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My wife won't let me ride the Harley....

  • Birch
    Birch
    15 years ago

    My wife won’t let me ride the Harley…….so I bought me own!!

     
    My wife and I bought an 883 Low earlier this year, with the idea in mind that the bike would be useable for two-up riding (As she refused to ever get on the back of my R1 again, after a terrifying ride (for her) the one and only time we tried it), as well as a bike that my wife could  ride herself. Being only 5 foot tall and petite meant that choices of non-250 bikes was quite limited. We tried a Ducati for a while, but the bike just did not suit her.
    Looked at Jap cruisers, but I found them kinda embarrassing, and covered in chromed plastic. I had ridden a mates Sportster 883/1200 a couple of years back, and been impressed, so we tried her out on a Low, and she fit well, though the weight of it getting off the stand was a bit of an issue. Really did not like the wagon – wheel mags, and spoke to the dealers about them, and found wire wheel option was not too exxy, and they had one arriving soon in Birch White, which is not an official colour, so after some messing about, (and going to another dealer) we put down a deposit. It arrived a month or so later, and had no decals on the tank (!). Turns out Harley only built 19 in this colour, as the colour is reserved for Police issue, and so HD never puts decals on Birch White. After a couple of weeks we were supplied with really cool metal badges, giving us one unique Sporty.
    Anyway, I rode it and LOVED it, and it was great for riding two-up, and my wife loved riding it too, to the point where when I saw a photo of an Iron I knew I had to have one.
    So I traded in the R1, which was a great bike, but I always had the feeling that I was riding someone elses bike. I felt at home right away on the Iron, and its ergonomics suit me way better than the Low, and the longer rear shocks mean much better cornering clearance.
    The suspension on the Low is very poor, so we replaced the rear with Ikons, and put better springs in the forks, which improved things, but on the Iron there is no issue at all. A few detail changes between the two are also pleasing, like the steering head bolt, and the mount for the speedo, which are both much neater on the Iron.
    So after a couple of adjustments to the bars and levers, and removal of reflectors and footpeg doiks (and exhaust mod), I am really happy with the bike in every way, and have spent all the time I can this weekend riding with my wife (thankfully the weather has been great).
    BTW, I highly recommend Mark O’Rourke at Peter Stevens Ringwood as a salesman. I have to ride an hour and a half to get there and go by the Dandenong Peter Stevens, but it is worth it. We got a great deal and amazing service with both bikes with the added benefit of Christian, the resident ‘Chrome Consultant’ and Sportster nut who is able to advise and procure all sorts of Bling and performance stuff .
    Sorry this is kinda long. Will attach photos as soon as I figure out how….
    See Ya
     
    Eddie
     
  • Bonkerz
    Bonkerz
    15 years ago
    Congrats, welcome to the money pit...errr....I mean club.
  • Taffymarsden
    Taffymarsden
    15 years ago

    EDDIE:  That's brilliant. As you already know, like you I'm loving the Iron. Ordered it with wire wheels but changed my mind after seeing reports of Nightster spokes rusting. I'm glad now because the alloys are perfect for this bike. I'm keen to see some photos of the Low.

    BONKERZ: When the dealer delivered it, the salesman said to my wife "I'll try to stop him spending too much". I'm already up to $16k and counting - that'll do for a while. I thought I'd need a filter upgrade but so far I'm not having any issues with the power. Probably spot on for my riding standard since I've been out of it for a long time.
  • Bonkerz
    Bonkerz
    15 years ago
    I wasn't doing anything since the Sporty was just a temporary bike before I garbbed a night train - though I found I actually like the thing - so much so I was actually looking at a Nightstar or even an Iron....sigh.
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