I sat on a V-Rod in the showroom here locally. Even for a short statured fellow like myself, I was suprised at how comfortable the ergonomice were. Reach to the pegs didn't seem that bad, nor the reach to the bars either.

Quote from: Big Rich on February 26, 2011, 10:41:50 PM

I'm sure they are assembled in the good ol USA though. The V-Rod is a great bike. Definitely one of my favorite Harleys. But it's frowned upon by some Harley owners (much like Buel) because Porche designed it.

Erik Buell also put a ton of work into that motor too, so if some HD riders don't like Buell, that's just a 2nd reason not to like the vrod motor.

Quote from: jserio on February 26, 2011, 10:31:50 PM
I would say that the reason they still used pushrods is to keep the Harley sound unique. Changing from the pushrod would change this no? 

Not saying it's the reason they keep them, but the XBs also have pushrods and even if they're an old setup, I'm perfectly willing to accept it for the self adjusting valves. Not the checking valves is the worst thing in the world, but I'm really happy I'm never gonna have to do it on that bike.

I'm not sure how much the pushrods affect the sound. The difference between the Harley vtwin and japanese twins is the offset firing pattern. On the gs you hear the motor going "bang(1)-----bang(2)-----bang(1)-----bang(2)-----bang(1)", but on HDs you're hearing the engine go "bang(1)---bang(2)-------bang(1)---bang(2)-------bang(1)---bang(2)". I can't say for sure, but I don't think it's really a difference of how the valves are being pressed.

The biggest difference between overhead cams and pushrods is less moving parts, so it is easier to build an engine that will rev higher...it would have no impact on the sound of the engine, all the cam does is let the fuel and air in, and the exhaust out by openning and closing the valves...the sound is produced by the explosion within the compression chamber...the sound is dictated by the timing of the explosion and the size of the explosion (that's why big twins shake the earth, and a 250cc twin has similar sound but is not quite as deep)..."potato-potato" is engineered in vs the more "putt-putt" sound from 90 deg twin like the SV650, or Ducati's...or even our GS500s.

Later.

Quote from: madjak30 on February 27, 2011, 11:15:53 AM
The biggest difference between overhead cams and pushrods is less moving parts, so it is easier to build an engine that will rev higher...

Much less reciprocating mass is what allows an overhead cam setup to work faster.  Fewer parts is a bonus.  The venerable H-D V-twin has limited rpm range not only for that reason, but also the single-pin crankshaft (both connecting rods driven from the same journal) and small V-angle. This is what H-D claims to give their engines their unique sound.  Technically they're correct, but at the same time there is really no sound basis for it.  The problem is, human ears can't tell the subtle difference in sound between a V-twin with one journal and one with two, or a V-twin with an acute V-angle and one that's 90 degrees or more.  I have witnessed Harley owners hanging outside the bar while others ride away on late model Japanese cruisers and they say "Damn, they sound just like a Harley!"

Everyone else modernized their engines a generation or more ago.  Harley is just being stubborn at this point.  They should have done the job completely in 1985, rather than halfway.  But hey, they can make-up for it and then some with H-D ladies' panties, right?

Stop knocking pushrod gents. They are extremely rugged engines when it comes to field work. (Not that a HD or a jap sports bike goes anywhere near the field.) There is a reason most engines in power plants that don't care about loudness go with pushrod set ups. They just keep going and going with poor maintenance. If you look at history pushrod and ohc were invented not long after each other back around 1900. Not sure the year so I'm going to say around.
That said OHC makes for a smoother power delivery, quieter, more rev ability as someone also said. I prefer OHC but I still love the twin turbo OHV engine sitting in my 260Z.

Greetings Yamahonkawazuki ... a kindred spirit!

I'm not so much a fan of all Harleys, but I really like Sportsters!

I had one GS500 and I'm on my 2nd Sportster. If I have too much excess cash sometime I might add an SV650.

My Sportster has been totally reliable, comfortable, and fast enough to walk away from the mightiest GS500

Yes the exhaust pipes are chrome and the handlebars, but again if too much money ever shows up there's a  black set of headers and handlebars I'd like.

I do retain some fond memories of my GS though ... just enough that I'd rather have a new 250 Ninja if I wanted to add a little bike.

So do not fear the Harleys, at least the Sportsters. Try one, they aren't that heavy or expensive.


2005XL 883 to 1200 conversion, Hi Comp Pistons, .497 cams, SE intake and exhaust, LePera Maverick 2up seat, Progressive Suspension

welcome back !!

Thanks, Yama. I was surfing and decided to check in.

Having never ridden a GS, I can't compare the power the make to the HD Sporties. However, I can say that on my last demo ride, I put around 60 miles on that 1200 Low. There came a time when I was pretty much just out in open space on the highway and was coming up on a truck. I didn't wish to stay behind him nor did I want to ride too close to him at the side either. Bad enough feeling so tiny in the car compared to the big guys let alone out on a bike. Anyhow, checking to see the lane was clear I moved over and gave the throttle a little twist. No trouble getting around the truck. The engine never sounded as if I was beating on it. So, I would say that they make more than enough power for just about anybody. I won't say they are cheaper than the GS(or any other bike) because it would be a flat out lie. However, when the funds are available, I may very well opt for one. To each his own. 

