Re: Tell Me What I Want

On Tue, 7 Aug 2007 19:34:58 -0800, "Robert Bolton"
<robertboltondrop@xxxxxxx> wrote:


"Bob Mann" <Bobo@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:22ugb3hak0krs3he65ogjn5iinn2chcdl5@xxxxxxxxxx
On Sun, 5 Aug 2007 22:01:51 -0800, "Robert Bolton"
<robertboltondrop@xxxxxxx> wrote:


"Bob Mann" <Bobo@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:66obb3p8qfujjibndqkpjjsgtfrnbt463b@xxxxxxxxxx
On Sat, 4 Aug 2007 23:59:14 -0800, "Robert Bolton"
<robertboltondrop@xxxxxxx> wrote:
....

Incidentally, I found a place called Bikez.com that listed a bunch of
motorcycle specs. They listed the 97 FLHTC as 765 lbs, 59 Hp and 75
ft-lbs @ 3000rpm, but the owners manual says 746 lbs, 67 hp @ 5000 and
80
ft-lbs @ 4k rpm. I'm not sure what's up with that.

It's a no go showboat but perhaps I'll learn to love this too.
Robert

Well, I would definitely try to find one a couple of years newer and
get the TC88 motor. It will be doing 75 mph @ 3000 rpm and will get
you there a touch quicker.

Our highest speed limit here is 65 so 72 or 3 is my max steady speed.

My guess would be that the heavier weight is correct, mine is more
like 800 lbs. As for power. I believe the TC88 has 68 hp so I am
inclined to believe that the1340 evo is closer to 60. I KNOW that it
is a lot slower.

My memory was bad. The owners manual says -
70 hp @5k (Can't explain it)

Optimistic. Maybe at the crank.
I don't know how they were measuing back in 1997, but it seems to me autos
measure at the transmission output?

I'm not sure there is a standard for bikes but I do know that magazine
tests never come up with HP as high as stated.


Weight
FLHT - 711
FLHTC - 741
FLHTCU - 765
I think the newer bikes are just heavier, in part due to the larger
engine.

They are certainly heavier than that.

The big H-Ds are comfortable and work extremely well within their
comfort range which is 60-70 mph.


This one seems to like that speed in 5th gear. 2700 to 300 seems to be
a
good spot.

Yes. I don't mind that speed and held it to that for most of the first
300km of my Calgary trip. I got excellent mileage. Approximately 185
miles on one tank.

Tank mileage is something I'm worried about. I think it's 149 miles from
GlenAllen to Delta and there is no gas between those two points. It's 147
miles between Palmer and GlenAllen, with no gas stop inbetween. I'm
hoping no one's jetted the carb on this thing as I'll need all the mileage
I can get.

I think about 150 miles on a tank should be doable under most
circumstances. MY FXD gave me some problems with mileage after I did
the carb but I think they messed up the mix.
The touring bikes have a slightly more highway oriented gear ratio I
believe so you should be okay.
...

My theory in buying was this -
Looking at the Electraglide and checking specs, it seemed like an 88
didn't put out that much more hp than the 80 (which is 81.6) and weighed
a
little more, so I need a 96 to get adequate power. I wasn't ready to
buy
a $20k bike, so was looking at either an old 88 or an 80. Two cheap
deals
popped up this week, one a 2002 88 for $11500 and the other this 1997 80
for $10k, both FLHTC. Sue was stressing over spending money on a guy
toy,
but she stuck to her story that she was afraid of falling off the
Connie.
She saw a photo of the 2002 and saw the 1997 in real life. She
preferred
the 1997 for the shiny baseball caps on all the lights, which the 2002
didn't have. Given that the 1997 would stress Sue the least (money and
looks wise) while the lighter weight would be a plus for my in town work
commute, I decided I'd live with less performance for less money and
less
weight for now, and maybe move up to a 96 around retirement time if it
looked like we would keep a Harley.

There are several things you can do with an evo to get a bit more
power out of it too without breaking the bank.
Intake and carb kit, slip on exhaust and a set of cams would improve
power considerably and cost maybe $1000.

I think this things will have just enough poop to do the hills for us
two-up, but we won't be doing that very often so I can live with riding
in
the motorhome lane if I have to. I'm not sure two-up with a trailer and
a
hill would work but that's OK. Passing on a hill, which the Concours
does
at will, is something I'll learn not to do.

Mine will but it does it at a cost, lots of money up front.
A quick downshift (optional) and I can be doing 100mph by the time I
am by a semi. It isn't the best though which is one of the many
reasons I looked so hard at that Concours.

My old Concours is great for that. I'm still riding it to work while I
wait for the new title to arrive as I need to get a sticker to get on
base. It's a lot of fun and feels pretty light after riding the Classic.

Yes, the old K bike was great too. If the ergos had been better (for
me) I would probably still have it along with a whole bunch of my
money.

Shame you can't keep both.
Funnily enough I am flying to LA tomorrow to pick up a car for a
neighbour who neglected to get a passport.
If I do get a sport tourer, I don't think it would be an older Connie
although it isn't out of the realm of possibility.

Ouch! I feel for the neighbor. You probably won't see this then as
there'll be 1000 posts by the time you get home. I toyed with the idea of
keeping both but then Classic would hardly get used.

It'll cost him about the same to get it back except that I get to
drive it before he does and enjoy the trip, short as it will be.
I leave at 5pm this afternoon.

If I can swing it I might try to keep the Ultra which is paid for
(because like yours, my wife really likes it) and buy the Connie using
one of my RRSPs (like an IRA) which aren't doing much for me right now
anyway or I might just go back to work full time. :-)

Thinking about it, I'd recommend you keep it on hand if you can, or sell
it and get a less expensive version of the same thing. I figure that
Sue's going to want a luxury liner for now on, so someday I'll go back to
having two. I still haven't had my Ducati, Triumph, or Moto Guzzi. Who
knows, maybe Ural will issue a 1000cc version.

I'm really considering it.
Until I saw that bike I was thinking used ST1100/1300, R1100/1150RT,
K1100LT or similar.
I might still go for a used Connie but all the little niggles I've
read about kind of put me off a bit.

--
Bob Mann

Sex is like air; it's not important unless you
aren't getting any
.

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