SeaCat
Hey, my Halo is smoking
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2003
- Posts
- 15,378
I was allowed to give a new Harley Superlow, (Sportster 883) a test ride today. Not just a test ride but a wring it out let the bike stretch it's legs and run test ride.
This had been set up by one of my M.D.'s at the hospital. He like me rides and just like me had been saddled with a bike he couldn't trust for too many years. He wanted me to check this bike out. (I'm sure he's hoping I get one.)
Now don't get me wrong, it's not that I dislike Harley's. I just dislike the prices they have been charging for them in the past. Also the Harley's I have ridden in the past haven't been that good. (Okay I admit I rode them many years ago when they were owned by AMF.)
I showed up at the Harley Dealership this morning when it was still fairly cool. It hadn't broken 85° yet. (Translated it was still dark out.
)
I was greeted at the door by the owner of the shop as well as my M.D. friend and a couple of other riders. I had to sign a couple of pieces of paper relieving the dealership of liability if I was injured during the ride and then was shown the bike my wife and I would be riding.
Now I was a bit dubious when I saw the bike and how it was set up. It was the 883 series which is Harley's smallest model. This one was set up with a Tombstone Windshield and Saddle Bags as well as an engine guard. This adds weight and wind resistance to the bike. Plus I would be riding it doubles. After giving it a quick once over checking things like Oil and water, Tire Pressure and the tightnes of the bolts I could get to I climbed into the saddle.
The first thing I noticed was the bike was short enough for even my altitude limited frame. (I'm five foot six.) Then I noticed it was balanced well and easy to lift off the stand. The stock seat actually felt confortable. All controls were laid out nicely with no long reaches and the speedo was where I like them, on the bars instead of on the tank.
When I started the bike I was greeted by a quiet low level rumble. You could hear it but it wasn't deafening. I could get used to that. When my wife climbed into the saddle behind me she told me it felt good, almost sculpted to her butt. Revving the engine I was surprised at how quickly it responded, no noticable lag.
I finished pulling on my gear and buckling my helmet as I mentally reviewed the ride in my head. The first part of the ride was a short run to get out of town then we were heading north on an inland road with some nice straights ending in a series of turns and twists. This would be followed by a run East to the highway then a straight run at speed. It was planned we would be on the road for about two hours.
I quickly learned this bike wanted to run and was willing to let me know this. Coming off the line there was no hesitation and it accelerated nicely even with the two of us on it. Stopping the bike wasn't a problem either. (This with my wife and me on it's back, and together we weigh in at 260.) Once out of town I could relax a bit and let the bike have it's head. It was more than happy to run at 50-60 MPH and easily kept up with the larger bikes of the others in the group. The riding position was easy on the spine and butt as the miles rolled under the wheels and the sun came up.
When we hit the twisties I tensed up a bit because I ddin't know how this bike was going to handle. I shouldn't have worried as it ate the turns without a hiccup. I found myself leaning the bike as much as I lean the "Beast" into them. Power control was nice and smooth and the bike was giving me a nice feel of the road. Oh this was nice.
We stopped at a gas station/restaraunt to grab something to eat and take a leak. (Not to mention top off the tanks even though they didn't really need it.) The most important thing was for us to cool off and top up our tanks.
A short jog East and we picked up I-95 southbound. I didn't hesitate to roll on the throttle on the on ramp and was looking forward to see what kind of legs this bike had. (Remember this is their smallest Street Bike.) Merging with traffic was easy as hell and the bike just kept pulling. It didn't take long to get it up to speed and we were cruising at between 75 and 80 MPH. Let me tell you I was surprised. The bike was stable and well mannered at this speed and didn't seem to be winding out. The engine seemed comfortable with none of the whining I have heard in other bikes this size. (You should hear the "Beast" at highway speeds.) I even had plenty of throttle left and when I rolled it on the bike got up and got.
All too soon the ride was over and we were pulling back into the dealership.
Now at a base price of $7,999.00 it's not overly expensive. In fact it's competetive with bikes of that same size. (The Kawa Vulcan 900 is roughly $8K.)
