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Rev. Dr. Moses P. Lester
Oct 3, 2000

Marv Hushman posted:

Hot drat, where do I sign up?


I'm not convinced those are all BMW owners. I only see a couple Aerostiches.

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Deeters
Aug 21, 2007



My dad used to have a few cans of Harley beer from various years of Daytona. I gotta see if he still has them.

KozmoNaut
Apr 23, 2008

Happiness is a warm
Turbo Plasma Rifle



I like that a lot. Harley should make bikes like this.

Saga
Aug 17, 2009

Z3n posted:

Unless, of course, you want performance out of your bikes.

Monster 1100 Evo is about 100hp and not very much weight in a nice stiff chassis. Definitely enough to send "cagers" into paroxysms of self-righteous rage as you wheelie by, and to deliver on a track day.

To me, not having to deal with a cooling circuit is a nice trick if you can manage it. Also less clutter for when you need to fit that new head. :stare: Now if only my legs fit on a Monster and I had £9,000 to spare...

Z3n
Jul 21, 2007

I think the point is Z3n is a space cowboy on the edge of a frontier unknown to man, he's out there pushing the limits, trail braking into the abyss. Finding out where the edge of the razor is, turning to face the darkness and revving his 690 into it's vast gaze. You gotta live this to learn it bro.
Well, that is the beauty of modern motorcycle construction...the aircooled bikes can break 100hp with enough displacement, while still being reliable. And frankly, as someone once said: No honest rider needs more than a Ninja 250. :v:

clutchpuck
Apr 30, 2004
ro-tard

Saga posted:

Monster 1100 Evo is about 100hp and not very much weight in a nice stiff chassis. Definitely enough to send "cagers" into paroxysms of self-righteous rage as you wheelie by, and to deliver on a track day.

To me, not having to deal with a cooling circuit is a nice trick if you can manage it. Also less clutter for when you need to fit that new head. :stare: Now if only my legs fit on a Monster and I had £9,000 to spare...

This is pretty much the same story with XB Buells. Except they're like $4-6k and already have miles of legroom.

IcedPee
Jan 11, 2008

Yarrrr! I be here to plunder the fun outta me workplace! Avast!

FREE DECAHEDRON!

KozmoNaut posted:

I like that a lot. Harley should make bikes like this.

They made what they called a cafe racer (the XLCR sportster. It doesn't look anywhere near as cool as that one) back in the 70s, but it wasn't popular. They're sought after these days, though.

Saga
Aug 17, 2009

Z3n posted:

as someone once said: No honest rider needs more than a Ninja 250. :v:

That's why I have a Tuono. :catstare:

...

HEY! :arghfist:





clutchpuck posted:

This is pretty much the same story with XB Buells. Except they're like $4-6k and already have miles of legroom.



Oh, I remember those colours, it was 1983 and I was watching Buck Rogers.

redscare
Aug 14, 2003

Z3n posted:

Well, that is the beauty of modern motorcycle construction...the aircooled bikes can break 100hp with enough displacement, while still being reliable. And frankly, as someone once said: No honest rider needs more than a Ninja 250. :v:

Whoever said that is completely loving wrong

clutchpuck
Apr 30, 2004
ro-tard

Saga posted:



Oh, I remember those colours, it was 1983 and I was watching Buck Rogers.

Yeah they all come that color.

Saga
Aug 17, 2009
Don't forget the ones with the translucent plastic tanks. :911:


e:



This is Rod Knock's personal bike. Note comfy seat for when he has to pick up Layer Dan from a ditch. Again.

Z3n
Jul 21, 2007

I think the point is Z3n is a space cowboy on the edge of a frontier unknown to man, he's out there pushing the limits, trail braking into the abyss. Finding out where the edge of the razor is, turning to face the darkness and revving his 690 into it's vast gaze. You gotta live this to learn it bro.
The best motivation to avoid Layer Dan is having to ride cupcake on a Buell.

Oh the humanity.

clutchpuck
Apr 30, 2004
ro-tard
If you get the right one, they're pretty roomy; the wife isn't exactly pint-sized and she fits on the back with room to spare.


clutchpuck fucked around with this message at 17:53 on May 23, 2012

IcedPee
Jan 11, 2008

Yarrrr! I be here to plunder the fun outta me workplace! Avast!

FREE DECAHEDRON!
Does anyone know of anywhere to get speedo/tach cables in non-standard lengths? I ordered a set that are supposedly stock length for my bike and, lo and behold, they are both too short. Everywhere I see online selling them advertises the same length that I ordered, but nothing longer.

clutchpuck
Apr 30, 2004
ro-tard
Motion Pro and Barnett both immediately come to mind as big custom cable suppliers.

Saga
Aug 17, 2009

clutchpuck posted:

If you get the right one, they're pretty roomy; the wife isn't exactly pint-sized and she fits on the back with room to spare.




She doesn't exactly look huge.

