Harley_Davidson_FLSTCI_Heritage_Softail_Classic_MY_OPINION
It might not be your father's Oldsmobile, but this is definitely his Harley. From its five-inch running lamps to the fishtail exhaust pipes, Harley's Heritage Softail Classic is the definitive study in nostalgia. The lines are intimately familiar. Anyone who looks at a Heritage knows this is classic styling. Even if they never saw an original 1950's motorcycle, they know this is what one looked like.
Harley's Heritage (or FLSTC as the factory likes to call it) is responsible for starting the whole retro-bike thang. With fat forks straight off a 1949 Harley-Davidson Hydra Glide, old-fashioned studded-leather saddlebags, chrome-studded seat, full windshield, floorboards, huge chrome headlamp and Fat Bob tank, the Heritage is a rolling blast from the past. Before there were Royal this, and American Classic that, fake air-cooling fins or chopped Gold Wings, there was the Heritage. A motorcycle produced by a company that made the real thing over forty years ago.
There's something about a bike made to recreate the 50's that you just can't get from a more "modern" ride. It's the feeling of never being in a hurry. Never feeling like you have to push the bike to its limits. It's a liberating feeling. Sit down in the spacious saddle, reach out for those wide comfortable bars and fire the motor. That's all the effort this bike will ever demand of you. The Heritage is a simple pleasure. You don't have to be told how to enjoy it. It comes naturally.
Before we get any further into this, let me run over some basics for the uninitiated. Believe it or not, there was a time when motorcycles had no rear suspension. As you can imagine, the ride was pretty... well, hard. It isn't difficult to figure out the derivation of the term hardtail. Secondly, before the advent of modern rubber compounds, motorcycles had their engines mounted rigidly to the frame. This made for bikes that shook like paint-mixers.
Therefore, if you want to re-create a bike from the 50's you need to mount its engine directly to the frame and give an appearance of no rear suspension. To accomplish this visual slight of hand, suspensions were designed with a set of twin shocks hidden under the bike. This arrangement allows for the look of a hardtail with the benefits of quasi-modern suspension. Hence, the term Softail.
"It's hard to cop an attitude when you're stuck smiling and waving."
I may be the only person in the world to ever say this, but the Heritage Softail reminds me of the little Piaggio scooters I rode around the Greek Islands on my honeymoon. Not because this Harley is almost as quiet, and certainly not because it is light and nimble, but because it is so easy to jump on and bop around town. People may not usually associate Harley's with "bobbing around," but that's what this one says to me. It doesn't fill me with the urge to head for a far-off coast or to carve up any mountain sides. This bike has a different purpose.
Perhaps the main reason the Heritage gives one the urge to "take it easy," is its riding position. There's only one way to sit on this bike, and it's the same way your piano teacher made you sit. Back straight, feet directly below your knees and arms slightly bent, reaching comfortably out at mid-torso. This position forces you to smile, ride slowly and wave at everyone. It's hard to cop an attitude or tear through town when you're stuck smiling and waving. As delivered from the factory this bike is built for cruising slowly and soaking up scenery, which it does extremely well.
And that brings up a very important point. Reviewing a stock Harley is a difficult thing to do because few Harley's remain stock for very long. The design's simplicity allows for almost unlimited customizing. So, if after reading this review you walk up to someone with a Heritage and tell them they have a very nice bike for bopping around town, you may then wonder why you got bopped on the nose. Like the animals you see in the zoo, wild Harley's rarely resemble those found in the showroom.
You have to love the Heritage Softail Classic for what it is and for what it is not. It's a beautiful rendition of an old classic. The attention to detail does not go unnoticed. People can't walk by it without saying, "Oh look, it has those old ____s on it. Just like the old ones." Fit and finish on this ride is also top notch. And where would a retro 50's bike be without chrome? No where. You can't beat genuine Harley-Davidson chrome. The Heritage fairly beckons you with its gleam every time you open your garage door. As if to say: "What the hell are you doing that's more important than riding?" Good question...
What the Heritage also is, is real. One of the truly great things about a Harley is the nearly complete lack of plastic. This thing is made of metal -- and what a great feeling that imparts. As we've come to expect of modern H-D's, all components are heavy duty with a solid, dependable feel. In a world full of lip-synching country bands and silicon-breasted women, a Harley is one of the last refuges of "the real thing."
