Devil makes work for idle hands

benjenbav

benjenbav

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Boat remains on the hard - rudder tube mountings to be replaced but still drying out - port side still quite a bit of moisture on Saturday. Today's update is that parts will be fabricated next week and all being well the new grp fixings can be built and installed then. So, say, two more weeks.

In the meantime I seem to be being drawn towards a Harley Davidson Sportster 883. Slow and heavy. But why else is this a bad idea? Need to be put off.;)
 
That is the best suggestion for a Harley that I have ever heard, an anchor. Mind, it needs to be on a seriously large boat to carry this great lump of lard.
 
I've always been convinced that Harley owners are the world's best mechanics. I mean, they have to be. ;)

Who wants to hear a bike going "potato, potato, potato" as you pass it ?

I'll continue to wave to you HD people :D in sympathy.

(BMW proper tourer K100 LT owner - purrrrrr !)
 
I could show you my scars from my biker days, puts me off every time I find myself thinking about yet another one.
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Well, that's why I stopped years ago, of course. But then I was using a bike to get from A to B whereas now it would be just for pleasure. I guess it's probably safer sitting by the side of the road with a bag of spanners fixing a Harley than clocking up the miles on one?
 
Because it's not a proper Harley. Anyone riding a real Harley will look down on you and accuse you of riding a girl's bike.
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Hmm, does that include the pre-2004 model before the rubber engine mounts? What about the Sportster 1200 - is that OK?
 
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BJB

I'm afraid Wiggo is correct with his opinion, more or less a 'poverty pack'.
Its a personal thing as to which HD suits you best, but anything with a sportster tank will only give you a limited travelling range.

Have you given consideration to the new Triumph Bonneville range. The T100 with the nice extras, has the classic 1970's appearance, super cool bike, performs beautifully and no oil leaks. They have an amazing range of low cost, custom/go fast gear available through the USA.

I've had four Harleys now (in the past), but the new generation Triumph Bonnies are just stunning.

Besides you're British, so you have to look the part :).
 
epervier said:
"
mounts? What about the Sportster 1200 - is that OK?

Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper,,,,, be afraid, be very afraid,:rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbATaj7Il8&feature=related
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Even in the seventies the "Sporties" never really rated that highly, compared to the 1200's (pan and shovel heads), you couldn't get the same 'deep thunder' sound from the straight-out 2" drag pipes. :)

The iconic rigid, Pan-Head choppers in the Easy-Rider film clip, certainly looked the part, but the spine jarring reality of the ride needs to be experienced.
To say nothing of the broken welds on the custom parts from all the vibration, and the angle of the fuel tank/filler cap allowing a useable range of about 50 miles, which was about the time to call your chiropractor anyway ;)
Perhaps being anaesthetised on dope may not have been such a bad idea....
 
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benjenbav said:
In the meantime I seem to be being drawn towards a Harley Davidson Sportster 883. Slow and heavy. But why else is this a bad idea? Need to be put off.;)
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Now a certain Cal Rayborn, not too many years ago.
Campaigned a Harley motorcicle
And put himself about in races where peeps said a Sporster type bicicle should not be.
Now boats need fixing all the time
So did the Milwaukee cicles once!:)

OK, an Electra Glide might be the bis
But it aint no good fer goin down to Tescos or the Chandlrey or similar.:)
But the Sporster will
But thats about it

I have a soft spot for Triumph.
I was a Dealer right to the end of the Meridan era.
The current breed does nowt fer me, maybe cos they kinda feel 'Jap or modern'

Talking to a mate, tother day
He likes Porsche cars
I don't
If I won the Lotto, I said , I would get a Ferrari (got to be red) and an MV Augusta. (just like J Surtees an Ago etc had)!
Not that I like Italians more than any other Race!

So if a Sporster does the Biss mate
Get yer leg over:D

'Crobba Crobba Crobba'

Summat about V Twins innit:)
 
Kawasaki said:
I have a soft spot for Triumph.
I was a Dealer right to the end of the Meridan era.
The current breed does nowt fer me, maybe cos they kinda feel 'Jap or modern'
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I think the Bonnie is the least effected by obvious modernisation. The late seventies versions, besides some minor oil leaks, were a good motorcycle, and thankfully new Triumph hasn't messed about too much with the forumula.

Did you like the old Nortons Kwacka, Slippery Sam, John Player Special, IOM TT race?
 
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I think you may be disappointed if you opt for an 883. I tried one before buying a Dyna Custom that has the 1598 motor with Vance & Hynes pipes. The 883 is considered to be a ladies bike, my other half is most of the way through her test and has her eye on an 883L when she gets there.
 
AndieMac said:
Did you like the old Nortons Kwacka, Slippery Sam, IOM TT race?
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Slippery Sam was A Triumph right enough
Now you bring back memories
The first 'modern' production race in the IOM (which is going on right now I should be there !) was won by a Triumph Bonnie.

The race was re introduced about 1967 ish
Someone will tell me different but me brains addled
John Hartle I think in the saddle

Anyway

Yep, I really like the old Nortons
Specially the ones in Drewstwos era
The 'featherbeds' an stuff

Drew Herdman
'Drewtwos' of this Parish
Raced in the Manx Grand Prix
Earlier this evening we chatted (as it appens!)
He lives on the IOM in Port Erin
The place where Neddie Seagoon posted earlier

Now Drew waxis on about the Featherbed
Cos at the time He was racing He had an' International' which did not match up to the 'Manx Norton' which had the 'Featherbead ' frame


So back to the Nortons at the time of the Triumph Bonnie during the end of said makes as we know them
The Commando, with 'isolastic' mountings kinda thing:rolleyes:

Good idea in theory
But the vibes of the parralel twin would not be tamed!:D

NicIn the end
The 850cc Commando was thought to be the Bis
Mistake big style!
Give me a quid for all the main bearings I changed on those beggars!

750 cc at the time was enough

Ger know
One of the nicest bikes I have ridden
A kinda daft idea Triumph had during the 'Jubilee' year, summat to do with the Queen
Anyway
Meridan produced a nice thing
for the Yankee market
A Bonnie with a single carb an 'Cowhorns' , beggar me, what a nice cicle to plod about on.
Plus it had Union Jacks all over it an stuff
An chrome an stuff, in honour of Her Majesty's Jubilee an stuff:D

Terwat!
You Tass divill you, yer gots me goin on about motorcicles at this time O night:p
 
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