Topic: Insomnia and thoughts on my new Harley

[eigenvector]

I can't sleep, haven't been sleeping well for a couple of days.  Probably just a mild cold or the hot (for Seattle) weather.

So, while I sit here - I figured I'd spew some comments about my new bike.

1)  Harley's are NOT a beginner's bike.  The cliché of the older men getting a wild hare in their brain and buying a bike.  Typically it's a Harley, Harley tends to market that image those men are so desperately trying to reclaim.  But the thing is - they aren't beginner's bikes.  The power curve on the motor is just way too steep for someone who isn't used to the power that a motorcycle can have.  Figure you have a motorcycle that weighs close to 700 lbs with a 115 cu in. motor, only has about 6000 RPM range on the motor.  Right off the throttle you're getting basically maximum power and for someone who isn't expecting that - <KAPOW!> accidents just waiting.  Compare that against a typical inline 4, where you don't get a tremendous amount of power until you get well into the 3 to 4000 RPM range and that requires a bit of throttle to reach.  Inline 4s are far more forgiving, if only because they have such a high RPM range.  Sudden jerks on the throttle don't translate into sudden jumps of acceleration like they do on the Milwaukee motors.

2)  They're comfortable and solidly built bikes.  Nothing rattlely about the modern engines, smooth and also QUIET.  Now, quiet is a relative term of course, this is a motorcycle and Harley's are louder than other bikes I've ridden but it's not obnoxious or ear splitting.  And for the most part - at highway speeds I don't even hear or feel the engine.  Wind noise is far more prevalent.

3)  The riding position is pretty comfy but it isn't too practical around town.  But it does take some practice to get used to.  First time I rode a FatBob, I practically dragged my boots on the ground because the pegs weren't right under my feet.  I think for a bike that has floorboards - like the Softail Classic, having the foot position forward is natural and pretty comfy.  For a bike like the FatBob - it's not a good idea.  It's like the FatBob has highway pegs and nothing else - nice on the highway, terrible in town.  The same is true for the more cruiser style Softail Classic - great for the highway, but a bit clunky in town.  The floorboards of the Classic just make it easier to find the pegs.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Ambien will help within 30 minutes 

[eigenvector]

No, getting rid of the scum that inhabit the trailer park behind me will help.

That's actually unfair of me, they seem like nice enough people - reasonably clean, treat their kids well (over-indulge them to be honest), but they have a tendency to throw all-nighters and they LOVE Rancheras and subwoofers.  Two things which just don't go together well.

When I say all-nighters I mean from 7pm to 7am and would go longer but they have to get to church.

[754]

Two things you will learn
 Torque you can and will use almost all the time .
 HORESPOWER you can't use all the time,  and it wil, get you tickets. .

[Don R]

 My wife went to pick up some ribs and followed an older white haired gent (appeared older than me and I'm 65) on a new Harley and she had to slow down 200 feet after the stop light as he was having trouble keeping it going and upright. Maybe time for 3 wheels.
  I still love my Vetter dressed gl1000 but wonder if I should keep this fine cb400F for myself on the day I can't keep the wing upright. I feel like a jockey when I ride it but that's no bad thing.
 Milk and cookies always puts me to sleep, and keeps me fat.

[jgger]

No, getting rid of the scum that inhabit the trailer park behind me will help.

That's actually unfair of me, they seem like nice enough people - reasonably clean, treat their kids well (over-indulge them to be honest), but they have a tendency to throw all-nighters and they LOVE Rancheras and subwoofers.  Two things which just don't go together well.

When I say all-nighters I mean from 7pm to 7am and would go longer but they have to get to church.

Sounds like the Websters that live around me..........I just call the Sheriff at 11:01. Usually quiets down with in 30 minutes.

[Stev-o]

replies to your comments...

#1...your bike is not the beginner bike but the Sporty may be.

#2 ....smooth?  I can never get over how they vibrate and shake the handlebars when standing at a red light!

[eigenvector]

Don't know about Sportsters, possibly.

As for shaking and rattling - naw - not this bike.  Nothing like that at all.  Nice and stable, not as stable as the CB550 is, but on par with the R1200GS.

Fuel mileage is not too good, about 150 miles on a tank - about 30 mpg.  But, I guess for an 1800 cc engine (figure 114 cu in translates to roughly 1800 cc) that's not horrible.