I won't be buying one of these any time soon because of finances but oh man was this a lot of fun.
Cat
This had been set up by one of my M.D.'s at the hospital. He like me rides and just like me had been saddled with a bike he couldn't trust for too many years. He wanted me to check this bike out. (I'm sure he's hoping I get one.)
Now don't get me wrong, it's not that I dislike Harley's. I just dislike the prices they have been charging for them in the past. Also the Harley's I have ridden in the past haven't been that good. (Okay I admit I rode them many years ago when they were owned by AMF.)
I showed up at the Harley Dealership this morning when it was still fairly cool. It hadn't broken 85° yet. (Translated it was still dark out.
)I was greeted at the door by the owner of the shop as well as my M.D. friend and a couple of other riders. I had to sign a couple of pieces of paper relieving the dealership of liability if I was injured during the ride and then was shown the bike my wife and I would be riding.
Now I was a bit dubious when I saw the bike and how it was set up. It was the 883 series which is Harley's smallest model. This one was set up with a Tombstone Windshield and Saddle Bags as well as an engine guard. This adds weight and wind resistance to the bike. Plus I would be riding it doubles. After giving it a quick once over checking things like Oil and water, Tire Pressure and the tightnes of the bolts I could get to I climbed into the saddle.
The first thing I noticed was the bike was short enough for even my altitude limited frame. (I'm five foot six.) Then I noticed it was balanced well and easy to lift off the stand. The stock seat actually felt confortable. All controls were laid out nicely with no long reaches and the speedo was where I like them, on the bars instead of on the tank.
When I started the bike I was greeted by a quiet low level rumble. You could hear it but it wasn't deafening. I could get used to that. When my wife climbed into the saddle behind me she told me it felt good, almost sculpted to her butt. Revving the engine I was surprised at how quickly it responded, no noticable lag.
I finished pulling on my gear and buckling my helmet as I mentally reviewed the ride in my head. The first part of the ride was a short run to get out of town then we were heading north on an inland road with some nice straights ending in a series of turns and twists. This would be followed by a run East to the highway then a straight run at speed. It was planned we would be on the road for about two hours.
I quickly learned this bike wanted to run and was willing to let me know this. Coming off the line there was no hesitation and it accelerated nicely even with the two of us on it. Stopping the bike wasn't a problem either. (This with my wife and me on it's back, and together we weigh in at 260.) Once out of town I could relax a bit and let the bike have it's head. It was more than happy to run at 50-60 MPH and easily kept up with the larger bikes of the others in the group. The riding position was easy on the spine and butt as the miles rolled under the wheels and the sun came up.
When we hit the twisties I tensed up a bit because I ddin't know how this bike was going to handle. I shouldn't have worried as it ate the turns without a hiccup. I found myself leaning the bike as much as I lean the "Beast" into them. Power control was nice and smooth and the bike was giving me a nice feel of the road. Oh this was nice.
We stopped at a gas station/restaraunt to grab something to eat and take a leak. (Not to mention top off the tanks even though they didn't really need it.) The most important thing was for us to cool off and top up our tanks.
A short jog East and we picked up I-95 southbound. I didn't hesitate to roll on the throttle on the on ramp and was looking forward to see what kind of legs this bike had. (Remember this is their smallest Street Bike.) Merging with traffic was easy as hell and the bike just kept pulling. It didn't take long to get it up to speed and we were cruising at between 75 and 80 MPH. Let me tell you I was surprised. The bike was stable and well mannered at this speed and didn't seem to be winding out. The engine seemed comfortable with none of the whining I have heard in other bikes this size. (You should hear the "Beast" at highway speeds.) I even had plenty of throttle left and when I rolled it on the bike got up and got.
All too soon the ride was over and we were pulling back into the dealership.
Now at a base price of $7,999.00 it's not overly expensive. In fact it's competetive with bikes of that same size. (The Kawa Vulcan 900 is roughly $8K.)
I won't be buying one of these any time soon because of finances but oh man was this a lot of fun.
Cat
