Always thought I should own one Harley...

[Kev m]

Well the Sportsters have been rubbermounted for a dozen years now so vibration solved.

Yeah the 3.3 gallon tank should be good for about 120-130 miles before the light comes on, and another 20 at least to find fuel.

But I would assume the 4.5 g OEM Sportster walnut tank would fit too, and that's generally good for 150-175 miles.

[LowRyter]

Best Sportster I have ridden or owned  is the Buell S3 Thunderbolt.

That's cheating

[Mark Harpell]

Sportsters are highly under-rated...late model sporty has a solid motor, excellent transmission, lousy suspension, a total blast to ride...I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun on it....
My slightly mofified 06 custom.....

[Adk.IBO]

Nice color Mark! Hopefully the suspension woes are solved with the new upside down forks and upgraded rear shock. Sure seemed that way on the test ride.

[nighthawk]

I lusted for a Sportster Sport from its intro and finally bought an unmolested 2000 a year ago. It was a very sweet runner and the expected vibration didn't overly bother me. I liked looking at it, but I couldn't ride it comfortably in windy Iowa even with the smaller windshield from my Cal III. The blast on my legs w/the mid controls was just too tiring for my old fat body so I traded it for Quota that takes me almost a full minute to get on and off so I don't ride it as much as I'd like. Sold the Cal III to outfit the Quota...those Sportsters are the sirens on the seas of motorcycling for me, a '68 XLCH diverted me once too.   

[davevv]

Congrats on the new Roadster.  I thoroughly enjoy my '04 version and, from what I hear, the new one is an even better machine.  They make an excellent complement to a Norge (I've had one of those also).  This one has stayed with me longer than any other bike I've owned in the last 55 years.

[Bonafide Bob]

Me and my 1960 XLCH around 1962.
Bob

[Kev m]

This Sportster, which I call an XL1200Lr (it's a "Low" that I converted to "Roadster" specs and a little more) recently took over the title "the bike I've owned the longest" from my old Guzzi Jackal:

[bigbikerrick]

I like that Sportster! I also like the XR 1200 X . My son has a  2006 dyna street bob, and it has been a great bike, always fires up when it should, and has required minimal maintenance. If I were to get an HD,one of the sportsters would be my choice. 
Good luck with your new bike,
Rick.

[Tom]

That's cheating

It was that or buy a Sportster and put on the suspension that Buell put on it.  A shorter straight line with buying a Buell.

[Kev m]

I bought my Buell S3T shortly after riding my first Griso, and I came to the conclusion that it was a Harley Griso (with a huge fuel tank and an integrated fairing).

And I'll admit that mechanically and performance wise the Buell was superior to my beloved Sportster. But when it came to my preferred ergonomics and riding style, my Sportster won out. I sold the Buell, but kept the Sportster.

[Tom]

I just had too much fun doing day rides that I kept it. 

[mjptexas]

....Sat on it after it grabbed my eyes. I liked it. But it was an HD Griso and since I have a Griso, and I think it's a better bike than the Roadster - for that niche, I had to pass. But she was tempting. If I win the lottery....

Well, it ain't a Griso, not even in the same league.  But that doesn't mean it isn't a blast to ride, because it is

[mjptexas]

...Yeah the 3.3 gallon tank should be good for about 120-130 miles before the light comes on, and another 20 at least to find fuel.

But I would assume the 4.5 g OEM Sportster walnut tank would fit too, and that's generally good for 150-175 miles.

Gas light on my Roadster comes on consistently at about 90 miles.  I wouldn't ride much past 120 miles unless I planned to push it.

I'm sure the 4.5 gallon tank would bolt on (HD even offers a kit to mount the larger tank),  you might have some interference from the bars.

[Cool Runnings]

This Kev m seems to continually talk about his sportster. 

[Kev m]

Gas light on my Roadster comes on consistently at about 90 miles.  I wouldn't ride much past 120 miles unless I planned to push it.

I'm sure the 4.5 gallon tank would bolt on (HD even offers a kit to mount the larger tank),  you might have some interference from the bars.

Wow, that seems early, what kind of mileage you getting? At least 40?


Cool R, yeah, I'm a bit of a Sportster fan.

[Cool Runnings]

Wow, that seems early, what kind of mileage you getting? At least 40?


Cool R, yeah, I'm a bit of a Sportster fan.

Not a big mans bike. 

[Piglet]

Maybe Fay is a VW expert and was referring to the little reduction boxes on the ends of the axles of old "Type 2" micro buses.  Ever seen them?  They were popular for dune buggies

[mjptexas]

Wow, that seems early, what kind of mileage you getting? At least 40?


Cool R, yeah, I'm a bit of a Sportster fan.

Seems to be consistently around 43-45 mpg, unless I'm doing a lot of in town riding then it's 39-40 mpg.

[Kev m]

Not a big mans bike. 

I guess I'm only a medium sized man.

But wait, really?

I mean here are some stats:

~580-600# wet
~1200cc motor
~65-70 hp
~4.5 g tank
100/90-19 front wheel
~130/90-16 to 150/80-16 rear wheel

Ya know what those numbers just described - both the rubbermount XL1200 or the 1973-79 FX/FXE series the papa to the FXR (considered by many to be the finest handling BT ever built).