Quote from: jserio on February 28, 2011, 11:17:22 AM
Having never ridden a GS,

WHAT?!!?

Haha, you don't expect to hear that here with 3000 posts. You just like us that much?

Oh well no GS and 3K posts ... well for the last 10K I've not had a gs. But however, I do have several piles of parts that can be eventually coaxed into pretending they are a GS.

BTW I was just thinking about the original topic, and what is IMHO real sad is when these Harley Idiots have bike payments that rival their house payments and they refer to it as a person ... I'm like What, who is "jessica" and they go oh, its my bike ... OH OK ...

Cool.
Buddha.

I just love seeing Craigslist ads where someone bought a Harley, rode it for 10k miles...and now thinks it's still worth that they paid for it. 

Quote from: murf425 on February 28, 2011, 01:07:52 PM
I just love seeing Craigslist ads where someone bought a Harley, rode it for 10k miles...and now thinks it's still worth that they paid for it. 

I saw one last fall where a doctor put a few thousand miles on his Sporty over a 5-year period.  He still wanted six grand and said in the ad he wouldn't let anyone ride it first.  I wrote him back and said "What's the problem?  It's not a Vincent Black Shadow!"

Quote from: bill14224 on February 28, 2011, 02:57:41 PM

Quote from: murf425 on February 28, 2011, 01:07:52 PM
I just love seeing Craigslist ads where someone bought a Harley, rode it for 10k miles...and now thinks it's still worth that they paid for it. 

I saw one last fall where a doctor put a few thousand miles on his Sporty over a 5-year period.  He still wanted six grand and said in the ad he wouldn't let anyone ride it first.  I wrote him back and said "What's the problem?  It's not a Vincent Black Shadow!"

ehh i let people ride em, IF i hold $$ in hand. so if they wreck it, tehy wreck their bike not mine

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on February 28, 2011, 09:59:46 PM

Quote from: bill14224 on February 28, 2011, 02:57:41 PM

Quote from: murf425 on February 28, 2011, 01:07:52 PM
I just love seeing Craigslist ads where someone bought a Harley, rode it for 10k miles...and now thinks it's still worth that they paid for it. 

I saw one last fall where a doctor put a few thousand miles on his Sporty over a 5-year period.  He still wanted six grand and said in the ad he wouldn't let anyone ride it first.  I wrote him back and said "What's the problem?  It's not a Vincent Black Shadow!"

ehh i let people ride em, IF i hold $$ in hand. so if they wreck it, tehy wreck their bike not mine

And wouldn't you know, its happened 2 X to me. One clown, matter of fact from gstwin (was a lurker) bought an sv from me in 2006 and crashed on the test ride. I ask him before he rides if he knows how to ride, and he goes, I took the msf course. I said that doesn't answer the question. He paid me, and stupidly I let him ride anyway mainly because he is from the DC area where things were bound to be harder for him with tighter traffic and narrower streets.
Then one clown in houston crashes my seca on the test ride and leaves in an ambulance. Sadly I got stiffed then, but the damage is minimal, I ride it to work the next day.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: The Buddha on March 01, 2011, 06:08:38 AM
Then one clown in houston crashes my seca on the test ride and leaves in an ambulance. Sadly I got stiffed then, but the damage is minimal, I ride it to work the next day.
Cool.
Buddha.

LOL. The damage was minimal to the bike. So long to the dude taking an ambulance to his new home

Quote from: tt_four on February 28, 2011, 11:47:57 AM

Quote from: jserio on February 28, 2011, 11:17:22 AM
Having never ridden a GS,

WHAT?!!?

Haha, you don't expect to hear that here with 3000 posts. You just like us that much?

I do like it here actually. Honestly, I found this site a few years ago doing some research. Was looking for differences etc between the GS and the Kawi 500 at the time. I was thinking of purchasing one of the two at that time. Things didn't exactly work out on that end however I liked the board here so I just stuck around. They haven't run me off yet.

Quote from: plewis51 on March 01, 2011, 01:07:54 PM

Quote from: The Buddha on March 01, 2011, 06:08:38 AM
Then one clown in houston crashes my seca on the test ride and leaves in an ambulance. Sadly I got stiffed then, but the damage is minimal, I ride it to work the next day.
Cool.
Buddha.

LOL. The damage was minimal to the bike. So long to the dude taking an ambulance to his new home

Yup, his ignorance helped him get pinned under the bike.
Cool.
Buddha.

lol jserio hte ONLY one here, never having a gs, wants an HD  , AND got a "custom title", AND not been run off. damn boys done it all

   Never said I didn't like the GS. Just thought I'd put that out there.