From: groh@omicron.cs.fsu.edu (Jim Groh)
Subject: Re: My first Harley
Reply-To: groh@nu.cs.fsu.edu
Organization: Florida State University Computer Science Department
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 92 14:55:49 GMT

In article <1992Aug31.142505.10730@access.digex.com> corun@access.digex.com (Corun MacAnndra) writes:
>Hello Harley fans.
>
>I'm about to purchase my first Harley, and the first bike I've owned in
>more years than I want to think about. The last bike I owned was a BSA 350.
>I'm hopin the veterans here can give me some good advice.
>
>I'm looking at three different models, the 883 Hugger, the FXR Super Glide,
>and the FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide. These are my choices for the simple reason
>that they have a short inseam, and so do I. I like my feet to touch the ground
>when I come to a stop.
>
>I'm particularly interested in regular maintenance. What, and how often (gas
>I know). The exotic oil types for the BSA used to screw me up all the time,
>but I was also much younger and didn't understand mechanics as well.

I switch back and forth between my 1200 sporty and my FXR so my answers are
based on those to marques (the 1200 sporty and the 883 hugger handle
quite a bit alike the 1200 just has more umphh) Mtce: oil change and 
new filters every 1500 to 2000 mile, I use harley oil, no problems.
wheel bearings, swingarm bearings, steering head bearings, examined
and repacked every 10000 miles, I also replace plugs then, probably
not really necessary....  My FXR is older (82) chain drive so that gets
cleaned and oiled every 200 miles (I live on a dirt road YMMV)  I also
check all fastenings at the same time (those old shovels like to rock
and roll) The sporty is belt driven, I wash it with a hose whenever I
wash the bike (the belt has 25K+ miles no problems no maintence, 
tightened once at 500 miles) I run my bikes thru the car wash once a 
week and do a serious all day cleaning once a month.  Battery water
is checked during monthly cleaning, top off with distilled water.
Other then keeping an eye on the tires and replacing when the wear
bar shows I don't do anything else for maintenance.

>
>I also may be taking it on long rides, four to six hours duration. The guy
>at the dealership steered me away from the Hugger. He did point me to the

He is right, the FXR is much nicer then the sportys for long distance.
However, since my FXR was in the shop for rebuild and rechroming (not
a failure just a warmer upper) I took my sporty to sturgis this year and
put 5000 miles on it in 3 weeks and am none the worse for wear. (The
fxr would have been nicer obviously but the sportys work pretty good too)


>Soft Tail, but I'm not sure I like the rear shock arrangement. Also, I think
>I really like the idea of the rubber mounted engine. A long haul can be a
>real kidney buster on a frame mount, or so I'm told. The FXR and FXDWG both
>have this.
>
>So, any opinions (yeah, right), and suggestions? Thanks in advance for the
>help. Hopefully I'll soon be joining the ranks of the happy Harley owner.

You're welcome.

>
>Corun
>
>P.S. I'm taking that MC Safety course too. That's on the list before I
>even get a demo ride.

Good, I took the MSF course after having ridden bikes for 30 years and 
found I had picked up some bad habits over the years.  It will be time
and money well spent.

>-- 
>===========================================================================
>    Corun MacAnndra     |  The great thing about travel is getting to
>  Dark Horde by birth   |   meet new people and see new places.
>    Moritu by choice    |                            G. Khan
--
Jim Groh     groh@sig.cs.fsu.edu  | DoD #0356  |   Hog# 0437643 |new  improved
1959 XLH 900  **  1982 FXR  **  1989 XLH 883  **  1990 XLH 1200 | smaller sig