From Road King to Street Bob

  • twincam88b
    twincam88b
    16 years ago

    Had a problem with the RKC which the dealers decided to fix for me, damage to paintwork on the tank.

    They accidently scratched the paint on the fuel tank as they were doing a recall number on the fuel pump. Long story short, they agreed to lend me a bike to get home and back again for the week while it was fixed. When I booked the bike in to get it fixed and reminded them about the loan bike, they said it probably won't be a Harley. My reply was, "don't care as long as it gets me home (240Km)". I was thinking maybe a demo/secondhand Triumph or Hyosung 650. Turns out that they only had one bike available, a demo Street Bob with 500km on the clock. Only mods was loud pipes, SE's. First impressions, it's not much bigger than a Sporty and it's got the 96cubic inch motor and  6 speed. I was looking forward to this. It was easy to get familiar as it was pretty easy to chuck around compared to the RKC. Heading out of town in the rain, I thought, I could well get defected with these pipes. Luckliy I had some ear plugs  for the 2 -3 hour trip. The first thing I noticed that annoyed me was that the seat was hard, and that is the original single seat. Secondly it has mid mount controls and there was no other option to change your feet position. Highway pegs would be the first thing on the shopping list. It was also pretty basic in the suspension department compared to the bigger brother, but it's really a basic bike of the dyna range. I found that after about 60km I was looking for a place for a coffee so I could stretch the legs and relax the arms. As they say, once you have ridden with a screen you will never go back, and I totally agree. It's hard work in the saddle after 2 hours on the highway. Apart from that it was a fun "little" bike and I wouldn't mind one for the short trips to Stone Hut Bakeryt. Being a bit lighter than my RKC I certainly appreciated the extra grunt and I was smiling most of the way home. Took the bike back this morning and it was pretty bloody cold down through Snowtown at 9.30am ( Guess that's why it's called Snowtown, or is it because of the bodies in the barrells?) By the time I hit Port Wakefield I had to prise my fingers off the bars. Hot coffee and sunshine through the glass revived the limbs and it was off into the warming sunshine. Luckliy it didn't rain and I was able to hand back the Street Bob all nice and clean, and probably due for the first oil change. The RKC was all serviced and cleaned and when I jumped on board to head home, it felt like I was back in that big yankee Cadilac........that's how it felt. Out on the highway, eventually the traffic thinned out enough for me to set the Cruise at 110kph and relax. Gee it was great to get Black Betty back after a week long separation. God I love this bike.

  • Magilla
    Magilla
    16 years ago

  • Fangio
    Fangio
    16 years ago

    Love the Bob

  • FLSTC
    FLSTC
    16 years ago
    its like coming home to your own bed after being on hols
  • LOFTYBOB
    LOFTYBOB
    16 years ago

    Should have let me known, I would have lent you the ute to drive back. Glad the RK is back to her best.

  • Peter
    Peter
    16 years ago
    Ear Plugs ?????????????????????????????//
  • Hoodaman
    Hoodaman
    16 years ago
    i understand totally...............gotta luv em.........
  • Fangio
    Fangio
    16 years ago

    brother its like having a mad sex romp with a hot hard babe then going back to something soft and easy.......sorry...no, no I not.......all in good fun...

  • twincam88b
    twincam88b
    16 years ago
    Thanks for the offer Lofty......
  • boxa
    boxa
    16 years ago

    Know excatly what you mean , greatbike in the city , i put highway pegs on mine but to be honest , went down to robe sitting on 130 ish  some bumpy roads on the way down and it was facking hard work , mini ape hangers had me like a parachute and aginst a head wind sat on 130 ish it was hard work , But around town up in the hills its a fun bike. Horses for courses.