What’s the best none Norton Norton ?

I'm not a fan of the low/long look for the Sportster S.. or the forward controls and seating position.

BritTwit said:

The motor sounds like it has punch with 120HP, and street weight of 505lbs. better numbers than the classic Sportster for sure.
I was disappointed when Harley dropped the Streetfighter from their 2021 lineup, it used the same motor but was more of a sportier design.
That was one I was waiting to test ride.
Seems when I like a product design, it's the kiss of death for that product.

Click to expand...

I’n not A huge fan, but warming to them. It was the street fighter that would have got me into a show room, so was really disappointed when the one bike I thought I could really go for, was dropped. Let’s hope it’s revived, as the design looked spot on.

Commuting in the car has become a real chore recently - sitting stationary in traffic and so many roadworks mean that my 10 mile journey can take up to an hour and a half so I decided a motorbike is the best option. Wot with the questionable spares supply for the 961 I was looking around for a good commuter bike and I decided on a Humpty Dumpty Street Rod. Otherwise known as the least popular Harley ever. Around 70hp torquey 750cc water cooled, belt drive, 'normal' riding position, cheap insurance, twin front disks + ABS, it actually does handle well but weirdly still feels Harleyish. Stick some Michelin road 5s on for the wet weather, add some extra driving lights and replace all the monkey metal bolts with stainless. Initially it sounded like a sewing machine wrapped in a duvet so a second hand S&S Grand National 'silencer' gives me all the rasping spitting and banging to get the attention of headphone clad pedestrians. Originally in turgid metallic swamp water green but now resplendent in metalflake candy orange. Cheap as chips - a very late '18 with 6000 miles on the clock and after the slightly expensive respray still comes in at under £6000. And it it a real hoot to ride - just brilliant!!!

Couldn't you find a longer pipe Clive …?

Fast Eddie said:

Couldn't you find a longer pipe Clive …?

Click to expand...

It's telescopic - pneumatic vacuum actuator My 961 with the custom build silencer is loud but this is more 'crackly' - makes my ears ring and I have have to use earplugs. The only problem for filtering is the wide bars. I tried slightly modded ace bars but the cables, particularly the clutch cable is restrictive so I am going to need something custom made. Other than that I love it!

Mines got similar bars. But is a tad less orange. Stock pipe with V&H slip ons, sounds nice without being anti social…

Sounds livelier than you might expect from an agricultural 1.8 litre twin…

'turgid metallic swamp water green' Harley really need to do some marketing around their colour names!

FE, pipes sound great and as you say, seems quite lively!

Vernon240 said:

'turgid metallic swamp water green' Harley really need to do some marketing around their colour names!

FE, pipes sound great and as you say, seems quite lively!

Click to expand...

So what would you call it!?

Tried to record mine but the microphone has gone down with PTSD... So it's only 750cc, water cooled and built in India. Can't see why the Harley community didn't like it. My mate calls it a Hardly Davidson.

Clive said:

It's telescopic - pneumatic vacuum actuator My 961 with the custom build silencer is loud but this is more 'crackly' - makes my ears ring and I have have to use earplugs. The only problem for filtering is the wide bars. I tried slightly modded ace bars but the cables, particularly the clutch cable is restrictive so I am going to need something custom made. Other than that I love it!

Click to expand...

Yes , It made a respectable 64HP on the cycle world Dyno . Sadly it is no longer available here . The seating position for me was odd kind of jumping frog . It has adjustable lock nut and stud rocker arms for the valve adjustments. They didn't get much praise unfortunately . Here is the dyno link :

You can buy a Vance and Hines built XG750R Flat track racer for $39K . V&H is who will build all the XG750R racers moving forward. Here is the link :

Vernon240 said:

'turgid metallic swamp water green' Harley really need to do some marketing around their colour names!

FE, pipes sound great and as you say, seems quite lively!

Click to expand...

Clive said:

So what would you call it!?

Tried to record mine but the microphone has gone down with PTSD... So it's only 750cc, water cooled and built in India. Can't see why the Harley community didn't like it. My mate calls it a Hardly Davidson.

View attachment 83566

Click to expand...

Looks like a metalflake "US Army olive drab."

Fast Eddie said:

Mines got similar bars. But is a tad less orange. Stock pipe with V&H slip ons, sounds nice without being anti social…

View attachment 83563

Click to expand...

So this is where we all end up, is it?

Sold mine a few weeks ago.

Voodoo’s got one o’ them…

Fast Eddie said:

Mines got similar bars. But is a tad less orange. Stock pipe with V&H slip ons, sounds nice without being anti social…

Click to expand...

Very nice bike indeed - it'll look great when you get round to painting it After seeing one in the States I fancied a Breakout and gave one a tryout. Unfortunately we have roads with corners in Solihull.....

Gojuu - not sure this is where we end up - more the scratching of a Harley itch we had when we couldn't afford one. Just please shoot me if I ever buy a bandanna or a jacket with tassels.........

The trouble with the Breakout Clive is the ridiculous difference between super wide rear and super skinny front tyres. Harley have done well to make it steer as well as it does, but it’s pure form over function engineering.

Some others have the basis of decent motorcycles. Mine was too low as stock, but with longer Ohlins rear shocks it rides well. I also junked the Bakelite stock Harley tyres in favour of Avons and they have transformed the ride. I can’t say it’s better in terms of lap times etc, but it just turns in and steers so much easier / better / nicer / more ‘normal’.

If only it was 100lbs lighter…

As a Harley Nooby I was amazed when I unbolt what I assumed was a light plastic front fender support and I struggle to lift it up. Same with the bars which somehow weigh more than solid bar stock and the pressed steel tailpiece.

Not long after having it I overcooked it into a corner but it still went round without any drama but it still seems to have a weird sort of traditional Harley wallowing feel. I do prefer clipons and rearsets for comfort but this is really nice two-up. Now it has its lovely metalflake paint job which really suits it (Flakey Dave @Bromsgrove FYI ) it's a fantastic value entry to Harley ownership and more fun to commute with than a Honasuzasaki.

I wonder if those bike will be around in 50 years.

Now with Showa cartridge internals front forks to go with the Ikon's rear.
A featherweight at 255.0 kg (562.2 pounds) ready to go.

now thats a guzzi worth keeping

Gojuu said:

So this is where we all end up, is it?

Sold mine a few weeks ago.

View attachment 83579

Click to expand...

Have you had the bags installed?

RamonArmstrong said:

Have you had the bags installed?

Click to expand...

No bags on mine. I had a detachable rear pillion rest on it - that was all.