Riding with HOG riders...not the clash of clans type

[GS1150Pilot]

On a tangential but almost related note:

On my ride down to Tucson last weekend, I stopped in Florence to top up on gas. As I was filling the bike, a truly cool Sportster 1200 48 pulls in. Big front tire, tractor style seat, blue (something about blue Sporties ... dunno) with red and white decals and a little AMF tag. Older guy riding it starts up a convo about the 1150, and I asked questions about the Sporty. He said it was one of the most fun bikes he's ever owned (he also has an ElectraGlide and a KTM dirtbike), but that it's good for 40 miles before it becomes a literal pain in the ass. He said he'd done 700 mile days on the big Harley. I think both bikes are cool, and all that matters is the attitude of the owners. I hate the traditional HD monobrowed, knuckledragging mindset. Enlightened owners make the bikes fun.

 

[Wingsconsin]

You guys have nothing to talk about ---

Try living in Milwaukee and NEVER owning a HD --

My Goldwings and my GS850L are always the talk of the partys around the neighborhood.
The HD owners all want to know WHY I don;t ride the Motor company vehicle --
Until we compare annual mileage and they usually average 5000 per year - while I average 5000 on the 850 and 10K on the Wing.

850 is like owning a sports car convertible
Wing is a luxury mini-van

Both will get you where you want to go

 

[storm 64]

You guys have nothing to talk about ---

Try living in Milwaukee and NEVER owning a HD --

My Goldwings and my GS850L are always the talk of the partys around the neighborhood.
The HD owners all want to know WHY I don;t ride the Motor company vehicle --
Until we compare annual mileage and they usually average 5000 per year - while I average 5000 on the 850 and 10K on the Wing.

850 is like owning a sports car convertible
Wing is a luxury mini-van

Both will get you where you want to go

A luxury mini-van??? Don't you mean a luxury Winnebago! Haha☺

 

[Guest]

Don't you mean a luxury Winnebago! Haha☺

That should be "luxury WINGabago".

 

[dorkburger]

Regarding the Wing. A friend of mine rides one. While rolling in slow traffic, he goosed the throttle, and the front wheel came off of the ground a bit. I was impressed, especially given the bikes lenth and weight.
And lest we forget that YouTube video of that guy riding one on the Dragon like a hero with sparks flying at every turn.
That being said, I'm not ready for that style of bike yet. Im still a hot rodder at heart.

As Pilot touched on earlier, an enlightened rider enjoys bikes in general and realizes that we all share the same joys and dangers out on the streets.

 

[Who Dat?]

Regarding the Wing. A friend of mine rides one. While rolling in slow traffic, he goosed the throttle, and the front wheel came off of the ground a bit. I was impressed, especially given the bikes lenth and weight.

Do you know what year or (engine) size Wing? Some will do that easier than others. I have seen pictures of many Wings with the front wheel in the air, but some were definitely Photoshopped.

And lest we forget that YouTube video of that guy riding one on the Dragon like a hero with sparks flying at every turn.

"That guy" goes by the name "Yellow Wolf". He knows the Gap very well, because he lives in the area and rides it every week, if not every day.

One more bit of trivia concerning Yellow Wolf and the Gap: He has done a certified Iron Butt ride on the Gap. He had to apply to the iron Butt Association for special permission for such a repetitive ride and had to document it IMMACULATELY. Usually, your start time for an Iron Butt ride is a gas station receipt, but he found another way. Don't know if it was a screen shot of his GPS or some certified observer, but he started at one end of the Gap, rode to the other end. Stopped long enough for someone to record his odometer and the time, then he took off again.

It took about 47 or 48 round trips to ensure that he had 1000 miles, and it took him about 23 1/2 hours, meaning that he was riding the Dragon ALL NIGHT LONG. Might not have been going quite as fast as in daytime, but it's a good thing he knows it WELL. :encouragement:

 

[Wingsconsin]

 

[dorkburger]

Do you know what year or (engine) size Wing? Some will do that easier than others. I have seen pictures of many Wings with the front wheel in the air, but some were definitely Photoshopped.

One of these View attachment 52482(sample pic) It wasn't a monster wheelie like below, but it carried several inches off the ground for a bit.

