I'm new to this Sportster stuff...

[stro1965]

Brought a 2009 XL1200L home for mama yesterday.  She says she's not gonna need a lot of things changed (yeah, right).  We swapped the seat for an HD reach seat that is much more comfy, even for me.  And I attached the windshield a few minutes ago.  Wondering about simple stuff like...

Is the Sporty, like my Ultra, going to run hot in it's stock condition? 

Will the ECM make adjustments for simple changes like slip-ons?  Or do I need to look at a download or power commander?  She isn't interested in more power (yet), so the airbox will probably remain stock.

My size 12 boots barely fit in between the footpeg and the shift lever (mid-controls for now until she gets more comfortable with the bike), seems like a really short lever, is a longer lever available?  Even she has trouble getting under the lever with average sized feet.

Finally, is there any way to make that stiff clutch pull a little easier for her?

 

[96FLSTF]

Hey Stro,
Not sure if they are the same as my wife's 05, but check how the bars / risers are attached to the upper clamp. If like our 05 there is no isolator bushings between the clamp & risers. It will make a WORLD of difference adding the bushings. On longer trips she'll thank you for it.

Gene

[stro1965]

Hey Stro,
Not sure if they are the same as my wife's 05, but check how the bars / risers are attached to the upper clamp. If like our 05 there is no isolator bushings between the clamp & risers. It will make a WORLD of difference adding the bushings. On longer trips she'll thank you for it.

Gene

Thanks Gene, just checked, no bushings.  Do you remember the part number or where you found them?

[Hossamania]

You should be able to adjust the shifter peg to gain more clearance for her boots.
Yes it will get hot, especially if she is doing slow riding,like learning the bike in a parking lot. Don't know her riding experience.
The ecm should adjust for slip-ons just fine.
As far as clutch pull, I put an Easy Pull(?) on my clutch cable. It changes the leverage of the of the operation but adds length to the operation of the clutch handle. I found it hard to adjust quite right, and didn't like the extra travel of the clutch lever. This was on a Road King. I ended up removing it. I have small hands and like the engagement close to the bar instead of at the end of finger travel. Try disassembling the handle and re-lube all the moving parts, then lube the cable often. I use Tri-Flow or 3-in-1 oil. Secure the cable to bars in an upright position, make a small funnel out of tape (masking or duct) on the end of the cable and fill with lube. Fill it a couple times and let it drain overnite. I do this about once a month. There are also some other clutch products like a VPC clutch which are swinging weights to ease pull but I don't know if it will help you as they use the stock clutch spring. I think proper adjustment is more important. As I said, I like the engagement close to the bar instead of out at the end of finger travel. But this does require monitoring as the cable stretches and will cause the clutch to drag because of less travel for disengagement.
Soryy for the long rambling answer. Hope this helps.

Hoss

[rigidthumper]

For the clutch, look here: http://dragspecialties.com/fatbook/20/336/7741803?q=muller
That will make that clutch feel like butter. My wife has arthritis and this allowed her to continue riding.
Most slip-ons will make noise- I've installed a bunch of them. If you leave the AC alone, the system won't be perfect, but it will be rideable.
HTH
Robin

[FSG]

You could always put a VPC in it,  VP-Sport 04 

[Hossamania]

That piece in Drag is similar to what I had but mine bolted on the ramp instead of replacing it, and only cost $22.00, not $172.00! But like I said, for me it added too much travel to the clutch handle.

[Hossamania]

The VP-Sport 4 looks like a better solution, IMO, though not cheap. But I see it as a safety issue and that makes the price a moot point.

[stro1965]

Thanks, I wonder, regarding clutch pull, if I couldn't just put a spring from an 883 in there?  She's not gonna be hot-rodding it.  What do ya think?

[stro1965]

Another question I have concerns parts compatibility.  What years parts will fit this bike?  I see a lot of stuff that says up through '05 (I think).  Were there significant changes made in '06?  I hope not cause I just bid on some almost new Cycle Shack slip-ons that had been on an '05!