Of course I'm assuming that's your wife and not Javier, the bronzed and lissome pool boy.

clutchpuck
Apr 30, 2004
ro-tard
She's taller than me which comes into play for 2 up. Fortunately she prefers to ride her R than pillion with me. I didn't get the buell with her in mind!

echomadman
Aug 24, 2004

Nap Ghost
these are the best harleys, i'd like to see some modern harley riders doing poo poo like this instead of just polishing their spokes.



more pics in this advrider thread http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29723&pp=15

High Protein
Jul 12, 2009
An XB will probably be my next bike, hopefully next year; there's plenty of low mileage 2008 and 2009 models out there. In fact had the Blast been available here I'd probably have picked one up over my SRX600.

I've always loved the look, I'll enjoy the low maintenance and I know that at least in the Sportster the engine is pretty much bullet proof, though the Sporter engine has a lower state of tune of course. I haven't been able to find anything indicating real weaknesses of the XBs other than maybe the need to reset the TPS every now and then but if yall have more information on peculiarities I'd be grateful.

clutchpuck
Apr 30, 2004
ro-tard

High Protein posted:

An XB ... if yall have more information on peculiarities I'd be grateful.

The engines are pretty bulletproof. In hotter-than-the-sun EPA config, the 2007s tend to poo poo their rocker box gaskets, but if you get it tuned so it's happy it probably won't happen. On that note, a stock XB and a tuned XB (even with stock pipes, etc) are like night and day - if you get one, make sure it sees some dyno time if it hasn't already. A tuned XB is easier and way more comfortable to ride (hot leg, hot leg!)...

Not sure if it's isolated to the Ulysses, but the 2006 is prone to shred its fuel pump wiring. Early sign of a shorted out fuel pump is a false fuel reserve light when there's plenty of fuel onboard.

There is some concern regarding the rear wheel bearings. Some folks keep spare bearings around and check them every time the wheel comes off, others upgrade to a 2010 wheel which has 3 bearings instead of 2.

If you go with a 2008+ model, the TPS reset is a breeze; it's kind of a chore on the 2007 and earlier but like you said, it's only an occasional chore.

One thing they all do is throw oil until it's below a certain level. Mine settles at about 4mm above the "add oil" line. If I fill it above that level, I am spraying money out of the breather.

The fan annoys some people, but if it's seen some dyno time and tuned happy, it seldom even comes on.

All-in-all, XBs are mechanically very simple. There isn't much that goes wrong or to really keep track of. No valve adjustments, no chain cleaning or adjustments, only two brakes to worry about, no silly radiators and coolant. Hell, the rear wheel automatically aligns itself when you torque down the axle.

Phy
Jun 27, 2008



Fun Shoe

Rev. Dr. Moses P. Lester posted:

I feel bad, cause if Harley people invaded a BMW thread, I'd want to stab them all with a drive shaft. So here's a Harley I like

http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2010/11/17/harley-sportster-cafe-racer.html



y'know, it's pretty, I like it, wish they built them like that... but why does she have knee cutouts on the tank?

Scrapez
Feb 27, 2004

KozmoNaut posted:

I like that a lot. Harley should make bikes like this.

Guessing they'll put out a cafe Sportster pretty soon. Lots of guys started putting fatboy 16" wheels on the front of their sportsters (fatsters) then lo and behold they come out with the 48 a couple years later.

Lots of guys doing the ape hanger and bobbed thing with white walls and lo and behold they come out with the Seventy-Two awhile later.

Lots of guys are doing Sportster cafes now so...

Marv Hushman
Jun 2, 2010

Freedom Ain't Free
:911::911::911:

Rev. Dr. Moses P. Lester posted:

I'm not convinced those are all BMW owners. I only see a couple Aerostiches.

I really know nothing about the BMW subculture, if there is such a thing. So I waded through some photos to see if they yielded any clues.

Honestly, present company excluded, they look like the same close-cropped, middle-aged, Oakley-wearing, Viagra-popping, Hooters frequent customer card carrying regional sales managers to me. Except they cling to athletic wear a decade after that ship has sailed, their watches are more expensive, and they probably listen to NPR.

Z3n
Jul 21, 2007

I think the point is Z3n is a space cowboy on the edge of a frontier unknown to man, he's out there pushing the limits, trail braking into the abyss. Finding out where the edge of the razor is, turning to face the darkness and revving his 690 into it's vast gaze. You gotta live this to learn it bro.

Marv Hushman posted:

I really know nothing about the BMW subculture, if there is such a thing. So I waded through some photos to see if they yielded any clues.

Honestly, present company excluded, they look like the same close-cropped, middle-aged, Oakley-wearing, Viagra-popping, Hooters frequent customer card carrying regional sales managers to me. Except they cling to athletic wear a decade after that ship has sailed, their watches are more expensive, and they probably listen to NPR.

The only difference between Harley® riders and BMW® riders is if The Wild One or Long Way Around came up first on Netflix streaming.

