So rad to see a Sportster in your videos! Dump the tank, rebuild the fuel petcock, clean the carb, replace the battery and tires, and that thing will be good to go!
That bike left the dealer at around 518 lbs OR 235 kg. I realize there is a difference between actual and perceived weight. The techniques you use to roll the bike around can make a difference. People that work at Harley dealerships often have good advice on that - they roll bikes around all the time.
I'm just surprised because I don't remember it being this heavy. What makes it feel so heavy to me is not the actual weight though, it's how quickly/easily the bars move, so it amplifies little movements when rolling it around on a slippery epoxy floor. I've got a buddy that rides a 2007 street glide, and he handles that thing better than I do my VStrom, so I know there's a technique to it. If I ever end up going for an M109R, I'd probably want to figure that technique out.
My brother learned to ride on cruisers, so I had him ride my drz around to show him a different kind of bike. On multiple occasions he locked up the rear brake because I guess on cruisers the rear brake is more than just a decoration.
Hah, I'll believe it. Yea, with cruisers it can be a lot more useful since the things are so heavy and long you're not really lifting the rear up. I'm sure he was skidding all over the place, lol. On my SV it took me a while to break the habit of using the rear brake. Only time I touched it last year were two unintended offroad excursions at Road America and Blackhawk. Going to try for zero in 2024.
Are those dry sump Matt ? I recall someone telling me on my XB9R to crank it before firing it if it sits a while to move the oil through. Apparently the oil can migrate out of the reservoir (or into the reservoir ?). IDK, it would be work jumping not the sportster forum and asking. I also learned that the engine in my XB9R requires a good 220CCA battery to start well, you sportster may be the same.
I'm pretty certain they are, yes. There's an oil tank up by the seat, so I'd assume a dry sump. I'm glad you mentioned that though--I wouldn't have thought about the oil moving around when stationary for so long. Sort of like how an aircraft rotary engine has all the oil seep into the bottom cylinders when it's not running. I'm sure whatever fluids are in it are over 20 years old. I think sportsters have the separate transmission oil as well? I should probably start doing my research and preliminary parts purchases.
@matttriestodothings they are the oil goes to the crank after sitting for a while. It goes back go the tank when you start it up again. Very clean sporty btw.
@@mr.nighthawk4502 awesome, thanks for the clarification. Looks like the oil change should be pretty straightforward at least. Interesting it looks like you remove the hose to drain it rather than an oil plug. I guess that should help limit the amount of times people crack sumps by overtorquing the plug!
You have a drain tube on the left side by the swingarm for oil.The drain plug on the bottom left side of the engine is for your transmission fluid.Pop the derby cover off to fill the transmission fluid.
Heavy is relative--but yea, it's not heavy in terms of cruisers. And I know they're extremely popular for flat track racing, even tiny indoor course flat track racing.
@matttriestodothings what's really crazy about those bikes is how they can sit somewhere forever and since everything is so simple on them you can put them back on the road in a week. A metric bike from the same Era is a nightmare to get going again.
@@BigBadJohn yep, agreed. I'm willing to bet if I flush the tank, fill with new fuel, and put a new battery in... It'd fire up. I love the simplicity of them.
Leave your dad alone, maybe he didn't want to sell it to leave it you. Don't sell something that your dad is attached for a grom, the bike looks very y clean, bring it back to life. It just feel heavy because it's top heavy and most of the weight is in th back, the front 19 inch wheel get's light.
Trust me, I know where you're coming from. It's his, and he can do what he wants with it. He's got another '94 sportster he bought new that is the more sentimental one. I was hoping to have this one ready for the Harley fest last year but got too distracted with the racing stuff. If he does sell it, it'd be to one of my friends he's known for more than two decades. And if he doesn't, well, at least it'll run again and be ready to roll for next summer. It just feels heavy because I'm used to such lighter bikes. It's not nearly as heavy as I was joking about in this video. Though the really loose front end feel might be contributing to it. It's almost like the steering stem wasn't tightened enough. I'll look into it. It's not notchy. Just really free.
@@matttriestodothings Ah, cool, hahaha. Yeah, sportster have a weird weight distribution, I have a BMW GS that weights the same as a sportster I did have and it feels lighter, even being tall. Even the ZX11 that is heavier feels lighter when moving it around.
My buddy has an '07 Street Glide and I have yet to try riding it because it's so huge. He rides it better off road than I do a VStrom though so I think it's a skill issue with me. They're so big tho.