What the Heritage is not, is a fully modern motorcycle complete with all the modern amenities expected of a modern ride. The Motor Company has purposely kept this bike simple. They've only updated what absolutely needs to be updated and left everything else pretty much alone. With the notable exception of the electronic speedometer, nothing on this bike is high-tech for high-tech's sake. Why add water cooling and multiple valves if that's not what your customers want?
There seems to be an unwritten law that if you talk about rigid mounted Harley's you must talk about vibration. Here's my recommendation: Smack the next person that comes up to you and whines about Softail vibration. This thing is a dream to ride. And if you ride it like it was intended to be ridden, you won't ever notice the fact the engine is rigidly mounted to the frame. That means generally staying below 70 mph. It is here that vibration is extremely pleasant, reminding you that you're on a motorcycle and not a golf cart.
However, there is one downside to the rigid mounts. Vibration will mar up anything you put in the saddle bags. Three screw heads protruding inside the bags do quite a number on any hard or soft sided items stored there. To alleviate this headache, either wrap everything you carry in some kind of fabric or cover the screw heads.
What can be said about the tried and true, 80-cubic-inch Evo V-twin that hasn't been said a thousand times? Bullet proof, stone cold reliable and great looking. Sure it doesn't have the sex appeal of the old Panheads, but to these eyes the blockhead offers a more powerful, modern look. Kinda like the difference between a modern gridiron athlete and his leather-helmeted counterpart from the past.
Harley-Davidson's 1997 Heritage Softail Classic has all the beauty and appeal of a 50's Hydra-Glide with most of the 50's technological shortcomings eliminated. As delivered from the Motor Company, it offers a relaxed, friendly mount for cruising around town and just enjoying the scenery.
Harley_Davidson_FLSTCI_Heritage_Softail_Classic_MY_OPINION
You wouldn’t be surprised to unearth a beauty like the Heritage
Softail® Classic under a dusty cloth in Grandpa’s barn. With studded leather bags, big fenders, giant chrome headlight and passing lamps. For the rider who dreams of classic style, there could be nothing better. But those seeking a modern-day machine will also find this an ideal ride. See the Twin Cam 88B™ engine for evidence. It’s eighty-eight cubic inches of refined internal combustion. We rigid-mounted it, but two ingenious counterbalancers cancel out all but the good vibrations. Choose it with carb or
EFI. There’s a hidden rear suspension. Wire-laced wheels inside blackwall tires. And a low seat height. So no matter what kind of bike you like, it’s easy to swing a leg over this one.
Harley_Davidson_FLSTCI_Heritage_Softail_Classic_MY_OPINION
For
years I have been bugging my wife that I
wanted to get a new Harley. I have had a
street bike for 22 years and have been
riding for 34 years. This is my first Harley
Davidson. The thing that brought me to
Harley is I was getting way too complacent
on my Turbo Seca. If I wasn't going fast I
was getting complacent. I guess that's what
happens when you own something like that for
12 years. There were too many times where I
could have got some major tickets.
For me, I always wanted one. I can say I was
not disappointed. The hardest thing for me
was if I got the Fatboy or Heritage. I kind
of have mixed riding habits. 50% city and
50% highway. Due to the highway stuff, I
decided to opt for the Heritage. After years
of packing a backpack, having the constant
roar of the wind in my helmet , and the
stiff neck from having my head buffered
around by the wind, the Heritage was the
obvious choice.
I bought the bike brand new off the showroom
floor. It came with the EFI, purple/charcoal
gray two tone paint, Screaming Eagle Stage 1
EFI kit, Screaming Eagle II pipes, and the
factory alarm with key fob. These options
did come at a price mind you. Any price I
quote will be in Canadian funds. The EFI was
$600, alarm $400, 3 years/ unlimited mile
warranty ($1500),EFI kit /pipes $1200 and
paint $1000. I was told by the dealership
that the color on my bike was only offered
for two months and then scraped in order to
keep it unique. They do this every year with
some of the two tones.
I bought the bike May 31 2002 and was able
to put 13000 km's on it the first year. I
even took it on holidays and put on 3800km's
in a week. I live in Western Canada so I
have all types of riding terrain. Wide open
prairies, foothills and the Rocky Mountains.
Great for testing out the bike as I can.
