travel on old bikes

[matteeanne@yahoo.com]

Iv'e only ridden one, it was a panhead chopper. Biggest peice o' crap in history, complete with backfiring, laying on throttle to keep it running, and as comfortable as and ironing board without steering. That aside, I see these 1200++ CC motorcycles with what looks like a "drive strap" that comes from the motor, and goes to what I assume is another drive that connects to the rear wheel. My question is, this "drive strap" seems insanely close to your left foot? WTF? If you get your foot caught in there, are you not going to lose said foot? Someone smarter than me (thats pretty much everyone) explain this to me. Is this really as stupid as it looks? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

[prooffshore]

The "drive strap" if I assume what you are talking about is correct is an open primary belt drive. Rather than a single engine/trans like on a KLR, Harleys (and other older bikes notably Brit iron) use a separate engine and transmission. To transfer the power from the crank to the transmission a primary belt is used. Most of the time this is covered but some choose to leave it open using mostly a 3" belt but occasionally as large as a 5" belt. Often these have some type of rudimentary guard, but sometimes they are left completely open. Stupid? I suppose. I'm no Harley fan, but I've always liked an open primary. I suppose it harkens back to the old steam engines with great big open leather belts I've seen at old time threshing bees and the like. Still, you could easily lose a foot in that belt. On that note, my ride this week instead of my A3 is my dad's '77 FLH, complete with 3" open primary (no guard) and suicide clutch. He's trying to sell it so I'm riding it to my work where hopefully some of the new hires are looking to spend some of the big money burning a hole in their pockets... cw a3

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, wrote: > Iv'e only ridden one, it was a panhead chopper. > Biggest peice o' crap in history, complete with > backfiring, laying on throttle to keep it running, and > as comfortable as and ironing board without steering. > That aside, I see these 1200++ CC motorcycles with > what looks like a "drive strap" that comes from the > motor, and goes to what I assume is another drive that > connects to the rear wheel. My question is, this > "drive strap" seems insanely close to your left foot? > WTF? If you get your foot caught in there, are you not > going to lose said foot? Someone smarter than me > (thats pretty much everyone) explain this to me. Is > this really as stupid as it looks? > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com

[Andrus Chesley]

Yes on the open primary as described. Lots went to it on the older bikes to rid themselves of the primary cover drips where the engine breather tube actually was the lubrication for the chain. I had and built several harley's before it was cool to own on. Only regret is not having them now to sell at today's prices. But, A bike is a bike is a bike. Ride what you want to ride and what fits you. But NEVER cut down another person's ride. Actually , the worst bike I ever had was a '69 Norton Commando. Gear box spit a tooth thru the bottom , main frame and down tubes broke and cracked. LOL Guess jumping levees in the rice fields didn't help that. But that was before bike's had classifications, you just bought a bike and rode the dang thing where ever you could get away with it. ( about 2 years later Norton came out with a bulletin on possible frame breakage) Gee. Andy in Louisiana '00 KLR 650 '01 DRX 400 S '02 R1150 GSA

[Eric L. Green]

On Sun, 24 Apr 2005, Andrus Chesley wrote:

> I had and built several harley's before it was cool to own on. Only > regret is not having them now to sell at today's prices.

I still say that a Harley is one of the most beautiful pieces of performance art on the road. It's not a great bike, but it is what it is and if I had a million jillion dollars I wouldn't mind having a few major examples to prop a leg over from time to time to enjoy.

