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Here's my 1983 XLS: (yes, the chain was loose in this shot) The bike belonged to my father, who passed away when I was three years old. It then sat in a barn for the next fifteen years, until my mother signed the title over to me. Since then, I've added: - Cycle Shack drag pipes (1.75" with homemade baffles) - S&S Super E carb kit - Chrome oil tank ..and lots of miscellaneous new small parts. It runs great, and the Ironhead motor makes a sound that's different from any other Harley twin. I've slightly neglected it the last couple years as I got into a traumatic car accident that's left me a bit mortified of being without a cage. However, it will soon be getting new paint on the frame and bodywork.  This isn't mine, but gives you an idea of what it sounds like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5trWWUVzBo&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL93831062A5AE69AA
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Oct 16, 2011 23:20
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Armyman25 posted:The Indian Motorcycle Company that built my bike, based out of Gilroy, California, isn't. The new new Indian Motorcycle Company has been purchased by Polaris and is now making bikes in Iowa. People that buy $24k bikes haven't been affected by the economic downturn. Hence the absurd number of fools running around on Goldwing and Road King trikes.
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Oct 23, 2011 14:44
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ATTN CAHOG: here's a video clip of my ironhead XLS I shot today: http://youtu.be/mx_lDdhlt3w No highway riding so I didn't bust out the boots.
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Oct 31, 2011 00:47
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Get an older bike that doesn't have rubber mounts.
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Dec 6, 2011 05:40
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Size-wise, how much bigger are Dynas than Sportsters? I have an '83 XLS and am considering trading up to a newer (99 or later) Dyna simply so I can be more comfortable when I'm riding. My Sporty is reliable and fun to ride, but I'm 6'1" and it's not large.
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Jan 16, 2012 03:16
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Errant Gin Monks posted:Just switch out some easy to change things. Make the foot pegs longer so you can kick your feet out a few inches (or get heel rest pegsd) and install some taller bars, not retarded apes but a good almost shoulder height will make it so much easier to ride. I'm about to swap the bars on my Honda and can't wait. Riding with low bars kind of sucks. FYI we are the same height and I never had problems riding my buddies sporty with taller bars. It's got highway pegs on it, and I've thought about taller bars as well. I think I got spoiled when I road my wife's uncle's Road King a few months ago though. LOL.
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Jan 18, 2012 02:16
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2ndclasscitizen posted:Not gonna lie, I'm loving the poo poo outta the new '72 Sportster: Agreed, very good looking bike.
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Feb 10, 2012 13:32
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Just made my annual large purchase at J&P Cycles. New ignition, front brake rebuild, and some seal replacements coming up this weekend or next week sometime.
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Feb 29, 2012 05:37
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IcedPee posted:So, I'm starting to learn that just because a part came off a sportster the same year as yours doesn't mean it's the same part. Sounds like my experience with the sissy bar I got my '83.
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Mar 1, 2012 19:41
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I have roughly 20 H-D shirts. Some dating back to the early 80s and some from overseas. So seeing as I have an ironhead Sporty, I began the slow process of de-winterizing by installing new parts and becoming depressed as I found new oil leaks. New parts this spring: - Front brake pads - Front brake lines - Speedo cable - Plug wires - Accel Super Coil ignition - Sissy bar because I lost my old one (???)
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Mar 6, 2012 04:52
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Whud up CAHOG  Bugs are bad this year in Iowa. My ride was around 75 miles today and my shield was covered in them. Also, my speedometer cable decided to relieve itself from duty about halfway through my ride. Sending unit's threads stripped out I think...not exactly sure how.
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Apr 1, 2012 20:17
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Deeters posted:And from what I've heard, changing the pads before they get really worn keeps the rotor from warping on the street. Thanks! It's a 1983. It is in pretty decent shape. Paint has a few chips in it, and there's an oil leak that I can't track down. Other than that, it's really a great bike. It was my father's -- he passed away when I was 3 and left it to me.
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Apr 2, 2012 01:07
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Marv Hushman posted:Don't. Nope. Won't ever. Will be undergoing a complete restoration within the next few years. Scrapez posted:Great looking bike. Bugs are bad this year already. Probably because we hardly had winter. Where in Iowa are you? I'm in cedar rapids. Would be up for a ride if you are close. I'm in Coralville..would definitely be down for a ride sometime.