You might find riding the bike in the city
that on hot days, the back of your right
thigh can get extremely hot. This is due to
the oil bath being right under the seat and
surrounding the battery. I asked the
dealership how hot I should let it get
before I should pull over and let it cool
down. I also asked if I should pick up the
oil temperature dipstick for it to tell if
it's getting too hot. The service manager
assured me that it could be on fire and it
would still run. The dipstick was just a
waste of $70. This is normal on a air cooled
twin.
The 88B twin cam is a great. I really like
the EFI option. No choke to mess with and no
jets to change in the mountains. This was
great when last summer I made the "Ride
Into The Sun " route from Kalispell
Montana to St. Mary's Montana. It was quite
the climb with my wife and myself on the
bike. (I'm 200lbs and my wife 145). The
engine has never had a hic up. The low end
torque is great for tooling around. It pulls
smooth and even. Cold weather starting is
easy as well. Turn the key on, wait for the
fuel pump to stop (2 sec's), then start the
bike. I was told to let it warm-up until the
top 3 fins on the back cylinder get warm,
and then drive away. Perfect!!
The saddle bags are well supported and hold
quite a bit. It's great to be able to have
your rain suit with you all the time as well
as anything else you might want to have such
as a place to keep your jacket and chaps if
it's too hot and you feel you don't need
them. There are limits to them though. A
skull cap or quarter shell will fit in them
, an open face with ear protection will not.
The buckles are more for show. They do allow
for the bag to expand, but that's about it.
The leather keepers at the bottom really
don't keep the excess strap down at highway
speeds. This drives me nuts watching the
straps flop around like elephant ears going
down the highway. I solved this by using
hair elastics. The bags are easily remove
with 3 bolts. It really changes the
appearance of the bike.
If you look at the specs, you'll see that
the Heritage is the same base as the Fatboy.
The windshield works great and comes off in
5 seconds. This makes it really easy to
clean and does a great job of deflecting
bugs and rocks. You can even smoke behind it
if you want.
Some of the changes to the bike are for
comfort for my passenger and some for
myself. I'll go through them and explain
shortly the pro's and con's. When you make
this kind of investment, you'll want to ride
it everywhere and you're going to want your
better half to enjoy it as much as you (in
order to get more riding in..lol) As you
know if you walk into a dealership, HD
doesn't stand for Harley Davidson, It stands
for Hundred Dollars!! There are aftermarket
companies that make great accessories @ 1/4
the price.
Stage 1 EFI Kit with Screaming Eagle Pipes
(1200 Can.):
I personally wanted the bike to be louder,
but not annoying. This gave me better gas
mileage and more snap. I really didn't like
the sound of the stock pipes. These factory
performance pipes are tuned to the engine.
Louder unmuffled pipes will cause you to
lose low end torque and burn valves out
quicker. They remove the backing plate on
the air breather, put an K&N filter, and
recurve your timing and air/fuel mixture via
the cpu under the seat. They can change a
lot of thing with the laptop connected.
EFI:
Great system! Not a problem. The cpu that
controls it works great. If your ever in
another dealership getting work done, they
can track what and where it was done. If you
try to get too radical with the timing or
air/fuel mix, Harley Davidson will shut you
down and call you at home/dealership to ask
you what you're doing?
Rear Passenger Floorboards ($350 boards,$125
bag kit, $112 chrome cover $Can.):
I added these for my wife. We take a lot of
long rides and these help. It lets her move
her feet around and reposition her legs and
butt on the long haul. It also keeps her
from melting her boots on the pipes. The
boards do not come with the chrome cover
plate that shows when the boards are up.
When they are up, they're great for my 8
yr.old daughter. She can rest her feet on
the top of them giving her a foot rest.
Rear Seat ( $278 Can.)
The original seat wasn't all that
comfortable after the first 250 miles. I
would have to stop after every 50 miles
after that. I went with the touring seat
from Harley because the studs on the trim
match mine. It sits higher and the added
width does help (so I'm told..lol)
Heated Grips from Harley:
Now there are a lot of options from the
aftermarket for these. I work a lot of night
shifts so I'm coming home at the coldest
time of the night on the highway. Also our
season isn't as long and it gets cold quick.
These are new this year from HD. They have
their own independent thermostat. They have
6 different heat settings. Once you get them
at the temp you like, they will compensate
as you go down the road. Heat up on the
highway to keep that setting and cool down
when you enter the city and slow down. There
are cheaper options available. I just didn't
want to run other wires or battery operated
gloves.
