Taking a break from Guzzi - Bought slightly used Harley

[HDGoose]

Congrats Gary..you'll look good on it.
Gotta love WG..

I just amused. Most newer folks on this board do not now how many Guzzi and Harley engines from different era's I've rebuilt.

RTFM.

[HDGoose]

Evo is the best engine the moco has ever done.
I am a sucker for pre evo engines but i have to recognize evo are bullet proof engines, hands down.
Yes, depending on the year they had few little "thing" like rear base cylinder gasket seeping oil( pigtail gaskets fixed the issue there )
Some early evo had bad case cast ( porous ) but the moco took care of them.
and few little issues but in the end Evo are great engines.
They are also very simple and very easy to work on. Timing a harley and set the carb is a breeze.
A Evo engine with regular maintenance and love can last as long as a guzzi.

Goose, if you are 6.7 , there is no guzzi you can fit in.... i would have done the same you did, enjoy you bike... haters will be haters lol

My 89 EVO crankcase split at 148k. My 79 SP was the least maintenance bike I have ever owned. Newer Guzzi's, with Guzzi specific parts disappearing before 5 years turned me off.

I made all my Guzzi's suit me. The SP or T-3 pegs were the best. If I cannot sell my 97 California, I'll cafe it with SP pegs eventually.

[HDGoose]

and why exactly is buying a Harley news on a Guzzi site???

Chatting with my friends? Some of whom I've know from Guzzi rallies since the 90's? How many miles you got on Guzzi's? How many miles on motorcycles? I've even had folks from this board visit and stay with me in Ireland.

What do you get from this board?

[Kev m]

Sorta related.

I heard yesterday that my bud who ran (and finished) the Iron Butt Rally last year on his 06 XL1200R has been invited to run again this year.

His dilemma is that his Harley currently has about 176k miles on it and he figures it will be over 200k by the start of this year's rally.

[fotoguzzi]

and why exactly is buying a Harley news on a Guzzi site???

because Goose knew ELVIS !

[oldbike54]

because Goose knew ELVIS !

 Hell , I thought he was Elvis ...

 Dusty

[fotoguzzi]

He's bigger than Elvis.

[HDGoose]

HEY!! I am below 300 pounds now!!

[fotoguzzi]

 1995 Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 model RS -$2000 (good condition)



16k
thoughts, Kev?

[Shorty]

So, Gary, you gonna dust off the old moniker HDGOOSE?   

[HDGoose]

So, Gary, you gonna dust off the old moniker HDGOOSE?   

hehehehehehehehehe

[Kev m]

1995 Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 model RS -$2000 (good condition)



16k
thoughts, Kev?

No such thing as an RS.

If you can get past the horrific paint it could be a fun toy.

It's a solidmount, so VERY different from the rubbermount bikes. A little lighter but that's not saying much (around 500#), has slightly better electrics and oil tank than earlier solidmounts (86-93).

Brakes aren't much to brag about, nor will the suspension be.

Wheel bearings need to be manually removed, re-greased and installed with fresh seals at each tire change.

And it's likely a paint shaker, like my 93 was, used to numb my hands and feet within the first 100 miles.

Honestly I'm not sure I'd ever own another solidmount, but if I did I would probably make sure it was an 00-03 for the best brakes (4-pot Kelsey-hayes) and best electronics and sealed wheel bearings. And even then I'd probably make it a café or local toy and probably wouldn't ever tour on it like I did in the 90s.

The rubbermounts really changed Sportsters for the better if you ride more than 50-100 miles at a time.

[BillinPA]

Good for you Goose, I got two of the 88inch motors, they are cheap to buy. One is a 2006 Superglide I put a sidecar on. The other was a close friends ( who passed away ) 2000 E-glide with a built zippers motor, gear drive cams etc. Good solid bikes parts easy to get as you would expect. And yes you can put miles on a Harley (for the anti-Harley crowd)

Truth is I love Guzzi, But my Guzzi's have required MUCH more fiddling and repair than the two Buells and three HD's I have owned put together.  They are all machines....you know the rest

[Tobit]

After renting a '14 Street Glide and getting lost in the Ozarks for a wonderful 600+ mile weekend, and accepting that I haven't even started the LeMans this year, I'm pretty sure I'll be going HD when I no longer have the kids tuition going out 11 months of the year.  Three more years.  Just haven't had the courage to finally part with the LeMans after 29 years.