[Hossamania]

The biggest change was in '04 when they went to rubber mount. Pipes should fit.

[96FLSTF]

Hey Stro,
Not sure if they are the same as my wife's 05, but check how the bars / risers are attached to the upper clamp. If like our 05 there is no isolator bushings between the clamp & risers. It will make a WORLD of difference adding the bushings. On longer trips she'll thank you for it.

Gene

Thanks Gene, just checked, no bushings.  Do you remember the part number or where you found them?

Stro,
Here's a little explanation and instruction thing in a PDF file that I put together last year. You might have seen it posted on other forums. This I figure out for her 05. Yours might be different but you might wanna check it out.

Hope this works:
http://www.box.net/shared/1rr9217y8s


Gene

[stro1965]

Thanks Gene, that a really good write-up!  Might have to try some ISO grips or something first (assuming she complains) before I go that far though.  Any ideas on the clutch spring?

[96FLSTF]

Thanks Gene, that a really good write-up!  Might have to try some ISO grips or something first (assuming she complains) before I go that far though.  Any ideas on the clutch spring?

Thanks!

Don't know how much if any different the wife's 05 is to yours, as far as the clutch goes I installed one of those $20 deals (Like the "Easy Clutch"). In addition to making the pull easier it also increases the "friction zone" which is helpful for newer riders avoid those wheel standing launches.

Gene

[stro1965]

Thanks Gene, that a really good write-up!  Might have to try some ISO grips or something first (assuming she complains) before I go that far though.  Any ideas on the clutch spring?

Thanks!

Don't know how much if any different the wife's 05 is to yours, as far as the clutch goes I installed one of those $20 deals (Like the "Easy Clutch"). In addition to making the pull easier it also increases the "friction zone" which is helpful for newer riders avoid those wheel standing launches.

Gene

Where would I find such a contraption?

[FSG]

Sportster Easy Pull Clutch

[stro1965]

Thanks!

[stro1965]

Just ordered an EZPull, hope it works!  I can't tell you guys how excited mama is about this bike!

[stro1965]

Here she is on the bike...

[FSG]

Just ordered an EZPull, hope it works!  I can't tell you guys how excited mama is about this bike!

Does that mean you can put any seat you like on your ride ?

[96FLSTF]

Here she is on the bike...

She's gonna love it.
Next step will be a stage 1 (Breather & slip ons) will really wake it up.

The only thing with that clutch deal when you put it in will be that you will notice the cable as it enters the case will look to drag a bit on the side of the cable sheath end as the cable changes direction toward the lever. That because the piece your installing is basically lengthing the lever, so the cable angle will not line up as well as the original set up. No big deal. You'll see what I mean when you install it. Figured I'd just give you a heads up so you don't think you done anything wrong.

Gene

[mayor]

she's hiding her excitement well...

sweet looking scoot, congrats to you and her..

[stro1965]

Just ordered an EZPull, hope it works!  I can't tell you guys how excited mama is about this bike!

Does that mean you can put any seat you like on your ride ?

LOL, I doubt it!  She says she still wants to be my passenger too.  We've already discussed Sturgis this year and the fact that she'll riding WITH me, not beside me...

[stro1965]

Here she is on the bike...

She's gonna love it.
Next step will be a stage 1 (Breather & slip ons) will really wake it up.

The only thing with that clutch deal when you put it in will be that you will notice the cable as it enters the case will look to drag a bit on the side of the cable sheath end as the cable changes direction toward the lever. That because the piece your installing is basically lengthing the lever, so the cable angle will not line up as well as the original set up. No big deal. You'll see what I mean when you install it. Figured I'd just give you a heads up so you don't think you done anything wrong.

Gene

Thanks for the heads up Gene.