The rear tire lasted 14000km's. I changed it
with 35-40% tread left. I might have been
able to get 17, but is it worth it?? The
laced wheels all have tubes in them. Nice
bit of protection and cost if you get a
puncture.
As was mentioned in a previous review, the
dealerships are great. I've traveled around
to other provinces and into the states and
they were fantastic. If your buying new, you
automatically giving a free 1 year
membership to HOG ( Harley Owners Group)
Even if you buy used, you can get it. Some
of the advantages are you get a reduced rate
with an auto club ( I can't remember ) that
specializes in Harleys. A lot along the
likes of AAA. Gas Flat tire repair..etc.
They also have a yearly atlas that has a
list of all the states motorcycle law
requirements and where all the dealerships
are in Canada and the US.
Overall I can't express how happy that I've
purchased my Heritage. As I've noted above,
I can't really list much for con's. The
changes were more for my benefit (wife's).
There have been no problems with the ride or
performance of the bike. The servicing is a
tad expensive. A normal warranty service
runs from $250-$500 Canadian. I could do it
myself, but I'll wait until the 3 year
warranty is up.
If you have any questions, you can contact
me at life like@shaw.ca
Up-Date as of December 14 2003
The bike now has 23000 km's on it now and
there are no problems with it at all. The
bike runs almost better than new!
The only thing that I've had to change on it
has been the back tire and one of the heated
grips. I was riding in a bad rain storm for
about 3 hours and had a death grip on the
throttle. The grips were on full bore and
the seam of my glove melted into the foam
heated grip. The dealership hadn't ever seen
anything like that. It was covered under
warranty and I was back on the road with in
two hours.
I have also noticed that the SE pipes have
been getting a lot louder the more miles I
put on. It hasn't effected the performance
at all, but I can sure hear it! It stared
getting louder at about the 16000 km (10000
miles). It also has been popping a little
when coming off the throttle with more than
a few flames coming out of the bike. I've
had buddies ask me if it was EFI or carbed
due to this happening. Needless to say, it's
quite impressive on cruise night when the
sun goes down. I asked the dealership to
check it and they've assured me that this is
normal. The plugs were perfect and the cpu
hasn't thrown any codes to give me any
reason to give me any concern. I'm assuming
that it could be the pipes finally getting
cleaned out a little and the bike breaking
in finally!
It more or less happens when I'm
downshifting and giving it a little punch on
the throttle as I shift down. Less
restriction on the pipes, a little extra
fuel in the pistons = 6 to 12 inches of blue
and orange flame out of both pipes!!!
The other thing that's a little annoying is
the position of the floorboards. If your not
careful, putting it too far over in a corner
will scare the heck out of you if your not
prepared for the scrape and sparks from
them. I know it's not a sport bike by any
means, but going hard into a corner with a
bump or dip in it will wake you up in a
hurry.
A nice little option you might want to
invest in is a little piece of stainless
made by Boot Doctor out of Las Vegas. If you
have floorboards like the Heritage does,
you'll notice your right leg will get sore
if you've been on the highway for any
stretch. This summer I did 2500 km's (1600
miles) in three days and 1800km's
(1100miles) in another 2 days. Your left
heel can rest against the shifter, but your
right leg can get tired from fighting the
wind trying to push your foot off the
floorboard. I could get the crash bars with
highway pegs, but I really do not like the
look of my bike with them on. Besides, $70
is a lot better than $500...IMHO. You can
find them on the net and you'll see what
they're all about.
The gas mileage has improved a little.
Currently it has gone from 250 km's (160
mile) per 18 liters ( 5 gallons) to 280 km's
(180 miles) on the same amount of fuel. I
haven't taken the time to figure out the
mpg's yet. I just do it this way because gas
prices change so much around here.
I still haven't had to change my brakes yet.
The backs are making a little noise at
times, but the dealership checked them 3000
km's ago and there was still 70% left in the
back and 50% in the front. Not bad in my
opinion for factory brakes! This is over 2
full riding seasons and 23000 km's.
All in all, this is all that has been going
on since the last time I've written and will
keep you informed of anything new that comes
up next riding season.
