So I picked up this 93 HD Electra Glide Sport with full tour packs. Nice bike. It had been setting a bit the last year to so just getting run a little. I got it off a friend who generally took pretty good care of it over the years. The bike has 61K miles on it, but as noted, has been cared for.
I've already spent a grand and some change on the HD getting the 10K service (HD's have a 5K and a 10K service schedule for those who don't know.) and in the process they discovered a shift fork inside was worn and had to be replaced. Had it gone out on the road I'd have been stranded. I get the bike out and then it's acting up after starting. Back to the shop. They checked the jets on the S&S carb (they didn't install it) and it needed the main jet bumped up and some more tweaking. Picked up the bike, rode to work, rode home for lunch and back to work. That evening it gives me grief starting. Had to make a stop on the way home and thought I was stranded with a near dead battery. At the last effort it started using the push button direct to the solenoid (thank goodness it had that added) and got it home. New battery in yesterday.
I came across a beautiful, excellent condition 2004 Honda 1100 Saber outfitted pretty much the way I want on Craigslist locally. Now If I can sell my truck or the Harley fast enough I'll buy that and maybe keep my 94 VT1100C to be turned into a solo bike.
Don't get me wrong, the HD is a really nice bike. A rather heavy bike, but some nice things about it once you get used to riding it. There is something about that rumble and shake sitting at a light that connects down inside. The ritual of starting the bike is a little more involved and connects you a little more in a hard to describe way. There are just some things that are different from a metric and especially a Shadow. I'm used to stopping and killing the engine by putting the kickstand down with the bike in gear. On the HD, you stop, put the bike in neutral, turn off at the ignition/fork lock switch. I still don't use the kill switch on the bars. You put down the Jiffy Stand as it's called, making sure it's full forward and when you lean the bike into it the jiffy stand lock in place. But for an old guy on old legs, it can be a bit of heavy work. Particularly at lights solo and two up even worse.
However, I find the Shadow 1100 to be the right mix of size, power to weight, and being light enough to toss around and flick about. Not dirt bike, small bore flickable, but light and easy to play with. Also a nice thing at stops and when walking the bike back into a parking spot. I don't want to spend a lot of money tweaking out my 94. However, if I could pick up a bike like the one I saw for sale, the 2004 Sabre with Leatherlyke lockable bags and backrest that will probably fit the needs for me and the wife. Both for me commuting to work and solo riding and for two rides with her for some wind therapy.
I've already spent a grand and some change on the HD getting the 10K service (HD's have a 5K and a 10K service schedule for those who don't know.) and in the process they discovered a shift fork inside was worn and had to be replaced. Had it gone out on the road I'd have been stranded. I get the bike out and then it's acting up after starting. Back to the shop. They checked the jets on the S&S carb (they didn't install it) and it needed the main jet bumped up and some more tweaking. Picked up the bike, rode to work, rode home for lunch and back to work. That evening it gives me grief starting. Had to make a stop on the way home and thought I was stranded with a near dead battery. At the last effort it started using the push button direct to the solenoid (thank goodness it had that added) and got it home. New battery in yesterday.
I came across a beautiful, excellent condition 2004 Honda 1100 Saber outfitted pretty much the way I want on Craigslist locally. Now If I can sell my truck or the Harley fast enough I'll buy that and maybe keep my 94 VT1100C to be turned into a solo bike.
Don't get me wrong, the HD is a really nice bike. A rather heavy bike, but some nice things about it once you get used to riding it. There is something about that rumble and shake sitting at a light that connects down inside. The ritual of starting the bike is a little more involved and connects you a little more in a hard to describe way. There are just some things that are different from a metric and especially a Shadow. I'm used to stopping and killing the engine by putting the kickstand down with the bike in gear. On the HD, you stop, put the bike in neutral, turn off at the ignition/fork lock switch. I still don't use the kill switch on the bars. You put down the Jiffy Stand as it's called, making sure it's full forward and when you lean the bike into it the jiffy stand lock in place. But for an old guy on old legs, it can be a bit of heavy work. Particularly at lights solo and two up even worse.
However, I find the Shadow 1100 to be the right mix of size, power to weight, and being light enough to toss around and flick about. Not dirt bike, small bore flickable, but light and easy to play with. Also a nice thing at stops and when walking the bike back into a parking spot. I don't want to spend a lot of money tweaking out my 94. However, if I could pick up a bike like the one I saw for sale, the 2004 Sabre with Leatherlyke lockable bags and backrest that will probably fit the needs for me and the wife. Both for me commuting to work and solo riding and for two rides with her for some wind therapy.