[BPellerine]

they are smooth because the engine is rubber mounted,they might shake a bit at idle but all that goes away at speed.the biggest thing I found diff with the big twins is slow speed turning in town,when you are used to a smaller bike,first time I rode one it felt like it wanted to fall over on a slow speed turn.sportsters are easier around town,and are fairly quick for what they are,they will beat a big twin in the twisties.all the hds have really fun torque making you feel like you have more power than you do.bill

[754]

I am not sure but I remember carburated HD 1200 twin getting 50 mpg.
 Is yours brand new, I like to think it will improve as it breaks in 40 mpg at least. 

[J-Rod10]

I wouldn't call a big twin a beginner bike, but much more so than a new inline 4 sport bike. New sportbikes accelerate rather violently. A blip of the throttle jumps 4-6K RPM instantly. They'll run up around 100mph in 2nd gear.

The only downside to the Harley for a beginner, is weight. It's lethargic, slow, and heavy.

[eigenvector]

Yeah it's definitely brand new - well, was - it has over 200 miles on it now, but I've only been riding it for 3 days!

I do feel a slight drag or scrape when starting out, so I wonder if the brakes might be still breaking themselves in and catching on the rotor.  Might explain the fuel mileage, that and I think it's running rich.

So far as I can tell - I haven't really looked, this is electronic fuel injected.  It doesn't have a throttle cable, it has electronic cruise control - all of which make me think this is fully electronic system.  No carburators involved.

[754]

Throttle by wire , it should have..

[Jnel]

My comments...
My 02 Fatboy was good for around town.  Got 50 mpg before I changed to Vance and Hines, changed the air filter, and put the power commander on it. I gave it to my son in 2014 and purchased a new Ultra Classic two mistakes at the same time.  The Ultra is ... heavy.  Get it rolling and it's pretty comfy.   45 m.p.g.     Around town... it's a bear.  Not a bar hopper, that's for sure.  I like the back cylinder shutting down at stop lights to help on the heating up of the back cylinder. I went for the detachable trunk.  Tour pack as it's called.  This is my third Harley and the last one.  They are not getting anymore of my money.  I'm 64... not sure I could ever pull the trigger on a 3 wheel unit,  but I will be looking at smaller, lighter and more maneuverable.   Oh... yes... I didn't change the exhaust.  Completely stock.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

You might want to opt for a magnesium supplement. It's in powdered form and dissolves in water.  Ambien can make you feel more tired when you wake up by comparison.

[eigenvector]

Naw, when it gets too bad I usually have a beer before bed.

Stress is a natural side-effect of the work I do, a beer is usually enough to calm me down.

As for the bike - the MPG went up to something reasonable, about 45 mpg.  I'm at the break-in service point, but I'm slacking off on riding it for now.  The carpool lane costs about 2.75 one way, so until I get my pass from the state I'm paying an extra 5.50 to $7.00 a day to commute to work.

[jakec]

When I say all-nighters I mean from 7pm to 7am and would go longer but they have to get to church.

Sounds fun. Which trailer park?

[Mr. Mike]

Congrats on the new bike, and I hope you come to enjoy it as much as you do you’re vintage bikes.
I purchased my EG Standard well before my other Honda’s, but not out of any crisis, but because it was a childhood dream. My neighbor was a CHP motor officer (and HD was all they rode then) and while in grade school, I used to see it just about every eveninging in his garage. I began to carry a drool bucket, and was teased for it by my classmates.

Years (and years) later when I finally made my purchase, it did take some getting used to, maneuvering 800 pounds of bike in slow traffic or negotiating parking lots was no easy task, but practice helped. I was only accustomed to smaller street bikes. Not as nimble as the 750, but it has everything a rider needs at the twist of the throttle.

It has some engine vibration as Steve points out, but that’s the beast. The Dyna models seem to be less subject to the same engine vibration, but it is what it is and it’s not that bad. Pushing the limits on speed is not something I enjoy, but simply enjoying my time in the saddle, into the wind and the word “hurry” is not in my vocabulary while riding...well unless I gotta use the terlit.

Coolness is not my thing either on the Harley. I’m stuffed into a FF helmet and ride (any bike) with a high viz vest. Besides me, only one senior rider friend thinks it’s a smart idea, and the bike is stock...exhaust and all.

I enjoy each bike for its own capabilities and attraction. The HD’s are a dime a dozen on the road and no one cares about them at the vintage bike events. I don’t much like the over the top customized bikes where the bags drag the ground or the front wheel looks like it came off of a covered wagon in size...think Big Wheel.

But age is creeping up...or has caught me by the heel, and there are times when I look at the bike I drooled over as a youth, and wonder, “is it time?”

Oh well...just a few of my thoughts...enjoy them all and ride safe.

eigenvector- get that scrape noise checked ASAP. For the money you paid...don’t hold back.