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harley sportster as a duel-purpose bike
stop laughing folks---and consider this---way back in the late 1950's, sportsters were actually used as dirt bikes. Now raise the suspension a few inches, add off road tyres and you have another duel-purpose bike. engines air cooled, gobs of low end torque, weight about 500lbs---less than BMW, parts available everywhere except 3rd world easy to work on, simple electronics reliable chassis, will accept heavy loads. think about it---it will make sense.
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Back in the 30's and 40's all bikes were duel-purpose. But then there were not as many paved roads.
"Then came Bronson" TV show (1964-1965)? amend 1969 He rode his his Sporster all over the US. On the road, hare and hounds, motocross. The only safety gear he had was a jacket and a black wool watch-cap. [This message has been edited by John Ferris (edited 18 June 2002).] |
Sure , if you want , why not .
Can you get the tyres you need in the wheel sizes you have ? And will the motor have thermal problems ? Some times , you will be travelling very slowly over long distances and this gives some bikes danger of overheating . |
See http://www.classicharley.com and look for "world tour" at the bottom of the left column. Couple half way around the world on Sportsters.
Remeber - ANYTHING can do it, just some are better than others, and it depends on what "roads" you are willing / want to ride on. ------------------ Grant Johnson Seek, and ye shall find. ------------------------ One world, Two wheels. www.HorizonsUnlimited.com |
thanks grant, idm
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The evolution 883 would do. Add a decent carb and filter and stick to roads. Any roads, tarmac or not but roads. No way will it manage terrain with the standard chassis/susoension and modifying is too much. Better strap the engine into any proper double cradle enduro-chassis.
But again a pretty much standard 883 would do. Slow but would get there. |
Hi!
I rode a XLH 883 for 11 years, and also used it for touring (Norway - SE Turkey). I even used it one winter here in Norway. It's was great both on paved roads and gravel, and the low seat-height made it easy to handle even on snow. OffRoad-tire for the front (19") is no problem, but the drawback is the 16" rear wich have a limited tire-choice. Parts is no problem in Europe (but was i SE Turkey in '96..) The reason I sold the bike was that the engine broke down twice, and ruined my middle-east tour. Regards Mads ------------------ Mads/Norway http://www.geocities.com/mads-are |
1986 Sportster Evolution - Argentina, assistance needed
Looking for anyone (English or Spanish language OK) in Buenos Aires, who is familiar with 1986 Harley Sportster 883, and who is QUALIFIED to provide a complete mechanical/safety check and maintenance/repair "advice."
Pleasant, safe and secure work space and absolutely no rush. I will purchase tools and source necessary parts and reimburse you for your time and effort, for specifics. I need to learn everything about the 1986 Harley Sporster 883. This bike is set up for touring and has quite an overland history. A CLYMER: SERVICE,REPAIR MAINTENANCE manual is available with QuickSilver Carb Instructions..... Inquire here or post private message to me. Thanks xfiltrate |
Harley...
I once saw an Electra-glide, two-up manage 45 km of sandy gravel-filled, ruttage that had my 1150 GS struggling!
Tell a lie, the GS was fine: I was the one struggling!! Anyway, I can believe that you'd manage, but it would be a big compromise, given some of the options readily available out there!! On a technical note that I know little about, would the steering angle of the front forks not be prohibitive (the rake or trail: can never remember which). Off-roaders tend to have a pretty acute angle from the vertical, where as harleys tend to stick the front wheel well and truly out there, no? |
I thought all Harleys were dual-purpose - you can load them into a truck or take them out of a truck....
Hell you could even put TKC 80's on a big 1150GS and say that it's the ultimate adventure bike, oops, someone already has! |
They are fine cruising along a paved road. The low seat height makes them -much- more manageable off road than many so called off road bikes. The only down side is they seem to have a high first gear which might make walking pace riding, hard on the clutch. Maybe fuel range might have to be addressed. ( Installing a Punsun V twin diesel engine would fix this )
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Hey Guys, This thread is nearly 6 years old!. :eek3: Should we be resurrecting it or sending it to primary school? :rofl:
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Reincarnation
OK, thanks, I'm already learning. It would be great if you guys were here in Buenos Aires. and could take a look at this bike.