This is still the best thing I've ever done
and all the hype is worth every penny I've
had to spend on it. Second only to...you
know what...lol
I
just picked up this Blue & Ice eye
catcher in March, so it's still pretty cool
in Michigan. I managed to get a couple
hundred chilly miles on it so far, and I'm
very impressed. I'm a Harley rider, so I'm a
little biased.
Although, if this machine was a lemon I
would admit it.
My last ride was a '76 FX, so this scooter
has been quite pleasurable to say the least.
Since I don't have a lot of saddle time on
it yet, I can't say how comfortable it is on
long runs or make claims on how reliable it
is. On short rides (50 miles) I didn't find
myself fidgeting around in the stock seat,
and I think it is very comfortable. I am 250
lbs, and I think the Softail rides better
than my 2001 truck. I did end up putting
lower FatBoy style handles on it. They are
more comfortable to me and they make the
bike look very Baaaad after you take off the
backrest, bags and wind screen and add on an
engine guard. The bike is put together
extremely well, it is very tight and
extremely well balanced. The paint job is A
plus. The factory alarm system and built in
fork lock provide more than adequate
security. The five speed transmission has
good gear ratios, but still has the hardy
clunk when you up shift like the older HD's.
Downshifting is much smoother that the older
machines, but getting back into first gear
requires a little increase of the engine
RPM's if you are stationary (I'm assuming
these things will improve as the bike breaks
in). The 88b is incredibly smooth. I
originally thought the smoothness would be a
problem, but it's very welcome. The bike is
unmistakably a Harley even with the 88b.
Aside from an occasional whirring sound from
the counterbalancing when shifting, the
engine noise is appreciably less than the
older bikes. This is a big machine (750 lbs
wet) so it doesn’t handle like a Super
Glide or a sport bike, yet it is very
controllable and responsive for it's size.
It brakes well and it gets up and goes well.
Since it sits as low as a LowRider, a little
caution should be practiced when cornering
sharply. You will find yourself leaning a
little more to keep the bike vertical. The
fuel injection is great. No petcock or choke
to mess with. Even in the cold weather you
are off and rolling in a minute or less.
Also, the fuel-injected bikes are single
fire. So they idle a little smoother and
sound a little different (more deliberate,
no popping & spitting) than the dual
fire ignitions on carbureted models. Aside
from my first hand experience with cold
weather starts, I'm told by others that the
fuel injected models are much more forgiving
at higher altitudes and in areas that are
prone to sudden and severe changes in
climate (such as Michigan). After you bust
the plugs out of the stock mufflers (with
the Dealers consent) it will sound as it
should (gives it a nice rumble with out
upsetting your neighbors). As far as price,
It’s a Harley, you will get back what you
gave for it. I would like to note that in
addition to the two tone paint, fuel
injection and alarm system (which are all
options) the dealer included the first
10,000 miles of service in the price at a
discounted rate. The amount paid was the out
the door price. I will comment more in the
future as I get more miles under my belt.
Update:04/16/02 (was 200 miles, now 400
miles)
Had to replace the stock passenger pegs with
longer ones. My wife said her feet kept
slipping off, especially on the pipe side of
the bike. She says the longer Harley pegs
solved the problem. The stock seat may have
to go for runs over 100 miles. It's fine for
around town, but my hind end got pretty numb
after awhile. Haven't had any problems other
than a turn signal bulb burning out. The
bike runs better and better as it loosens
up. I had to turn up the tension on the rear
shocks about 6 cranks for the extra load of
my wife (130 lbs). Total movement of the
plates was about 21 to 22 cranks. The shocks
come from the factory dialed all the way
down. 1 crank = the movement of the shock
wrench, from about the frame to the other
shock (pipe side). This is about a half a
turn more or less. The dealer told me that
the shocks click into position when you turn
them. This is not true (maybe the old ones
did). I suggest making a permanent red or
yellow mark on both shock plates (the plate
is where to wrench attaches) before
beginning (make sure they really are dialed
all the way down first). Also, retightening
the jam nut was a little challenging. There
is no room to actually turn a wrench of that
size without jacking the bike up. I ended up
just holding the nut with a small pipe
wrench and turning the shock plates with the
shock wrench tight into the jam nuts.
Hope this helps. Will update again soon.
Update:05/07/02 (was 400 miles, now 800
miles)
The bike is running great, and I have no
complaints.
