Harley Riders, Got Pics?

[CJB]

Yes, they talk about starter issues on that model, but I haven't had any (knocking on wood) the guy may have put a different stater on it or something. Haven't had any carbs blow off, but the idiots that cleaned and adjusted them last didn't torque a screw or something down right, and it came loose and the bike ran like crap

They had a ring gear that was held by friction in the starter. THere was supposed to be a shim set that was available to increase the friction, but... the true fix was to remove it all, with starter... major work... tap the case in two places for set screws, and put it all back together... with dimples in the ring gear, or, have the whole reduction gear set welded in place. Neither of which I did.

The Virago started like a British car. Everything had to be "just so". If you followed the procedure 100 percent, then it started 100 percent. Deviate with alternate results, all bad.

If, on a cold engine, you gave it any throttle whatsoever, it not only would not start, but backfire both carbs off their boots. I got used to this, and carried a spare philips head #2 x 6 inch Craftsman screwdriver for such occasions. After I sold the bike (buying another Sportster), the fellow I sold it to took a ride with me to Tampa, where we visited the "world famous" Mons-Venus, right across Dale Mabry Highway from equally famous Club 2001. Sometime after 4am, when the Mons Venus retired for the evening (morning?), he went to start that Virago (now painted Corvette Yellow) and promptly blew both carbs off, in near pitch black, in front of a seedy establishment. Fortunately, the all attentive female staff came to the rescue with a screwdriver (of sorts) and the repair was made quickly, and we hauled butt back to our lodging to be in time for 6am breakfast call before a 7am meeting..... with groans.

[TheTman]

Wow CJB, mines a totally different beast, usually it fires right up, long as the battery is charged. It's fired right up whether down in the Kansas plains or up in Colorado high country. I don't recall it ever backfiring. I might not have enough miles on it for the sarter problem to show, still has under 10k miles on it. Even with the carbs messed up, it would still start, you just had to drive with the choke about 1/3-1/2 on. I have a buddy that want's it real bad, he's got a bad back, and is tired of riding his Electra Glide, and wants something smaller. I hate the seat, it looks nice and plush, but it's not comfortable at all. Travelcade/Saddleman has a seat for it that looks like it would work, a friend has one on his bagger and really likes it. Has just a little bit of support for the very low spot on your back. I'm not real fond of those buckhorn handlebars either. Rather have a set of mini apes on it like the Heritage has.

[Bawanna]

that is one nice bike manski,u jot gotta be able to see beneath the sh!t. kick starter, now how can one beat that??? Just sayin

From an earlier life I still remember more than one trip over the handlebars of my Sportster launched by the kick starter.
Then I was just a little fella and it didn't take much. I always remembered to have the bars turned hard left so I didn't tear my knee off on the way over.

I still remember that movie phrase "How much do you weigh? How bout you kick on this thing awhile"

[CJB]

Magneto ignition and a Bendix carburetor... that'll do it every time

[Popeye]

Managed to get on wifes computer. Pipes pic.jpg

[jocko]

do u like the true dual set up?? Love the RK. owned 2 of the 2003 screamin eagle RK when Harley first introduced the screamin eagle bikes. Gold with black flames. Wife andI both had one. Great bikes. Also had a 95th anniversary RK custom

back about 12 years ago I did an iron butt ride, did 1150 miles in 18 hr and 30 minutes. When I got down in florida to where my daughter lived in Live Oak, I was so so so tired that when I pulled off of I-75 into Live Oak, that when I got off the interchange at astop light, I actally fell off the bike, asI forgot to put my feet dowhn at th red light. Luckily some kindsin a pickup was behind meand helped meback up. did no damage as the engine guard and rear bag rails protected the sheet metal. . I did that on a 98th Road Kind custom anniversary model.

My my my, for the memories..

[Popeye]

do u like the true dual set up?? Love the RK.

