[The Garbone]

Well,
Been pretty busy lately.. Work work work..   At lunch I ended up across the street from the local Harley dealer..  Went in for a look and found this beast..

http://www.harley-motorcycles.org/2265/2011-harley-davidson-xl-883l-sportster-883-superlow/


Pretty sweet..   Of course the salesman told me it was about $10k so they are well  on the way to screwing things up.... Put it in the "will not last" category.

[luoma]

Don't think I'd buy one. I've always thought they were over weight and over priced. At least they finally decided to put a fuel tank on the Sporties. The old peanut tank was originally designed for use on a 125cc 2-stroke and was never suitable for a big bike, not very attractive either.

[stipa]

Whoa!  Nice motorcycle.  But what about the 'Ultra' Low Sportster?  No, the UltraLow Dark Custom Sportster?  What about an UltraLow Dark Custom Softtail Springer Sportster?  How many styling incarnations are they gonna come up with for this model?
H-D keeps dressing up their bikes like Bourbon St. tarts;  just build the machine and they will come.  (And keep it affordable, too)!!!

stipa

[ScooterBob]

Whoa!  Nice motorcycle.  But what about the 'Ultra' Low Sportster?  No, the UltraLow Dark Custom Sportster?  What about an UltraLow Dark Custom Softtail Springer Sportster?  How many styling incarnations are they gonna come up with for this model?
H-D keeps dressing up their bikes like Bourbon St. tarts;  just build the machine and they will come.  (And keep it affordable, too)!!!

stipa

You forgot about the Brougham, Deluxe, Marquis, UltraLow, Ultra Dark, Custom, Cronium Plated, SoftTail, Springer, Limited, Anniversary, Ultra Sportster Edition. What ever happened to putting your OWN parts on a standard model to make it your own?? Credit Card Bikers ....... Sheesh! Seems like a good time to consider an ENFIELD! 

[scoTTy]

My wife just bought a 2010 Heritage Softale ..Her first big bike was an 883 Sportster, which she rode to Washington State, then into Canada..gone about a month,

She is extremly pleased with this machine, as she is a school teacher, she has to travel interstate..

and as you know, it was expensive.

[stipa]

That 883 powerplant is a fine machine.  So is the TC. 
its just their design team, the accessories, ugh.  Its just too too much.  That "Rocker" thing they came out with a couple years back, what an ugly bike. 
The whole SoftTail/faux rigid look is just a turn off, and adds a lot of weight to boot. 

Here's a couple Harley's doing fun things.

[stipa]

Oops, here's another,,

[cyrusb]

Had a 72xlch(ouch!) till 77 then 77 xlh(aahhh) till 89. As far as I'm concerned 77-78 model years were the last of the HD's. At least that bike in the ad has the footpegs in the right place.

[r80rt]

I had a '72 XLCH too, and I have the ruined hip and knee to prove it!

[oldsalt]

Oops, here's another,,

Note that the Panhead has a rigid frame.  But has a pogo seat.  The helmetless rider had guts to jump that big machine.

[prof_stack]

... At lunch I ended up across the street from the local Harley dealer..  Went in for a look and found this beast..

http://www.harley-motorcycles.org/2265/2011-harley-davidson-xl-883l-sportster-883-superlow/

Pretty sweet..   Of course the salesman told me it was about $10k so they are well  on the way to screwing things up.... Put it in the "will not last" category.

msrp is $8k IIRC.  The $10k might have been the out-the-door price.  This Superlow got mixed reviews in the latest Rider mag.  NO cornering clearance if you want to really lean it over.

I once had a 883 Sporty and only put 4k miles on it in six years.  It was not a good ride.

[ScooterBob]

Note that the Panhead has a rigid frame.  But has a pogo seat.  The helmetless rider had guts to jump that big machine.

That was from back in the days when motorcycles were made of pig iron - and the men who rode them were made of STEEL! Great picture!

[1Blackwolf1]

  And you had to know how to use a rat trap and hand shift.  I actually converted my '51 to hand clutch foot shift..went right back to original after only a few hundred miles.  Never messed with the '50 (other than stroking it out to 1550cc).  Ah the memories...

[ScooterBob]

  And you had to know how to use a rat trap and hand shift.  I actually converted my '51 to hand clutch foot shift..went right back to original after only a few hundred miles.  Never messed with the '50 (other than stroking it out to 1550cc).  Ah the memories...

I had a ratty WL with a "Speed-E-Shifter" on it .... WHAT a contraption - but it worked like a CHARM when it was adjusted correctly ..... I think it's where the Honda Cub got the shifter idea from! Hahaha!

[72westie]

In other Harley related news:

http://motorsportsnewswire.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/did-harley-davidson-have-to-pay-buyer-to-unload-mv-agusta-0810106/


 

[stipa]

And heres another one,,,,
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/26/business/economy/26earnings.html?_r=2&ref=business&src=me&pagewanted=all

[prof_stack]

In other Harley related news:

http://motorsportsnewswire.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/did-harley-davidson-have-to-pay-buyer-to-unload-mv-agusta-0810106/
 

Harley really made some bone-headed decisions.  They got 3 Euros to sell back MV Agusta.  So they lost $110 million dollars (or Euros?  yikes!).

Not to mention that Cannondale was interested in taking Buell off their hands for LESS than what Harley paid to officially scrape Buell off their chrome laden rear ends.

The Buell Blast (a great bike, btw) reacquainted me to thumpers in 2000.  Ten years later I'm ready to jump in again.

[stipa]

Oops again.  And not to promote a blog,,,but heres one I read on a reg'lar basis.

(I also have a 74 Ironhead).   (Uh, project!)

http://quadcambastards.blogspot.com/2010/08/union-busting-profit-mongering-jackass.html#links