There has been no noticeable loss of oil or
any other fluids. The spark plugs look
perfect, and the fuel injection is working
great. I've been on a couple of 200 mile
runs, and the bike is very stable, solid and
comfortable. As far as the stock seat goes,
I still have it.
It seems ounce you settle in, it isn't to
bad, but a nice Corbin or Mustang would
probly be a little better for long rides.
The only problem with the after market seats
is that there are very few that maintain the
classic look of the stock seats side trim,
which I like very much. Maybe a gel pad or
air pad would be a better choice for long
trips. This would allow you to keep the
stock seat. If anyone out there has any
specific questions you would like to ask me,
please feel free to e-mail: eschur@concentric.net.
Please title your questions "Heritage
Classic" or I will assume it is junk
mail and delete it. Will update again soon.
Update:06/02/02 (was 800 miles, now 1600
miles)
The more I ride it, the more I want to ride.
Had the bike in for it's first service
interval. The HD dealer was very
professional and treated me like family.
They invited me into their shop to look
around and listen to other bikes.
The Dealer I purchased the bike from has an
impressive facility and competent technical
staff. If you call in and make an
appointment, they can get you in and out in
a timely manner (about 2 hours).
So far I am very satisfied with every aspect
of the bike, from riding solo and two up
with my wife. Most of my riding is two up
with my wife. She is also extremely pleased
with the machine. She feels safe, secure and
comfortable on the back. I have not had any
problems with the bike at all. The bike
runs, rides and sounds great on the highway
and is even more enjoyable putting down the
two laners. I am fortunate, that in the area
that I live, there are a few very nice two
lane roads close to the house.
Will update again soon.
Update:08/11/02 (was 1600 miles, now 4000
miles)
Still very pleased. The bike is running
great and I have had no mechanical problems
what so ever.
I Finally broke down and did the stage one
gig. I opted for the Ness high flow air
filter and back plate because it maintained
the stock look (dosen't have the funky cross
over breather tube like the SE version)
aside from costing about $30.00 less than
the SE version. I painted it with black high
temp paint (all but the area where the air
filter mounts), so unless you look very
close, you don't even notice that the stock
plastic air box is gone.
Did the Dealer ECM reflash for a richer mix.
And put on the SE torque slip on mufflers.
After researching slip on mufflers for about
2 months, I ended up with these for the
following reasons:
*The sound is much more pleasing, even
though I punched out the plugs in the stock
mufflers, these sound better, but not too
loud. Your buds will still ride next to ya.
Mufflers and pipes that make a lot of noise
aren't always good for everyday street
performance in the low to mid range. I won't
go into any detail about this subject, but
there are plenty of websites out there that
do if you want to learn more about this
common problem and how it affects your
Harley.
*The performance is noticeably superior to
the stock mufflers with the plugs drilled
out.
*Although they are slightly shorter and
smaller in diameter than the stock mufflers,
they still maintain the somewhat massive
stock look, weight and quality of the OE
mufflers unlike any of the after market slip
ons.
*They bolt up to and maintain the integrity
of the stock mounting/balancing crossover
tube behind the mufflers. I am told by
several riding buds and the dealer, that it
is a good idea to maintain the balancing
crossover tube if possible.
All and all, after the air cleaner change,
the ECM flash and the new slip on mufflers,
I can't believe it's the same bike!
I was slow to make changes, because I wanted
to see for myself how each thing I did
affected the overall performance.
I rode the bike stock for about 200 miles.
(No mods to anything)
I drilled out the plugs at 200 miles and
rode it for about 2600 miles. (The bike made
more noise, but no noticeable gains in
performance)
I put on the high flow air cleaner and had
the ECM flashed at about 2800 miles and
maintained the stock mufflers. (The bike ran
significantly better. The richer mix
actually caused the bike to run quieter
while idling, but louder while accelerating)
It became more apparent at this time that
the stock mufflers were still impeding
performance.
I replaced the mufflers at about 3300 miles.
(noticeable gains in low and mid range
performance!) The bike no longer hesitated
while riding two up with the wife. It
actually performed about the same as when I
rode solo! The bike also ran smoother.
I still haven't replaced the stock seat, but
feel more inclined to as my trips get longer
and longer.
I like the looks of the stock seat a lot,
but the comfort level on trips over 75 miles
just isn't there.
Will update again soon.