Yes Jocko I do like them. Has a nice even sound to them. Coupled with a set of Andrews TW26 cams, Screaming Eagle push rods and high performance lifters they give real nice street perfomance. There not loud either. The muffler bodies are RUSH mufflers but made my own baffles for them out of reworked and rewelded inards of old Softail mufflers. They sound good to my ears. Not to loud unless I really wack the throttle, but not stock either. It did take me some times to get the performance I wanted without getting to loud. I frieking hate loud mufflers, especially when on a 9 day road trip.They'll drive you nukin futs crazy. I had enough of loud when I worked on High Rise buildings. The local Popo's never look at me twice and neither to the locals of the communities I ride through. I'm sure they hear me comming and going but not enough to piss them off or wake there babies. The bike has been a real good bike and has never been in the shop for any major repairs. I kid my buddies and tell them it was made on a wednesday right after morning coffe break. I've been using pretty much Mobil one 20/50 V twin oil in it since the first 1k miles with some great results. The RK is my 3rd Harley and also my favorite. It's plain to see why so many PD's use them. There balance is incredable.

[jocko]

I run nothing but V-twin, have since day one, before V-Twin was introuduced I ran Mobil one 15-50, never ran better fluids.
All my cars run Mobil One 0w-40.

run Mobil synthetic 75-140 in my bike tranny's...

[Popeye]

Heck Jocko I've used it on darned near every one of my guns at one time or another. Figure if it's good enough for my Harley it good enough for my Kahr.

[jocko]

I used to show my buddies te difference in Mobil V-twin and regular motorcycle fossil oil. Put um both in a freeze and a day later see wich one still pors and which on just sits there waiting to thaw..

[Tilos]

OK, here's a pic of the other side of my girlie bike everyone has been asking me to post

[Double3]

I'd love to throw some true duals on my Fatboy. Also apes, chrome front, and wheels.....

I had a plan for it a few years ago then I got married and had a kid.

[ScottSouth66]

Whew,brings back good memories. I was a biker back before it wasn't cool,i.e.,in the 70s-early 90s. Back then we were referred to as,oh what was that term,dirtbags! When I'd pull up to a light,folks would lock all their doors,even the cops! Me and my young buddies decided the best thing to improve our image was to form a local riders association, so we posted a big scarey patch on our backs,that really helped!
Then some OTHER guys with bigger scarey patches on their backs let us know they weren't impressed,and demanded we cease and desist with the patch thing.
Then our 30s and 40s came along,and families,and the scooters slowly disappeared from our driveways.
Ahh the memories.... here's an old Polaroid of my lost girl,a '73 HD sporty with a 4" over chopper front end and some nasty cams,vroom vroom....

[Popeye]

My first Harley was a sporty. Rode that for a couple years till we decided we needed a bigger bike so then bought a Softail STd. Rode that till right before I retired and went with the Road King. It much easier on the body on those long trips. My first bike I got while in the Navy in Key west Fla. It was a 305 honda Super Hawk. Navy pay was not all that good in the late 60's. I rode that thing up a down the Fla keys at least once a month for 2-1/2 years. Wasn't fast or all that pretty but it was some kind of reliable and I beat the Sh8 out of it. It sure beat walking everywhere. I wish I still had it to put in bike shows. I used to ride it right in the bar we called MOM's at the time on Duval street. Not to far away from Capt Tony's.

Life on the USS Bushnell AS15 in Key west Fla back in those days sure was tough duty. Bwaaa,haaa,haaa.
We used to hook up with the tourist girls riding the chonch train.
The years 1967, 68,69 was a beautiful thing and a real hoot,and that little 305 Honda made it that much better.

[Harleyrider]

I just noticed this thread. I'm probably one of the only Harley riders I know who doesn't have any photos of his bike. I ride an '01 FXD, black, tricked out as a bagger. I change windshields depending on the weather, everything from the quarter fairing to the large touring windscreen. When I got it, I installed Dyna Power slip-ons, a K&N air filter and rejetted the carbs. I also have heated grips to extend the riding season. I have plenty of HD skull accessories on it. It goes by the name of Captain Midnight. One of these days, I'll get around taking a photo...