posted on February 4, 2001 02:23:14 AM new
I have to ask. I'm very curious. Plus I'm singing the winter blues and I can't wait to get back on the road again. I have a '91 XLH. We lowered the back end two inches by putting on Progessive shocks and lowered the front end by an inch and a half by lowering the neck. I'm only 4'8" and the Sportster was the only Harley I could get up off the kickstand and park by myself. I'll post a pic as soon as I can dig one up.
posted on February 4, 2001 07:06:18 AM new
Oh, eventer! You just brought back a fond memory of the horse I rode when I took riing lessons another lifetime ago! Same kind of horse--his name was Leo. Did not matter how high the actual "jump" itself was--he would jump super-high just because he could The lady I took lessons from warned me not to let him get his speed up or his neck out too far unless I was ready for a high jump...
posted on February 4, 2001 07:23:40 AM new
Ok, xlhgirl, I am jealous! BC (before children) I used to ride my brother's 1976 FLH on occasion. He's since gotten rid of it . My hubby and I were just talking the other day, we are ready to get our own. We are going to start out with a sporty, cause we are both short and eventually, once he gets his fatboy, the sporty will be mine I am just dying to get my son the fisher price Harley, but my hubby says no...he can't have one before us LOL
Kaffro
posted on February 4, 2001 08:10:55 AM new
69 XLCH - Red w/flame job on tank, 4" extended front forks, short HD Topper bars (to preserve internal cables) on machined dogbones. 16" rear, 21 " front. Solo seat (no pillion). Highway pegs modified from stock rears. Chromed rims, spokes, brakes, heads, center cases, swing arm, shocks, etc. SU carb w/round grey ghost cover. Joe Hunt mag. Straight dumps.
70 XLH - Blue metallic, basic stock configuration w/some chrome (Battery case, oil tank, starter cover,). Replaced stock pipes w/ clean internally muffled baloney sliced exhaust. Solo seat w/pillion. Belt primary drive. Electric start. CH tank.
IMO, HD went out of business in 71. AMF bought them in 70 but didn't start messing with the bikes 'til 71. The new ones are pretty but just don't compare well. Someday I'd like to get an old knuckle or pan head to restore.
Old Sportsters are great despite many flaws. They handle poorly, don't stop very well, and they vibrate and make internal noises like a cement mixer. The exhaust is music to my ears, though. I really like their clean, slim, sleek, profile. Resting on the kickstand, tilted slightly to the left, they're a work of art.
I'd really like to acquire an old XLH tank, the big 3.5 gallon type with the two-tone paint and raised chrome insignia, for the 1970. If you've got one, let me know.
posted on February 4, 2001 11:43:54 AM new
1974 Corvette Stingray-finally finished the restoration. Everything is original EXCEPT the color. I had it done in a gorgeous pale gold/pearlized. Turned out real nice. Now, BOTH the UPS guy and the FEDEX guy want me to sell it to them! The FEDEX guy made a much better offer. Think they make more????
posted on February 4, 2001 12:36:13 PM new
Wow everyone! This is kind of fun.
Equestrian: I've also got a 5 year old Arabian. She's a good girl.
My boyfriend also has a '96 Fatboy, a '51 JL and a 1947 servicar. The '51 is about 95% complete on the rebuild, but it is rideable. The servicar is currently torn apart, waiting to be put back together. The poor thing was a rust bucket when my boyfriend bought it.
posted on February 4, 2001 12:46:27 PM new
You all don't really want to hear about my '85 Astro Van do you? Paid off for 12 years, missing both hub caps on the passenger side, 125,000 miles, seats 8, gets 11 mpg.
I can park it anywhere and not fret about numbsculls dinging it or running shopping carts into it.
My dream car? 1964 1/2 Mustang, convertable, red w/black interior.
Next car? Has anyone seen the new Poniac Aztec? Kewl car!
posted on February 4, 2001 01:15:22 PM newMeya I love that car! I was waiting for the new T Bird to come out, then I saw the Aztec. If they sell it, I'll buy it.
Well actually my husband will.
posted on February 4, 2001 01:35:41 PM new
The older hogs (74 cu" ) actually sat lower than the Sportsters. Short folks could lay their feet flat on the ground. Of course, a foot clutch and suicide shifter could lead to problems.
I bought an old Servi-car once to restore with a friend. Got it running and took it out for a ride. It was way too dangerous to keep! They really could have used a differential. Sold that bad boy real fast.
-had to kill a wild smiley.
[ edited by xardon on Feb 4, 2001 01:37 PM ]
posted on February 4, 2001 07:06:58 PM new
My wife and I own 2 cars: a 1979 olds "monster" wagon that has 313,444 miles on it, and a 1983 suberu wagon with 287,900 miles on it.
Meya, I can relate, as my olds gets 8 gallons to the mile (er, 8 miles to the gallon, at $1.39 per, and a 29.5 sized tank). Still will not trade her in, though. I too never worry about the dings, like i did when I had my 1967 mustang (gone, but never forgotten)!
In the begining, God created the heavens and the earth.
posted on February 4, 2001 07:10:22 PM new
Xardon, that suprises me. My boyfriend absolutely LOVES his servicar. He wouldn't part with it for anything! He wanted to teach me to ride on his '51. No way in heck did I want to deal with that! It has the foot clutch and suicide shifter.
posted on February 4, 2001 08:01:25 PM new
Before I sold my '84 Honda V65 1100 CC Magna 2 years ago, I used to have a deal going with the owner of the local HD shop.
When he was in need of an increase in the servicing and tuning side of his business, I would go on the prowl for HDs on the open road and blow them away. Of course, the rider would immediately take his bike to the shop to be tuned and serviced.
It became dangerous and I had to stop. One day I blew a HD rider away so bad, he dismounted while the wick was wide open; he thought his bike had stopped.
posted on February 4, 2001 08:39:42 PM new
Oh. Mike! Nobody rides a Harley because they're fast. They ride them because they're better. Nice of you to get those poseurs off the road, though. If they couldn't tume up their own scooter, they shouldn't have been on it in the first place.
So you rode a Honda. You meet the nicest people on those.....or so I've heard.
posted on February 5, 2001 01:45:07 PM new
Good People , you are scaring me!!!
Don't you realize that you might get hurt riding a motorcycle?
Now me, I go up in the air where it is safe. I fly a SkyRaider ultralight airplane. Actually, there are very very injuries (lots of fatalities, but not many injuries).
I have to say, though, that there ain't nothin' that sounds like a Harley Hog. Now if I could only get my 2-stroke engine to sound like that maybe the guys that fly the "span cans" would stop laughing at me.
Heck, I can beat any plane any of those guys fly to 3000 feet, just can't cruise as fast.
Any other real pilots out there? You know, taildragger pilots--no training wheel in front?
The lady I took lessons from warned me not to let him get his speed up or his neck out too far unless I was ready for a high jump...
. My hubby and I were just talking the other day, we are ready to get our own. We are going to start out with a sporty, cause we are both short and eventually, once he gets his fatboy, the sporty will be mine 