Okay, good. Then it's not just me being super weak, hah. I think one thing that's adding to the deceptive weight is how loose the front handle bars feel in the triple while pushing it around. I'm not sure if that's normal or just how this one is.
If the handle bars feel loose enough to where they actually move then you need to either tighten up the bolts holding them to the tree or get new bushings.If they are still the stock bushings chances are they need to be replaced.
@@tylerhubbell6410Thank you. They're stock, but they also have probably less than 10,000 miles on them and they don't feel notchy. I'm going to see if there's a tightening procedure once I have a manual next week. I know that tapered rollers are really sensitive to torque, but I'm guessing these are caged balls. This is one of those tough questions to ask because it may be perfectly fine. I just don't want to overlook a potential risk when it comes to steering.
Oh I know, I'm just having a laugh because I had forgotten how heavy they are compared to the smaller bikes I've been riding. I'm excited to get it running again and take a trip down memory lane.
@@brotherstanleo Oh I know, I watched your most recent vid! I'll probably have a longer poke around your channel to see what's going on with these machines.
@matttriestodothings Yep. I went from a 1985 honda nighthawk cb450 sc to a 2001 sportster 1200 custom. Only took a few minutes to get used to the sportsters extra weight that's about 170 lbs weight difference I think.
So rad to see a Sportster in your videos! Dump the tank, rebuild the fuel petcock, clean the carb, replace the battery and tires, and that thing will be good to go!
I have a feeling that's literally all it's going to take. I want to get the wheels off this weekend if I can figure out how to lift the front safely.
That bike left the dealer at around 518 lbs OR 235 kg. I realize there is a difference between actual and perceived weight. The techniques you use to roll the bike around can make a difference. People that work at Harley dealerships often have good advice on that - they roll bikes around all the time.
I'm just surprised because I don't remember it being this heavy. What makes it feel so heavy to me is not the actual weight though, it's how quickly/easily the bars move, so it amplifies little movements when rolling it around on a slippery epoxy floor.
I've got a buddy that rides a 2007 street glide, and he handles that thing better than I do my VStrom, so I know there's a technique to it. If I ever end up going for an M109R, I'd probably want to figure that technique out.
My brother learned to ride on cruisers, so I had him ride my drz around to show him a different kind of bike. On multiple occasions he locked up the rear brake because I guess on cruisers the rear brake is more than just a decoration.
Hah, I'll believe it. Yea, with cruisers it can be a lot more useful since the things are so heavy and long you're not really lifting the rear up. I'm sure he was skidding all over the place, lol. On my SV it took me a while to break the habit of using the rear brake. Only time I touched it last year were two unintended offroad excursions at Road America and Blackhawk. Going to try for zero in 2024.
Are those dry sump Matt ? I recall someone telling me on my XB9R to crank it before firing it if it sits a while to move the oil through. Apparently the oil can migrate out of the reservoir (or into the reservoir ?). IDK, it would be work jumping not the sportster forum and asking. I also learned that the engine in my XB9R requires a good 220CCA battery to start well, you sportster may be the same.
I'm pretty certain they are, yes. There's an oil tank up by the seat, so I'd assume a dry sump. I'm glad you mentioned that though--I wouldn't have thought about the oil moving around when stationary for so long. Sort of like how an aircraft rotary engine has all the oil seep into the bottom cylinders when it's not running. I'm sure whatever fluids are in it are over 20 years old. I think sportsters have the separate transmission oil as well? I should probably start doing my research and preliminary parts purchases.
@matttriestodothings they are the oil goes to the crank after sitting for a while. It goes back go the tank when you start it up again. Very clean sporty btw.
@@mr.nighthawk4502 awesome, thanks for the clarification. Looks like the oil change should be pretty straightforward at least. Interesting it looks like you remove the hose to drain it rather than an oil plug. I guess that should help limit the amount of times people crack sumps by overtorquing the plug!
You have a drain tube on the left side by the swingarm for oil.The drain plug on the bottom left side of the engine is for your transmission fluid.Pop the derby cover off to fill the transmission fluid.
Buy a shop manual for this bike you won't regret it.
That bike is not heavy, it not 2600 pounds. I would wager that it weighs less than 550 pounds.
Heavy is relative--but yea, it's not heavy in terms of cruisers. And I know they're extremely popular for flat track racing, even tiny indoor course flat track racing.
