Fun with an Old Sporty

Jeff Higgins · 05-03-2021, 08:14 AM

Ahh yes... every now and then us old motorcyclists on old motorcycles get our day in the sun, a little boost to our fragile egos, a fleeting chance to shine (or at least we can convince ourselves we were "shining) and maybe a short lived chance to beam just a wee little bit. All in good fun, no harm done, and just having a great time with the old bike.

I found myself in that situation just yesterday, out riding my old '76 Ironhead Sporty. I was on my very favorite local back road, a five mile stretch of uninterrupted, no driveways, no cross roads twisty 35 mph speed limit section that I've been driving and riding since, well, since I've been driving and riding. I know every inch of it like the back of my hand...

Well, right before crossing the last intersection that marks the beginning of this stretch, I had caught up to a group of three riders mounted on modern "adventure" bikes. Turns out it was two Yamaha Teneres and one of the BMW parallel twins. Much to my surprise, they eased to the right and flagged me by. Of course they had no idea what was behind the headlight that they just allowed to pass... Once I was just ahead of them and headed for the twisties, though, it became pretty obvious what they were looking for. So I gave it to them...

I have not ridden that old girl that hard likely in my entire life. I was on it, and she had the bit in her teeth... For the next five miles that tach needle never dropped below 5,000 rpm, and bounced off the electronic rev limiter at 7,500 more than once. I was using all of the so-called "brakes" available, and folding the foot pegs up against the cases on both sides of this bike, throwing an impressive shower of sparks, I'm sure. Totally irresponsible, hell bent for election, all that poor old girl had to offer. And laughing my ass off the whole way.

And I couldn't believe it - I outdistanced these guys. At least that's what I'm telling myself. More likely they just didn't want to see this idiot die, but I can pretend... Anyway, when we popped out the other end, where the road straightens, they soon caught up. And followed me into the gas station (it has a two gallon tank, so I stop a lot).

They parked their bikes in front of the store as I pulled up to the pump. Removing their helmets, they came walking up just shaking their heads, in utter amazement. It was three 30-somethings, and they had no idea what they were looking at. The single disc on the front and the drum on the back certainly caught their attention... and they kept asking "is that really a Harley? How old???!!!"

I think they just saw this old grampa looking guy and just wanted to be nice to me. They claimed they were honestly trying to keep up. Meh... maybe, if they were inexperienced riders, or unfamiliar with the road, or likely both.

Anyway, what good clean fun. I just had to share. I wound up pushing the bike over to where they had parked and we spent about half an hour b.s.'ing about bikes, riding, and all of that. All three wanted to try to kick start it (none succeeded, but only because it's more feel than brute force). None could believe an "old Harley" could go like that. Lots of cell phone pics, lots of "he's not gonna believe this...", and all of that. Good times... this is a large part of what I enjoy about these hobbies.

Tishabet · 05-03-2021, 08:24 AM

A '76 Harley has an electronic rev limiter? That's a new one, never would have guessed!

Seahawk · 05-03-2021, 08:45 AM

I love it.

I know, I know I am aiding and abetting rebellious old guy behavior which I would never indulge in, in fact find loathsome...I just got the vapors.

herr_oberst · 05-03-2021, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I would never indulge in, in fact find loathsome...I just got the vapors.

Just clutch your pearls for a few moments and let the vapors subside...

Jeff, it sounds like the perfect time and space convergence. That fleeting second that makes all the hours put in worthwhile.

flipper35 · flipper35's Garage

I can speak a bit on the Tenere as I have its father. They are decent road bikes but the tires are for both hard surface and dirt/gravel so they give up a little on both surfaces. They would not keep up with a regular YZ on a single track either. They will do decent in both environments though and probably would dust your bike on a dirt fire road. Just sayin'.

pitargue · pitargue's Garage

Dudes being dudes. Good times! :-)

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

That’s just great!

pwd72s · 05-03-2021, 09:28 AM

We all watched this one...humming this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrYIqXet01k

Jeff Higgins · 05-03-2021, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tishabet

A '76 Harley has an electronic rev limiter? That's a new one, never would have guessed!

Nope, not even available back then. Points, condenser, coil. As primitive as they came.

Mine, however, has been dragged kicking and screaming (just like me) into the late 20th century - I fitted it with a nifty Crane fully programmable ignition unit some time ago. It fits inside the stock points cover so no one can even tell it's there. Beyond how well it makes the bike run, its biggest advantage is how easy it has made it to start. Lots more spark. Oh, and the other piece of modern whiz-bang technology i installed is an electronic voltage regulator. The original had points, just like the ignition. They open and close via current sent through electromagnetic coils. Or, just for the hell of it, whenever they feel like it, because well, old Harleys vibrate a bit. The electronic unit is soooo much better.

asphaltgambler · 05-03-2021, 10:51 AM

Cool stuff man!

Nostril Cheese · 05-03-2021, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

We all watched this one...humming this song.

You really need to hang in there..

Chocaholic · 05-03-2021, 11:43 AM

Good fun Jeff.

Anyone see the new HD Pan America? Read a few reviews and the adventure guys are walking around with boners. Apparently HD hit the nail on the head. Could get interesting. That’s if any of their dealers actually had one!

