Motorcycle help

[brimic]

I haven't posted here in a long time, but I know that there are a lot of cycle enthusiasts here.

The Motorcycle bug has bitten me hard.

I've been riding my sisters training bike this summer, a Yamaha XJ 650, and just love it. I have a fairly decent set of gear- full face helmet, gloves, boots, leather jacket, though I might get some textile pants soon as well.  I now want to buy my own bike. Over the last few days I answered a classified ad for a 1990 Harley XL 883. I'm going to look at it tomorrow. From the phone conversation I had, the owner doesn't sound like he really wants to sell it, but has fallen on hard times, the price is right, and from what I could gather from the owner, everything is in good condition except the front tire which might need replacing.

Besides checking the fork for leaks, making sure the frame is straight and doesn't have signs of being crashed, the chain and sprockets look good (1990 was the last year the Sportster had a chain drive), is there anything else to look for?  The photos in the ad looked really good, though I couldn't tell if there was oil leakage/stain on part of the motor or if it was just a shadow (though it looks more like a shadow).

Also, how long with reasonable care do the 883 engines last before they need a rebuild? I'mnot too concerned, as the bike I'm looking at has 1/2 the miles of my sister's 1982 Yammy, and that bugger runs good.

[The Annoyed Man]

Two things, both second hand:

1)Harleys generally require a bit more in the way of maintenance than your Japs. Unless you're comfortable wrenching on your scoot, you might want to rethink getting the Hog

2)Most of the people I know, who have (and regularly ride) a Sportster, say "get something else".

 That said: if the price is what you're willing to pay, she runs good, and fits you: go for it!

[brimic]

Hi Strings,

Mechanical work doesn't scare me too much, I do all of the maintenance and repairs on the vehicles we have, if I get in over my head my neighbor is a very good mechanic (and a good friend) and offers advice/help for the price of a few beers.

The Sporty is a bike my wife finds acceptable* and is almost on board with me buying- I think she wants me to buy it but is trying to leverage something else out of me for it. lol. I like some oft he Mertric Cruisers/Standard bikes, but the Sportster works for me too.

* She works for Harley which is almost cult-like with brand conciousness. Everyone there wears harley clothes, eats, drinks, and poops Harleys, and get special parking arrangements right up front if they ride a Harley to work.

[LAK]

Never owned a Harley so can not help you with motor/transmission. Just offhand though; check stearing head, swingarm and wheel bearings for excessive play.

[JonnyB]

Although I can't speak about buying a used 883 Sportie, I *can* echo what Strings said about SPortsters as a rule. I bought a new one this spring - a 1200 custom. I hadn't owned a bike since the early 70s and never a Harley.

It's pretty likely that Mrs. B and I will be replacing it next year with SoftTail model (don't yet know which one) to get a better ride. The Sportie is OK but isn't a two-person traveling machine. Since I use it primarily for commuting (13 miles of rural driving) it works fine. When she and I go somewhere, we wish it had: bags, better seating (even though I upgraded to a better seat), a softer ride and a bit more weight.

The new 883 Sportster starts at $6600-6900, so you should be doing better by a bunch on an 18-year-old ride.

For me, the Harley is just a motorcycle. I have to be careful saying that at the dealership, or they'll excommunicate me from the Church Of The Divine Ride. Some of the hard-core riders are as bad as cult members!

jb

[brimic]

Just offhand though; check stearing head, swingarm and wheel bearings for excessive play.

Ok, thanks. Next question- Is there a good way to perform these checks or is it pretty much a grab-and-pull ordeal?

[bedlamite]

Your old Yamaha is going to be faster than the Harley. The 883 is much heavier and has 45HP, about the same as the Maxim. I'm assuming you don't have the Seca turbo version of the XJ since you're looking at a Harley. If you want a cruiser, the most bike for the buck would probably be a 90's Yamaha Virago, Suzuki Intruder, or Honda Shadow. You should be able to get a 750-1100cc for $3K-4K.

http://www.cycletrader.com/find/search/

IMO, Harley Davidson sells an image that just happens to include a motorcycle. You can expect an elitist attitude from a lot Harley owners if you buy any of that "Jap crap" that is actually a much better machine.