Update: 12/26/02 (was 4000 miles, now 8000
miles)
It's been awhile since I updated this, and
the bike has been parked for a month or so
now. So here's the latest.
The bike runs and sounds great. The only
problem I have had is with the fuel gauge.
At about 6500 miles, it stuck on about 3/4
full all the time. At my 7500 mile checkup,
the dealer corrected it and it seems fine
now, although I expect this problem to
return from articles I have read about this
anomaly.
I finally replaced the stock seat and
backrest with the HD studded deep bucket
version at about 5000 miles. The new seat is
very firm, and after a break-in period of
2000 miles, it became noticeably more
comfortable on trips over 100 miles. My
average day ride is about 350 miles on a
Saturday or Sunday and during the week after
work is about 150 miles. I have to mention
that the passenger bucket caused my wife to
be a little concerned. What happened was the
bucket shape of the rear seat forced her to
sit closer to me and farther away from the
backrest. She could no longer lean
comfortably on the backrest as with the
stock seat.
To solve this problem, I drilled new holes
in the backrest side rails which moved the
pad about an inch or so closer. I also
change the angle of the sissy bar so it sits
up a little straighter. She is very pleased
with the new seat now.
Also, I noticed with her being a little more
forward, that the bike is easier to handle
and I'm not fighting the extra weight and
top heaviness as much as before at slower
speeds.
Aside from the seat, I replaced the stock
grips with foam grips. I also replaced the
stock clutch and break levers with chrome
trigger style levers with leather lace
covers.
I find these to be more comfortable and
ergonomic to me.
I added studded pouches and a few
well-placed conchos here and there to
further personalize My Scooter.
Getting back to the fuel injection for a
moment. A few weeks ago we were in the
single digits temperature wise here, and was
curious if the bike would even turn over let
alone start. Well, it started on the very
first try and warmed up to a normal idle
speed in about five minutes!
Try that with a carbureted bike in the
summer even!
After 8000 miles of riding 2 up, I only
expect to get another 2000 to 2500 miles out
of the tires and the rear brake pads. This
is pretty normal for the stock Dunlop’s
and the stock pads. I'm always conscientious
about checking the tire air pressure, and
the tires have worn very evenly. Especially
the rear tire.
One more thing, if you plan on replacing the
stock plastic gas tank panel (below the
speedo), do this as soon as possible, or it
will leave permanent marks in your paint
that may or may not be concealed by your new
leather tank panel. I learned this the hard
way.
That's probably all I'm going to have to say
until Spring time, so until then, I'll be
thinking about riding.
Update: 06/26/03 (was 8000 miles, now 11500
miles)
Early this Spring I added rear saddle bag
guards and rear floor boards. The Wife
really likes the floor boards and says they
are much more comfortable than even the
extended pegs because she can move around a
little now. Replaced the rear tire at 10,000
miles (Front still looks fine) cause it just
wasn't rain worthy any more. Still had some
tread, but maybe only another 1000 miles or
so. Front and rear break pads still look
fine. I will replace both sets of pads when
I replace the front tire at the end of this
riding season.
Put highway pegs on the front engine guards.
What a big difference that made in touring
endurance. I can ride twice as far in
comfort because of the highway pegs. I also
changed the exhaust system in the Spring,
but I wont get into that in this forum.
I replaced the nasty looking shifter linkage
rod with a nice polished stainless steel
one. It seemed that the stock rod became
very dingy looking after the first few
thousand miles, and there was nothing you
could do to clean it up.
As far as the bike in general goes,
it's running better this year than when it
was new. I think the bike is starting to
loosen up a little finally. Part of the
reason the bike might be running or feeling
better to me may be the fact that I switched
to all Mobil 1 synths at 10,000 miles. 20/50
V-twin in the oil tank, 75/90 gear lube in
the trans and 10/40 in the primary. (All
synth)
I highly recommend switching to synthetic
oils. (what ever brand you choose)
The bike runs cooler (10-15 degrees F) and
shifts better.
Overall, I have not had any problems with
anything (even the gas gauge is still
working). The bike is running great, and I
just enjoy it more and more each time I ride
it. This has been a very solid, durable
machine so far. And I expect that will
continue to be so as I put on the miles.
