Harley Davidson Forums

[Seahawk]

In addition to a 1993 RX-7, I will be getting a 1998 HD 1200 Sportser on a trailer next week.

I have been riding my 1976 BMW a lot on the weekends and plan on keeping the Harley as well.

Any advice on a Pelican-esque forum to learn about this machine?

Thanks in advance!

[afterburn 549]

As in most places the knockers will pipe up.
How ever , i have owned all sorts of bikes and always come back to "them"(H.D.)
I like the simple of it.
I once road a 1976 iron head, road it cost to coast, stopped at Sturgis then the Oshkosh air show.
I am not versed in the 1998 version..
Unless its a Buell version H.D. leaves a LOT of HP on the table.
Follow what Buell did.
Bring your squeesh dwn to.030
Jeff Higgens (on here) might be a good source to source information from

[nynor]

it's coming on a trailer. that is all.

[afterburn 549]

It will not ever get off the trailer? LOL

[nynor]

just funnin.

[varmint]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

As in most places the knockers will pipe up.
How ever , i have owned all sorts of bikes and always come back to "them"(H.D.)
I like the simple of it.
I once road a 1976 iron head, road it cost to coast, stopped at Sturgis then the Oshkosh air show.
I am not versed in the 1998 version..
Unless its a Buell version H.D. leaves a LOT of HP on the table.
Follow what Buell did.
Bring your squeesh dwn to.030
Jeff Higgens (on here) might be a good source to source information from

i owned a 97 cyclone. "follow what buell" did and watch the poor bike fall apart.


the guys on pelican can probably answer 98% of your questions. and if you've maintained an old bmw, it's not more difficult, just different.

[LakeCleElum]

I'll be quiet.....Jeff doesn't appreciate my Harley jokes......Enjoy

[Chocaholic]

Paul...you won't find a "Pelican" forum for HD. There are plenty of forums but the level of maturity won't impress you, unless you're into Ape-hangers and loug pipes and such.

Restrict your searches to specific tech subject matter and you'll get help, but keep your expectations low.

[VINMAN]

This is the one I go on.

The XL Forum - For Sportster Enthusiasts!!

.

[asphaltgambler]

Hi, I can help - have lots of direct experience. Let me know here -or-email me directly - theasphaltgambler@hotmail.com

[afterburn 549]

Hay! My 80 inch came alive !
thanx All !

[Mike80911]

I have been a member of this one for years very comparable to Pelican good people with helpful advise
Harley Davidson Forums - harley owners group, (hog)

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

I'll be quiet.....Jeff doesn't appreciate my Harley jokes......Enjoy

Oh nonsense, I love your Harley jokes. It's just that back when you were riding them, they still called them "Silent Gray Fellows", or something like that. The newer ones have been improved just a little bit...

I just finished putting my hot rod '76 Sportster back together (for the second time in two years - it broke a valve spring, dropped a valve, and pretty well goobered things all up). I went on a fairly long ride on it yesterday; what a flaming POS. But it's my flaming POS, and I've had it since I was in school. I didn't know any better back when it was new, but hoo boy - what a different machine than my 2013 Road King. The old Sporty has the very best of everything - S&S wheels and rods, Andrews cams and pushrods, heads by Dan Baisley featuring Kibblewhite valves, springs, etc. and Dan's own roller rockers, and on and on. I bet it doesn't rattle its way above 65 hp, and I don't dare ride it farther than my dear wife can come and fetch me.

Oh well, enough of that. I have several hundred thousand miles on newer Harleys (my last one, the 2000 Road King, got run over at 110,000 and there were a couple of Evos with similar mileage before that) with no real trouble whatsoever. Not the fastest, not the best handling, but comfortable and dead reliable. Simple to maintain, too. That, and the support when away from home, say several states from home, is unlike any other company. Dealerships will stay open late, pull bikes off of service racks to get you on, or whatever it takes to keep your trip going. No one else will do that. Hell, no one else will probably even have parts for your specific bike if you need them. Nothing worse than being several states away from home with a buddy on his Honda that needs something that the dealership will have to order, and it will be a week to ten days to get it. This simply does not happen with HD dealerships; they will not only have it, but drop everything to put it on your bike.

Now on to the original question - if you find a good Harley forum, let me know. Most really suck. Lots and lots of old wives' tales and misinformation get brandied about by clowns that shouldn't probably work on their own lawnmowers. That said, one that gets a lot of traffic and does have some knowledgeable folks is the XL Forum. I spend some time on its Ironhead section, and can occasionally get good answers from them.

Ironhead Sportster Motorcycle Talk (1957-1985) - The Sportster and Buell Motorcycle Forum

[afterburn 549]

I think the "best" forum is right here.
lots of smart people with the fair dist. of smart arses ! LOL

[Seahawk]

Thanks, Gents.

This will be fun. My father kept it stock so I just want to ride it for a while and see. I'm mainly looking for maintenance tips, etc.

He rode this bike as much as everyday in good weather, rode it on long trips with his friends in his 70's and 80's, multi state affairs, a life long biker.

So we'll see, but I expect it will be here for a bit. I'll poke around some.

Asphalt, I'll email. Thanks!

[afterburn 549]

In light of everything that has transpired with your loss lately , just enjoy it.
Every H.D. comes with a personality. Yes its nuts and bolts..but you will learn.
Once used to it, your riding needs and pleasures, then the changes will happen.
You will know what to add -delete .