A loose head will rattle when you ride over a good sized bump, a swingarm may squeak or rattle over the same bump. Wheel bearings are a grab and pull deal.

[brimic]

It's pretty likely that Mrs. B and I will be replacing it next year with SoftTail model (don't yet know which one) to get a better ride. The Sportie is OK but isn't a two-person traveling machine. Since I use it primarily for commuting (13 miles of rural driving) it works fine. When she and I go somewhere, we wish it had: bags, better seating (even though I upgraded to a better seat), a softer ride and a bit more weight.

A lot of my plans for it is for commuting- I have a 30 mile commute. Not really planning on riding two up on it. We often talk about getting a bigger bike, but right now we really wouldn't have the time to go on rides with it anywhere with kids in the home. If she can learn to ride on it, it would be a bigger plus, though I'm trying to push her towards something much smaller and a lot less top heavy like a Honda rebel. We're planning on taking the H-D rider's course together next spring since the company picks up the tab for her fees.

[brimic]

Your old Yamaha is going to be faster than the Harley.

That wouldn't suprise me at all. I really liked the Maxim, its easy to ride and mild mannered, but takes off like a rocket at higher RPMs- and it looks good too.

[bedlamite]

For me, the Harley is just a motorcycle. I have to be careful saying that at the dealership, or they'll excommunicate me from the Church Of The Divine Ride. Some of the hard-core riders are as bad as cult members!

I've found the opposite. The truly hard core riders don't care what logo is on your tank, It's the posers and RUB's who insist that the only real bike is a Harley.

ETA gratuitous bike porn:

[tokugawa]

My recommendation is to try a few different bikes before you decide- they all have different personalities.

 On buying a used bike- try for a clean garage kept machine less than ten years old. No matter how well taken care of, an older machine starts to have trouble with rubber parts and gaskets drying out, rusty fuel tanks, carb deposits, etc.  Expect to have to change the tires even if the tread is good, they dry out and get sidewall cracks- at this point they have the co-efficient of friction of a billiard ball.

 Although a lot of bikes will flat stomp a Harley into the dirt powerwise , it may only be apparent at high RPM and high speed. Harleys do just fine off the line and up to eighty or so. Tons of torque . Sportsters are known for being uncomfortable paint shakers.

  If your commute is on back roads, with less than perfect pavement, do not discount a dualsport bike- a DR650 Suzuki will FLY  down a crappy road and return 55 mpg doing it. (you will need a aftermarket seat though!)
 
 And Bedlamite's post is spot on-- real hard core oldtimers do not give a hoot what you ride- it's the folk who  think their "bad ass" biker image depends on a motorcycle who have the "attitude".
 
 
 

[JonnyB]

 And Bedlamite's post is spot on-- real hard core oldtimers do not give a hoot what you ride- it's the folk who  think their "bad ass" biker image depends on a motorcycle who have the "attitude".
 
   

Oops. I agree with both of these writers. The serious riders don't care about what you ride. The bikers are the asshats you need to ignore.

jb

[brimic]

I'm assuming you don't have the Seca turbo version

Q?  Do all of the XJ SECAs have turbo? There's one listed near me in CL which I might look into if this one doesn't pan out...

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcy/797112454.html


FWIW, here's the one I'm looking at:

1990 883cc Harley Davidson Custom Sportster, blue with chrome accents, leather saddle bags, new battery, 13,000 miles, windshield, front leather tool bag





The owner said the tail lamp was being replaced last night.

[brimic]

On buying a used bike- try for a clean garage kept machine less than ten years old. No matter how well taken care of, an older machine starts to have trouble with rubber parts and gaskets drying out, rusty fuel tanks, carb deposits, etc.  Expect to have to change the tires even if the tread is good, they dry out and get sidewall cracks- at this point they have the co-efficient of friction of a billiard ball.

