Hello all!
Last week, I bought a 2009 (leftover) xl1200L (red, mag wheels) because I love the looks of the bike.
Been riding since I was 14, have had a lot of bikes over the years, mostly Triumphs. I have been riding a 1969 T100R (now on ebay) for the last 5 years, and love the bike, but its too small to bring the wife on the back.
I do all my own work on cars, bikes, stuff around the house.
Back in 1986, I traded my 1979 T140D (Bonneville special) in on an 883, I think they had a 4 speed, rigid mounted motor and chain drive, and liked that bike a lot except the gas tank was too small.
In 1987, I traded it in on a low rider custom, which was very nice.
I traded the low rider custom in on my house 20 some years ago...
I have had a 1979 Triumph T140E Bonneville, the 1969 Daytona, and a 2005 Bonneville black. I dont like the new ones.
I am quite happy with the new Sportster, except for a few things:
The seat is just plain junk!
The suspension is quite poor.
The forks sag at least to half travel, and only move about 4 inches to start with, the rear shocks have very little travel and bottom out badly with the wife on the back (about 170 pounds, don't tell her I said so!).
I figure some new bits are in order, the sundowner seat, longer better rear shocks, some sort of preload spacer for the forks.
Since coming off Triumphs, I expect some ground clearance and handling, and need to get it.
Wish they mase a sport version that looks like the 1200L model, but they dont.
I did get a great deal on the bike though.
Anyone got any idea how the sundowner seat is for long rides?
Also, I could not hear the motor at 60 mph, so I bashed out the disks in the silencers, then it was a bit too loud, so I put some baffles in, and its ok.
I would have stuck without the baffles, but heard that may be to much without paying a lot to get the mixture corrected.
I got to get the shop manual and read up on the bike, the fuel injection is nice, it would have been nicer if it was like cars (wide range adjustments).
I used to ride a LOT before marrage, did a solo 9000 mile trip around the country on the Triumph Bonneville special, with no issues except a flat front tire at the Grand Canyon, which I fixed.
Anyway, the new bikes seem to be an odd mix of very high quality parts, with total junk shocks and seats!
Brett
2009 XL1200L, 1969 Triumph Daytona...
Last week, I bought a 2009 (leftover) xl1200L (red, mag wheels) because I love the looks of the bike.
Been riding since I was 14, have had a lot of bikes over the years, mostly Triumphs. I have been riding a 1969 T100R (now on ebay) for the last 5 years, and love the bike, but its too small to bring the wife on the back.
I do all my own work on cars, bikes, stuff around the house.
Back in 1986, I traded my 1979 T140D (Bonneville special) in on an 883, I think they had a 4 speed, rigid mounted motor and chain drive, and liked that bike a lot except the gas tank was too small.
In 1987, I traded it in on a low rider custom, which was very nice.
I traded the low rider custom in on my house 20 some years ago...
I have had a 1979 Triumph T140E Bonneville, the 1969 Daytona, and a 2005 Bonneville black. I dont like the new ones.
I am quite happy with the new Sportster, except for a few things:
The seat is just plain junk!
The suspension is quite poor.
The forks sag at least to half travel, and only move about 4 inches to start with, the rear shocks have very little travel and bottom out badly with the wife on the back (about 170 pounds, don't tell her I said so!).
I figure some new bits are in order, the sundowner seat, longer better rear shocks, some sort of preload spacer for the forks.
Since coming off Triumphs, I expect some ground clearance and handling, and need to get it.
Wish they mase a sport version that looks like the 1200L model, but they dont.
I did get a great deal on the bike though.
Anyone got any idea how the sundowner seat is for long rides?
Also, I could not hear the motor at 60 mph, so I bashed out the disks in the silencers, then it was a bit too loud, so I put some baffles in, and its ok.
I would have stuck without the baffles, but heard that may be to much without paying a lot to get the mixture corrected.
I got to get the shop manual and read up on the bike, the fuel injection is nice, it would have been nicer if it was like cars (wide range adjustments).
I used to ride a LOT before marrage, did a solo 9000 mile trip around the country on the Triumph Bonneville special, with no issues except a flat front tire at the Grand Canyon, which I fixed.
Anyway, the new bikes seem to be an odd mix of very high quality parts, with total junk shocks and seats!
Brett
2009 XL1200L, 1969 Triumph Daytona...
