Modify or replace?

So it turns out I bought the wrong bike. I really enjoyed the bike back in TN. The problem is it just doesn't work out here in the land of straight roads and 75mph speed limits. It is actually not bad at all at 55mph but at 75 it is brutal.

I went for a nice little 400+ mile ride on Saturday and it really brought home the fact that I really need to do something because it was just miserable.

Obviously there is no wind protection, which is fine at 55 but is viscous at 75. The head buffeting was expected and not terrible for the first four hours but after that the pressure on my chest and neck was enough that I seriously considered just parking it and finding a hotel room for the night. Instead I took a little break and pointed it towards home. The next bit of fatigue I didn't expect. Being six foot, with long legs, on the shortest seat height Harley makes and mid controls equals a ton of pressure trying to pry my knees apart. Again not noticeable at 55 but at 75 after four hours or so I didn't have the strength to keep them tucked in anymore. The muscles on the inside of my legs are still sore today. The bike has virtually no suspension. It's a very rough ride. The little 883 is working pretty hard at those speeds too. There is not much throttle left and it takes about 6 seconds WFO to get from 75 to 80.

I see three options to remedy the situation.

1. Don't take it out on the road anymore. Just use it to put around town.

2. Start buying parts to modify it to better fit me and the highway out here.

3. Sell it and buy something more suited.

Number one. That takes all the fun out of it. I really like to just leave out in the morning with no particular destination and go until I decide to come back.

Number two. Well, that's kind of the beautiful thing about a Harley. They are a blank canvas and pretty much anything and everything I could want or need is available. I figure putting about $3500 into it and I could get it to where I want it. Plus it's my first vehicle I've ever bought new. I really do like the bike. I like the how raw it is. I like a lot about it.

Number three. This seems much more suited.

What would you do?

Number3 FTW

Mrs RMD started out on a Sportster (1200 Low). Long rides -~200 miles- were punishing. Hers was equipped with a windshield and saddlebags.

She traded that in for a Dyna. Long rides -multi-day, 1500 mile trip- were less punishing. Also equipped with windshield (big ass, wide touring style) and saddlebags.

She has since moved on to a Street Glide. No more worries about disappearing for hours on end. Saddlebags and windshield are a given on HD Touring bikes, but she also has a rider backrest.

I've spent a lot of time and money modifying machines to make them work as I want. Generally, it's never been as effective as starting with a machine designed and built to do what I want.

You mentioned long hours and interstate highway speeds. There's a reason bikes like the FLH series Harleys exist. As well Gold Wings. These are bikes make for this sort of riding.

In reply to RealMiniDriver:

I just don't like the bigger HD bikes. If I decide to work on the sporty I'll address the suspension, seat, likely go forward controls for my long legs, seat, Hammer performance 1250 kit and either just a fly screen or 1/4 fairing. I refuse to put a full windshield on it.

If I change bikes I'll likely go BMW. I don't want a Japanese bike. I don't like the big HD bikes, well, maybe a VROD.

If I was still in the land of 55mph speed limits I wouldn't worry about wind protection at all. But being at 75 for six hours out of an eight and a half hour ride makes it mandatory.

Progressive, for suspension.

Sundowner for seat.

Try highway pegs. Cheaper, and still gives you better foot position for “spirited" riding.

I've heard that the fly screens and quarter fairings don't do much in the way of cutting down the beating you take. Would you consider a quick-release windshield, for days that you take longer trips? They snap on and off in seconds.

Get a real touring bike if that is the kind of riding you will be doing. Don't try to make the Sporty into something it isn't.

Ducati ST4, Sporty but Has Hard bags, can be made to fit a 6ft riders better with off shelf parts or make your own (foot peg lowering brackets seat etc.).

I commuted on my k1200s and loved it. I put 30k plus on it in 4 years and just traded on a new k1300s, which is now my commuter. For super sport touring I don't think they can be beat.

In reply to Cotton:

I guess I don't really need too much sport in my touring. I'm 180 miles from the nearest road that has curves

I'm still weighing the decision but am leaning heavily towards keeping the sporty. The power upgrades I have planned should put out about 100rwhp. There are solutions for the suspension. Plenty of guys who use them for touring and have tested almost every combination out there.