Imagine all of a sudden a 1986 Harley Sportster 883 appeared and you became the responsible for it. You know it had a complete engine rebuild sometime last year, about 1500 K ago. You know it has been just sitting for 4 - 5 months. You know the rear break pedal is disconnected, that there is no speedometer, that the the battery is dead, but taking a slow charge. You know it died, for some undetermined reason, in a remote area. You don't see any major cracks in the frame, the front break works, the clutch works and you can at least find neutral, the tires are up, The chain and sprockets look warn, but OK for test ride at least. The front forks OK and the rear suspension good. The throttle "seems" to work with the carb as it should. A spare part or three came with, one is a new black electronic box that looks as if it could replace the same under the handle bars. You think it might be a good idea to at least drain the old fuel out and maybe the oil and replace. Best way? What do I do first? I have no experience with Harleys. I am most concerned that I do whatever I do in the right order, properly and that I do not cause more problems than already exist. A friend will be arriving in 2-3 weeks who can help, but is there anything I can carefully do in the meantime. I have the 1986 Harley Sportster CLYMER: SERVICE,REPAIR MAINTENANCE manual, but it doesn't help much with starter button, kill switch, starting procedures etc etc locations. It kind of assumes that the reader knows the basics. Any help appreciated. This is a beautiful bike and deserves to live again. I'll deal with where to ride, highway or off road later, once it mechanically safe and running as it should. The registration process (from USA registration to Argentine registration) for this bike will be documented in my thread how to Buy/Sell in Argentina. Hopefully the information provided will enable others to transfer foreign titles to Argentine titles. Any help appreciated, bike has to be presented to customs for determination of value and assignment of % of import tax. thanks, xfiltrate |
Sure it can be done
I just gotta jump in on this one.
It wouldn't be my first choice, but this guy did it. Harley Sportster at A Day In The Dirt - Harley Sportster at A Day In The Dirt - Motocross Videos | Vital MX |
There must be lots of harley forums with quite a few people that could give detailed answers to your questions--I wish I could help but I don't know if this is the best forum for technical questions about harleys!
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Possible forums to get advice
Hi xfiltrate,
I agree that this might not be the best palce for tech help with Sportys so I did a quick Google search for you (actually Yahoo but who's fussing) and found the following forums where you might be able to get some advice. The first one looks pretty active, not sure about some of the others. Harley Tech Talk Harley Davidson Forum - Enthusiast Forums for Harley Davidson Motorcycles The Sportster Home Page Custom Motorcycle Forum at Hot Rod's Bike-Works Magazine Good luck! Indoors. |
Harleys are a world of their own!
Thanks Indoors and the others, Those Harley forums work for me. I just have to figure how to navigate myself into one and contact a local chapter. In final analysis, I have been looking at the Sportster and reading up on its' history, the 883 I have is called the Evolution. the Harley aftermarket products/ accessories are unbelievable! Ever heard of an easy pull clutch???
Sportsters have been around a long time and are improved regularly. I think it could be a South American pave road tourer. I remember in Bolivia, up around the Lake, we met up with a Harley Club of Bolivians. They were really friendly to us dual purpose Honda Riders. Maybe I'll get lucky and be invited to join a Harley club here in Buenos Aires. First, I got to get the low rider out there and just cruise. I'll just tell them, I was the first American (North) to join a Japanese Boy Scout troop in Tokyo. Yeah, right. Talk about dual purpose, a Hubber and a Harleyer! JohnnyVLX, that YouTube video clip was hilarious. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED TO ALL! Each time I watch it I see more of its' spoofiness.. I could feel the guy sweat as he rounded the dirt on his big Sportster, one leg all out, just like the pros. Imagine if that bike fell on him, it ain't no XR250, but it did finish the race, according to the subtitles anyway. You all should check Falcon NX400 Hondas on YouTube, those Brazilian kids really put on a show many clips... Wheelies, and red line, all day long and a lot more. Anyway, if you get to Buenos Aires give me a shout. xfiltrate |
If I was going to use one of the Harleys as a dual purpose I would go for the 883 Sportster with a chain drive like the one you've got. They are heavy but the low seat height makes up for it and they probably aren't as heavy as the big BMWs. I take it you've got the mid controls so you can stand on the pegs, rather than forward controls. Bars and tyres can be changed quite easily, although I'm not sure how easily you can get different tyres in the sizes you would need. One drawback would be the tiny peanut tank.
