standard bikes

[jstark47]

For instance, finding parts for my sporty is a LOT easier than for my Honda, and I guarantee it's a lot easier and cheaper to get parts and do mods on a sporty than a Triumph here in the USA...so in fact, it's easier and cheaper to maintain, mod, and repair than it is a Triumph, simply due to part availability and the sporty staying fairly constant throughout the years (well, before 2004, that is... )

Celt, I'm sorry, but this is just not accurate information. New Bonnevilles have extensive aftermarket support, and they are easy bikes to work on, due to the very basic design.

Also, aftermarket products are usually cheaper for HD here in the US. I paid more for pipes for my Honda than I did for the sporty. And when I was talking to the dealer about upgrading pipes for the t-100, he told me around $500!?!?!

Depends on what pipes you get, and who does the work. Do your own research instead of depending on what the stealer tells you.

Mileage:

(from motorcyclecruiser.com road tests)

2001 T-100 42.2 mpg (averages)
2004 Speedmaster 42.9 mpg
2004 883 51.4 mpg
2004 1200R 39.4 mpg

The 883 is cheaper to buy, maintain, fix and gas than any Triumph, but is slower.

I'm skeptical: I want to see someone with an 883 Harley get 51 MPG in real life mixed riding. I've hit 50 MPG on my Bonneville, but that was on an all-highway trip.

[celt]

, I'm sorry, but this is just not accurate information. New Bonnevilles have extensive aftermarket support, and they are easy bikes to work on, due to the very basic design.

Depends on what pipes you get, and who does the work. Do your own research instead of depending on what the stealer tells you. .

I am not a mechanic. I am Mr. Badwrench. Actually, i am Mr. No-Wrench.

I had the dealer do a stage-1 with screaming eagle pipes and AC. The stage 1 done at the stealer for my 1200R was cheaper than the stage one for a t-100 at the Triumph dealer. That is a fact.

If I did the stage 1 myself, with aftermarket products, I could've done it even cheaper. Slipons and an AC for a sportster is pretty darn cheap. I have no idea the cheapest Bonnie parts, although if I recall correctly they were more expensive on the Bonnie forums I looked at when I was trying to buy the t-100.
How many types of aftermarket pipes are there for the bonnie? I can tell you that there are a HUGE number for the sportsters.

As far as working on them, heck triumphs may be easier...I can't tell you.

But let me put it this way:

Let's say you and I go on a road trip all over the US. And let's say that we both break the same part and neither of us have a replacement and can't fix it.

Who is going to be able to get a replacement part quicker, and get it fixed out in the middle of nowhere, with no access to an online forum?

Let's try to add up the HD dealerships and indy shops that work on and carry stock and aftermarket parts for HD and lets add up all the Triumph dealerships and indy shops that carry and have in stock Triumph parts and work on them.

So in MY opinion, I think that parts (both aftermarket and OEM) would be easier and cheaper for the sporty, simply due to the number of sporties on the road in the US.

I'm skeptical: I want to see someone with an 883 Harley get 51 MPG in real life mixed riding. I've hit 50 MPG on my Bonneville, but that was on an all-highway trip

Yeah, that surprised me too.

My point is that the 1200R, even though it's 100 lbs heavier, gets very similar mileage to the t-100.

[Sev]

New wheel for my Honda 599 (off the rack) aprox $300

New spoked wheel for a Sportster (unassembled) aprox $500

Want to know how long it takes to lace and true a spoked wheel? How much is your shop going to charge you for that?

I put 24000km on my wheels and they're fine. One of my classmates has 14000km on his Sportster front, and he had to replace the whole thing due to a bent spoke.


But I fail to see how price affects the definition of a bike as a standard.

Oh and if you want to get right down to it, my Instructor owns a 1200 sportster with a stage three dynojet kit and screaming eagle pipes that has been dyno tuned, it puts out about 89 hp. My bike stock from the factory put out 89hp on the same dyno.

[celt]

New wheel for my Honda 599 (off the rack) aprox $300

New spoked wheel for a Sportster (unassembled) aprox $500

Want to know how long it takes to lace and true a spoked wheel? How much is your shop going to charge you for that?

