Thanks Mike, very informative. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge and wisdom. This video, with the black and white FLH's backround and you in the center is reminiscent of the Chariot tarot card. Ride On
Nice work, Mike! Love the Sportster. But as so many have, I’ve landed somewhere else. And all because of utility, comfort, and excitement. For me, that’s a 95 Heritage with a windshield I look over and after market bags big enough I can put enough groceries in to eat on for a week. And it’s fits as anything I’ve ever ridden. But what is an absolute must for me is a good ole rigid mount unbalanced engine that vibrate my feet off the pegs at 75mph. Everything else just puts me to sleep and makes me figure I might as well be sitting on my recliner at home and not have to worry about dozing off! 😂
Great question! We have a lot of technical answers on our website. www.fixmyhog.com/harley-tips-a-z-index and ‘Ask an Expert’ section is for members of our online community. I would be happy to send your question off to the experts. To get started, please provide the email associated with your paid membership. Thanks!
I really liked the 4 speed. Why shift all the time when you have a motor that will pull the gear OK? If you wanted to gear it for the interstate you could always put on a bigger front sprocket or a smaller rear or both. Even so, I always thought first gear should have been lower and 4th gear taller. There was a bit of space between 3rd and 4th, so 3rd could have been made taller too. 1st through 3rd seemed too close for me.
A carburetor was never an "option" on a Sportster. ALL Sportsters through 2006 had carburetors. All Sportsters 2007 and newer had EFI. I would avoid the EFI bikes like the plague. I'd much rather have an ironhead than a computerized POS EFI bike. The 2004-2006 rubbermount 1200s were far superior for cross country riding. Still carbureted, but they had a 4.5 gallon tank, which kind of ruined the Sportster look, but you could go 200 miles on one tank. They were also a lot smoother on the highway, but would still shake your teeth out at idle. That 4.5 gallon tank was also wide enough to put a fairly large tank bag on. For local riding, the 2003 and older EVO bikes were better. H-D gave new meaning to the word UGLY when they came out with the Iron models. They were just flat black blobs.
I was looking for a standard center controls and carb. 2005 1200 roadster is the best option for that type of bike. 30000 mile runs like new it is not a cruiser!
When I blew the door on my '79 XLCH, Harley had to order every single part of the transmission separately and then assemble the whole thing, something I never understood. Why didn't they sell the whole thing as a unit? Maybe it was done to teach us not to speed shift. Back in '80 it cost $1,000.00 Labor and all. Not one part of the old one was good.
Best Harley motor ever made. Did they ever make a bad Sportster motor? However, I didn't like the fact that they put the transmission between the engine cases instead of having the door. No sense to that, that I can see. Yes, I did blow the door on my '79 XLCH. Never speed shift a Harley. They don't seem to like that very much. Tears off a dog or something. Looking to buy an '03 Sportster today. Spent 38 years riding classic K BMW's. Sprag clutch went bad. Enough is enough. I want to relive my younger days. Something lower. Can't swing my leg over like I used to.
I have a question hopefully you can help me out . For the past year my bike has been giving me a code from the bcm forgot the number but it is shortage of signal voltage to starter . It’s a 2016 sporster 48 . If I get a wire and give the final signal to the the starter the bike turns over and runs perfectly . I’ve replaced battery and key fob battery .. I’ve seen 1 person say they’ve replaced their whole bcm and fixed the problem I’m hoping there’s another fix
You may have a week connection on that circuit that will need to be isolated & repaired. The best way to pursue this is by retrieving the trouble code and then following the troubleshooting flow chart for that trouble code in a factory electrical manual. It is a possibility that your right side handlebar switch module may be bad. Also inspect your starter relay and related harness. ELECTRICAL www.fixmyhog.com/video/simplifying-electricity-002170/ www.fixmyhog.com/product/overview-of-electrical-systems-part-1-download/ www.fixmyhog.com/video/welcome-to-fix-my-hog-electrical-002169/ www.fixmyhoa.com/video/watts-law-002179/ www.fixmyhog.com
agree carb all the way never under stood y a sportster is called girls bike they are 30% faster than a dreeser CH was made for comp. when i got into HD there realy only two big bikes dreeser& sportster not 8 big bike models & 8 sportster models HAPPY TRAILS
I think Harley marketed the 883 with a woman riding it at one time. But, personally, I only ever really hear the “girls bike stuff” mentioned but as you have. As if the statement is just a myth, no one really saying it, but people saying it is said, over and over 😂
Because the Sportster often left the big boy bikes at the stoplight, especially when they were test riding them near the Harley dealer, They had to call it something. First it was "not a real Harley" and the salesman would upsell them to a big boy bike. Then when they downsized them to 883, something witch I never understood, they became known as a girl's bike, but no matter what, they had to call them something because they were left back at the stop light.
I always thought the "girls bike " tag came from tall, or fat or tall fat dudes who looked like monkeys fornicating with a football riding one? Maybe it's because that's where I 1st herd it. I don't care how short a womans hair is, or butch a woman is, be hard pressed to see a gal regularly start & ride a CH 900 or 1000 sportster.