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Apr 2, 2012 12:51
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I wish I could convince MY WIFE to get an 883 Sportster. She is completely opposed to piloting a motorcycle. Riding 2-up on a Sportster tends to suck.
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Apr 3, 2012 01:09
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She loves her uncle's Road King. Now if only I could come up with about $12k.
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Apr 3, 2012 01:36
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iwentdoodie posted:Or buy a Japanese cruiser. I'd definitely ride a Goldwing. My uncle has a GL1500 (1994 I think?) and it's a blast to ride..really fast surprisingly. I just want something bigger and cushier for 2-up riding since she refuses to ride a bike on her own. e: On my way home I threw the biker wave down at a guy riding a late-model GSX-R wearing tennis shoes, gym shorts, a t-shirt and sunglasses. He did not wave back.
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Apr 3, 2012 02:30
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iwentdoodie posted:That's the sport bike equivalent of most Harley riders. Certainly not opposed to it. I've never ridden a bike like that. Basically I just want something that's comfortable, reliable, fun, powerful, fast, and cheap. That's possible...right?  Honestly a second bike is a LONG way off. Buying a house and paying off a pair of cars is taking precedence over other money-sucking hobbies.
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Apr 3, 2012 03:30
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High Protein posted:Some kind of a back rest/sissy bar really makes all the difference on those. Without it you keep sliding back, it's horrible. Yea I just need to get a pad. I've got a mini-lowboy sissy bar and a Mustang "wide vintage" seat. The shocks are stock length aftermarket units from Progressive.
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Apr 4, 2012 01:26
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Some ironhead porn for your Saturday: New Accel super coil:  Bug juice on the air cleaner cover:   Loving the super coil. Makes cold-starting much easier.
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Apr 14, 2012 13:38
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My god this is brutal. LOL
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May 18, 2012 04:10
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I wonder if this is created by the same group that did the "Chevy Runs Deep" videos. Has the same sentiment.
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May 18, 2012 12:16
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Snowdens Secret posted:This is a perfectly reasonable statement, but Harley has to have bragging rights on horsepower and displacement over those gol-durned metric cruisers so they keep making their air-cooled engines bigger and heavier to compensate Actually the Japanese makers took the lead on the displacement wars about a decade ago. Yamaha makes an 1854cc engine. Suzuki also makes an 1800. Kawasaki makes a 2000cc engine for their Vulcan, they largest on the market. Harley's largest is an 1800, and it was just released in the last couple years as an option on the "CVO" bikes.
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May 23, 2012 04:08
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Holy crap I've never heard of this. To be fair though -- I was only referring to twins.
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May 23, 2012 04:29
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KozmoNaut posted:I dunno about that, I can't hear it over all the valvetrain noise Better now than it used to by. My ironhead's valves ROAR at idle. The evos are much quieter.
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May 25, 2012 12:47
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Giblet Plus! posted:
I didn't realize that the Blast engine is a stressed element like the big bikes. How do you like the Blast, or have you ridden it prior to the rebuild?
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Jun 19, 2012 02:18
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Some ironhead porn for you guys  
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Jun 21, 2012 03:24
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Jim Silly-Balls posted:I know all of the stupid reasoning, its just so drat frustrating to see a local company that has a huge influence around here just piss away opportunities to garner a fanbase beyond their aging current one. I know a LOT of young Sporty riders around here, many of whom plan to upgrade to a big twin bike when the money/time comes. Transversely I don't know a single person under the age of 35 who owns a BT. The Sporty/BT lineup just perpetuates the demographic targeting.
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Aug 23, 2012 03:36
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Scrapez posted:Apparently, this guy rides around down by Lake of the Ozarks.  Missouribiker.jpg.
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Sep 15, 2012 16:00
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clutchpuck posted:I'm sorry, I can't hear you over POTATO POTATO POTATO POTATO POTATO POTATO POTATO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mik0Lg84z4Y My ironhead making a lovely noise: http://youtu.be/mx_lDdhlt3w I do love me some potato potato.