> But, A bike is a bike is a bike. Ride what you want to ride and what > fits you. But NEVER cut down another person's ride. Actually , the > worst bike I ever had was a '69 Norton Commando. Gear box spit a > tooth thru the bottom , main frame and down tubes broke and cracked. > LOL Guess jumping levees in the rice fields didn't help that. But

Heh! And some people wonder why the British bike makers couldn't compete with the Japs?! I had an early 70's Honda (maybe '71 or so) that someone had stripped all the lights off of to make into a dirt bike (this was back in the day of the UJB when all you did was change tires and remove stuff to make a bike into a dirt bike). My brother and I launched this thing from levees all over North Louisiana and the only thing that eventually happened was that after a couple of years it dropped a valve and the engine went craptacular because we were youngsters and didn't know you had to adjust valves (hey, Dad didn't have to adjust valves on our Ford cars, they all had hydraulic lifters, and it's not as if this thing came with an owner's manual, it had already been thoroughly thrashed by the time it got to us!). The Japs just built better bikes than the Brits, that's all. -E

[scottq60]

As I've stated previously (off-line)...Harley doesn't need anyone to defend them...they have their fans and their critics - I'm sure they're not losing any sleep at night. Personally, I really enjoy my 94 FXSTC (Softail Custom)... Many folks think that Harleys still leave oil slicks when parked for very long, and that they can't be reliable. Actually, my wife's '00 883 Sportster DID leak oil from the base rocker box gaskets - once I had James gaskets installed - no more leaks. My 94 has been exceptionally reliable in the 3 years I've owned it. I've put 5k miles on it without any notable problems. All motorcycles will require maintenance from time to time. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" wrote:

> On Sun, 24 Apr 2005, Andrus Chesley wrote: > > I had and built several harley's before it was cool to own on.

Only

> > regret is not having them now to sell at today's prices. > > I still say that a Harley is one of the most beautiful pieces of > performance art on the road. It's not a great bike, but it is what

it is

> and if I had a million jillion dollars I wouldn't mind having a few

major

> examples to prop a leg over from time to time to enjoy. > > > But, A bike is a bike is a bike. Ride what you want to ride and

what

> > fits you. But NEVER cut down another person's ride. Actually , the > > worst bike I ever had was a '69 Norton Commando. Gear box spit a > > tooth thru the bottom , main frame and down tubes broke and

cracked.

> > LOL Guess jumping levees in the rice fields didn't help that. But > > Heh! And some people wonder why the British bike makers couldn't

compete

> with the Japs?! I had an early 70's Honda (maybe '71 or so) that

someone

> had stripped all the lights off of to make into a dirt bike (this

was back

> in the day of the UJB when all you did was change tires and remove

stuff

> to make a bike into a dirt bike). My brother and I launched this

thing

> from levees all over North Louisiana and the only thing that

eventually

> happened was that after a couple of years it dropped a valve and

the

> engine went craptacular because we were youngsters and didn't know

you had

> to adjust valves (hey, Dad didn't have to adjust valves on our Ford

cars,

> they all had hydraulic lifters, and it's not as if this thing came

with an

> owner's manual, it had already been thoroughly thrashed by the time

it got

> to us!). The Japs just built better bikes than the Brits, that's

all.

> > -E

[Mike Frey]

I have several bikes, none of them H-D's and I probably never will have one. I'm simply not interested in that type of motorcycle. (The cruiser style bikes from the Big 4 are equally unappealing to me). I have taken rides on them; they're OK but just not for me. The MOST unappealing factor of the cruiser crowd is the 'doo rags, helmetless riding (or those silly Nazi helmets), leathers, chains and tattoos. What I wear while riding is for function first, not style. Harleys are reliable nowadays, and rarely leak oil. Stock pipes from the factory are reasonably quiet. They're still underpowered relative to most others, and the engines generally won't last as long as a KLR will before a rebuild is required. I used to work as a supplier to Harley. They had a 4 cylinder DOHC Sportbike on the design board in the 1980s but never perused it - it would have been sacrilegious to the V-Twin people. Maybe someday - especially when and if the cult of personality dies down - they might come up with a world class street bike AND something for adventure touring. Maybe even a good dirt bike. They certainly have the money and resources to do so. H-Ds with loud pipes are in the same league as Sport Bikes and DS bikes with open pipes, aggressive riders and wild antics on the street. All are equally offensive. I'm not a purist, though - I wheelie from time to time and do goofy stuff like ride over curbs with my KLR. I regularly exceed the speed limit, but not in residential areas. I just don't see the cruiser mystique, although I'm sure Harley Davidson as a corporation laughs all the way to the bank. Hopefully, they are saving for a rainy day. Like many US corporations, I am afraid that they may not be. Mike A18