I don't think the sportster is the wrong bike. I just bought the wrong version of it. My bike has the smallest engine, lowest suspension of any ever offered and was set up for a much smaller person. Even if I would have bought an older 1200S or R I still would be changing out many of the same components to make it fit me and perform the way I want it to.

I went and sat on a couple bikes yesterday. While I have no doubts the BMW is a better bike in every way, it's missing something. I can't put my finger on exactly what it is but it just doesn't have it.

Soul.

The word you are looking for is Soul.

What about a Triumph?: http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/4462275138.html

http://sanmarcos.craigslist.org/mcy/4376664236.html

I like the 883, but trying to make a sportster into a touring bike is going to be as successful as turning a Miata into a moving van, but with more oil stains on the garage floor.

and making a 100 rwhp from what started as a 47 hp 883 and then expecting it to be a good touring motor is not going to help your enjoyment. From what I have seen, the guys making 100+ hp are replacing everything except the cases and bottom end and going to 1250cc. That will be a high strung, hot running, less reliable motor.

If you don’t like jap bikes or HD big twins I would vote BMW. I have always like the quirkiness of the BMW bikes.

Rusnak_322 wrote: ...trying to make a sportster into a touring bike is going to be as successful as turning a Miata into a moving van, but with more oil stains on the garage floor.

There is a woman who rode her sporty across the country, up to Alaska and back and wrote a book about it. I kinda wonder if she just didn't know that better bikes existed. On the other hand, she probably would never have gotten published if she had done it on a Goldwing comfortably sipping on big gulps and eating convenience store pistachios with all of her luggage stored safely in locking hard bags.

But I agree that you will probably be better off in the long run getting something that is already designed to do what you want to do. Considering you have excluded all Japanese bikes and the larger HD's, how about a Buell S3? Or maybe an Aprilia Futura?

I hear what you guys are saying. The problem is I'm really attached to this bike and I don't want to get rid of it. Unfortunately adding another bike is not in the cards right now. I'd love to pick up something like that Triumph Trophy 1200 92dxman posted in addition to the Sportster.

Regarding the 1250 kit. I don't need to chase 100 hp. Your right, any time your chasing hp the reliability goes down. Just the basic Hammer Performance 1250 kit simply replaces the jugs and pistons. Reusing the stock cam and heads with an air cleaner, pipes and a tune should make over 80ft lbs and almost 80hp. Here is a dyno sheet from that combination.

The components are very high quality and are machined in matching sets. I don't see that hurting reliability that much.

Edit; BTW, I have yet to have one single drop of oil hit the ground

nicksta43 wrote: </citeEdit; BTW, I have yet to have one single drop of oil hit the ground

The onlytime I've seen a couple drops of oil under my Harley, was due to operator error, not manufacturing defects.

Your sporty is the Iron, correct? If so,mother strengths of your bike is also it weakness when it comes to touring. The riding position and short suspension as well as the smallish tank all make the bike look great, but at the expense of long range comfort.

Yep it's an Iron. These things are like Legos, all the issues you mentioned are extremely easy to address. And they built enough of them that all the parts needed to drastically change the demeanor of the bike are readily available.

I think I'm keeping it.

Instead of spending $3500 to convert something, why not just buy something built for that type of riding to begin with? That kind of money will buy an old Goldwing (with money left over)in great shape. Maybe a 1200 and then take parts OFF to get a different look. Start with a machine that is made to run all day at speed, comfortably. It's not as big and as heavy as the newer models, parts and aftermarket support is huge, and they are super dependable. If that's not your style, perhaps a Kaw Concours would fit the bill and are a pretty good bargain.

In reply to minimac:

The big reason is I can add a piece at a time. I don't have 3500 to blow.

Forward controls and/or a taller seat will help the leg comfort. A small windscreen would go a long way to making it more comfortable for your back, but you might fix most of it with a better seat. A set of take off Road King air shocks seems to be a cheap way to gain some suspension compliance and travel for $100-200 depending on how long you shop.