It's my contention that the current Sportster series is, for all intents and purposes, the actual heir to the legacy of the FXR (granted the lowered models need a little more suspension to match the cornering but it's easily done with taller shocks and even the stock forks on most models with longer damper rods). Still as it sits my Sportster feels like a big comfortable bike, certainly big enough for me, even if I am equally at home on a Cali or RK.

Speaking of Cali's, my Jackal and my Sportster were also more similar than not in terms of size, comfort, and performance. Were Tonti California's "not a big man's bike" too? Crap, I keep buying the wrong bikes. I guess judging from numbers my V7 is for a child no?

I realize that so many of today's bikes have become oversized caricatures of what they once were, so in a sea of 800#, 1.6-1.8L motorcycles a 1200cc bike seems "small" to some, but call me Goldilocks (despite the lack of hair) cause I think this size is "just right."

Of course I'm funny that way and enjoy going my own way on things, which is weird, cause I would expect a lot more Guzzisti to get that than it sometimes seems like they do.

[Kev m]

Seems to be consistently around 43-45 mpg, unless I'm doing a lot of in town riding then it's 39-40 mpg.

Ya know, I think I had a total brain fart when I posted that low fuel light estimate.

Come to think of it, the last 2 rubbermounts I had with a 3.3 g tank were carbureted 883s that regularly gave us 50+ mpg, and that was the kind of range we had to reserve, but it was because of that higher mileage.

My current EFI 1200Lr tends to give me mpg numbers more similar to you, and the low fuel light comes on generally in the 130 range BUT ON A 4.5 g tank that extra 1.2 g is good for a comfortable 150 and occasional up to 170 or more if you're sure there's gas ahead.

But I can see why you're getting the light when you are on the 3.3 g.

[Adk.IBO]

Cool R- good thing I'm not choosing a "big man's bike" cuz at 5'3" 132# I just don't qualify
Mike- MPGs are a little disappointing, HD rates it at 48 combined, guess ya can't believe everything ya read .
KevM- always count on you for statistics

Some more reasons for heading in this direction: a bit tired of the plastic (bodywork and tank) of my last 6 or so road bikes (read sport tourers), I now have an Aerostitch that holds the weather at bay quite nicely (and vents well).

I will install risers (2-3") from Dennis Kirk ($30-40!) which if I decide to will accommodate the 4.5 gallon tank. More for reach to the bars as I have done this on 4 of my sport tourers.
Options galore! Dealer network!
It's just fun to personalize a motorcycle!

V7II ABS was right there in the running, 6 hrs to a dealer probably the biggest objection (gettin' lazy that way I guess). I would rather ride to a fun destination rather than a dealership.  I did enjoy the one test ride I had!

Did I mention I always thought I should have one Harley?

Anyhow, enough ramblings, have a safe day, John

[Lannis]

Maybe Fay is a VW expert and was referring to the little reduction boxes on the ends of the axles of old "Type 2" micro buses.  Ever seen them?  They were popular for dune buggies

It's possible; she's always surprising me.   Married 40 years today, and I still don't know everything she knows ... !

Lannis

[PJPR01]

It's possible; she's always surprising me.   Married 40 years today, and I still don't know everything she knows ... !

Lannis

Congrats...that calls for a celebratory moto ride for sure!! 

[Lannis]

Congrats...that calls for a celebratory moto ride for sure!!

We just got back!  2000 miles and a week on the roads of Eastern Kentucky.   I'll post pics on another thread.

Lannis

[mjptexas]

Mike- MPGs are a little disappointing, HD rates it at 48 combined, guess ya can't believe everything ya read .

I'm sure you could get 48 mpg out of a Roadster, but not the way I ride it 

Some more reasons for heading in this direction: a bit tired of the plastic (bodywork and tank) of my last 6 or so road bikes (read sport tourers), I now have an Aerostitch that holds the weather at bay quite nicely (and vents well).

I've never been into the sport tourers.  Maybe if I tried one I'd change my mind.

I will install risers (2-3") from Dennis Kirk ($30-40!) which if I decide to will accommodate the 4.5 gallon tank. More for reach to the bars as I have done this on 4 of my sport tourers.
Options galore! Dealer network!
It's just fun to personalize a motorcycle!

Risers should do the trick, clearing the tank.

Did I mention I always thought I should have one Harley?

IMHO, every serious motorcyclist needs to have owned at least one Sportster and one Bonneville.

[oldbike54]

IMHO, every serious motorcyclist needs to have owned at least one Sportster and one Bonneville.

 Do old ones count ? There was a K model and several old Triumphs in my history . The K model was a hoot , at least the few times I rode it , even in 1976 it seemed 50 years old

 Dusty

[rocker59]

IMHO, every serious motorcyclist needs to have owned at least one Sportster and one Bonneville.

My trial by fire came in the form of a well used 1974 XLCH, in 1988.

Good Fun.  Sorta...

 

[Adk.IBO]

IMHO, every serious motorcyclist needs to have owned at least one Sportster and one Bonneville.

My first road bike in 1975 (at 17 yrs old) was a 1972 Tiger (a single carb Bonneville if you will), rode it to Florida from Syracuse to attend AMI for their motorcycle mechanics course right after high school. Great bike! Taken me a while to get around to the Sportster. We went to some motorcycle drags in Tampa while we were there and one of the most memorable runs was a Sportster, I became a believer!

[LowRyter]

anyone interested. New issue of Cycle World has the Harley in a comparison test with Roadster vs Beemer, Triumph and Yammie.

Haven't bothered to read it yet.