I can't see you doing much mud-plugging with it but for hard packed trails it should be fine. |
HOG - Harley Owners Group
Hi xfiltrate,
"Maybe I'll get lucky and be invited to join a Harley club here in Buenos Aires" Harley dealers around the world sponsor their local chapter of HOG, the Harley Owners Group. If you contact the dealer in Buenos Aires, they'll put you in touch with the club. If they're anything like the HOG chapter I belonged to, they'l be more than happy to chat to you about your Sportster and maybe offer a few tips on how to get it going. Good luck, Indoors. |
HOG: Trail Blazing to New Horizons
Thanks Indoors. I am handling the Argentine registration of the Sportster now, it is a lot of work! Meanwhile, I carefully read the repair manual and have discovered that Harleys are not that complicated. There is a very standard approach to troubleshooting, and when Jeff Condon returns, we will follow the guidelines. This bike is very simple, standard and easy to understand.
Meanwhile, Mariano at Motocare has provided me the name of an excellent Harley mechanic here. ( Marcelo Matocq at this phone 4773-9153 ) I post it here for others. I also have the name of the mechanic who recently did the engine rebuild... The Harley club just had an encuentro downtown Buenos Aires. They are a very wealthy group of folks. Anyone with specific tech hints for a 1986 harley Sportster 883, I believe converted into a 1200 is welcome to post here. Thanks guys, the hardest part of all this is the paperwork - getting it legal for the streets! I am dealing with some very difficult and expensive issues, and if interested see the last few posts on my thread Buy/Sell in Argentina at Mexico Central South America region on HUBB. |
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Good luck with the Sporty, they're a good bike. Here's my old one: my old sportster dubai 2000 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Regards. |
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La Harley is up and running 21mar08
Thanks for that great web site Grumpy. And thanks to all others. With advice from Marty, 5 chapters of data, the expert hands and mind of Ramblin Man Jeff Condon La Harley a 1986 Sportster 883 converted to 1200 is sorted out and running very well. Oh yeah...
Problems were, suspected dirty fuel after 6 months living in a tunnel and with the police. Bad disc like points that had to be replaced. Needed new Harley battery needed carb cleaning and adjustment, too lean. plugs, chain adjustments, sorting out of wiring and vacuum tubes rear break pedal had to be re connected and adjusted a lot of TLC, a lot of sweat and a lot of running around to Harley dealer and to Supertronics near Buenos Aires... for electronic part testing. Voila it fires up like new. it runs great and will have valve clearance check , regular maintenance from the mechanic who did the conversion 1500 K ago. It really sounds like a Harley, Now on to the registration in Argentina, will keep you posted thanks to all. Have a beer now, we got another one back on the road. SPEEDOMETER NEEDED FOR A 1986 SPORTSTER 883 Any ideas? thanks again xfiltrate |
Great news!
Well done for all the hard work. :thumbup1:
It always good to hear of an old bike rising from the ashes, and it'll pee off all those who think Harleys are relics. You'll have to put a picture up sometime. |
sporty
Xfilrate, there is an american couple on tour right now in Costa Rica and heading your way. If you'll look on Adventure Rider forum in ride reports they are listed as Cavebiker-No return ticket.
They ride dirt and gravel, not just pavement. |
Peter and Kay Forwood
Here is THE best bike travel Blog I have ever seen, bar none. Peter and Kay have been traveling for 12 years. Here is the header for their webpage:
This has been a twelve year journey throughout the world which started in Australia on the 3rd of February 1996 and continues today. The same motorcycle , carrying our luggage has now visited 185 countries and ridden over 470,000 km on its journey. We are endeavouring to have it take us to every country in the world, there now remain 8 countries to visit (6 Pacific Island countries plus the two Koreas). It has also visited over 357 countries, states, territories, isolated parcels, atolls and disputed territories as identified in the Most Travelled Persons list. They are on a Harley. Not a Sportster but a full tourer! If you think they have been on just ordinary roads, check out Section 7 of their trip. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/forwood/mytrip.shtml WARNING: Don't even go to their site unless you have lots (and I mean LOTS) of free time. I have been following their trip for about 10 years. Regards Nigel in NZ |
Thanks Nigel in NZ and to Jeff also of NZ
This is especially for you Kiwi types. listen up Jeff ... You guys really get things done...thanks
Today during the not so quiet uproar of a nation twisting in the wind as inane, INANE is not the same word as INSANE, but close...political types try in vain to fix an economy that is imploding. HERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS... Marty's 1986 Harley XLH 883 Sportster converted to a 1200 that was rescued from Patagonia earlier this year is up and running and legally on the road again. After Jeff's contributions, the only things that were needed were, new plugs, a little attention to the carb, installation of new speedometer I picked up in the states...and replacement of a couple of inches of wiring , new oil and safety check... I separated La Harley from the dealer, where she was the darling of the day for all the mechanics..., this afternoon and rode her home to Recoleta. The papers are all legal now (now that was a couple of frustrating months and I still don't understand all that had to be done...) and , of course I bought insurance. This bike is incredible, after pushing it around the parking garage for a few months, I was very surprised to learn how well it handles in traffic and OMG the power compares very favorably to my NX400... this is a rocket... I didn't notice the weight so much as the center of gravity is very low. I barely got into 4th gear 2 times...on the way home. this bike gets a lot of attention, it sounds great, BIG BIG SOUND, looks like a motorcycle should look , I guess, and I would like to thank all of you who have assisted Marty and myself in salvaging an almost lost 1986 Harley Sportster that has a new life now. PS I opted to wear my new fully padded (bulletproof almost) BMW touring outfit.. in lieu of my Brando Black leather jacket because I have never ridden a Harley before...but alas... the leathers would have done just fine... Jeff, La Harley is waiting you and so is your CV3 come home son. Marty, get your butt back down here and on your Harley ...too. Wayne , see you Sunday morning for a run down to the motocross races... xfiltrate |
Harley Sportster with Edelbrock Qwiksilver carb
Well, Wayne did show at our meeting point on Sunday morning. I decided not to ride south to the races due to forcasted rain.
