5 minutes ago, Gyp said:

 

First off, can I caveat everything that I say with "...for a Harley"?

 

They've actually done a pretty good job. By quieting down the engines quite a bit, they've managed to make the intake and exhaust a little freer flowing (and hence louder) but still get through noise tests. Consequently, a 114 out of the crate has about the same performance as the older 110 S & CVO models with stage 1. Despite not making them rocket ship fast, this does at least mean that you don't have to get the dealer to change the exhaust/air filter and fueling as part of the pre-delivery inspection with all the resultant cost/insurance hassle/neighbour-annoying racket. 

 

There's also the slightly more powerful 1923cc version in the CVO models if you need more grunt.

 

Regarding the cooling, models with fairing lowers have both water cooling and oil cooling; the radiators being hidden in the lowers. Models without only have oil cooling. But both sorts of cooling is only of the heads, not the cylinders as far as I can tell; the cylinders still rely on airflow.

 

I rather liked the Fat Bob; low, not-too-far-forward-forward-controls, stable, good seat, descent handling and reasonable brakes but the suspension was a bit rudimentary and I had to some nasty jolts on some rough roads that my R1200R glides over (pun intended).

 

The softer suspension on the Fatboy suited the cruiser style better and soaked up the bumps better, but the brakes on that were a bit of a worry.

 

If I'm honest, the 114 has enough power for most situations (as long as those situations aren't nipping past someone on a country road) and the handling and comfort are pretty good too. I would want a screen and twin disks up front and that combination doesn't exist. Other than the Fat Bob, all the "standard" bikes with twin disks are 107 ci. The CVO bikes are 117 ci and have twin disks but start at about £31,500...

 

 

Nice one

 

Jesus.. you don't want to be spending Harley money and then start having to upgrade things to make them possible to live with. 

 

I guess you pay for the name and the life style though eh.. 

1 minute ago, fabiamk2SE said:

 

Nice one

 

Jesus.. you don't want to be spending Harley money and then start having to upgrade things to make them possible to live with. 

 

I guess you pay for the name and the life style though eh.. 

 

I spent more on bits to make my last HD livable with than the bike cost new. Thinking about it, the new 114 out of the box has similar power and acceleration as my 883 did once I'd spent a fortune on it. But is bigger and comfier.

 

One of the reasons I'm pretty impressed with the new range as I'd pretty much be able to use it straight out of the box without opening my wallet again.

 

(Actually, i know I wouldn't as I've already started pricing up the 117 ci Stage IV conversion - about £3,200 plus 8-10 hours in the workshop)

1 minute ago, Gyp said:

 

I spent more on bits to make my last HD livable with than the bike cost new. Thinking about it, the new 114 out of the box has similar power and acceleration as my 883 did once I'd spent a fortune on it. But is bigger and comfier.

 

One of the reasons I'm pretty impressed with the new range as I'd pretty much be able to use it straight out of the box without opening my wallet again.

 

(Actually, i know I wouldn't as I've already started pricing up the 117 ci Stage IV conversion - about £3,200 plus 8-10 hours in the workshop)

 

alot heavier than the 883 though isnt guess? 

 

Christ.. its a big money game isnt it. Not sure i completely understand it, not sure i ever really will tbf.. but to spend say £16k on a bike then £3k on performance mods to make it still alot less capable than most things jap which is so much less money and reliable. 

 

There is that image thing though.. doesnt bother me but soo many seem to follow it dont they. HOG chapters n the rest of it. 

 

 

7 minutes ago, fabiamk2SE said:

 

alot heavier than the 883 though isnt guess? 

 

Not much I suspect. The new Softails are a lot lighter than the old one so I reckon the Fat Bob is only about 10%-15% heavier than my old Sportster

 

Worth saying that my old 883 ended up with 1200 barrels, Screamin Eagle high-compression high-flow heads, race cams, race ignition/coils and leads, big bore flat slide carb, straight through exhaust and intake etc. The rest of the cash went on twin disks, uprated suspension, seat, back rest, rack, panniers, screen, forward controls, rev counter. All functional; it still said 883 on the tank.

 

7 minutes ago, fabiamk2SE said:

Christ.. its a big money game isnt it. Not sure i completely understand it, not sure i ever really will tbf.. but to spend say £16k on a bike then £3k on performance mods to make it still alot less capable than most things jap which is so much less money and reliable. 

 

There is that image thing though.. doesnt bother me but soo many seem to follow it dont they. HOG chapters n the rest of it. 