 

[earlfor]

As a Harley and a GS owner....you are comparing apples and oranges here. My GS is quicker, my Harley is more comfortable. The GS is a sport bike, and the Harley is a touring bike, for a reason! I like riding my GS anywhere less than 60-70 miles but if I'm gonna do 347 miles like last Saturday, I want to be on the Harley. No way could this old body handle that many miles on the GS. Love 'em both, just for different reasons.

I made a couple 1000 mile, non stop rides on my 85 GS1150E and I was damn comfortable.

 

[jsandidge]

I made a couple 1000 mile, non stop rides on my 85 GS1150E and I was damn comfortable.

You must be getting excellent mileage, or a really big fuel tank.

 

[dorkburger]

I was thinking about this while riding yesterday, and assume it's a part of the pack menality, but why would one need to give a high sign to hit it? On a loud bike, its painfully obvoius when one whacks the throttle open. Could be hairy if everyone goes wide open together, especially if someone in the back has a quicker bike...

 

[Blue Falcon]

Have you ridden a Road King, or a newer Gold Wing?

yes on both, don't care for the Road King, the Gold Wing was like riding on silk.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Road Kings are wonderful on the open road.

 

[Eli69]

went for a ride with a couple rocket punks and one harley back when i had my 850. for some reason the harley dude thought i'd be the slowest bike..... he seemed quite surprised to find out he was wrong.

 

[Blue Falcon]

I was thinking about this while riding yesterday, and assume it's a part of the pack menality, but why would one need to give a high sign to hit it? On a loud bike, its painfully obvoius when one whacks the throttle open. Could be hairy if everyone goes wide open together, especially if someone in the back has a quicker bike...

you have a valid point...only thing I can think of is it gets rid of the "oh crap we are throttling up" moment. Meh, we all got along great that night, listened to some good music and swilled back a few. When we go back out this weekend, I will have my pods, jet kit and exhaust complete, exhaust done already, working on the pods and jet kit tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be 4 hours of swapping and I will hit it right the first time.

 

[Guest]

When we go back out this weekend, I will have my pods, jet kit and exhaust complete, exhaust done already, working on the pods and jet kit tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be 4 hours of swapping and I will hit it right the first time.

I just love the naievely optimistic attitude. :encouragement:

 

[GS1150Pilot]

I just love the naievely optimistic attitude. :encouragement:

With pods, yeah-LOL.

 

[limeex2]

I have a GL1800. Its no pooch... With new tires,not square it corners great for a 800+ bike. While I was in the mountains, I saw 50+ mpg.Quite a few times. In regards to wheelies, when I worked in the bike dealership the dirt bike guys could wheelie anything except for really long, slow cruisers.

 

[Blue Falcon]

I just love the naievely optimistic attitude. :encouragement:

3 hours of install and 3-4 hours of swapping. Final set up: DJ160 jets, needles on slot #4, 4 1/2 turns on mix, sync/balance/tune done. Good colors on plugs, no backfires, boggs, floods or flat spots. My final check coming at work, gonna set her up in the auto shop, take thermal images of exhaust and set up the wideband. I have a good feeling I'm almost spot on, minor tweaks from here. Powerband pretty much 4K-redline. Definite difference, waiting to see the change in mpg, I'm expecting a significant drop in gas mileage. As far as performance, no one could keep up in the group, was nice. Smooth rise from dead stop to 9k through all gears. Lots of trial and error. Takes patience and thought for those that are going to try it. I went through all 3 jets at position #3, dropped a slot and the 160 was the winner out of the 3, found the sweet spot. #3 cylinder was a little lean, 4 3/4 turns evened it out.

Before doing the mod, I checked valve clearance, made sure all orings were good, lines were good. Bench syncd carbs, made sure pods made a good seal. Hooked it all up, did a sync with each change in jets and needle position. Didn't really need it after initial sync..but did it anyway. Made 1/2 and 1/4 pod covers out of small solo cups that I cut to see if too much air --do this helps immensely-- once I had it all set final sync and new plugs. She is lean and mean. Thermal and a/f check will tell me more tomorrow. I don't expect much more tweaking I will need. Only thing left i could do is a Dyna 2000 set up.