It's called Man Therapy. Next to riding, I like working on my bike. Washing and waxing just get in the way of real fun. If I can't clean it with a rag, paper towels or a small micro-fiber towel with some Windex or detail spray, I usually don't bother. Bling is not for me.
I rode at the back of the pack at every ride. I was the wrench. Some broke down. I would stop with them and fix. Half our mc could wrench....but I could fix.
I've owned motos all my life. I started riding bikes at 15. I've continually had a moto and a pick up truck since then. I'm 73 years young now and still have a pick up and three Harleys. I've wrenched on all my bikes through the years. Learning along the way. All my friends ride also, but some are not mechanically inclined so I help them when they need some help. I had the opportunity to graduate from MMI several years ago. I learned much about the new EFI bikes, and a whole lot more about the older bikes. I've built and sold many ground up HDs in my home garage. I decided to retire earlier this year and sold all my machines and closed down my shop. I was fortunate to have a father that was exceptionally good with his hands. That man could tackle any problem and come out on top. He taught me everything he knew. From concrete, heavy equipment, mechanics, horticulture, agriculture, BBQing, patience, etc, and how to survive in life. My life has been full, and I now enjoy the time with my kids, grandkids, and soon great grandkids. So if you don't know much about how your bike works, hang out with that greybeard in your group and sit by his side as he's wrenching on his bike. Ask questions. That's the only way you'll learn.
I have 3 shovelheads and 5 ironheads, do all my own work, top to bottom, through the years collected all the tooling necessary for full rebuilds, still change my own tires by hand.
65 yrs old for me just changed out starter on truck. Oct sold my bike had 2007 til 2020. Thinking about another or fishing boat. Dam want them both lol.
Exactly why my newest bike is an Evo Road King with a carburetor. Easy to work on and reliable. I know fuel injection is more efficient but its computer controlled and subject to needing the software to diagnose problems. 15 years ago I bought a tire machine. Its invaluable since I have three bikes. I support my indy shop by buying tires,oil and parts from him. Looks like some nice improvements on your old softail.
I had to learn to work on my own bikes when I was just a kid. When I grew up, I worked hard, saved some money, and bought a well-used Harley that I fixed up myself and have kept her going for the past 20 years. I couldn't imagine letting anyone else work on it. Great bike and even though I want to find an older evo soft tail now, I'll still keep my other old Harley, no way I'd ever sell it as long as I can still ride.
I wish I could work on my own bike but I fall into that group that takes it to the shop. I have done items like adding lights or changing seats but not much more. Thanks for all of your time in getting these videos out. Ride Safe
I wouldn't take my bike to a Harley dealership. I don't trust them to do as good of a job. Plus, in recent years, I have had issues with H-D parts quality. They sold me a pair of new fork slider tubes that were not fit to use. I tried to point out to them that the new ones had worse pitting, scratching and scoring than the leaky one I pulled out. They grudgingly waived the restock fee (WTF?? It's their crappy parts that is the issue). Ended up with CCE hard chrome slider tubes and I am extremely happy with their performance on my Dyna using Bel Ray 15W (stock is 10W). Hell, the only reason they failed after just 15k miles is because the stock ones are criminally underdamped. But hey, Harleys are great bikes once you fix the mistakes made by the designers, lol!
@@skorpius752 They have really gone downhill. I worked for dealears during the AMF era. Most were good. Some were uppity if you had long hair, tats and rode a not so stock machine.
Im 54 , i got first Harley when i was 15 , a basket case 69 XLCR,, when i was building it over a 2 year span , all the old timers my dad included all said the same thing, i will sit with ya and tell ya how to do what your doing but they wouldn’t touch a wrench , they taught me you ride it you wrench it.. and thats what i did . My profession is a Harley tech at a dealership.. not only did they give me the knowledge to wrench my own ride , but they also gave me a trade , a way to support myself threw out my whole life to feed my family and get me what i need.. those days and sense of pride and wrenching on your own ride are long gone and lost on todays younger generation,, such a shame...now that doesn’t mean ya have to know everything either because i don’t either,, it was a different time back then and we got a sense of pride of building fixing etc.. our own rides ,, i personally dont care for this new world we live in , and i esp don’t care for the direction harley moco is going either ,, but hey thats a discussion for another day..
Love your videos, thank you! This one took the words right out of my mouth as I spin my own wrenches and share much of your philosophy. Pains me to on the rare occasions to leave my scooter for anything outside my scope of patience or capacity necessary for certain jobs.
You just keep wrenchin Saddletramp...We don't need no shops and NO COMPUTERS for our Bikes! Only thing I use shops for is tires and if my Bottem End were to go out on me....Happy trails!
When I lived in CT I used to go to my cousin's shop and I would do things for him and he would help me out and show me things on my bike. I would mow his lawn, cut down trees, split and deliver cord wood to him and even do oil changes and tire replacements on his customer bikes and he would do some stuff for me on my bikes. Now I live near Cleveland and no more nice cousin to help me out. So I have to man up and do it for myself or get out the checkbook. I usually choose man up as much as I can. The more money I save the more riding I can get in and maybe I can buy an new gun, I love guns....