Rev. Dr. Moses P. Lester
Oct 3, 2000
I know a fair bit about BMW subculture. Oakleys and Hooters, no. Athletic wear and NPR, yes. And none of their exhausts will ever wake you up at night.

Gay Nudist Dad
Dec 12, 2006

asshole on a scooter
Harleys will deafen you and BMWs will blind you (with auxiliary lighting and hi-viz jackets)

Marv Hushman
Jun 2, 2010

Freedom Ain't Free
:911::911::911:

Rev. Dr. Moses P. Lester posted:

I know a fair bit about BMW subculture. Oakleys and Hooters, no. Athletic wear and NPR, yes. And none of their exhausts will ever wake you up at night.

I'm joking, obviously--I think the only universal truth I've arrived at based on personal experience is that they tend to be engineering/tinkerer/DIY types.

Armyman25
Sep 6, 2005

Z3n posted:

The only difference between Harley® riders and BMW® riders is if The Wild One or Long Way Around came up first on Netflix streaming.

I always find it funny when people bring up The Wild One in relation to Harleys.

Brando rode a Triumph.

kenny powerzzz
Jan 20, 2010

IcedPee posted:

They made what they called a cafe racer (the XLCR sportster. It doesn't look anywhere near as cool as that one) back in the 70s, but it wasn't popular. They're sought after these days, though.
I went into my local Harley dealer for the first time last week (a friend needed 8$ a piece bolts that had a skull on the head) and they have one on display. Although not near as cool as the one that woman rides I couldn't stop looking at it. After I was finished drooling over the new soft tail slims and the road kings that is.

Z3n
Jul 21, 2007

I think the point is Z3n is a space cowboy on the edge of a frontier unknown to man, he's out there pushing the limits, trail braking into the abyss. Finding out where the edge of the razor is, turning to face the darkness and revving his 690 into it's vast gaze. You gotta live this to learn it bro.

Armyman25 posted:

I always find it funny when people bring up The Wild One in relation to Harleys.

Brando rode a Triumph.

Another Triumph of marketing.

Backov
Mar 28, 2010

Armyman25 posted:

I always find it funny when people bring up The Wild One in relation to Harleys.

Brando rode a Triumph.

He couldn't afford a Real Bike.

Schlieren
Jan 7, 2005

LEZZZZZZZZZBIAN CRUSH

Rev. Dr. Moses P. Lester posted:

And none of their exhausts will ever wake you up at night.

I love waking up my neighbors at night but then again my neighbors are all jerks so they deserve it; I wonder what I'm going to do when I move if I like all my neighbors :(

unbuttonedclone
Dec 30, 2008

Rev. Dr. Moses P. Lester posted:

I know a fair bit about BMW subculture. Oakleys and Hooters, no. Athletic wear and NPR, yes. And none of their exhausts will ever wake you up at night.

I reved my engine under a bridge the other day. The vRRRRRrrrr it made barely echoed off the walls. A little disappointing, but I like the vacuum+tractor sound.

High Protein
Jul 12, 2009

clutchpuck posted:

Buell stuff

Thanks, not the first time I hear about Harleys being leaned out stock. As for the oil level, my SRX does pretty much the same thing, especially so when I didn't yet know to check the oil level with the engine warmed up (manual doesn't mention this).

Giblet Plus!
Sep 14, 2004

KozmoNaut posted:

No need to worry about coolant, water pumps etc., that's pretty much it.

Plus finned engines look cool.

all that and they also sound cooler due to more sound transmission of the combustion event thru the cylinder jugs

Strife
Apr 20, 2001

What the hell are YOU?
Uhh,.. so, this came in the mail today:



I look forward to putting it on a shelf and forgetting about it forever.

Marv Hushman
Jun 2, 2010

Freedom Ain't Free
:911::911::911:

Strife posted:

Uhh,.. so, this came in the mail today:



I look forward to putting it on a shelf and forgetting about it forever.

I hope you have a birdcage for when the magazine shows up. Actually there were TWO up until a few years ago. To be fair, it had become a little less of a corporate wankfest toward the end of my subscription.

Oh, and take the membership card with the roadside assistance number, set it on fire and scatter the ashes so no one ever attempts to use it.

KozmoNaut
Apr 23, 2008

Happiness is a warm
Turbo Plasma Rifle


Giblet Plus! posted:

all that and they also sound cooler due to more sound transmission of the combustion event thru the cylinder jugs

I dunno about that, I can't hear it over all the valvetrain noise :v:

angryhampster
Oct 21, 2005

KozmoNaut posted:

I dunno about that, I can't hear it over all the valvetrain noise :v:

Better now than it used to by. My ironhead's valves ROAR at idle. The evos are much quieter.

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Fkin
Apr 19, 2003

by Y Kant Ozma Post

KozmoNaut posted:

I like that a lot. Harley should make bikes like this.

They do:

http://www.kingcountymoto.com/listings/09XR1200/XR.html

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