 

I guess the thing is that it's not really about performance. You're right that there is the whole image thing, but for me it's the motorcycling equivalent of driving a big engined classic car. 3.5 litre V8 Rovers were never quick, but they were really relaxing to drive. You waft along effortlessly in luxury rather than screaming through the gears.

 

A Rolls Royce at 70 is a far nicer place to be than a Mini, even though you know the Mini is achieving 70 for far fewer pounds.

 

Part of the appeal for me is that if I'm in the right mind set, I can cruise along happily all day within the speed limit and be totally happy doing that. You can do that on a Harley. It's totally miserable on a Gixxer thou. And with the ageing rider population and the prevalence of speed cameras, the move from sportsbikes to nakeds to cruisers is fairly inevitable I suspect.

 

Regarding the lifestyle, it is amusing in our local dealership as there are HOG members with their beautifully pressed biker outfits mingling happily with the somewhat scruffier patched club members. If I ever buy another, I'll decline the HOG membership

I feel I need to add that I was glad to ride my R1200R again yesterday as it's just so much "better".

 

And when we were going out today we took the MX5 with the roof down.

 

And i know that despite all the vehicles at my disposal, if I need to get anywhere in a hurry, the right choice is my Yeti, unless it's in town, in which case it's my bicycle.

 

I can't see me buying a Harley any time soon. Unless it's an old one to play with

11 hours ago, Gyp said:

 

Not much I suspect. The new Softails are a lot lighter than the old one so I reckon the Fat Bob is only about 10%-15% heavier than my old Sportster

 

Worth saying that my old 883 ended up with 1200 barrels, Screamin Eagle high-compression high-flow heads, race cams, race ignition/coils and leads, big bore flat slide carb, straight through exhaust and intake etc. The rest of the cash went on twin disks, uprated suspension, seat, back rest, rack, panniers, screen, forward controls, rev counter. All functional; it still said 883 on the tank.

 

 

I guess the thing is that it's not really about performance. You're right that there is the whole image thing, but for me it's the motorcycling equivalent of driving a big engined classic car. 3.5 litre V8 Rovers were never quick, but they were really relaxing to drive. You waft along effortlessly in luxury rather than screaming through the gears.

 

A Rolls Royce at 70 is a far nicer place to be than a Mini, even though you know the Mini is achieving 70 for far fewer pounds.

 

Part of the appeal for me is that if I'm in the right mind set, I can cruise along happily all day within the speed limit and be totally happy doing that. You can do that on a Harley. It's totally miserable on a Gixxer thou. And with the ageing rider population and the prevalence of speed cameras, the move from sportsbikes to nakeds to cruisers is fairly inevitable I suspect.

 

Regarding the lifestyle, it is amusing in our local dealership as there are HOG members with their beautifully pressed biker outfits mingling happily with the somewhat scruffier patched club members. If I ever buy another, I'll decline the HOG membership

 

I know what you mean. 

 

I wouldnt have a Roller either, so maybe ill not get it   

 

on the plus side. I am 25 so to want those of vehicles i guess id be old before my time. 

 

Ill reassess in 35 years   

11 hours ago, Gyp said:

I feel I need to add that I was glad to ride my R1200R again yesterday as it's just so much "better".

 

And when we were going out today we took the MX5 with the roof down.

 

And i know that despite all the vehicles at my disposal, if I need to get anywhere in a hurry, the right choice is my Yeti, unless it's in town, in which case it's my bicycle.

 

I can't see me buying a Harley any time soon. Unless it's an old one to play with

 

 

Surely the R12R gets you places faster than the Yeti? Once the inconvenience of bike clobber has been done. 

 

 

21 hours ago, Gyp said:

 

I spent more on bits to make my last HD livable with than the bike cost new. Thinking about it, the new 114 out of the box has similar power and acceleration as my 883 did once I'd spent a fortune on it. But is bigger and comfier.

 

One of the reasons I'm pretty impressed with the new range as I'd pretty much be able to use it straight out of the box without opening my wallet again.

 

(Actually, i know I wouldn't as I've already started pricing up the 117 ci Stage IV conversion - about £3,200 plus 8-10 hours in the workshop)

 

You don't mention the stupid fuel tank size on the Fat Bob of 13.6 litres (the Street Bob is even worse at 13.2 litres), personally I hate the stupid number plate arrangement on the Fat Bob as well.

 

I was hoping to love it especially with the 114 cu.in. engine and thought that it might replace my current 103 cu.in. Street Bob Special (2016 FXDBC) however thinking I may stay put now. 

 

Incidentally I had a 1200cc conversion done on an 883r very similar to yours and that was probably the most fun you could have with your clothes on  

Edited 9 October, 20178 yr by Prykey

9 hours ago, fabiamk2SE said:

 

 

Surely the R12R gets you places faster than the Yeti? Once the inconvenience of bike clobber has been done. 

