Petrolicious...Harley-Davidson Content

[sand_man]

I don't ride, but I am a gear-head and do have an appreciation for most things two and four wheeled. I thought this was a cool story. Be sure to turn on the subtitles...

[asphaltgambler]

Very cool

[KevinTodd]

Nice video and great subject matter. Love Petrolicious.

[flatbutt]

If I had the money a custom sportster would be in my driveway.

[Jeff Higgins]

Very cool bike. I often consider picking up a newer Sportster. While my old Ironhead is a lot of fun to ride, it would be nice to have modern reliability and performance. I think Harley needs to build one like this.

[vash]

I ask cuz I don’t know. He shoehorned a modern Harley into a vintage package?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by vash

I ask cuz I don’t know. He shoehorned a modern Harley into a vintage package?

He added vintage looking bits to a modern Harley. It looks like he made most of those bits himself. So the frame, suspension, brakes, and motor are all modern Harley. The tank, fenders, seat, handlebars, lights, air cleaner, exhaust, etc. have all been fabricated to resemble vintage parts.

[sand_man]

So for those in the know (Higgins), do you agree about the '57 Sportster being inconic in the HD lineage?

[MMiller]

Enjoyed. Thanks for sharing. Another Sportster may be in my future..always enjoyed the platform.

More on the bike...This vintage '1957 Sportster' is actually a brand new bike | Bike EXIF

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by sand_man

So for those in the know (Higgins), do you agree about the '57 Sportster being inconic in the HD lineage?

Absolutely. There was a time, believe it or not, when H-D was actually at the forefront of innovation and development. They pioneered battery/coil ignition at a time when magnetos were the norm, greatly easing the chore of kick starting a motorcycle. They pioneered unit construction on the Sportster's predecessor, the 750cc side valve K model. Their hydraulic front forks were a big step forward for American motorcycles, and even outside of the U.S., they were still somewhat rare.

The Sportster represented what was then the cutting edge of performance motorcycles, utilizing all these "modern" and "innovative" technologies on one platform. The real coup de grace, however, was that four cam, overhead valve, 900cc motor. Against a backdrop of 500cc British parallel twins, this was a real fire breathing monster. Granted, there was the Vincent (I think by then out of production) and other exotic, bespoke motorcycles, but the Sportster was available to anyone brave enough to ride one. It really turned the motorcycle world on its ear.

It's funny how today it has become more or less the "beginners'" Harley, or the "girls' bike". It wasn't always like that. The original Sportsters remind us of those days, when only hairy-chested he-men with some kind of a death wish rode Sportsters. As such, they will always have a special place in H-D history.

[sand_man]

I know HD is often a polarizing brand, but I've always had a thing for them. My former in-laws all used to ride HD, in addition to some British bikes. And being that I DON'T ride, I can'I really form an opinion on the specific riding dynamics between various brands and models.

On another note, I used to enjoy the Biker Build-Off shows that Discovery used to run. I loved the stuff that Indian Larry (RIP), Chica, Russel Mitchel, Greg Westbury, et al would make.

[rfuerst911sc]

The Sportster is the 914/944 of the HD world it gets little respect , is looked down upon as a lesser bike but it is a solid performer . If I were to ever get a Harley it would probably be a sportster to my eye it looks like a motorcycle vs. a lazy boy couch on wheels .

[LakeCleElum]

I grew up in a small town next to the county fairgrounds. I was the only spectator on the backstretch of the 1/2 mile dirt track as it bordered our hay-field. They had one flat track race a year. The local club spent a week prepping the track.

I could spend hours watching the local guy that worked at the phone company ride his Sportster .....Sideways out of the corners with both feet on the pegs. I had already started a long life of motorcycles, but owning a sportster was just a dream for a 14 year-old back in the mid 60's.....

[vash]

i for one am very lukewarm towards Harleys. but that one in the video is pretty spectacular.

i dont know if the video is dubbing in the sounds, but either way; in my mind that is the prefect sounding Harley. not too loud, burbly..not too loud, and not silent. those super loud ones..the ones that obviously cannot hold idle, because the rider is always blipping the throttle to OBVIOUSLY keep it from stalling () damn near put me in a bad mood. my ears are hurting enough with day to day noises.

i'll get one one day. the prices for used bikes are ridiculous. i just want a nice moderately badass black heritage softtail for putting around.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

More of Boxster I think - a girls bike I can say that 'cause I've had 2 - an iron head and an Evo - people used to tell me regularly.

I still hear the same thing when I show up on my Ironhead. Fat, bald, grey bearded know-it-alls with their Twinkies and now Milwaukee Eights. I always respond with something like "yeah, tough guy - show us how to start it".

Originally Posted by peteremsley

Its interesting that even with all of HDs variations and models they haven't caught on to the real retro trend like Guzzi, Triumph and (to some degree) Ducati have done.

If they have never modernized, how would they go retro?

Just kidding. I know what you're saying. The Softail rear end and Springer front end are a nod in that direction. The Big Twins do get a bit of that treatment. Like I said earlier, though, if they built a Sportster like this one, I would buy one yesterday.

[911boost]

Jeff, how tall are you? I have ridden Sporty's and at 6-4, I felt like a praying mantis sitting on it, all legs and arms, very similar to how I feel on a sport bike, the one more sporty exception being some BMW's.

My '06 Electra Glide fits like a glove, I am still trying to get used to the changes HD has made on the new Road Glide I picked up. No way in hell I'd ever diss a Sportster, you have to know what you are doing to ride an older one. Of course I wouldn't ever diss a Boxster either, so maybe that is just me.

[asphaltgambler]

Agree with Jeff. Starting in '57 - it was a world class performance bike, especially the 'CH' version which was kick- start only, higher compression and depending on who you talk to, slightly hotter cams. It was a potent package that reigned until 1969 when Honda unleashed their CB 750.....then first coining the term 'Superbike'

The 'CH' stood for Competition Hot.

Unfortunately, other than increasing the displacement another 100cc' s in 1970, very little further R&D was done.

[Don Ro]

Very nice. Dump the crash bars, I say. 'Cept turn signals in them.
Lovely production and music...great scenery. Near Madrid, I'd guess.
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https://www.ufogarage.es/project-gallery-page/

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Agree with Jeff. Starting in '57 - it was a world class performance bike, especially the 'CH' version which was kick- start only,

In '57, Wasn't everything "Kick-Start" only????

[KevinTodd]

Originally Posted by vash

i for one am very lukewarm towards Harleys. but that one in the video is pretty spectacular.

i dont know if the video is dubbing in the sounds, but either way; in my mind that is the prefect sounding Harley. not too loud, burbly..not too loud, and not silent. those super loud ones..the ones that obviously cannot hold idle, because the rider is always blipping the throttle to OBVIOUSLY keep it from stalling () damn near put me in a bad mood. my ears are hurting enough with day to day noises.

i'll get one one day. the prices for used bikes are ridiculous. i just want a nice moderately badass black heritage softtail for putting around.

No different than the tool-bags revving their rice burners to 15000 RPMS as they split lanes in rush-hour interstate traffic.