02-07-2019, 10:35 AM
(02-07-2019, 10:29 AM)LongRanger_imp Wrote: Doc, I'm surprised you didn't mention the harsh rear suspension. Easily remedied but a common V7 complaint.
PB, not at all. My CB is awesome. But my growing frustration with MG parts and service finally pushed me to look elsewhere because I knew it couldn't be a sustainable relationship. I always fancied the DLX. It was a no-brainier.
I had not yet taken it to Clarkdale, AZ, about a 700 mile roundtrip.
The rough asphalt on 89A from Ash Fork to Chino Valley was a harsh ride, but most of the time it was not really an issue. It cornered very well going over Mingus Mountain on 89a from Prescott through Jerome.
It did develop a no-idle-without-throttle issue going through Jerome, which made it awkward giving rides to grandkids, but that went away, after sustained high speeds on I40.
I did report it as being harsh on the wildguzzi forum, but that was more of a side comment: https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?to...msg1460374
...and this forum, last March: http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....#pid199475
I had zero issues with either Sportsters, other than dealer induced:
Ventura H-D failed to lube clutch cable and it went dry on a remote canyon ride. Only one of two "first services" I paid (wasted) $ on. They spent time checking the obvious (horn and lights work, etc) but did not follow the H-D check list.
The other "first service" was on the M-G and I thought it may have been worth the $ for the ECM program upgrade. It helped, but not enough.
Simi H-D changed tires (Dunlop soft K-591 wore quick), drove out the rear axle and did not replace wheel bearings after subjecting them to impact side load. Bearings almost seized the next day on freeway somewhere in Anaheim. Also, I rode only a block before rattling alerted me to the front wheel axle pinch bolt being loose. General manager and I had a long talk. Later he bought the dealership, which had been owned by Ventura H-D and I heard that the shop vastly improved thereafter.
Both the new 2003 XLH883 and used 2002 XL1200 Sport were trouble free at 1,000 miles per month. Long stroke motors not only have good torque, but longer burn time = good mileage. The 1200 (dual plug heads, w grind cams) got 59 MPG before I rejetted it.
Both ran good after rejetting and not bad before rejetting. Rejetting mainly lowered the oil temp at sustained WOT pulling long grades. The Keihin CV40 carb was easy access.
Great suspension, adjustable front and rear on the 1200 Sport. Probably saved my life coming up to the top of Balcomb Canyon to a blind very sharp curve.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Balcom...18.9662379
Picture hitting better than 90 MPH south on the relative straightaway, slowing to 60-70 MPH on the left sweeping turn, cranking the throttle and then recognizing, at the last moment, that the blind right is almost 90 degrees. No warning that I recall southbound, but from the other direction is is labeled 10 MPH!
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3214393,...312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Balcom...18.9662379
Before the areas of the super low Sportsters, it had the lean angle to lean really low and great suspension, as well as being a very narrow 1200cc. I do not know my speed, but I really thought it was not going to negotiate that turn.
These were the last two years of lighter weight non-rubber mounted motors (2004 up) and carbs were replaced with EFI in 2007.
As much as some forum members feel the need to bash H-D or criticize the Vrod, I very much liked my Sportsters and would have bought another, but as with many things I like, my preferences were discontinued.