[1JITSU1]

STRO1965 tell her good luck from Jitsu   I got one for my wife 2008
last weekend   one of those buy backs   only 675 mi. on it
pick it up saturday

[Panzer]

stro1965 ...........hold on a minute.......please.

I have an 07 sporty 1200 Custom...........great bike!
MHO...don't make any changes yet, other then the ez-pull.
I (just me) found no problem with the clutch pull, but I'm male.
Don't go just yet with the bushing thing on the bars.
If it's vibration you're concerned (you tell me before I explain) about I have a real easy fix.

You guys make me feel like a panzy, like having a womans bike....NOT.
The 1200 sporty has all the power you will ever need, just ask me.
Have 9K on mine and love it.

Get back to me stro1965, in the meantime hold up.

Panzer

[96FLSTF]

stro1965 ...........hold on a minute.......please.

I have an 07 sporty 1200 Custom...........great bike!
MHO...don't make any changes yet, other then the ez-pull.
I (just me) found no problem with the clutch pull, but I'm male.
Don't go just yet with the bushing thing on the bars.
If it's vibration yiou're concerned (you tell me before I explain) about I have a real easy fix.

You guys make me feel like a panzy, like having a womans bike....NOT.
The 1200 sporty has all the power you will ever need, just ask me.
Have 9K on mine and love it.


Panzer

Get back to me stro1965, in the meantime hold up.

Just to confirm the bushing deal, it is not meant to fix a vibration problem that is caused by some other mechanical failure such as a loose motormount, alignment, etc. and your new sporty shouldn't have any. These rubber mounted sportys shouldn't thrash unless something is wrong.  It is merely meant to dampen the inherent high frequency buzz felt at the grips at highway speeds & harshness. It's like the difference between the front end feel of a lowrider (With bushings / dampeners) and the newer sportys where you can't read a license plate at 60+ mph. When I installed these in wife's 05 sporty, the 1st thought during the test ride was I was on her old lowrider but on steroids. If you got both bikes to ride and compare the difference you'll understand what I mean.

Gene

[Panzer]

                   Understood......

[stro1965]

It's been so cold here that I haven't even had a chance to take it out to break it in yet.  Monday and Tuesday are supposed to be really nice though, and I'm off both days.  Only mods planned (for now) are Cycle Shack slip-ons and the EZ Pull (for her, not me, seems fine to me), other than that I'm not changing a thing unless she has an issue with something.

[stro1965]

"Does that mean you can put any seat you like on your ride ?"

Real funny Sir Garfield!  She drove me nuts with seats on the Fatboy so I bought an Ultra, now she decides she wants her own bike!  No problem, I love the Ultra whether she's behind me or not!

[stro1965]

Much respect to all of you guys who ride Sporty's for long distances!  I just rode the first 25 miles on this bike today and my back hurts and my hands are asleep!  Sure is a fun bike to ride though, plenty of power and handles great.  Engine noise is much more than I expected.

EZPull Clutch adapter went in easily and made a big difference in clutch pull.

[96FLSTF]

Much respect to all of you guys who ride Sporty's for long distances!  I just rode the first 25 miles on this bike today and my back hurts and my hands are asleep!  Sure is a fun bike to ride though, plenty of power and handles great.  Engine noise is much more than I expected.

EZPull Clutch adapter went in easily and made a big difference in clutch pull.

See what I mean about that buzz vibration that puts your hands to sleep. What I found or theorized is that a more novice rider might be holding the grips even tighter to make their hands feel worse after a few miles. Before I added the bushings my wife was literally in tears from pain after a 100 mile trip because of the vibration aggravating her arthritis. And why some guys don't complain at all because they have a much more relaxed grip. Since your used to your RK you definitely felt the difference. If you can get your hands on a dyna (Test ride on at the dealer) That's what your wife's sporty can feel like at the grips. I still for the life of me can't figure out why Harley, after spending all the time & money engineering the sporty to make it rubber mounted, went & shot theirself in the foot by removing the isolator bushings.

