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Post by linus69 on Feb 17, 2008 8:17:02 GMT -5
My motorcycle is a 1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Drifter, it has a 1500cc fuel injected engine. They designed it to have look of the late 40`s early 50`s Indian Chief, I added to that illusion as much as I could. I started out by a dealer letting me take it for a spin back in 99, he said take a long ride. I was gone three hours and put 200miles on it He wasn`t pleased, in fact he never has let anyone else off his place on a bike since. I bought it that afternoon and owned this bike for three weeks before my lovely bride found out about it. Boy was that a negotiation and a half, but now I`m on my third set of tires and my second clutch   |
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Post by linus69 on Feb 17, 2008 8:18:41 GMT -5
The dealership and I are good friends to this day, I still get pointed at and whispered about when I visit as employees from 1999 who know the story tell newer hires who don`t.
They only allow demo rides on their back lot now, no one leaves the premises since my ride.
I hadn`t ridden a bike for 15 years until that test drive, I started riding at 16 and gave it up years later after a drunk came over the double yellows and hit me head on, I wound up under the car.
I got on that dealers bike after all those years and literally lost myself, I couldn`t stop riding the dam thing, I don`t know what came over me and what went through the mind of that dealer that afternoon.
You should have seen his relieved face when I rolled back into his place, he thought I either was dead in a ditch or had stolen the bike. Of course buying the bike immediately helped cheer him up, and bringing in a buddy a few days later who bought a loaded BMW bike from him positively elated him.
I have 18000 plus miles on the bike, I average 6000 miles on a set of tires. The stock clutch went at 16000, I was told that was normal life. I did some research and found an aftermarket clutch package known as the Gorilla Clutch. It is a competition setup, I spoke to a rep who told me they totally toast a stock Kawasaki clutch in two 1/4 mile passes on a drag strip. They have over 200 passes on one of their units and no slipping yet.
It was quite a long day when I did that clutch job, but the operation was a success and the clutch was all they claimed it to be and I`m quite pleased with it.
I mostly ride on country roads where often you never see a car, but deer that`s another story.I also ride a lot of gravel roads which really shorten tire life, though they tell me 6000 miles is fairly average for my bike.
The Indian Chief was always my dream bike, but was not practical or affordable. I have the illusion pretty tweaked on this bike and with the onboard computers and digital fuel injection you couldn`t ask for a better running cruiser, the bike even has air shocks.
I`m pretty anal about helmets, on the bike or the quad, I lost a relative on a bike and personally know two families who lost children on quads. A boy 12 in one family and a girl 14 in the other. I can`t even describe the guilt and anguish these people are going through.
Pennsylvania repealed the helmet law a few years ago, I kinda wish they would bring it back.
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3RRL
Administrator 
Huge Kama
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Post by 3RRL on Feb 17, 2008 16:19:04 GMT -5
In response to another thread, I noticed there are several guys here that ride bikes. I have ridden since 1965 dirt, trail, scrambles and street. Here's some bike info about me... Please share your stories and pictures if you can. I rode Yamaha's from 1965 up to 1971. Then I got a '65 Triumph that I totalled in 1975. Then I rode a Kawasaki TC1000 until I crashed it too. Then I got a Harley Sportster in 1990 and an Electroglide in 1992 and still have both today. Although I have crashed on both of them too. My electroglide was totalled in 2000 and I rebuilt it to look like a '57 Duoglide. My Sporster is an 89" Stroker motor Cafe Racer looking thing. I have over 100,000 miles on my a$$. Ha ha. Have not ridden as much lately since I got the tractor last year. I've got LOTS of stories if anybody is interested. Here's some photos. This first one is my Ex wife's 1990 1200 Sportster. It used to be an 883cc but I re-built it for her.  This one is my 1992 89" Stroker motor Sportster. It's pretty fast for a Harley.  This last one is the re-built Electroglide. This is the one I still ride occasionally. I love this bike.   |
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quikduk
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Dog House
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Post by quikduk on Feb 27, 2008 19:56:55 GMT -5
I like the pretty Italian models...  ...but they are tempermental at times and like to be spoiled with expensive baubles made from carbon fiber, titanium, billet aluminum etc... ;D |
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Post by linus69 on Feb 28, 2008 7:41:02 GMT -5
I must say those are some beautiful bikes boys, really something,
Hey Rob what was involved in the transformation of that 92 Electroglide into a 57 Duoglide,
I`d like to do something similar to that someday, when I get the time.
Paul
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3RRL
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Post by 3RRL on Feb 28, 2008 11:53:57 GMT -5
I must say those are some beautiful bikes boys, really something, Hey Rob what was involved in the transformation of that 92 Electroglide into a 57 Duoglide, I`d like to do something similar to that someday, when I get the time. Paul Paul, It was pretty easy. You can get aftermarket stuff like fenders and tanks from just about anywhere now. There are lots of Harley parts catalogs out there. I kept the motor and tranny stock 1990 EVO motor, except I put a big bore kit in it to 88ci. Not the stroker kit, only larger cylinders and jugs. but I did that when I first got the bike in '92. For the rebuild: Powder coat and straighten frame. Flip the rear swing arm upside down for that low rider look. New 16" spoke wheels and whitewall tires. New fat retro look fenders. Roadking head light and cowling. Beach cruiser handle bars. New single seat. Candy apple red paint of course... That's about it. I'd recommend getting an old cop Electroglide if you can find one and rebuild it. I think the Electroglides are the most reasonable Harley to buy besides the Sportsters. I paid $8,000 for my 1990 EVO in '92 used black & white cop bike. To do it to a new bike is a waste of money. Almost every Harley rider I know tore his new bike apart and did something to it. Why pay all that money for a new bike and then sink more money into it. Get one bare bones or even a crashed basket case and do it. You might look into aftermarket motors and trannys too, and build from the gorund up. I think you can get 120ci motors now. That might be worth looking into. Then every part is new and you are not replacing anything. What are the new ones going for these days? Rob- |
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quikduk
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Post by quikduk on Feb 28, 2008 17:41:03 GMT -5
Price depends on the dealers and how "good a friend" you are with them.