[a14@att.net]

> I just don't see the cruiser mystique, although I'm sure Harley Davidson as > a corporation laughs all the way to the bank. > > Mike > A18 > >

That's why I ride a KLR. Who needs the cruiser mystique when you can have the mystique of a geek? Walt

[ron criswell]

I believe today's Harley's are pretty good mechanically. Most have just too much metal for my taste other than the new Sportsters have some appeal to me. Always wanted a Sportster since a kid. Those were the hot ones to have back then. Ironic today they are considered to be the dog in Harley's lineup by today's Hog riders. I still think they are the best looking ones Harley builds. And they don't shake like a paint shaker anymore. That said, I can still buy 2 - 4 KLR's for the price of one Harley and ride it a long time. And I don't really have to shine mine up. dirt looks good on a KLR. I have 35,000 miles on my '99 and it is running fine. Not bad for a cheap single. Harley's do have great resale value but as I usually ride what I have into the ground, this is not a big deal for me. If they made a Sportster that looked like their flat track racers, had more power, and sold for a reasonable price like 7 grand, I'd buy one. Criswell

On Sunday, April 24, 2005, at 11:25 AM, scottq60 wrote: > > > As I've stated previously (off-line)...Harley doesn't need anyone to > defend them...they have their fans and their critics - I'm sure > they're not losing any sleep at night. > > Personally, I really enjoy my 94 FXSTC (Softail Custom)... > > Many folks think that Harleys still leave oil slicks when parked for > very long, and that they can't be reliable. Actually, my wife's '00 > 883 Sportster DID leak oil from the base rocker box gaskets - once I > had James gaskets installed - no more leaks. My 94 has been > exceptionally reliable in the 3 years I've owned it. I've put 5k > miles on it without any notable problems. > > All motorcycles will require maintenance from time to time. > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" > wrote: >> On Sun, 24 Apr 2005, Andrus Chesley wrote: >>> I had and built several harley's before it was cool to own on. > Only >>> regret is not having them now to sell at today's prices. >> >> I still say that a Harley is one of the most beautiful pieces of >> performance art on the road. It's not a great bike, but it is what > it is >> and if I had a million jillion dollars I wouldn't mind having a few > major >> examples to prop a leg over from time to time to enjoy. >> >>> But, A bike is a bike is a bike. Ride what you want to ride and > what >>> fits you. But NEVER cut down another person's ride. Actually , the >>> worst bike I ever had was a '69 Norton Commando. Gear box spit a >>> tooth thru the bottom , main frame and down tubes broke and > cracked. >>> LOL Guess jumping levees in the rice fields didn't help that. But >> >> Heh! And some people wonder why the British bike makers couldn't > compete >> with the Japs?! I had an early 70's Honda (maybe '71 or so) that > someone >> had stripped all the lights off of to make into a dirt bike (this > was back >> in the day of the UJB when all you did was change tires and remove > stuff >> to make a bike into a dirt bike). My brother and I launched this > thing >> from levees all over North Louisiana and the only thing that > eventually >> happened was that after a couple of years it dropped a valve and > the >> engine went craptacular because we were youngsters and didn't know > you had >> to adjust valves (hey, Dad didn't have to adjust valves on our Ford > cars, >> they all had hydraulic lifters, and it's not as if this thing came > with an >> owner's manual, it had already been thoroughly thrashed by the time > it got >> to us!). The Japs just built better bikes than the Brits, that's > all. >> >> -E > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

[Rob Lefebvre]