Tishabet · 05-03-2021, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Nope, not even available back then. Points, condenser, coil. As primitive as they came.

Mine, however, has been dragged kicking and screaming (just like me) into the late 20th century - I fitted it with a nifty Crane fully programmable ignition unit some time ago. It fits inside the stock points cover so no one can even tell it's there. Beyond how well it makes the bike run, its biggest advantage is how easy it has made it to start. Lots more spark. Oh, and the other piece of modern whiz-bang technology i installed is an electronic voltage regulator. The original had points, just like the ignition. They open and close via current sent through electromagnetic coils. Or, just for the hell of it, whenever they feel like it, because well, old Harleys vibrate a bit. The electronic unit is soooo much better.

Aaaah, that makes more sense... I was trying to imagine some sort of centrifugal advance kind of limiter mechanism! I've done the pointless/electronic (but not programmable) upgrade as well as voltage reg upgrade on a few older vehicles, definitely worthwhile... cannot tell you how much time I've spent trouble shooting and especially re-polarizing old voltage regulators.

oldE · 05-03-2021, 12:48 PM

" More likely they just didn't want to see this idiot die."

Thanks for this Jeff. I had a smile on my face while I was reading this. I wonder how many sportster riders ever rev to the limit other than a missed shift.

Is there a generational thing with motorcyclists? I find myself from time to time stuck behind a group of riders. In the days when I was riding, I don't ever recall having a car catch up to me if the weather was half decent.

Before I bought the old E, I had a serious look at an old Sportster. The owner taught me the trick of finding the right spot in the crank rotation (which I have since forgotten) so you don't frustrate, or injure yourself when attempting to start the old beast. I still have a soft spot in my head for the old stock normal riding position bikes.

Best
Les

Jeff Higgins · 05-03-2021, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

We all watched this one...humming this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrYIqXet01k

pwd72s · 05-03-2021, 04:24 PM

Jeff, Michael Parks would give you a high five...

ramonesfreak · ramonesfreak's Garage

back when i was 30, i had a sporty and one day i was outside a donut shop having a coffee and a smoke and an old guy walked up to me and told me my bike was a slow piece of crap. haha. i guess i had the opposite day that you had. i miss my sportster. oh well

greglepore · 05-03-2021, 04:38 PM

Better than the Cayenne d head I was behind on the BRP yesterday on my ST3S. 30 in the twisties and 70 along every straight with a broken center line. Speed limit up there is 45 and while they'll give a bike 50-55, I didn't want to have to go 85 to pass him. Cheers, sir douche.

Superman · 05-04-2021, 09:22 AM

I wish I could have been there to see that, Jeff. As you know, I too have Old Fart status.

I also know how it felt. For those who follow the advice of Eleanor Roosevelt or her uncle Ted, there are moments you just can't order from Amazon. Big smile. You feel a little taller and you stand up straighter, shoulders back. The air smells fresher and food tastes better. Addictive, isn't it?

Jeff Higgins · 05-04-2021, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superman

I wish I could have been there to see that, Jeff. As you know, I too have Old Fart status.

I also know how it felt. For those who follow the advice of Eleanor Roosevelt or her uncle Ted, there are moments you just can't order from Amazon. Big smile. You feel a little taller and you stand up straighter, shoulders back. The air smells fresher and food tastes better. Addictive, isn't it?

Yes, it is. Addictive. In a good way. These things bring joy to our lives. Very few and far between, so we like to seize the moment, and share it with others, so that we may bring a tiny bit of joy to their lives as well. It's a thing worth sharing.

Which is kind of a sedgway into my next little "diatribe". There are, apparently, those among us who never experience such joy. Or, if they do, they never share it with anyone. I'm thinking in the context of this forum - there are those of us who stop by to share these kinds of stories, to do our part to brighten one another' days. Many of the members of this forum that contribute in that manner have become my friends over the years, including, I'm proud to say - you.

But, unfortunately, there are those among us - on this forum - who appear to recoil at our attempts to share this joy with one another. One such is the poor, humorless, joyless sapp who felt compelled to stop by only to assign his typical "one star" rating to this thread. He has shadowed Paul and I for years now, and we both know exactly who he is. And we both feel terribly sorry for him, which he will, of course never be able to understand nor appreciate.

What drives guys like him to hang out on a forum such as this? I've come here to make friends. I've been wildly successful. I will never understand a man who comes to forums such as this only to deride, put down, demean, and antagonize others. And to never share any personal anecdotes, no fun stories, no joy. Just how miserable does a man's existence have to be to rely upon a forum such as this, and his constant put-downs of others, to lift himself up?

Anyway, meh - whatever. This is kind of why I don't spend as much time here as I used to. I very deeply value the friendships I've made in my time on this forum including, as I've said, yours. I have, however, reached the realization that there are those on this forum that I would never allow into my home. Yet here I am, effectively letting them in - through this forum. I'm just not up to that so much anymore. Hell, I even threw one (one of the worst offenders here) out of my car club many years ago - a demonstrably dishonest man, whose participation continues to drag this forum down. Oh well - not my forum, not my call...

That's it for my "diatribe". Thanks for being my friend, Supe. We'll have to drag those .45 Colts out and do some shooting one of these days - you know, share some "joy"...