I like Harleys, but I don't like Buells. Having owned an iron head sporty, I'd have another one in a flash, in fact I'm readying my garage for one now, but this time I'll probably go for a 1200 "Evo" sporty, they really are a good bike.
I remember riding one (a 1200 sporty) when they first came out, I had a "traffic light drag" with a guy on the newly released Triumph 1200 Daytona, and the sporty had so much torque I blew him away for the first 100 yards, which was more than enough to have him scratching his head.
My old BMW R100RS was the same, no Jap four could beat it off the lights, except maybe a Hayabusa, but I never got the opportunity to find out, as I sold it before they were everywhere.
As opposed to all the bullshiit written by guys who have never owned, much less ridden a sporty, they handle well, and are as reliable as a modern bike. Sure, they won't beat a modern jap bike of the same capacity (or even half of that, i.e., the CBR600) but they were never meant to either, you see, a sporty is an iconic motorcycle that can trace it's roots back to the 1950's, and is a great alternative to what's around nowadays. Not everyone wants to own a modern sportsbike (I certainly don't) and that's why Triumph is doing so well with the retro "Bonneville" and "Tiger" twins.
The fact is, that for a lot of people like me, we have no interest in modern bikes at all. Sure, I own a modern BMW tourer, but I bought it in a moment of weakness, and as bland as it is, it's a competent long distance machine. It doesn't inspire me, but it works well. I'd be happy if Honda had kept the sohc 750, but they've gone on to make newer and technically better bikes, but they hold no interest for me.
I think a 1200 sporty dressed up in dirt track livery like the one in the pic above, with the reversed cylinder, twin carbs, cam, twin plugged heads and portwork by Mike R, a special Hondaman ignition, supertrapp pipe with upgraded suspension and brakes will be a wonderous thing, for sure! Cheers, Terry.