The SG wasn't perfect but did everything I needed better than I expected, was pretty darned quick for a stock tank and surprisingly comfy.  The infotainment system is crap though, especially the GPS.  Lovely motorcycle and I met some fine HD folk during the ride.

I figure by the time the kids are gone I'll find a '14 or '15 Stree Glide with a few tasteful mods and low miles at a fair price.





Tobit.

[mach1mustang351]

I keep saying that if I can shake the "adventure bike" genre and stay off gravel roads I would sell the stelvio, and the v Strom and get a Road Glide Special.

[Tobit]

I keep saying that if I can shake the "adventure bike" genre and stay off gravel roads I would sell the stelvio, and the v Strom and get a Road Glide Special.

That's my next rental, just to compare to the Street Glide.  I haven't been behind a fairing as large as the RG since my '90 Cal III Touring.

Tobit

[bad Chad]

To the original OP,  I'm sorry for your loss.

[Tom]

Went to an "adventure" bike rally with the friend that has a 1200GS with 10 gallon tank, Cibie lights, large metal panniers....full on SUV.  All paved road mileage to the rally site.  After I parked my '80 SP1000NT, one of the rally participants came over to look at it.  "45 thousand miles?  What year is it?"  I then replied "'80.  It's a real adventure riding this."     He was on a big late model KTM. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Went to an "adventure" bike rally with the friend that has a 1200GS with 10 gallon tank, Cibie lights, large metal panniers....full on SUV.  All paved road mileage to the rally site.  After I parked my '80 SP1000NT, one of the rally participants came over to look at it.  "45 thousand miles?  What year is it?"  I then replied "'80.  It's a real adventure riding this."     He was on a big late model KTM.

True. I've seen very few places these "Adventure bikes" go that I couldn't take the Mighty Scura. 

[HardAspie]

True. I've seen very few places these "Adventure bikes" go that I couldn't take the Mighty Scura. 

Got it. Use the tool ya gots. As I studied prior to buying I liked not only the low costs of the Wolf, but also its very low first gear, that its tyres have real tread, and that it weighs = reportedly - 266 lb wet. There are a lot of unpaved roads in the Southwest and many wonderful sights out there and great places to camp. I fully intend to do some albeit slow adventure riding on the little 150 when it is broken in. Probably see about getting some sort of metal detector to add to the outdoor fun.

[boatdetective]

No problem here if you go Harley insofar as parts and repairs are easy. I will maintain, however, that in my part of the country fully 80% of Harley riders never return a wave and behave like total asshats about the whole"live free, ride American" crap. As for Guzzi- I still give full credit to this forum and our supporting part sources like the good folks at Harpers, MI, MPH, etc.  I see no real strong reason to invest in the brand when all the other marques have come out with such stellar machines. My lowly Aprilia Shiver convinced me that time marches on and that there are much better choices out there if you are going to be totally honest about it.

[N.Y.zee10]

Not the waving nonsense again...

[CapitalGoose]

Hot dang! Here we go!!! 

Ha! *Grabs popcorn*

[Jerryd]

I just amused. Most newer folks on this board do not now how many Guzzi and Harley engines from different era's I've rebuilt.

RTFM.

Goose,

I have a great picture of you at the 2008 MGNOC Rally in Malibu, CA!

Jerry

[Kev m]

I will maintain, however, that in my part of the country fully 80% of Harley riders never return a wave and behave like total asshats about the whole"live free, ride American" crap.

But WHY GIVE A CRAP?

MY ACTIONS REFLECT ONLY ON ME, THEIR ACTIONS REFLECT ONLY ON THEM.

Look, I wave, and I mean I WAVE... first, longest, most often, whatever. I've ridden a fair amount in MA (obviously nothing like a resident) but damn, I've not noticed any difference between that and anywhere else I've ridden. Why?