I put 24000km on my wheels and they're fine. One of my classmates has 14000km on his Sportster front, and he had to replace the whole thing due to a bent spoke.

I don't have spokes.

How many shops carry a rim for a 599 from 10 years ago?

[celt]

But I fail to see how price affects the definition of a bike as a standard.

my responses including 'price' was to this:

Im not saying you are incorrect, as you are just as entitled to your own opinion. But to me a standard bike should be a throwback to the UJM of the 80's...not concerned with being flashy, decent power yet good fuel economy, nimble, easy to maintain, affordable, good for commuting, etc. In my opinion the sportster is aesthetically similar to every other harley cruiser (lots of chrome, big v-twin, etc.) with the exception that the pegs are mounted more toward the middle position. Not that im saying anything bad about it, personally I like sportsters and wouldnt mind owning one someday. But id place them in the "crusier" class before id consider them standards.

Dont take it the wrong way, its just my lousy opinion.

but you are correct - buying and maintaining a new 599 WOULD be cheaper than either a sporty or a bonnie.
(edit: are they going to even MAKE the 599 anymore? the newest i could find on honda's site was an 06.)

i could probably get parts for mine quicker than you could, though. especially if both bikes are 'older'.

Japanese bikes actually ADVANCE techologically unlike HD , so parts become harder to get.

Oh and if you want to get right down to it, my Instructor owns a 1200 sportster with a stage three dynojet kit and screaming eagle pipes that has been dyno tuned, it puts out about 89 hp. My bike stock from the factory put out 89hp on the same dyno.

So the more horsepower, the more 'standard' a bike is?

What's the horsepower of a stock t-100 compared to a stock 1200r?

What's the horsepower of a w650 compared to a 1200r?

[jstark47]

Let's say you and I go on a road trip all over the US. And let's say that we both break the same part and neither of us have a replacement and can't fix it.

Who is going to be able to get a replacement part quicker, and get it fixed out in the middle of nowhere, with no access to an online forum?

I'll ride the Bonneville to the HD shop and pick up your replacement part for ya, 'cause it will definitely be the Harley that breaks!!!!!

[celt]

I'll ride the Bonneville to the HD shop and pick up your replacement part for ya, 'cause it will definitely be the Harley that breaks!!!!!

and Sev will speed by you and get there a LOT quicker on his 599!!!

[Nalian]

I'm skeptical: I want to see someone with an 883 Harley get 51 MPG in real life mixed riding. I've hit 50 MPG on my Bonneville, but that was on an all-highway trip.

If we meet you can - best I've gotten when it was all highway was actually 59, but when I commute I get 52/53 pretty consistently. My commute is either all city or city/highway depending on which way I go. I've only had it lower than 50 once, and that was on some pretty cold mornings where I let it warm up a lot longer than necessary, wasting gas and such.

Edited to ask: How are you figuring the 599 at cheaper to buy and maintain? It cost more than my 883 here locally, and if you're doing oil changes at the dealer, my honda dealers prices are just as bad as the harley shop's prices. I like the 599 but I don't know that it'd be any cheaper.

[Gummiente]

Oh and if you want to get right down to it, my Instructor owns a 1200 sportster with a stage three dynojet kit and screaming eagle pipes that has been dyno tuned, it puts out about 89 hp. My bike stock from the factory put out 89hp on the same dyno.

And my 45hp Ural will kick the sh*t out of BOTH you guys' bikes...



on any off-road surface.

It's all relative, Sev... to compare a 599 to a Sporty is an apples and oranges kinda thing and hardly fair. Two different bikes with different purposes.

[celt]

Edited to ask: How are you figuring the 599 at cheaper to buy and maintain? It cost more than my 883 here locally, and if you're doing oil changes at the dealer, my honda dealers prices are just as bad as the harley shop's prices. I like the 599 but I don't know that it'd be any cheaper.

i've been trying to compare the 1200R and the t-100 as they are similar in price.

edit:

retail for 2007 1200R $8695
retail for 2007 t100 $8299
retail for 2007 883 is $6595
retail for 2007 Bonnie black $6999

retail for 2006 599 is $7399


883 is cheapest of these.
599 fastest of these.
t-100 in that creamsicle color is the coolest of these.