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Archive for the ‘2006 Harley Davidson Sportster’ Category

Taking a break in Nipton, CA

For reasons I still don’t entirely understand, I just never “bonded” with the V-Strom. For better or worse, I’m an aesthetic sort of guy, and the poor Strom simply redefined ugly. I even spent a ridiculous sum of money on a lower fairing, which helped the looks a bit, but it wasn’t enough.

One day, my primary riding buddy offered to switch bikes with me for the afternoon. He rides a 2004 Harley Davidson Sportster. I hopped on, and the experience was so completely opposite of my Strom, that it was hard to believe that both were actually in the same class of transportation!

The Sportster shook like a paint mixer at idle, the controls were heavy, and even with mid-mounted pegs, I could see my knees as I rode.

And I couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear the whole time I was on his bike.

I never looked at my Strom the same way after that, and I knew that my next bike would be a Sportster.

My 2006 Sportster was a leftover model, purchased late in the year. I had the option of buying an ‘07 instead, which had fuel injection, as opposed to the carburetors on the ‘06. I somewhat regret my decision, as it was carb problems that played a role in my selling of this bike.

It started life as a maroon bike, but I loved the look of my buddies black Sportster, and eventually found tins and a tank to convert it.

Near Dolan Springs, AZ

I rode this bike a lot. It was a great bike in town, for shorter trips, and at speeds up to 70 mph or so. I have great memories of this bike on trips both long and short – including a trip through southern Utah in July 2007 when the ambient temperature on my gauge pegged the meter at 120+ degrees!

The bike ultimately showed its shortcoming on longer trips, at freeway speeds above 70, and by the constant spitting and backfiring of the carbs. The guy I sold the Sporty to tore the carbs apart, and found that the dealer had installed jets that were too large and designed for the 1200cc motor (mine was an 883). This explained why the bike constantly ran rich and even occasionally spilled gas out the front of the carb.

In the end, it was a very difficult decision to sell it. It was the most beautiful bike I’ve ever owned. I had even purchased an inexpensive bike the previous autumn to replace it, except I couldn’t bring myself to do it, and actually sold that bike before the Sportster.

The Sporty will always hold a special place in my heart, and who knows? I may own one again someday.