Back in the day I did all my own service work and was blessed to never have to get inside the motor. I did have some work done to my first "cruiser" that I needed special tools for so I just hired the job out. My current ride is a 2019 FLHR which was brand new and I'm good to let the HD shop take care of it. I got a great service package with it so the only thing I pay is the upgrade for synthetic oil that I use.
Some people just aren't mechanically inclined, I don't hold it against them. If they have someone else work on it but love to ride, that's good enough for me.
Watching the work & changes you've made on that evo almost makes me want to swap my 2013-103 street glide for the same setup you now have, that evo sounds incredible ")
Judging from the condition of most of the bikes I've bought, a lot of bike owners don't know crap about fixing or maintaining their rides. Kudos to those who do. Anyone who wants to can learn...especially now days with the internet.
About of the bikers i hang with do their own maintenance & repairs. Most of us seem to have "that guy" who we can turn to for info on the more technical stuff who is always willing to help out a fellow biker. I think the numbers are dwindling on hands on bikers these days. I don't have a problem with a guy buying a new bike & knowing nothing about it, after all it's about the ride, but i believe one gets more satisfaction out of knowing that you are the one responsible for keeping the machine on the road.
To me, I want to work on my own stuff and no computer stuff. The new computerised machines may have their place but not under me. I can hear a bike and diagnose most issues. Give me a carb, kicker to back up the starter and give me a magneto over electronic ignition. All things break but I can fix the older stuff. God bless you bro.
I appreciate the vids. I'm looking to get a cruiser. I commute on a 2009 Tiger 1050. I dig it. I have worked on my own dirt bikes/ dual sports for the last 30 or so years. The tiger was my first real street bike (had it for over a year now) and I'm looking for a Cruiser. I've been drawn to the road King. But new or old? Or an 06 Yamaha Roadliner.....not sure. But id like to wrench on a Harley. I was impressed by your decision to trade the 12' to an EVO. After all I've read and watched on Utube I think that is where I am going. And I think you are right on the "disposable" twin cams. Great stuff and insight on digging motorcycles. Keep up the good work
I own a Harley Davidson heritage flstc. I’ve owned many bikes and I see this one as the one I will keep. Evo 80 cu. inch. Not fast but will run all day at 50-60 mph. Bike fits me well and the bike is carburated. The wife has a 2002 springer softail which was a gift from her dad. We will eventually trade our 1999 gold wing for a new gold wing or a ultra classic and those will be the bikes we keep. Great video. Make your life your own. God bless
The only guys I know that dont wrench are the rich guys that buy new bikes, rarely ride them, and let the dealership handle all the maintenance. I dont have the money to pay someone else to do it so I learn from the old guys or youtube how to fix it myself.
I know I do my own stuff; Never had extra $ to pay someone and never had a pleasant service experience. “If I have to pay someone and stand in line and wait ; I’d just go ahead and do it myself “. 🤠❤️👍🏻🤠👌👋🏻 Besides it’s better knowing your scoot anyways on the road . I was up at sturgis in a cabin; the guy in the cabin next door had an easy up over his bike with a cover on bike. I told him I changed my own oil before coming . He said; “ you changed your own oil !!!” I said ; yeah; and I changed my back tire too . He said : “you changed your own tire !!!” Meanwhile he polishing his bike with cover and easy up over it . Hmmm- Well ; there’s all kinds out there-
Your channel came up as a suggested video. So my first view was your "straight swap". I usually scroll through a few videos to get a feel for what people are saying. I consider myself a motorcyclist not a biker. I have been riding for 8 years now. I'm not a HD guy. Although I do appreciate the natural sound and looks of a well tuned and cared for HD. Well any motorcycle for that matter. I ride a 2000 Honda ACE and I try to do most of my general maintenance myself. Unfortunately I will never be that guy who takes my heads off and adjusts my lifters. Maybe someday I'll have to attack my stator. As I've logged 135k on my wheels since purchasing her. Anyways. I've liked the feel of what I've seen so far...no "brand arrogance". You just like what you like. So I have now subscribed. I'm not a motovloger myself. I'm not that interesting of a character for that. My few videos are just a way to show I'm not a troll. #RideOn
The World Wide Web has made it it a lot easier to wrench a bike these days for uncommon problems to solve, or for parts hunting. A manual is always a great to have no matter what bike you have. Doing preventive maintenence keeps wrenching to a minimum,.
I've never done a crank shaft job, other than that......there is nothing difficult on an EVO! I don't do tires either, because it's cheap do get done, and a little hassle to do it yourself. Bearings are easy enough!
collector plates on 3 shovelheads and 5 ironheads, ride them all, do ALL my own work, have tire spoons for changing tires, wheel bearings are easy peasy, have a flywheel truing stand for doing bottom ends, lots of accumulated tools for rebuilding old iron, been riding 55 years, my favorite pastime is wrenching on bikes, generally do around 20,000 miles yearly.