 

 

 

The R12R wins out when there's traffic about, but 170bhp and 4WD makes the Yeti a very competent cross country weapon.

Took the GSA up to work in Inverness last week, scenic route up and back from home in Warrington.

 

 

Couldn't find the jealous reaction so just have to like it instead. 

With roads like that I'd always be taken the scenic route 

18 minutes ago, CWARD said:

Couldn't find the jealous reaction so just have to like it instead. 

With roads like that I'd always be taken the scenic route 

 

Roads were a little busy 

 

that looks gorgeous

Roads are awesome up there arent they. 

 

I couldnt believe i was on a main A road when i got near the top. Single track and not a car for miles. Epic. 

That's my regular run over, both those pics are on the A939, I'd left home early from Warrington at around 5am, so this was around 9:30am on the Northern side after dropping down from Lecht. It's barren, but rugged and beautiful all the same. Even when it was raining, it was still fun. I'm spoilt though as that trip is usually at least once a month for me, with a bit of variation in the route. On the way home Friday as it was dry, I picked up a forest trail for a few miles near Balmoral, that spat me out back on the A93 just north of Braemar, about 10 miles or so of mixed loose and packed gravel, but the weather was good, I was in no hurry and like the odd tootle off metalled roads. 

It looks a great road. I think we had the choice of following the A939 or the Malt Whisky Trail as we cut across from Aviemore to Aberdeen the other month, we took the later to be tortured by the aromas passing each distillery and not been able to call in for a taster. We found quite a few of these old military roads that skirted the main roads such as the one above the A9 and like your's nearly deserted of traffic and not a speed camera insight.  I've got a lot more exploring of Scotland to do.

Said farewell to the fazer today been a great bike for a novice rider like me but time for a newer one. Been eying up a daytona but few more weekends of Overtime before I can get one lol 

If you can wait then you'll benefit from the offers they'll start doing

Daytonas are brilliant bikes. 

 

Albeit not very big so quite cramped if you’re normal size. Assuming you mean the 675 

I'm looking around the 07-2010 age. I'm just under 6 foot so I think I'll have to have a test ride and see how I feel on it. They are Just something different than the standard jap machines. 

Theyre great! 

 

My mate had one and loved it, he’s 5,11 though n got really bad cramp if he rode it for more than an hour

I went out and blew cobwebs off my hornet on sunday,

 

200 mile ride out to scarborough via seaways cafe and then coast road to whitby and back over moors to pickering,

22 minutes ago, Volvomeg said:

I went out and blew cobwebs off my hornet on sunday,

 

200 mile ride out to scarborough via seaways cafe and then coast road to whitby and back over moors to pickering,

 

I assume the bike is all sorted now after the spill. 

 

I like ride ride out to Whitby and then down to Scarborough but usually double back to avoid the A64

30 minutes ago, CWARD said:

 

I assume the bike is all sorted now after the spill.

 

I like ride ride out to Whitby and then down to Scarborough but usually double back to avoid the A64

 

Yeah mostly sorted just waiting for my custom twin exhaust splitter pipe to finished been made then i can bin the standard can,

 

Only really been riding local since and it was nice to get out on my own and relearn the bike again and build my confidence back up in it,

 

Not quiet sure where i went but squires to cawood to escrick and through back way to elvington to melbourne and then cut through to market weighton and onto seeways via wetwang,

 

I went from seaways backway to scarborough and ended up coming down staxton hill and did about 5 miles on A64 into scarborough

 

I usually tend to try and avoid A64 but by time i got to malton it was starting to get dark and my bum was starting to ache so it was A64 from malton to designer outlet at york and onto A19 and home

From Squire's I tend to do a similar route but go counter clockwise round York up the A19 briefly to Helmsley or Kirbymoorside and then into the North Yorks Moors to drop down into Whitby through either Guisborough Road or even Sandsend if I've gotten carried away on the moors. It's not a fast route and a lot longer than yours but some great roads, scenery, lots over the moors little more than a car width but nearly always empty just need to watch out for the sheep.  Coming back is usually the same but on other roads over the moors a nice one is the Egton down to Goathland road which eventually spits out you out of Dalby Forest. Problem is I tend to forget most of the roads over the winter and when I get back out on the bike when the weather warms up I spend a lot of time exploring or what the wife calls lost. 

 

Make the most of the mild weather we have at the moment and get out on the bike before it turns cold. You can tinker with the bike later.

 

 

 

 

Edited 18 October, 20178 yr by CWARD