I've been lurking on this list for years, but now I have to chime in
on this topic.
I think the Sportster is a great partner to the W650. I have both a
2000 W650 and a 1996 Sportster XL1200S Sport. The Sport has
adjustable Showa forks and dual front discs. If you add rearsets and
clipons and a decent seat, then it becomes a really fun scoot. '
No, it is not particularly fast, but the wide flat powerband
and more than ample torque combine with decent handling and braking
to make it easy to ride without requiring a lot of work. If you
switch to 17" wheels and sticky tires it gets even better. Don't
worry about the vibration if you buy an older one with a solid-mount
engine, just install BalanceMasters active vibration dampers and
fiddle with the final drive ratios (or even switch to chain drive)
and once it is dialed in, then just enjoy it.
Although any Japanese 600 can run rings around it, that is balanced
out by the double-takes from all of the head-to-toe leather-clad
dumplings on their cool Harleys who are cruising along at 30mph when
you pass them on the outside of a curve.
You do have to think about it though. One of the classic disparaging
comments about Harleys is that they vibrate so much that parts fall
off. It is true, too. the first time I rode the Sporty any
distance, both mirrors, the taillight, and one turn signal fell off.
I felt like I had finally gained admittance to a long and proud
tradition!
At any rate, keep the W650, get a Sportster too.
Alex
--- In W650riders@..., "Larry Botheras"
<larry.botheras@...> wrote:
Think long and hard. unless it's tricked up the 1200 sporty will
feel
slower than the W IMHO, it's not that much more powerful (HD never
quote)
but it is a lot heavier
From: W650riders@...
[mailto:W650riders@...] On
Behalf Of John
Sent: 11 July 2007 06:39
To: W650riders@...
Subject: [W650riders] Thinking about getting rid of my w650
I found a sportster 1200r that's tempting me to get rid of the w.
What
are your thoughts on the 2006 sportster 1200 roadster?
