Beware: Word heavy poster..................for those easily bored, click off now!
The story so far:
Started riding in about 1978, on and off for the last 30 odd years........always Jap bikes.
For me, a bike was something easily affordable, something that doesn't need to be polished, and something you can lay on to go FAST!
A time came about 8 years back, where I just had too many toys (bike, 4WD, caravan, boat, classic cars), and something had to give.....I made the decision to part with my bike as all the other toys were things the entire family could use, but the bike was really my toy.
It's probably good that I parted with the bike, coz I've now passed the half century, I'm getting aches and pains, I have a few niggling injuries, the knees and the back gets sore quickly, plus my reflexes aren't what they once were...................yep, I'm turning into an old man, and if'n I hadda stuck with the Jap go fast bikes, I probably woulda killed meself by now!
Just recently I sold my boat to a mate, as it was beginning to spend more and more time just sitting in the shed, and I'm also about to put one of my classic cars onto the market.
Now that I've freed up some space and have a little extra pocket money, it was actually the wife who suggested I stop moping about getting rid of the bike, and start looking for another!
I gotta tell ya, it didn't take long for me to start perusing the marketplace!
Alas, I'm an old man with grey hair and creaky joints. I'm not looking for a daily ride, and my time of riding in all weather conditions is long passed. No longer do I seek speed, and my days of hardcore riding have ceased to be!
Now I'm just gonna be a bit of a poser! I want a bike that's only gonna come out in fair weather, where I can cruise leasurely up to the riverland, take a weekend spin through the Adelaide Hills, or take in the scenery along the beachfront! I've turned into an old pussy, who just wants to sit back comfortably, ride leasurely, and avoid rain, wind and cold.
I wanna make some noise, I want people to see me pass by, and I want a bit of class and style.
The words HARLEY DAVIDSON screamed at me, and it's odd, but I always swore I would never own one of them heavy, noisy and slow b*astard bikes from America!
I was actually quite surprised at how the price seems to have come down, and how decent bikes can be picked up for around the $10-15K mark.
When it comes to Harley Davidsons though, I'm a complete novice. I don't know sh*t about them, cant differentiate the models, had no idea what a Dyna is (apart from a tuning device), and I knew that I was about to set off on a steep learning curve.
Step 1, perusing advertisements for used bikes, just to get an idea on the market and what's available.
Step 2, head into the local HD dealer (Harley Heaven/Peter Stevens Motorcycles).
I came away a little better informed, I had an idea on price, and I'd learned to tell a Dyna from a Softail, and a Heritage from a Superglide.
Now what I'm looking for is something old school. I want uncluttered, no bling, no bells and whistles, maybe something along the lines of a bobber.
I believe the "bare bones" bike is the Superglide, so there's a starting point for me, and I very quickly found something I quite liked the look of, and for a very reasonable sum!
1987 FXR Superglide.
I had no idea what an FXR was, so it was off to do a bit more research.............and I was pleasantly surprised that all I could find about the FXR from owners and reviewers was positive.
Now I dont know just how good my researching skills were, or how accurate the information I have, but this is how I understand it:
-HD was under the auspices of the AMF company in the early 80's, the company was run down, sales were dropping off, and Japanese bikes were taking over the market.
-8 guys got together to purchase back and revitalise the company.
-Erik Buell was a young engineer at the time, who designed a new frame design in which they could fit the Shovelhead motor.
-This new frame had a stiffer backbone than any previously, was a little taller and slimmer, with exposed rear shockers and sidecovers.
-Handling characteristics were improved, the bike was able to compete against the Japanese bikes overtaking the market, but the new FXR wasn't a big seller, as consumers indicated that the bike just looked "too Japanese", and everyone prefered the bobtail rear and hidden shock on the Softail, which emulated the rigids of old.
-In 1984 the FXR was provided with a new "Evolution" powerhouse.
-The model was dropped, reintroduced, then finally dropped again in the late 90's.