@matttriestodothings what's really crazy about those bikes is how they can sit somewhere forever and since everything is so simple on them you can put them back on the road in a week. A metric bike from the same Era is a nightmare to get going again.
@@BigBadJohn yep, agreed. I'm willing to bet if I flush the tank, fill with new fuel, and put a new battery in... It'd fire up. I love the simplicity of them.
@@matttriestodothings I look forward to seeing you get it going.
Leave your dad alone, maybe he didn't want to sell it to leave it you. Don't sell something that your dad is attached for a grom, the bike looks very y clean, bring it back to life. It just feel heavy because it's top heavy and most of the weight is in th back, the front 19 inch wheel get's light.
Trust me, I know where you're coming from. It's his, and he can do what he wants with it. He's got another '94 sportster he bought new that is the more sentimental one. I was hoping to have this one ready for the Harley fest last year but got too distracted with the racing stuff. If he does sell it, it'd be to one of my friends he's known for more than two decades. And if he doesn't, well, at least it'll run again and be ready to roll for next summer.
It just feels heavy because I'm used to such lighter bikes. It's not nearly as heavy as I was joking about in this video. Though the really loose front end feel might be contributing to it. It's almost like the steering stem wasn't tightened enough. I'll look into it. It's not notchy. Just really free.
@@matttriestodothings Ah, cool, hahaha. Yeah, sportster have a weird weight distribution, I have a BMW GS that weights the same as a sportster I did have and it feels lighter, even being tall. Even the ZX11 that is heavier feels lighter when moving it around.
@@matttriestodothings btw: pretty cool VFR.
@@StoicRiding Thanks man.
I just had a street glide in the shop. I just about died moving it around
My buddy has an '07 Street Glide and I have yet to try riding it because it's so huge. He rides it better off road than I do a VStrom though so I think it's a skill issue with me. They're so big tho.
Also half metric, half standard was insanity
Don't forget all the mixed in Torx bits for simple things like air filters!
@@matttriestodothings yep. and allens.
surprised there arent like whitworth bolts somewhere or some weird og french threads
I’ve ridden one before they are heavy as hell.
Okay, good. Then it's not just me being super weak, hah.
I think one thing that's adding to the deceptive weight is how loose the front handle bars feel in the triple while pushing it around. I'm not sure if that's normal or just how this one is.
If the handle bars feel loose enough to where they actually move then you need to either tighten up the bolts holding them to the tree or get new bushings.If they are still the stock bushings chances are they need to be replaced.
@@tylerhubbell6410Thank you. They're stock, but they also have probably less than 10,000 miles on them and they don't feel notchy. I'm going to see if there's a tightening procedure once I have a manual next week. I know that tapered rollers are really sensitive to torque, but I'm guessing these are caged balls.
This is one of those tough questions to ask because it may be perfectly fine. I just don't want to overlook a potential risk when it comes to steering.
6:48 i mean that's just cruise control
Hah, good call. Feature not a bug.
sportsters are great bikes...
I am certainly not here to argue that. Going to go watch a bunch of them race in two weeks.
I presume that's on each axle, right ? 😂
Oh yea for sure per axle. It's starting to form little rings like Saturn.
@@matttriestodothings but Saturn doesn't shake like a shitting dog !!!
Too funny! These are only around 550lbs
Oh I know, I'm just having a laugh because I had forgotten how heavy they are compared to the smaller bikes I've been riding. I'm excited to get it running again and take a trip down memory lane.
Good laugh! I am restoring a 2012 Sportster 72 myself. 😊
@@brotherstanleo Oh I know, I watched your most recent vid! I'll probably have a longer poke around your channel to see what's going on with these machines.
Thank you Matt! I will be adding a video this weekend on the fuel filter and fuel sensor replacement
2600 .lbs? Not unless you weigh 2100 .lbs!
It's been a rough winter eating-wise... But not that rough.
Your giving that bike 2000 lbs too much credit.
You don't know how big the seat is that's going on it.
Yea, I may have overshot the estimate a bit.
@@matttriestodothings 600-650 lb bike max.
Bro the horse is dead
2600 pounds😂😂 not even close
A sportster weighs about 550 wet
So I need to stop skipping leg day apparently.
@matttriestodothings Yep. I went from a 1985 honda nighthawk cb450 sc to a 2001 sportster 1200 custom. Only took a few minutes to get used to the sportsters extra weight that's about 170 lbs weight difference I think.