I had a Harley during the AMF years - cured me for life. I have noticed that resale prices are starting to drop. I see a consistent pattern in the Green Bay Press Gazette where of the 4 columns of bikes for sale, 3+ columns are Harleys. Rob -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ron Criswell Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 9:24 AM To: scottq60 Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Whats the story with Harley's? NKLR for sure...... I believe today's Harley's are pretty good mechanically. Most have just too much metal for my taste other than the new Sportsters have some appeal to me. Always wanted a Sportster since a kid. Those were the hot ones to have back then. Ironic today they are considered to be the dog in Harley's lineup by today's Hog riders. I still think they are the best looking ones Harley builds. And they don't shake like a paint shaker anymore. That said, I can still buy 2 - 4 KLR's for the price of one Harley and ride it a long time. And I don't really have to shine mine up. dirt looks good on a KLR. I have 35,000 miles on my '99 and it is running fine. Not bad for a cheap single. Harley's do have great resale value but as I usually ride what I have into the ground, this is not a big deal for me. If they made a Sportster that looked like their flat track racers, had more power, and sold for a reasonable price like 7 grand, I'd buy one. Criswell

On Sunday, April 24, 2005, at 11:25 AM, scottq60 wrote: > > > As I've stated previously (off-line)...Harley doesn't need anyone to > defend them...they have their fans and their critics - I'm sure > they're not losing any sleep at night. > > Personally, I really enjoy my 94 FXSTC (Softail Custom)... > > Many folks think that Harleys still leave oil slicks when parked for > very long, and that they can't be reliable. Actually, my wife's '00 > 883 Sportster DID leak oil from the base rocker box gaskets - once I > had James gaskets installed - no more leaks. My 94 has been > exceptionally reliable in the 3 years I've owned it. I've put 5k > miles on it without any notable problems. > > All motorcycles will require maintenance from time to time. > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" > wrote: >> On Sun, 24 Apr 2005, Andrus Chesley wrote: >>> I had and built several harley's before it was cool to own on. > Only >>> regret is not having them now to sell at today's prices. >> >> I still say that a Harley is one of the most beautiful pieces of >> performance art on the road. It's not a great bike, but it is what > it is >> and if I had a million jillion dollars I wouldn't mind having a few > major >> examples to prop a leg over from time to time to enjoy. >> >>> But, A bike is a bike is a bike. Ride what you want to ride and > what >>> fits you. But NEVER cut down another person's ride. Actually , the >>> worst bike I ever had was a '69 Norton Commando. Gear box spit a >>> tooth thru the bottom , main frame and down tubes broke and > cracked. >>> LOL Guess jumping levees in the rice fields didn't help that. But >> >> Heh! And some people wonder why the British bike makers couldn't > compete >> with the Japs?! I had an early 70's Honda (maybe '71 or so) that > someone >> had stripped all the lights off of to make into a dirt bike (this > was back >> in the day of the UJB when all you did was change tires and remove > stuff >> to make a bike into a dirt bike). My brother and I launched this > thing >> from levees all over North Louisiana and the only thing that > eventually >> happened was that after a couple of years it dropped a valve and > the >> engine went craptacular because we were youngsters and didn't know > you had >> to adjust valves (hey, Dad didn't have to adjust valves on our Ford > cars, >> they all had hydraulic lifters, and it's not as if this thing came > with an >> owner's manual, it had already been thoroughly thrashed by the time > it got >> to us!). The Japs just built better bikes than the Brits, that's > all. >> >> -E > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links

[scott quillen]

I agree...I'd say many who owned a new Harley during the AMF years were probably cured from ever owning one again. Personally, I wouldn't think of owning one built prior to 1984...but that's just me. As for the resale value dropping, I agree - I think it's due to a combination of the current "economic slump" (if you will) and the fact that Harley's supply is finally starting to catch up with the demand (could be a result of the slowdown in sales due to what I perceive as everyone being a little tight-fisted with their financial resources these days), which makes the used ones less desirable. Just my .02. Scott --- Rob Lefebvre wrote:

> I had a Harley during the AMF years - cured me for > life. > > I have noticed that resale prices are starting to > drop. I see a > consistent pattern in the Green Bay Press Gazette > where of the 4 columns > of bikes for sale, 3+ columns are Harleys. > > > Rob > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On > Behalf Of Ron Criswell > Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 9:24 AM > To: scottq60 > Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Whats the story with > Harley's? NKLR for > sure...... > > I believe today's Harley's are pretty good > mechanically. Most have just > too much metal for my taste other than the new > Sportsters have some > appeal to me. Always wanted a Sportster since a kid. > Those were the hot > ones to have back then. Ironic today they are > considered to be the dog > in Harley's lineup by today's Hog riders. I still > think they are the > best looking ones Harley builds. And they don't > shake like a paint > shaker anymore. That said, I can still buy 2 - 4 > KLR's for the price of > one Harley and ride it a long time. And I don't > really have to shine > mine up. dirt looks good on a KLR. I have 35,000 > miles on my '99 and it > is running fine. Not bad for a cheap single. > Harley's do have great resale value but as I usually > ride what I have > into the ground, this is not a big deal for me. If > they made a > Sportster that looked like their flat track racers, > had more power, and > sold for a reasonable price like 7 grand, I'd buy > one. > > Criswell > On Sunday, April 24, 2005, at 11:25 AM, scottq60 > wrote: > > > > > > > As I've stated previously (off-line)...Harley > doesn't need anyone to > > defend them...they have their fans and their > critics - I'm sure > > they're not losing any sleep at night. > > > > Personally, I really enjoy my 94 FXSTC (Softail > Custom)... > > > > Many folks think that Harleys still leave oil > slicks when parked for > > very long, and that they can't be reliable. > Actually, my wife's '00 > > 883 Sportster DID leak oil from the base rocker > box gaskets - once I > > had James gaskets installed - no more leaks. My 94 > has been > > exceptionally reliable in the 3 years I've owned > it. I've put 5k > > miles on it without any notable problems. > > > > All motorcycles will require maintenance from time > to time. > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" > > > wrote: > >> On Sun, 24 Apr 2005, Andrus Chesley wrote: > >>> I had and built several harley's before it was > cool to own on. > > Only > >>> regret is not having them now to sell at today's > prices. > >> > >> I still say that a Harley is one of the most > beautiful pieces of > >> performance art on the road. It's not a great > bike, but it is what > > it is > >> and if I had a million jillion dollars I wouldn't > mind having a few > > major > >> examples to prop a leg over from time to time to > enjoy. > >> > >>> But, A bike is a bike is a bike. Ride what you > want to ride and > > what > >>> fits you. But NEVER cut down another person's > ride. Actually , the > >>> worst bike I ever had was a '69 Norton Commando. > Gear box spit a > >>> tooth thru the bottom , main frame and down > tubes broke and > > cracked. > >>> LOL Guess jumping levees in the rice fields > didn't help that. But > >> > >> Heh! And some people wonder why the British bike > makers couldn't > > compete > >> with the Japs?! I had an early 70's Honda (maybe > '71 or so) that > > someone > >> had stripped all the lights off of to make into a > dirt bike (this > > was back > >> in the day of the UJB when all you did was change > tires and remove > > stuff > >> to make a bike into a dirt bike). My brother and > I launched this > > thing > >> from levees all over North Louisiana and the only > thing that > > eventually > >> happened was that after a couple of years it > dropped a valve and > > the > >> engine went craptacular because we were > youngsters and didn't know > > you had > >> to adjust valves (hey, Dad didn't have to adjust > valves on our Ford > > cars, > >> they all had hydraulic lifters, and it's not as > if this thing came > > with an > >> owner's manual, it had already been thoroughly > thrashed by the time > > it got > >> to us!). The Japs just built better bikes than > the Brits, that's > > all. > >> > >> -E > > > > > > > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > > >

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