-Owners suggest it was one of the best handling bikes HD had made
-It is now somewhat dated, and simply cant compete with the modern technology we see these days in the Twin Cam models.
To me, this all sounded quite encouraging! An old school bike with good credentials, and bugger me, if it's good enough for Mickey Rourke (Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man), and Bruce Willis (Pulp Fiction) then it's damn well good enough for me.
I was heading back to chat with the seller and organise a test ride. I'm also not afraid to tell ya, that I was a little intimidated by the bike. I was used to skinny Jap bikes, and I was sitting on this big heavy and wide monster, having never turned the throttle on one before, and not knowing if'n it were gonna attempt to buck me off or throw me to the ground...............seems I had no reason for concern though.
The bike played nicely with me, and I cruised around a little country town in the Adelaide Hills, returning with a smile on my face, and a little lightbulb understanding of what all this "Harley Davidson" talk is all about..........I certainly felt like the king of the road, and it was a pleasant experience taking in the countryside at a more leasurely pace, instead of being tucked down behind a little fairing at warp speed.
A deal was struck, and I was quite impressed by the final sale price following a little haggling and negotiation.
A few minor problems did present (which I guess is to be expected on a bike thats now 27 years old) so I've taken it into a workshop to give the bike a good health check, and to resolve these small issues for me.
-A drop of oil from the transmission breather hose on startup.....fixed
-speedo not working......fixed
-oil seeping from the top of the fork.......fixed
Forward control brake pedal way up to buggery.......NOT fixed. To get the pedal in a position I felt suitable and comfortable, the pedal was cut, shortened and rewelded. That pedal now sits in a little workshop somewhere, awaiting chrome plating, and I dont get my bike back until these chrome platers get their arse into gear and re-shiny my newly shortened brake pedal...................hopefully in the next coupla working days according to the bike shop.
Turns out, my body shape has changed somewhat over the past 8 years, so my leather jacket and vest no longer fits, plus I cant be seen on a HD in a bright red full face helmet......yep, more money spent, new jacket, new vest, 2 new helmets, assorted other bobs and ends.
So this is the bike! It aint gonna win any custom bike awards, it's old school, it's getting long in the tooth.............and I couldn't give a toss! It suits me down to the ground, I'll kit it out with leather saddlebags so's I can carry my crap, and as much as I'm loathe to do it, Ill probably have to fit a short sissy bar for the missus (at least until I can work out a way to get one of those modern quick release sissy bars to fit onto it).
I've called it "Junior" and I'll no doubt see a few of you lot out on the road, as me and Junior get to know each other........................now let the adventure begin!
Gave up in the middle, but a big welcome never the less
Welcome, nice bike, great intro. Keep an eye on the SA rides section, might hopefully meet you on one of our rides, All a great bunch of harley enthusiasts of mixed age & walks of life. I'm probably the youngest out of them all at 37 years of age. We just did a run to Mannum for the hod rod show, & then returned back to the big smoke via the Barossa Valley. Check out some of our pics from yesterday.
Well done Ranger , I read it , good luck and enjoy .
Cheers guys................and it's encouraging to see that a couple of you actually took the time to read my drivel.
As I begin to find my way around this website I've already checked out the Mannum Hot Rod thread (I'm also into my classic cars), and living up the northern side of town the Barossa is my backyard so I'm sorry that I've missed this run.
You will certainly see me out sooner or later, as I'm keeping an eye on the SA section, and I'll look forward to meeting up with a few of you some fine sunny day.
One thing I've already noticed about these Harley Davidsons, is that they do seem to command a little more respect out on the road. Riding Jap bikes almost every day I'd have some vegetable head motorist pulling out in front of me, changing lanes on me, or commiting some other act of idiotic endangering lunacy behind the wheel..
Riding the FXR though, I notice everyone gives you a little more space on the road, and they seem to behave a little better around you...............I LIKE THAT!
Welcome
Hi Ranger, I know the Barossa quite well as I grew up around the Kapunda area. Looking forward to meeting you one day.
Hey Ranger, welcome.
What?...........................welcome anyway.
