fun-- nklr

[Cyd Lantz]

Does anyone know where I can get a carb rebuild kit for my 97? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ed Chait]

> Ed, I applaud your riding the bike that you want to ride. Maybe you can > explain something for me; how does such a heavy bike like the Sportster > (at > 550lbs dry) that uses an older engine design get such freakin high gas > mileage?! Aslo, have you (or any other closet Harley owners on this list) > ridden the modern Bonneville? If so, how does it compare to the > Sportster. > I'm thinking of adding a classic standard bike to my collection . . . > --Dan

My guess is that they get good mileage because of the engine design. It's a design that provides gobs of low-end torque. You guys that are knocking and dissing the design because it's old will love to find out that the Sportster engine design started out as a tractor engine:). Because of all the low-rpm torque, you don't have wring the throttle as much as on multi-cylinder bikes and other designs. The engine also uses heavy flywheels which enhances the low rpm power. At 65mph, my Sportster is just loping along. I consistently get about 48 miles per gallon, and that includes some canyon carving where I am not just loping along:). I've ridden several of the new Triumphs because I'm also considering adding one to the stable. I've ridden the new Bonneville, the Boneville America, the Thruxton, and I just recently checked out the new Scrambler. All of them are excellent rides, but the Thruxton is the one that I'm lusting over the most. Only problem with it is that the bars are a bit too low for me because I have some back problems and a history of back surgery. A Thruxton with the bars raised a couple of inches would be the ticket, however. They were all a blast to ride though, and as with the modern Harleys, they are now reliable bikes that don't leak oil or have the electrical issues that older Triumphs suffered from. I love motorcycles. I've ridden all kinds and loved just about every one of them, but nothing gets my heart pumping like a single, parallel twin or v-twin. My preference after riding lots of bikes is for the kind of power delivery you get with singles and twins. On the other hand, I've always regretted selling my ZRX-1200:). For the record, I will be the first to agree that for me the Harley "lifestyle" is superficial and stupid, but if people want to be superficial and stupid, that's their business. I will ride with anyone, anytime, no matter what they ride. If they don't want to ride with me, that's their business too. So little time, so many bikes. ed A17, for occasionally dirty fun XL-883, for just plain fun GS-1100E, for Stage III fun many others gone but not forgotten