BigTom
07-05-2006, 10:55 PM
My riding buddy just (Sunday) picked up an '05 Sportster 1200. We road out to Tacna (30 miles) and back about sunset. I got to ride the Sporter home. The last Sportster I straddled was an Ironhead.
First. I darn near dumped it to the right taking it off the side stand. The bike is well balanced and light feeling. Surprised heck out of me. The right hand drive really does make the bike balance out well.
I love the sound. I like the sound when you are riding it. It feels like incredible power and torque...long as you don't watch the tach and speedo too carefully. I actually even liked having my pants legs and everything else blowing in the wind...in a nostalgia sort of way.
The rubber mounted V bag is incredibly smooth. No shake at all, very little bar buzz.
There is the good stuff. This bike had been lowered, and the suspension is just awful. My 225 had it near the bottom at rest. The ride is harsh and unforgiving. I remember Kidney belts, just don't wish to ever use one again. This bike would need one if I was going to go long.
The seating position sucks. Anybody that doesn't like the ST needs to put a few miles on a Sporty with forward controls. My A$$ was seriously numb after 30 miles.
The light was just awful, unexcusable in an era of good lighting.
Conclusion: This would make a great TT racer. Tavern to Tavern. Good looking, good sound, smooth. Very uncomfortable in a short time. I felt like Peter Fonda for about 10 miles, then reality set in. I couldn't wait to get back on my ST. The transmission was better than I remember HD tranny action, but nothing like the STeed. Milwaukee is still a great beer town in my estimate. HD has a long way to go to make a rideable MC.
First. I darn near dumped it to the right taking it off the side stand. The bike is well balanced and light feeling. Surprised heck out of me. The right hand drive really does make the bike balance out well.
I love the sound. I like the sound when you are riding it. It feels like incredible power and torque...long as you don't watch the tach and speedo too carefully. I actually even liked having my pants legs and everything else blowing in the wind...in a nostalgia sort of way.
The rubber mounted V bag is incredibly smooth. No shake at all, very little bar buzz.
There is the good stuff. This bike had been lowered, and the suspension is just awful. My 225 had it near the bottom at rest. The ride is harsh and unforgiving. I remember Kidney belts, just don't wish to ever use one again. This bike would need one if I was going to go long.
The seating position sucks. Anybody that doesn't like the ST needs to put a few miles on a Sporty with forward controls. My A$$ was seriously numb after 30 miles.
The light was just awful, unexcusable in an era of good lighting.
Conclusion: This would make a great TT racer. Tavern to Tavern. Good looking, good sound, smooth. Very uncomfortable in a short time. I felt like Peter Fonda for about 10 miles, then reality set in. I couldn't wait to get back on my ST. The transmission was better than I remember HD tranny action, but nothing like the STeed. Milwaukee is still a great beer town in my estimate. HD has a long way to go to make a rideable MC.