Oh, & if you want your wife to REALLY luv ya, after she's rode it a while, spring for a set of Progressive 440 flavor touring shocks (No pun intended).
I originally lowered my wife's 05 XL1200C with the 11" 412s but they rode so harsh I felt it was dangerous for her as I watched her butt bounce off the seat on rougher rodes. At the time I could only find 440s in 11.5" so I snuck the extra 1/2" in on her. She immediately noticed the extra 1/2" but said it was definitely worth the improvement in the ride.


Gene

[96FLSTF]

Just lookin at Stro's Sporty I realized his does not use the single one piece riser that includes the tach like my wife's 05. It uses 2 separate risers like most other bikes. In that case on my mod to add bushings you wouldn't need the extra washers to raise the riser higher. Just bolt the oem risers back down to the new triple clamp using the bushings & proper bushing cup washers. Make sure not to clamp it down too tight. The bars gotta wiggle. I have revised and added a comment to my little mod pdf.. http://www.box.net/shared/1rr9217y8s

Also while I was at it I checked the availablity of the new clamp. I originally got a used one off ebay for $25 just to see if it would work. Once happy with it function, while shopping for Harleys chrome version P/N 45739-87 they typically were like $188 msrp ($150 at Chicago HD), then found an aftermarket from DEBRIX CYCLES for like $69. It fit & worked fine. Just as good as the Harley one I think. I just looked and they are now on CLEARANCE for $44.99! http://www.debrix.com/Items/24-0865 SKU # 24-0865.
2nd, don't use any other bushings other than the ones I listed. The harder urethane ones defeat the purpose, and the kits some dealers have with the chrome cup washers are also to hard. I also had one person put it all together with no difference because the aftermarket cup washers they used bottomed out on the triple clamp preventing any movement to dampen the vibration.

I do suggest to do some research just to make sure they ain't made any dimensional changes since 06 to make sure it will fit anything newer. I personally don't know of any.

Gene

[stro1965]

OK, thanks, not sure I want to tackle the trees right now but I'll keep it in mind.

[96FLSTF]

OK, thanks, not sure I want to tackle the trees right now but I'll keep it in mind.

Yup, If it was me, since its a brand new bike. I would let her ride it awhile. At least make sure there are no other warranty issues.See how she does on the longer rides. Then later do the mod if she complains. The work will be more appreciated too. I did take a look at the new 09s thismorning while at the local dealer & they do look the same.

Gene

[LDB187]

Reserecting this old thread and piggy back'n please.  I too am a new and proud owner of my very 1st sporty after wanting one for many years.  I've had knucks, pans, shovels, evo's and currently have an 02 FLSTC.  I just bought a 2007 XL 1200 Low w/1000 miles on it.  This is also my first experience with FI.  This will be for the wife to ride and me of course.  She used to have an 88 FXR-SP until she had an automobile accident and couldn't ride the bike so she sold it.  After 5 years of recovering she wants to give it another try. Wished I had of kept the FXR but $$ was in short supply. (as always).  Anyways, I too am intrested in changing pipes and ac but not sure about the FI part. Also going to put the ez clutch and try the bushings.  Haven't rode the bike yet. Picking it up this afternoon.  Thanks for any feed back and advice. 

LDB187

[96FLSTF]

Not to HyJack the thread or continue pushing the triple tree mod.
But for those who might be interested, the upper tripple clamp (OEM# 45739-87) from HD in Chrome Flavor is like $181. When I did wifes. I tried it out 1st with a polished one off ebay for $25 plus shipping. Once I was happy it worked I shopped chrome ones to match the rest of the front end. I found this place Debrix Cycle who had it for $69 so I tried it. Fit like a charm with no problems. I recently checked the site again & found that they lowered the price to $44.99! I might just pick up a couple to have them for future jobs:
http://www.debrix.com/Items/24-0865

Thought maybe someone might wanna save some hard earned money.

Gene