ALL HD dealers have a substantial built-in pad (profit) from HD before they mark them up so most good HD dealers are never truly hurting. If you can get suggested retail on a brand new HD, you have a fair deal. If a dealer was hurting, the other HD dealers in the viscinity would smell the blood first before you could get a great deal.
BTW, I used to work for one and have dealt with several other local dealers over the years. Their operational philosophy is the same and hasn't changed over the years.
OTOH, there are LOTS of fairly custom Harleys out there that some are desperate to sell while others think they are the crown jewels. The S&S motors are very reliable, BIG and come with a factory (S&S) warranty as good if not better than HD.
It has been possible for a while to build a non-HD Harley with better results if you have the time.
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3RRL
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Post by 3RRL on Mar 3, 2008 14:28:51 GMT -5
Paul, I meant to post a photo of the Electroglide before the custom job. I rode it to Sturgess and back in '94. It was 3,550 mile round trip.  My bikes are for sale if anyone is interested? Rob- |
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GuglioLS
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Jinma354 LE
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Post by GuglioLS on Apr 22, 2008 0:07:53 GMT -5
Nice bikes everyone. This is my 1998 Suzuki 800 Intruder, I have two of them (his and hers) Both have Vance & Hines aftermarket tuned exhaust systems, re-jetted carbs, K&N intake upgrade. There pretty quick one up. Mine is now almost half Gold plated:    Larry |
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3RRL
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Post by 3RRL on Apr 22, 2008 0:25:48 GMT -5
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Post by linus69 on Apr 22, 2008 5:06:40 GMT -5
Rob, I`m glad you decided to keep the Electraglide, that bike is way too pretty to part with.
About the sportster, nice pics and a nice story with the ultimate happy ending, you are quite a guy.
Paul
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quikduk
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Dog House
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Post by quikduk on Apr 22, 2008 10:07:28 GMT -5
Very cool story Rob!
I know my son wanted my Ducati but it was too buch bike for him right now. I just sold it to a friend and he picked it up on Sat.
I am still moping around a bit...sniff...sniff...but I'll get another Ducati some day.
I really liked the way you carried some of the Sportsters details throughout the bike. Very clean!
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Post by oleblu72 on May 2, 2008 13:14:07 GMT -5
Well i'am new here and i guess this will be my first post, I have a bunch of questions about Chinese tractors but later on that.
My current bikes i'am riding are, 81 Honda 900F, 85 Honda V65 Sabre, 06 Suzuki 1000 V Strom and a 98 Buell White Lightning.
Bikes waiting to be restored and ridden are about 25 British bike i've accumulated over the last twenty yrs. And they consist of 73 Sportster and several Triumphs ,Nortons,Bsas and last but not least a couple of Royal Enfield Intercepters.
And I would like to add a Moto Guzzi or Duck to my list of bikes. ;D
Mark
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GuglioLS
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Post by GuglioLS on May 2, 2008 14:25:10 GMT -5
Hi Mark, Welcome. That sounds like quite a collection of rare vintage bikes. Man you got to post some pictures of those rides! Please take some time to post a little (or allot) of info about you, your tractor and bikes any anything else you care to share over in the New Member Intro section I looked you up on TBN and see your in Ohio, I am a former Buckeye (30+ years ago) How's the fishing in Mosquito lake these days?, or maybe you head out to the Shenango? I used to live in Bainbridge near 422 and 306. I miss the water and deciduous tress, but not the bugs, humidity and lake effect snow. Larry |
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Post by oleblu72 on May 2, 2008 15:41:53 GMT -5
Hi Larry
Thanks for the welcome Larry, looks like this is a forum that cares about its members. If it wasn't for sites that are made just for owners of Chinese tractors it would be a challenge to own
one.
I live about 5 miles from Mosquito and about 10 from Shenango, I sold my boat a couple of yrs ago so I haven't been on either lake.
As soon as I buy a digital camera i'll post some pictures of the bikes. Like I said all the Brit bikes need restored so their not much to look at. Whenever I found a deal on one I would buy it because they were starting to disappear from the classifieds.
We had a pretty mild winter here only went through 2 1/2 tanks of fuel for the furnace or about $1700.00 but I went through about $14K in my dump truck in 07. All the leaves are coming out so i'am happy, again thanks for the welcome.
I was just looking at the atlas we came through Edgewood in 06 on the bikes heading back to San Antonio where my sister lives . Shes moving back to Ohio this month ,gonna miss the bike trips out that way pretty cool country.
Mark
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