Any Harley Evo Sportster owners on here?

I ask, because most on here seem Jap sport bike owners and will probably
hate HD's and not give constructive answers to my questions below.

I'm looking to start commuting on a bike again. I sold my last bike a
GSXR750 (one of many sports bikes including two R1's) nearly two years ago.
I want a custom type to preserve my licence and have looked at the Jap
models which seem pleasing to the eye but basically aren't the real thing. I
owned, about 10 years ago a XLH1000 Iron head Sportster which was ok but the
electrics were shit and it forever broke down so I sold it quick.

What I want to know is,
1. The newer Evo models are they any better in terms of reliability?
2. Do you commute on yours? or just pose? if so how many miles a day and
what mpg do you ?
(state which engine 883 or 1200)
3. Belt drive, pro's & cons? If I bought a Jap custom shaft drive which be a
bonus as I'm fed up with chains, but as I want a
Harley I need to know if the belt drive is reliable.

Ta,

 

I ask, because most on here seem Jap sport bike owners and will

YOu've not been looking very hard then.

So you want a Harley.

If you're commuting, why do you want a Harley? Seriously.

Why not get a CB500 or a GS500? Just as licence preserving and liable to a
shed load more reliable.

 

Possibly, your point is?

Ridden both, owned a GS500 and I can say with hand on heart two of the most
boring and worst bikes ever built, especially the GS500 which wasn't as
reliable as we would expect.

The bike would also be used on the occasional weekend run.

Have you any experience of a Harley? Seriously
If not why suggest two irreverent bikes to my original post, because as I
stated I want a custom type bike, which isn't chain driven, so if I wanted
Jap it would be a XVS650 or similar with shaft drive.

Thanks anyway.

 

I've sat on one, kicked the tyres in a showroom and decided they weren't for
me. Overpriced, underengineered tat was my opinion of them.

Well as you seem to know what you want, go and buy it. You can then let us
know whether or not it's reliable, what MPG you get and so forth.

 

Gyp is your man round here. For some reason he seems to like his.
Though it seems to be about as reiable as an MPs election promise.
Not sure it would make a very effective commuter tool, at all.
Just my tuppence worth.

--
Alex
BMW R1150GS
DIAABTCOD#3 MSWF#4 UKRMFBC#6 Ibw#35 BOB#8
http://www.team-ukrm.co.uk
Windy's "little soldier"

 

Probably will, thanks for the input. I didn't mean to sound off with my
reply if you thought that.

Cheers.

 

Thanks for the informative reply, just the sort of information I was hoping
for.

As I said, I had a XLH1000, 1979 AMF model, bad build quality etc but it
wasn't too bad it went ok and surprised me how well it handled, it would
corner quick enough as long as you chose your line well but I suppose with
every bike don't push it pass it's limits and it will be ok.

The downside was the electrics, I replaced the regulator, the armature then
the field coils in the generator, totally rewired it as bits of the loom
were replaced over the years with different colours and I couldn't follow a
line from one end of the bike to the other. Got it up and running took it to
the local dealers for an MOT where the starter motor packed up so it stayed
there and I bought something else. If it hadn't of given me so much grief
I'd probably still have today, but I like(d) to ride rather than spend time
faffing about in the garage.

I'll take a trip to Worcester Harley at the weekend and make my mind up
then, but will search the ad's and ebay for an 883 or 1200 as I don't think
I can stretch my budget passed £3.5k at the moment.

P.S. what insurance group are the sportsters in these days?

 

As mentioned elsewhere Gyp has one... but he himself is full of tales of how
character building they are in terms of bits falling off/going
elsewhere/expensive.

If you're set on one, buy it - but maybe get a CG125 as well for when it
breaks down

 

I'd prefer a KH100, 'er indoors had one as her first bike, cracker it was
until I wrecked it coming home from work one day, a rebore new piston &
rings and it was back to it's screeming self. Those were the days.

 

12

 

Not often. No. N/A. 50 mpg with Screamin' eagles on, 40 odd with stock
restrictive pipes.

Belts either go for ever or snap for no readily apparent reason.

Pros:
Character: You know you are on a motorcycle.
Speed: Not that much, so good if you want to save your licence. I've
never had more than 125 out of mine and that was terrifying
Fuel consumption: pretty good really
Finish: pretty good really

Cons:
Character: You know you are on a motorcycle
Speed Not that much. Don't expect to overtake much on a stock 883. Truly
dreadful
Handling: Poor
Comfort: Poor
Braking: Poor
Servicing: dreadful; 2,500 service interval
Finish: needs to be kept clean as they're not into lacquering surfaces
to keep winter out.

The post 2000 bikes had better brakes, sealed battery and sealed wheel
bearings which brought those components kicking and screaming into the
late 70's. Of all of the pre 04 models the 1200S is by far the best

Newer rubber mounted bikes (04 on) are much better in some ways as the
chassis have fewer hinges in and the rubber mounts make life a lot
easier for hands and feet. Having ridden one though, despite being
significantly better dynamically it was completely soul-less and I
didn't like it at all.

Mine's pretty good as Sportsters go, but that's because I shovelled
money at it to overcome it's myriad of deficiencies. It's still shit,
but it's a lot less shit than it was.

Would I buy one as a commuter? Absolutely not. 2,500 service intervals
(which are bloody expensive at the dealer if you don't want to do it
yourself) and the need to keep it scrupulously clean to stop it getting
ugly being the main reasons.

Oh and the only real problem I can recall (other than having to replace
everything mechanical to make it less shit) was the wiring for the oil
pressure sender wearing through causing it to come on for no good
reason.

That help?

 

Worcester Harley shut about 12 months ago. They moved to Birmingham.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Gyp

So there you have it. You can have a bunch of non-Harley riders offering
ill-informed criticism, slagging them as truly awful bikes.

Or a Harley rider offering well-informed criticism, slagging them as
truly awful bikes.

Your choice.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
ZZR1100, Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"

 

As in Motex? Guess I haven't been paying attention.

 

I've ridden Harleys. All sorts - stock, radical, old and new(ish).
Without exception they conformed to Gyp's description - Harleys don't
go, don't stop, don't go round corners. These are the criteria I
assess when rating motorcycles - and comfort, I forgot that. So did
H-D, sadly.

Harleys sound lovely for a couple of seconds as they pass, but that's
it. Sonic attack if you're sat on it, simultaneously having your
piles pushed up through your colon and your eyeballs shaken loose.

Thinking of commuting on one? Best get two - or three, for while one
is being fixed, another will be in for service. And a kidney belt,
and a pile ring. And a really gay jacket with tassels all down the
sleeves.

 

Excellent. Says it all really

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

Oh well, Chapel Ash then.

 

Yes, now looking at Hinkley Triumphs. It will be winter before I make my
mind up so in the meantime best go and buy that XVS650 that's up for sale
down the road, at least it has shaft drive.

Funny how the above seems a slightly worst picture than when I owned my
XLH1000 which was built in the AMF shite era.

Ho Hum,

 

The rest of the world has moved on.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

Sportsters have come on a long was since the AMF era, but the rest of
the world has moved an awful lot further. If you ride a 97-on Sportster
you would be pleasantly surprised comparing it to your own bike, but
unpleasantly surprised comparing it to a motorcycle.