A word of warning about something. Some time
ago last year, I installed the HD module
that converts your rear turn signal into
brake lights. When I removed the rear tire
at 10,000 miles I noticed that the tire was
rubbing on the wire harness to the tail
lights and wore thru the insulation on a
couple of the wires. If you install this
device, make sure you take up all the slack
going into the fender or you could find
yourself facing bigger problems.
Until next time.
Update: 03/23/04 (was 11500 miles, now 18000
miles)
Bike has been running great, no problems and
absolutely not sorry I purchased this
machine.
The paint and chrome have been holding up
very well and I have no complaints with
respect to the current finish of either.
I have not experienced any new or unusual
sounds or vibrations.
The bike is still tight, and after several
inspections, all fasteners are as they
should be, and remain that way.
The stock AGM battery appears to be in tip
top shape, and I expect it to last another
season or two.
The rear drive belt and sprockets look
perfect, and do not show any abnormal signs
of wear.
The fuel gauge is still functioning
properly.
At 14,000 miles it was time to replace the
front and rear brake pads. I was surprised
at how easy this was as compared to other
bikes I have owned. The front and rear pads
had about the same amount of wear since I
use the front and rear brakes equally. I
used the EBC Kevlars, and I am much happier
with the kevlars compared to the stock pads.
No more irritating brake noise, and they
function as well if not better than the
stock pads. Also, the kevlars polished the
rotors after a brief amount of time, and
those ugly black streaks from the stock pads
were all but a memory.
While I was doing a string alignment, I
decided to remove the front fender so I
could more clearly check the front end
alignment. I had noticed that that wiring
for the fender tip light was not secured in
a manner which was to my satisfaction, so I
added an additional clamp to secure it. As I
understand, this was a warrenty issue on
previous FLSTC's, so I fixed it before it
became a problem on mine.
As I had mentioned in an earlier update, I
replaced the stock exhaust with a Kerker
(11-746) 2 into 1 FL style system. I have a
season and a half with that exhaust and I am
very pleased with it. It's a keeper in my
book.
I started using Mobil 1 75/90 syn in the
primary instead of 10/40, and I am much
happier with the results. Quieter, smoother
and no clutch engagement problems.
I still have the HD Sundowner Seat, but have
completely replaced the top layer of foam
with "Sunmate memory foam", and it
is much more comfortable for the long haul.
I have fabricated some supports to keep the
lids of the saddle bags from sagging, and
these have worked very well since
installation. You can also buy ready
manufactured ones through distributors like
J&P Cycles for $20 bucks.
I installed head bolt bridge covers (Finned
version), and that dressed things up very
nicely on that side of the bike.
The bike has always had sort of a spongy
ride in the front, so I installed SE fork
oil and that took care of that problem. I
experienced to much diving and bottoming out
with the stock fork oil. Handling has also
improved with the SE fork oil.
From my calculations, I expect to have to
replace the front and rear tires at around
20,000 miles. I've replaced the rear ounce
already at around 10,000 and it looks like
I'll get 20,000 out of the front with no
problem. This appears to be pretty normal
for the stock Dunlop 402's.
I have no real complaints with the stock
Dunlops. They are good in the rain until
they start to show signs of wear, then they
slip a little. They have worn evenly and
have always been extremely reliable on dry
pavement in my opinion. I would purchase the
stock Dunlops again, but would consider a
brand that might provide a smoother ride.
Until next time.
Update: 08/04/04 (was 18000 miles, now 23500
miles)
Bike is still running great ! Seems to be
loosening up finally. The motor seems to
respond better now than when it was new. I
replaced the trans dipstick, because because
the chrome starting pealing off around the
area you insert the allen wrench. I replaced
it with the HD version you can remove by
hand without tools. Other than that, I have
had no problems or have any complaints. At
20,000 miles I replaced the front and rear
tires, along with new front and rear brake
pads. A note about the brake pads: The EBC
kevlars don't seem to get the same mileage
as the stock pads, but they are much easier
on the rotors and don't squeel like the
stock pads, and the stopping power is every
bit as good. I ended up replacing the stock
Dunlop 402's with Dunlop 491's. The 491's
have basically the same tread pattern as
stock, but they have a deeper tread and
heavier load rating than stock. I ride 2 up
almost all the time so these attributes
sounded good to me.
Next time I might try the ME 880's I've
heard so many good things about. The 491's
handle and ride the same as the 402's. And
they are also made in the USA if that even
means anything to anyone these days !
Until next time.
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