Thanks Mike, very informative. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge and wisdom. This video, with the black and white FLH's backround and you in the center is reminiscent of the Chariot tarot card. Ride On
Thanks Mike, very informative. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge and wisdom. This video, with the black and white FLH's backround and you in the center is reminiscent of the Chariot tarot card. Ride On
Nice work, Mike! Love the Sportster. But as so many have, I’ve landed somewhere else. And all because of utility, comfort, and excitement. For me, that’s a 95 Heritage with a windshield I look over and after market bags big enough I can put enough groceries in to eat on for a week. And it’s fits as anything I’ve ever ridden. But what is an absolute must for me is a good ole rigid mount unbalanced engine that vibrate my feet off the pegs at 75mph. Everything else just puts me to sleep and makes me figure I might as well be sitting on my recliner at home and not have to worry about dozing off! 😂
Ride On! www.fixmyhog.com/videos/evolution-1984-1999/
XL Maintenance www.fixmyhog.com/videos/sportster-maintenance/
Ironhead maintenance: www.fixmyhog.com/videos/ironhead-xl-57-85/
Nice video. Any ideas on how to fit a bench seat or a tall springer seat?
Great question! We have a lot of technical answers on our website. www.fixmyhog.com/harley-tips-a-z-index and ‘Ask an Expert’ section is for members of our online community. I would be happy to send your question off to the experts. To get started, please provide the email associated with your paid membership. Thanks!
I ride mine and I love it !
Hey Mike, great and informative video. What are your thoughts on the Forty Eight Sportster.
I really liked the 4 speed. Why shift all the time when you have a motor that will pull the gear OK? If you wanted to gear it for the interstate you could always put on a bigger front sprocket or a smaller rear or both. Even so, I always thought first gear should have been lower and 4th gear taller. There was a bit of space between 3rd and 4th, so 3rd could have been made taller too. 1st through 3rd seemed too close for me.
Great video! Very informative. Thanks!!
A carburetor was never an "option" on a Sportster. ALL Sportsters through 2006 had carburetors. All Sportsters 2007 and newer had EFI. I would avoid the EFI bikes like the plague. I'd much rather have an ironhead than a computerized POS EFI bike. The 2004-2006 rubbermount 1200s were far superior for cross country riding. Still carbureted, but they had a 4.5 gallon tank, which kind of ruined the Sportster look, but you could go 200 miles on one tank. They were also a lot smoother on the highway, but would still shake your teeth out at idle. That 4.5 gallon tank was also wide enough to put a fairly large tank bag on. For local riding, the 2003 and older EVO bikes were better. H-D gave new meaning to the word UGLY when they came out with the Iron models. They were just flat black blobs.
I was looking for a standard center controls and carb. 2005 1200 roadster is the best option for that type of bike. 30000 mile runs like new it is not a cruiser!
04 and up, even better, 07 & up for EFI
When I blew the door on my '79 XLCH, Harley had to order every single part of the transmission separately and then assemble the whole thing, something I never understood. Why didn't they sell the whole thing as a unit? Maybe it was done to teach us not to speed shift. Back in '80 it cost $1,000.00 Labor and all. Not one part of the old one was good.
Best Harley motor ever made. Did they ever make a bad Sportster motor? However, I didn't like the fact that they put the transmission between the engine cases instead of having the door. No sense to that, that I can see. Yes, I did blow the door on my '79 XLCH. Never speed shift a Harley. They don't seem to like that very much. Tears off a dog or something. Looking to buy an '03 Sportster today. Spent 38 years riding classic K BMW's. Sprag clutch went bad. Enough is enough. I want to relive my younger days. Something lower. Can't swing my leg over like I used to.
I have a question hopefully you can help me out . For the past year my bike has been giving me a code from the bcm forgot the number but it is shortage of signal voltage to starter . It’s a 2016 sporster 48 . If I get a wire and give the final signal to the the starter the bike turns over and runs perfectly .
I’ve replaced battery and key fob battery .. I’ve seen 1 person say they’ve replaced their whole bcm and fixed the problem I’m hoping there’s another fix
You may have a week connection on that circuit that will need to be isolated & repaired.
The best way to pursue this is by retrieving the trouble code and then following the troubleshooting flow chart for that trouble code in a factory electrical manual.
It is a possibility that your right side handlebar switch module may be bad.
Also inspect your starter relay and related harness.
ELECTRICAL
www.fixmyhog.com/video/simplifying-electricity-002170/
www.fixmyhog.com/product/overview-of-electrical-systems-part-1-download/
www.fixmyhog.com/video/welcome-to-fix-my-hog-electrical-002169/
www.fixmyhoa.com/video/watts-law-002179/
www.fixmyhog.com
agree carb all the way never under stood y a sportster is called girls bike they are 30% faster than a dreeser CH was made for comp. when i got into HD there realy only two big bikes dreeser& sportster not 8 big bike models & 8 sportster models HAPPY TRAILS
I think Harley marketed the 883 with a woman riding it at one time. But, personally, I only ever really hear the “girls bike stuff” mentioned but as you have. As if the statement is just a myth, no one really saying it, but people saying it is said, over and over 😂
Because the Sportster often left the big boy bikes at the stoplight, especially when they were test riding them near the Harley dealer, They had to call it something. First it was "not a real Harley" and the salesman would upsell them to a big boy bike. Then when they downsized them to 883, something witch I never understood, they became known as a girl's bike, but no matter what, they had to call them something because they were left back at the stop light.
I always thought the "girls bike " tag came from tall, or fat or tall fat dudes who looked like monkeys fornicating with a football riding one?
Maybe it's because that's where I 1st herd it.
I don't care how short a womans hair is, or butch a woman is, be hard pressed to see a gal regularly start & ride a CH 900 or 1000 sportster.
IronHEAD....not Ironbarrell. C'mon, everybody knows that. Calling an Ironhead an Ironbarrell is like calling an Evo a Blockhead. Nobody goes there.
Thanks Mike, very informative. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge and wisdom. This video, with the black and white FLH's backround and you in the center is reminiscent of the Chariot tarot card. Ride On