let's argue about obsolete old motorcycles

[SportsterDoc]

Kawasaki KDX200. Two stroke that's easy and relatively inexpensive to work on. They're an absolute blast to ride. There's nothing quite like the power delivery of 2 smoker. They're a bit hard to find, because people hang on to them for a long time. If you're patient, you'll find one.

Edit: Just saw that you can't get to the dirt. Well, that sucks. So maybe a motard will work...

sadly, the busybodies in my subdivision would have a fit if i went tear-assing around everybody's yard. a Dirt bike does have a truly separate use from my CB, and a built in excuse to own an extra bike, but sadly i'll never get to use it. it's a fools errand.

Well Mr. P, I know you have 6 cylinders on your mind, but I will humbly and respectfully submit the Evo-powered Harley-Davidson from 1985 - 2000. Not as collectible or as expensive as the previous Shovel, Pan and Knuckle bikes, but rideable, reliable and entertaining with their quirks and foibles. The Evo was used in the rubber mount FLH dressers, rubber mount FXRs and later FXDs, and Softail models, so you have a variety of riding styles to choose from.

Your challenge will be to find one is stock condition, instead of one modified by someone who evidently was smarter than the H-D engineers. And ironically goaded on by Harley-Davidson's own Parts and Accessories catalog!

you know something? i could get behind that. I've owned low cruisers so I know an old harley is a very different machine and a very different experience compared to my CB. More than that, an old harley is going to need a lot of care, and thus gives me an excuse to work on it. what's the lightest, most "nimble" model from that era you can think of? i know Harley Davidson isn't known for making nimble bikes, but you get my meaning. The big baggers are more of a pain to ride than anything else.

Lay down and take a nap until the feeling goes away. You really don't want 6 carbs in your fleet - even if, maybe especially because; they are on one bike.

As the former owner of a 1983 Goldwing, buddy, I don't even want 4 carbs. i'm traumatized by carbs. If i'm going to learn anything, though I need to get over that.

MrP, there’s a whole symposium in this proposition. Two quick thoughts though:

First, if you really don’t know much about working on bikes why would you start learning on something as hideously complicated as a 6-cylinder? Go with something with one or two cylinders and, when you nail it, move up.

Secondly, why would you risk trashing something as exquisite as a CBX?

Just sayin’.

well, in the CB, I already have my permanent machine. It will serve my needs for, presumably, decades. That said, I'm just really really trying to avoid the rat race of endlessly buying and selling bikes. I don't want to do that. Ideally, this second bike would be the last bike i ever purchase. I'm really a BIFL guy.

As for the CBX, the idea was that such an exquisite masterpiece would motivate me to turn to and put out all my strength of arm and heart and brain and "make the Mary Ellen Carter rise again," so to speak. it's such a beautiful thing. I think i would focus all my considerable potential on *not* trashing it. Also, it's kind of the "if you can dodge a wrench..." principle. If i can give life to a CBX there's nothing i can't fix.

not saying that's a smart plan, it's just the excuse I came up with in my head.

you know something? i could get behind that. I've owned low cruisers so I know an old harley is a very different machine and a very different experience compared to my CB. More than that, an old harley is going to need a lot of care, and thus gives me an excuse to work on it. what's the lightest, most "nimble" model from that era you can think of? i know Harley Davidson isn't known for making nimble bikes, but you get my meaning. The big baggers are more of a pain to ride than anything else.
You want something you can ride a little bit too, no? I would suggest any post 1994 Evolution powered bike. I say post '94 as that is when Harley's metallurgy technology finally reached the point where they for the most part eliminated the infamous Harley oil leak by properly mating metals and alloys together at seams allowing for the expansion/contraction of heating/cooling metals. TLDR - they stopped leaking.

If it were me (and coincidentally it is as I am keeping an eye out for one) I would look for a late '90s/early '00s Sportster 1200 Sport or Roadster. They come stock with higher rear shocks, usually mid controls and a bit of a power advantage. They are easy to work on, parts are cheap and plentiful and they are getting to be dirt cheap to buy.

What's not to like?

Rigid mount Sportster EVOs were 1986-2003
2004 up are rubber mounted motors and heavier.
2004-2006 were the last of the carburetors.

I would love to have a 2002 or 2003. VERY happy with the ones I did have.
The 1200 Sport was the ultimate.
The Roadster was the rubber mount (heavier) version of the Sport.

The main issue with late model (up through 2003) was nose cone mounted ignition modules, which were susceptible to heat failure. However, the last years of the sport had the module under the seat and only the cam sensor in the nose cone. The Sport ignition system also replaced the VOES (vacuum operated electrical switch) for timing advance with MAP sensor.

See post 72 in this thread for more info:

http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php...er+history