Yep, I'm kind of sensitive to most of those issues as well. I pretty much expect that tires are going to need replacing. I stored my 14 year old pickup truck over the winter and when I started it up in spring, it leaked oil all over the place- had to replace valve cover gaskets and an oil pan. I don't mind spending my evenings working on stuff like that, it beats the heck out of sitting in front of the tube with the wife watching American Idol   The one that I'm really worried about would be the fork seals- I know nothing about what lives inside those things.

[MillCreek]

Thread jack:  I was at a dealer the other day getting some synthetic oil, and spent some time looking at a new Kawasaki Versys at $ 6800.  I am starting to feel the siren song of getting another naked standard, and boy did that Versys look exceedingly practical......

[bedlamite]

I'm assuming you don't have the Seca turbo version

Q?  Do all of the XJ SECAs have turbo? There's one listed near me in CL which I might look into if this one doesn't pan out...

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcy/797112454.html

No, only the 650's had the turbo. None of the 750's had a turbo. My cousin had the turbo years ago. It did have more power than the 750 motor, but not as much as it should have and there was a lot of lag. The turbo is a poor choice for a commuter.

I didn't realize you were in WI. There is a Motorcycle show and swap meet this weekend just west of Green Bay. I haven't decided if I'm going or not.

http://www.vinjapeuromcclub.org/IVMSshow.htm

[charby]

So what is the asking price for the 1990 Sportster?

[brimic]

$3100

[charby]

$3100

That is less then they are going for around here.

How much grief would your wife get if you buy a non Harley?

[brimic]

That is less then they are going for around here.

Around here, you can't throw a rock without hitting a Harley. There are a lot of Sportsters for sale that are usually 1999 or newer and the magic starting price seems to be around $4500.

How much grief would your wife get if you buy a non Harley?

I doubt that she'd get any grief, but that her impression of reality 

[charby]

I really have been wanting a 1200 Sportster for a while, just because with a lot wrenching you can have a pretty damn fast tire burning bike. I know that there are faster better bikes out there then the HD but I've wanted a Harley since I was in High School.

Realistically I should be looking at a bigger bike because Mrs Charby has it stuck in her mind that she is going to be riding around with me on the back on the bike.

Since wife does work for HD (or does she work for a dealer) you may be better off getting a HD. If my spouse worked for Ford, We'd be driving Fords. I wouldn't want any loyalty to the company to come into question regarding my spouse and he work habits. I was a union employee years ago for US West (now Qwest) and I drove a Suzuki Samurai and I used to get crap every morning about how can I own something that wasn't union built, made in America, etc.

[brimic]

Since wife does work for HD

Yep, right now she works at the plant that makes the engines/transmissions for the Touring bikes, but she's pretty much worked at every other manufacturing or office site around Milwaukee....

Realistically I should be looking at a bigger bike because Mrs Charby has it stuck in her mind that she is going to be riding around with me on the back on the bike.

My wife thinks that she'll eventually have a Road King or Ultra Classic and that I'll have to find my own ride. I have to get her on a bike first- baby steps.  She gets a pretty steep discount on new touring bikes as well.

[charby]

She gets a pretty steep discount on new touring bikes as well.

I wish my wife worked at HD, I'd love to have a Street Glide or a Road King, but I just don't want to pay $20k for it.

[coppertales]

NADA blue book shows the value of the bike you are looking at as EXCELLENT CONDITION 3250, VG CONDITION 2100.  So you can go from there.  Any accessories can be added to the price.  Sportsters are "short range" bikes.  They are more for around town riding or short trips.  If you are not a big guy you can get away with longer trips.  An aftermarket seat, Corbon for example, will enhance your riding pleasure, aka less sore butt.  At 13000 miles, I would not worry too much.  That shows the bike was ridden less than a thousand miles a year.  Check the inside of the tank for rust.  Otherwise, a can of Seafoam in the tank will clean things up nicely.  I ride a 26 year old bike so I know about things that can pop up at you........chris3

[brimic]

Check the inside of the tank for rust.

If it were rusty, are most Sporty tanks interchangeable? My wife brought home a tank from what I think is a 1998 sportster,iirc that she had won as a door prize or bought as a surplus item as an office decoration at one time or another.... She brings all kinds of weird stuff home, sort of reminds me of a Johnny Cash song.