mglowe
Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2007
- Messages
- 405
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Ames, IA USA
Hello, I now own a Sportster.
Tell us now... How did this happen?
Well here I am in my third ride season on the FZ6 and for unexplained reasons I cannot for the like of me get comfortable. I mean my throttle thumb is killing me, due to the odd angle [speaking for me] of the handlebar and the buzz felt at interstate speeds. I've tried many of the tips offered here and many worked but again this season it's just not working. Because of the pain I'm missing out on some longer trips my ride partners go on.
My initial thought was to look then for a second bike, a long distant bike that could be justified to the wife as a to-and-from work bike. I can only imagine the pain of long distance traveling (1000+ miles) with the current setup. One requirement however was that it had to have a backrest for the wife. In her country they don't have such fast bikes and the FZ6 scared her, she felt she was going to fall off - hard to explain.
Anyway, I looked at many makes/models and sadly far too many of them are huge tractors. Then, those that did kinda fit looked cheap and would not last. So off to the HD dealer. Mind you I'm still looking at only a second bike and a used bike would probably all I could budget here at current interests rates.
Wife and I looked at the used [in a separate building] 883 Sportsters (only two available) and didn't care much for the Low or Nightster model.
OK here is how I think... I understand that economic stimulus bill provides a tax credit for the purchase of a “new” motorcycle. For a few hundred more, minus the sales tax, makes for a good deal. So we go inside to look at the new XL883C Sportsters.
My eye immediately caught the last bike in the row, it looked like a Softail because of the laced 21 inch wheel (darn - too expensive). A second glance and it was to be my 883 - one beautiful looking ride in a Candy Root Beer paint scheme.
I could afford it but thought if I like one bike over the other the other would just sit. So the trade was on.
These images unfortunately do not show the true Candy Root Beer color.
For now just a short grade:
Fit and Finish: Not as good but with less plastic. (A- / B+)
Ride: More jarring on bigger bumps but much the same. Actually better than my friends 1200 Custom but not the sportbike feel of the FZ6. (A)
Gas Mileage: MPG 50 plus. (A+)
Interstate Engine Buzz: No more thumb pain or hand falling asleep. (A+)
Fatigue: Less (less power band shifting and far less wind buffeting) but the lower back gets more work. (A-)
I'll miss the FZ6, I put about 12,000 miles on her and she did me well.
Tell us now... How did this happen?
Well here I am in my third ride season on the FZ6 and for unexplained reasons I cannot for the like of me get comfortable. I mean my throttle thumb is killing me, due to the odd angle [speaking for me] of the handlebar and the buzz felt at interstate speeds. I've tried many of the tips offered here and many worked but again this season it's just not working. Because of the pain I'm missing out on some longer trips my ride partners go on.
My initial thought was to look then for a second bike, a long distant bike that could be justified to the wife as a to-and-from work bike. I can only imagine the pain of long distance traveling (1000+ miles) with the current setup. One requirement however was that it had to have a backrest for the wife. In her country they don't have such fast bikes and the FZ6 scared her, she felt she was going to fall off - hard to explain.
Anyway, I looked at many makes/models and sadly far too many of them are huge tractors. Then, those that did kinda fit looked cheap and would not last. So off to the HD dealer. Mind you I'm still looking at only a second bike and a used bike would probably all I could budget here at current interests rates.
Wife and I looked at the used [in a separate building] 883 Sportsters (only two available) and didn't care much for the Low or Nightster model.
OK here is how I think... I understand that economic stimulus bill provides a tax credit for the purchase of a “new” motorcycle. For a few hundred more, minus the sales tax, makes for a good deal. So we go inside to look at the new XL883C Sportsters.
My eye immediately caught the last bike in the row, it looked like a Softail because of the laced 21 inch wheel (darn - too expensive). A second glance and it was to be my 883 - one beautiful looking ride in a Candy Root Beer paint scheme.
I could afford it but thought if I like one bike over the other the other would just sit. So the trade was on.
These images unfortunately do not show the true Candy Root Beer color.
For now just a short grade:
Fit and Finish: Not as good but with less plastic. (A- / B+)
Ride: More jarring on bigger bumps but much the same. Actually better than my friends 1200 Custom but not the sportbike feel of the FZ6. (A)
Gas Mileage: MPG 50 plus. (A+)
Interstate Engine Buzz: No more thumb pain or hand falling asleep. (A+)
Fatigue: Less (less power band shifting and far less wind buffeting) but the lower back gets more work. (A-)
I'll miss the FZ6, I put about 12,000 miles on her and she did me well.
