few folks who truly appreciate riding a machine that does have lots of options, decent handling and plenty of power if you know how to get it.

Here's a pic of my last HD that I did all the custom work on before the MoCo came out with any of the so called "custom" designs.

That's a mighty fine lookin' steed you built there...!

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by jandreu

Here's a pic of my last HD that I did all the custom work on before the MoCo came out with any of the so called "custom" designs.

I hear what you are saying... but these days a lot of their customers don't do customizing other than bolt-ons.

Otherwise they just buy the bike they way they like. I am one of those customers. I hate working on things.

I am also not one to ride a fully customized bike either. I prefer mostly stock... because I would rather ride than sit around and look at the bike; and after a while the bike gets beat-up from riding it. So there doesn't seem to be much sense in over-doing it. Besides... no one sees "customization" when you're riding anyway.

Your bike did look good though.

[Netnorske]

Yeah....the front end of my '69 was extended 4" over stock. It handled fine though....except on a couple occasions when I'd had too many frosty pops and tried to defy the laws of physics..... Ahhhh....the pitfalls of being young, dumb and full of...well...you know.....

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

Ahhhh....the pitfalls of being young, dumb and full of...well...you know.....

Vinegar? Reeses Pieces? Hydrogen Dioxide?

[Loafer]

The 72 reminds me of Schwinn Stingray bicycle. The black one they intro'd at the same time, doesn't do anything for me either. The new Road Glide Custom is real nice looking. I think I like the 48, but I would have to see it up close. IMO

[Jared]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

The pitfalls of being young, dumb and full of...well...you know.....

And now you're old, dumb, and full of ........

Must be a hard life.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Loafer

The 72 reminds me of Schwinn Stingray bicycle.

I remember them. Especially the ones with the ball-buster shifter on the frame. Ouch!

[Monkeyman]

I had one of those. 5 speed with a banana seat.

[Loafer]

Originally Posted by Dave

I remember them. Especially the ones with the ball-buster shifter on the frame. Ouch!

[ponch]

My brother had one in Orange.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

And now you're old, dumb, and full of ........

Must be a hard life.

Toby Keith sang a song about me...

"I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was"...lol.