Gotta be another variable.

When I say I wave, I mean, I wave first, keep my hand out till I'm past them. I don't really care if they return it or not, but I won't say it's not nice that most do. It doesn't matter what I'm on (Guzzi, Harley, Duc, Buell, BMW), it doesn't matter how I'm dressed or what helmet I'm wearing (FF, 3/4, Stich, Joe Rocket), MOST people return my waves.

And when the don't I shrug inside and move on.

It's funny though, sometimes with packs of 5 or 10 or more Harleys or anything, the first few riders don't always return the wave, like their either zoned out on the lead rider or perhaps it's just some sorta group think, each waiting for the other to return it.

But the bigger the group the more of a chance if the first couple didn't by halfway through the pack they start returning it. By the end they all do. It's funny to watch. Maybe I just guilt them with my tenacity. But I don't care if I pass 20 and no-one waves (I can't honestly recall that almost ever happening, shit I've had 1%rs return it).

So WHY CARE?

Funny story, did I tell this yet, now that I've bought a new Wranlger Jeep sent me this nice brass and leather keychain along with a little booklet that talks about the history of Jeep and of cours the Jeep Wave. Great, I need another thing to think about on the road in my car. Well the funny little marketing piece goes so far as to try and describe a hierarchy to the wave "Older and more heavily modified Jeeps take precedence" or some crap like that. IT's hilarious.

I hear on the Jeep forums people bitching about NEWER Jeep owners (JK) or worse the 4-door Unlimited (JKU) owners are just soccer moms and never wave back, so they're not going to wave to JKs. Ha ha, people, it's not high school, shit you shouldn't have behaved that way in high school but your brain was still mush and under emotional development so whatever.

So here I am now in the damn Jeep waving to everyone. Sometimes a soccer mom doesn't wave back, ok fine, maybe I look like a creeper lol, and sometimes the really heavily modified guys don't wave back (though honestly they usually do too), but either way, fine, who cares. I'll keep waving, especially if I see the same person day after day, I'll keep waving.

MY ACTIONS REFLECT ON ME.

THEIR ACTIONS REFLECT ON THEM... and if I allow their actions to effect me and how I feel, then I've given them un-necessary control over a piece of my life. That's sill.

Carry on...

Kev

[boatdetective]

There's a big, red "EASY" button on Kev's forehead and you just have to give it a tap to get the response 
(Kev, BTW, when I was out in the mountains of NM, everyone waved- including Harley guys. Seemed like fewer poseurs and more mutually respectful riders. It was a great experience)

I promise not to segue into oil or steel cut oats.

To the OP- good on ya. I personally want to own 'em all. We are blessed to have many, many fine new machines out there. I'm absolutely positive that competition from the likes of Indian/Victory, Honda, et al has forced HD to really stay on top of their game. As consumers, we really have benefitted. Enjoy the ride.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Goose,

I have a great picture of you at the 2008 MGNOC Rally in Malibu, CA!

Jerry

I have one, too.. somewhere. Gary on a cut down Jackal, I think? Pretty funny. Right now, I can't seem to find any pix of the Malibu National. No doubt, I stored them in some place safe, and have lost them. 
 

[Kev m]

There's a big, red "EASY" button on Kev's forehead and you just have to give it a tap to get the response 

I THINK you just called me a slut... 


But THAT'S the not the part that bothers me...








































It's that you are probably right... 

[oldbike54]

I THINK you just called me a slut... 


But THAT'S the not the part that bothers me...

 So what part does bother you ?

 Dusty








































It's that you are probably right... 

[twowings]

"I hear on the Jeep forums people bitching about NEWER Jeep owners (JK) or worse the 4-door Unlimited (JKU) owners are just soccer moms and never wave back, so they're not going to wave to JKs. Ha ha, people, it's not high school, shit you shouldn't have behaved that way in high school but your brain was still mush and under emotional development so whatever."

Try driving a lifted KJ...they not only don't wave, they studiously IGNORE you...

Out of 4,200+ Jeeps in the Guiness Book of World Records Parade last year, I was the only Jeep the PA announcer went silent for....