Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) New flat

Nice motorcycle, atalante!

I would convert the bike a little more, a solo saddle and a small swinging rear fender. Side numberplate and mini indicators. It would be closer to the great concept bike.

Apologies to the OP for the thread drift..but at least there is some BM chat contained therein..

Colin, I had bought into the idea and hype around Harley, until I had a go on a neighbours Iron barrel shovel-head "Sportster," At the time I had an old BSA B40, and could not believe how HEAVY the Harley felt, it`s twin disks could not match the stopping power of the B40 front drum brake... On the same day jumped on a 70`s 650 oil in frame Triumph, no wonder the our American cousins loved the Trumpets given the superior handling and brakes, but if you needed to pull a tree stump outa the ground I suspect a Harley would have been a better tool.... I never bought a Harley and bought the Beemer instead. My pal was a Honda dealer, I had contemplated the VFR750, but feared it would be a licence shredder, and the upright seating of the Beemer made all round vision better/safer, than when bent over a tank holding on to clip on`s. Great to have all those old memories is it not...(-:

Your tips for touring Europe without booking ahead were well utilised on our trips Colin, Great times indeed...

To really understand Harleys you have to ride them in the States across vast distances on very straight highways often at a maximum speed of 55mph and then you get what they are all about. The hard U shaped tyres can cover vast distances before they need changing, if you had the European soft V section tyres they would square off very quickly. Brakes. well you tend to forget about them once out of town, and you realise why Harley have a throttle manual screw so that you can tighten the throttle open at your chosen speed and have a free hand to do whatever.......Harleys aren't meant for the twisty bits, in the same Brit bikes were not very good for cruising vast distances across the USA. Horses for courses.

The early Harleys pre evolution 1985 engine are really chunks of metal with basic frame, brakes, tyres, carb. even into the late 90's the sportsters made few compromises for the European market often the only visible change of rear sprocket size differentiated the European from US model. Add to that the European spec (that came into the UK) was designed for the Swiss market the most clean and lean spec in Europe....

regards

I'd rather do this to an R80.

Great bobber style to those 2 BMW's stripped of everything that is superfluous and adds weight, very lightweight minimalist riding with the legendary boxer engine......thanks for sharing

regards

Been a Harley rider for over 40 years (and Triumphs, BSA) .... always mildly amusing that however much HD gets slagged off by the sports-bike brigade there's hardly a major bike manufacturer that hasn't tried to trade into some of their image to score cool-points.

If you're into specs on paper or comparing them to the latest sterile jap tourer or crotch-rocket you're missing the point .... I'm surprised more Morgan drivers dont 'get' why they attract.

K

Must admit I greatly miss my 1990 Fatboy Gray Ghost. Living by the sea the salt air destroys everything no matter what you do, so had to give it up when my knees went a few years ago. Many people don't get the life style hype, the comradery and the great social leveller Harley brings.....it is IMHO very akin to Morgan ownership in many ways in that the basic product whilst does all the basics but not very well and owners are constantly fine tuning to get the most out of their pride and joy. The very mechanical feel to both a Morgan and Harley require a dedication seldom seen with other manufacturers.

Hi John, I am very happy that I still have my 1992 Heritage. It's been rebuilt a bit to look even more like a 1950s Harley.



The swing saddle is very comfortable. It is also a good touring motorcycle. Last year I did a tour around the Baltic Sea with her. It was great.


Memel / Klaipeda in Lithuania.

Dont care what the car is, there is nothing to compare with taking a decent bike round a bend at speed (almost) knee down. The nearest is the excitement of close crossing another 8 tonne boat whilst racing, the two just a meter or so from crunch. You need some risk and some danger to really enjoy.

As a bike maker you have to try to copy some of Harleys ability to make a poor bike and sell at a premium. Its all about image as you point out.Looking at your reflection in shop windows as you chug past. Remembering to scowl and pretend to be a patch club member. Grow a beard. Wear only dark gear. Buy tassels. Maybe even this helmet.

I had a Harley once, an iron head sportster from the days when they still used chain drive and they were owned by a bowling alley maker.. Not quite ape hangers and peanut tank. Mind you it was a good job the tank was so small because there was no way the riding position allowed more than an hour even on a well padded saddle. Remember that bike well . Broke down once when the carburettor vibrated loose and fell off just dangling on the cables.Regularly spat out the baffles in the straight through pipes.

It was pretty but as a bike it really was **** . https://postimg.cc/673h4Fvw

It was worth every penny of the £1000 it cost just to see the look on my daughters face when I rolled up on it and she was with her coven.