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Sep 21, 2012 03:59
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Schlieren posted:Moving controls around on a Sporty is elementary. There are too many versions out there for me to be able to recommend one but if I had to go back I'd try to get a Shovelhead because that motor just looks cool as heck. There are so many aftermarket parts available - as well as salvage parts - that it's pretty easy to get a bit here, a bit there, both for the cosmetics as well as the performance. If I were you I'd ride a lot of different years / versions to see what suits you best. In my opinion the 2012s and 13s are the best-looking Sportsters in a long time. Shovelheads aren't Sportsters. thylacine: Sporties are more than capable of taking corners. Mine with fresh Progressive shocks on the rear is very stable and predictable. The center of gravity is lower than most bikes, so the lean comes on quick. I would advised against one of the "L" models of Sportsters. They are lower to the ground and designed for short women. The "C" models typically have a larger tank IIRC. Pre-85 gets you the old Ironhead motor. They're notorious leaking oil, valves need adjusting frequently, and use a ridiculously heavy generator system. They do sound awesome though. '85-89 Gets you the newer Evo motor with the 4-speed trans. '90-200(3?) Gets you the Evo motor with the 5-speed trans..still solid mounted. '04-05ish they switched to Rubber mounts and fuel injection a couple years later. These are super-reliable, smooth bikes that run beautifully and the formula really hasn't changed in the last decade aside from injection. If you're thinking about customizing, take a look at jpcycles.com to get an idea of what you can do to a Sporty. Mods are dirt cheap and plentiful.
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Sep 25, 2012 12:52
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VikingSkull posted:So what's the overall opinion of the Fourty-Eight and Seventy-Two Sportsters? I've been looking for a first bike for a year or two, and now that my truck is paid off I think I'm ready to get one by next spring. My sister can get me a smokin' hot deal at the dealership near here, and I've more or less settled on one of those two. I know, I know, Sportster and all, but goddamn are those some sexy bikes. I wouldn't pay the premium for the bass boat paintjob.
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Sep 30, 2012 16:52
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Couldn't hurt to bleed the brakes or even replace the brake fluid.
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Oct 16, 2012 01:46
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Definitely a nice score for $2700. If it were me, I'd sell the bags and swap the bars. Sporties look goofy with bags.
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Oct 16, 2012 13:55
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I have a similar shirt, but with a bulldog wearing Army BDU. Where could I find one of those bad boys?
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Nov 25, 2012 14:03
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That pavement looks strikingly clean for being beneath a shovel.
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Dec 26, 2012 14:00
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Errant Gin Monks posted:I have purchased a thing. Diggin the color scheme. Been an option on Sportsters since the early 80s. My '83 
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May 18, 2013 12:32
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J&P for new parts on the evo. Ebay always has a ridiculous selection of second-hand stuff. I'd be wary of using a second-hand bottom end though.
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May 19, 2013 14:40
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LLJKSiLk posted:The weather finally cooperated enough for me to take out my 883 Iron yesterday. I've learned how to do a bunch of the stuff that were giving me problems at first, i.e. turns from stop, uphill starts, etc. Uphill starts are a hell of a lot easier on a bike than in a stick-shift car. On a bike all you've got to do is keep your foot on the rear brake until the light turns green. You can rev a little bit and feather the clutch with your hands when the opposing side turns yellow. Takes a little getting used to, but it's second nature after a bit. I've still got to replace the generator on my '83 Roadster. I have a *new* cycle electric generator but it's the wrong model. I've got to sell it on ebay and get the correct one. Irritating. Either way, I intent to ride a hell of a lot more this year than I did in 2013.
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Jan 30, 2014 03:26
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Snowdens Secret posted:I know it's the Harley thread and all, but if your first bike budget is so tight you're having to look back at Ironhead Sportsters, you're probably better off going metric. All the cheap Ironheads I've seen were in pretty poor shape. I love my 31 year old ironhead. It's a pain in the rear end but I love it.
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Feb 12, 2014 04:24
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| # ¿ Apr 26, 2024 11:36 |
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Outside Dawg posted:Depending on how old of a bike you're willing to look at you can pick up a pretty good deal on one, I pretty regularly see Sportsters in the $4500 range, usually '01 - '05 or so. Although unless you're a wrenchhead and have a strong streak of masochism I'd stay away from anything pre-evo (before 1984). Ironheads are really pretty reliable. They just leak a little (a lot). I have an '83 that I ride daily.
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Jun 27, 2014 11:53
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