Wayne, like the amazing Brit he is, just suited up in his rain gear and headed south. I read in the newspaper today of 3 fatal accidents (rain related) on the exact route he took, on Sunday morning... I am sure he is OK...Wow Now for the tech question, anyone know why the little pole with the right angle top coming out of the carb does not seat down correctly and causes a fast idle? The idle is fine some of the time, but sometimes the little pole (I think it is used to adjust the fuel mixture) has to be manually pushed down to have a reasonable idle. Any ideas? xfiltrate |
If it's a two stud flange fitting, over-tightening can distort the carb body a little. Or maybe a little WD40 or similar dribbled down the adjuster.
Actually, I know nothing about Harleys.... Regards Nigel in NZ |
thanks Nigel
Yep, I think you are right both suggestions might help, will take her for a spin if tomorrow is dry. xfiltrate
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Update on Marty's Patagonia Harley duel purpose bike?
Thus far La Harley has been duel purpose. Going and Mostly Not Going.
Nigel, the WD-40 sorted out the throttle problem, after the Harley dealer guys tweaked everything, the motor was running fine, until I pulled in at a Recoleta cafe and had a cup of coffee. After that La Harley started right up, I thumped her into first and let out the clutch - nothing. The front sprocket came loose. Marty had warned me about this, the front sprocket was welded on. OK, I transported to another Harley mechanic- the dealer won't do major work on anything older than 1990. I was given a needed part list and the expensive parts are being hand carried in from two countries. I transported La Harley home and now am starring at the mufflers and a cardboard box of parts removed to diagnose the problem. 1986 Sportster 883 recently converted to 1200 Here is the tech question, are there any Harley qualified mechanics, who want to earn some bucks, going to be in Buenos Aires around Christmas? If so please send a private message. Room and board, pleasant working conditions and I will have most tools. I will need help. thanks xfiltrate |
New twist in the Harley South American adventure...
Anyone following this thread might be interested to know a box of Harley parts arrived today from a Harley dealer in Perth, Australia.
Yes, life is good and getting better. Four additional parts are en route from London and soon, La Harley, with a very interesting South American history behind her, and more adventures to come....will be up and running. Last chance for any Harley mechanic to take advantage of deal offered in previous reply. xfiltrate |
If your really interested in dual sporting the Harley, contact the editor of Cycle Canada(a Canadian motorcycle magazine), his name is Costa. That's what he did, he ran the dirt and gravel roads of northern Quebec in Canada and did some pretty tough off roading as well. He might be able to point you in the right direction.
Have fun! |
To Harley or not to Harley
Hi all been following the thread with great interest. We currently have a 04 fatty and we are looking at getting an ultra classic for our planned world adventure. We'd really love to do the trip on a harley any advice on this including availability of suitable fuel in places like Africa, Asia etc.
Brett and Jen |
You need to read this! Peter and Kay have been all over the world on a Glide.
www.horizonsunlimited.com/forwood |
go for it
sure mate go for it!!! dont listen to all the posers on their falsh BM,s the first bike i know of that went around the world was a 1928 J model HD another bloke road his hog after his leg was blown off in SA and HD gave him a sporty which he then rode through russia in winter, and you know he had the pick of all HD models and he choose a sporty! had one my self and yea i reckon no probs bro go for it, ive had the same thought so let me know if you do, keep the rubber on the road bro :)
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