I'm in need of help saddle tramp pls...1997 Electra glide with stick Evo 80...front plug fine back plug dry soot....did wd 40 to intake but no change in rpm... Changed plugs....switched plug wires...no change.....any idea
The use of the word "biker" has changed since the 70s. Use to be that a "biker" was part of an "outlaw" club and a "rider" was someone who rode but wasn't part of a "outlaw" club. Now days anybody with a bike calls themselves a "biker" even if they never ride.
I really appreciate your videos doc. I find myself at a crossroad between old bikes and new for pretty much the same reason as you. I’m not a mechanic in the truest sense of the word but I’ve picked up enough from the old man and personal experiences to keep my scoots running and the thought of losing that ability with the new stuff makes me a bit uneasy. Thinking about doing some RUclips “moto-vlogging” chronicling my experience with it as well. We’ll see... Keep up the good work.✌🏾
I do sone of my own. Oil change, clutch adjust, brake adjust, small wiring jobs, tow hitch install, road guard install. I like doing my own stuff, but I stop at my local shop too. I like hanging out and throwing them work to help keep them in business.
If I can do it myself and save a buck, I’ll be damned if I’m going to farm it out. I wrench on everything, not just bikes. Refrigerators, to box trucks and everything in between.
I do what I can, wish I knew more.......But..... I can build my own home from footings to placing the lazy boy recliner. Concrete, block, brick,framing,structure design,,shingle,siding, elec, plumb, You name it in residential building, I have the know how. So I lack in my mechanical skills but have the ability thru You Tube to take on those tasks if I choose too. Carry on.
Hi, I just started subscribing to your channel. I have a '96 Heritage Softail too, and I'd like to ask if you could do a quick video on attaching and raising your bike on your lift. I have a drive on lift, but no room for it in the place I'll be working on it this winter. So I'll be using the same type of chassis lift in your videos. All the best, Art....
Yes I do think motorcycle riders should maintain their bikes to a certain extent, but in saying that there is always a glitch. Eg,I bought a Ducati monster for my wife off a Christian family, he assured me the belts had been done at 30k by himself with receipts, 50k comes up, time to renew. Pull it apart and he had put square toothed belts on round cogs. Either he didnt know, didnt care or was too tight to pay freight to return them. This could have caused a lock up, how dangerous.
I had a 2009 super glide but traded it on for my dream bike a 2000 fxr4 Evo in screaming yellow buil buy the cvo part of Harley all hand built no problems ran Mobil one 15w50 no leaks the Evo was always kept cool and it only had 7000 on it when I bought it back in 2009 and it now has 12000 I'll never get rid of it no need for a new one God bless you brother
No the bike only has 12,000 because I have had 4back operation's because a woman on a cellphone in a car ran me off the road when I had a 2000 hd Sportster started shifting down then front wheel caught a rut sending me over the handle bars hiring the speedometer and the bike was still doing over 50 but I had my leathers helmet boots gloves broke no bones only a concussion and a sprained neck later my left leg broke both the fibula and the tibula and crushed my ankle so riding now is limited but I still love it even though I'm fully d disabled
Thanks for your videos! I started watching with your trade and continued as you made some repairs. I am enjoying watching and really admiring your work and how you approach each task. You explain everything in straightforward, understandable terms and free of colorful language. I have wrenched on my cars, never did any major engine work, but worked on everything else I could succeed at. Still, do but not as confident with all the new electronics. I dont work on my bikes, (2004 FATBOY/2016 Ultra Limited low.) I just dont know how to. I have the service and repairs done at the local shop. Regardless, enjoy riding. It is my therapy. Again, Thanks for sharing and keep posting. Lou
Another really good video. I gotta be honest. There's just something about a Harley... When I was a kid, Harley was still selling Pan heads. My fate was sealed.
Anybody who is passionate about the machine they ride will learn to wrench on it. Nobody works on my scooter but me. It is a relationship only a true rider knows. I am not crazy about the term biker, to many people think if you own a Harley you are instantly a biker. NOT!! RIDE FREE BROTHER!!
Great video. God blessed me with a mechanical mind. I have to know how things work. I can’t imagine life any other way.. thank you Lord that you didn’t make everyone like me as that would make things really boring..I really enjoy your channel. Keep it up..
Hey man, love the content of your channel and the way you share your knowledge. Oh The Evo is nice looking ride too, i like what you've done to it taking back to a stock performance type will give it longer legs over time 👍. It won't let you down. Looking forward to seeing more of your vids in the future 👌😎
You had me hooked on this series....I watched all the vids straight through, I like your style SaddleTramp. :D I have modern bikes, but like you, I to do my own work...I never want them to see a shop, I do as much as I can figuring it and learning as I go. I bucked up, bit the bullet and changed my Victory's wheel bearings last fall and I have yet another set of tires to go on any day now....The jobs aren't so bad once you do dig in and do them. Thanks for the great vids
why the 4-5 min warm up? what exactly are you looking for? new rider looking at you tube videos for help don't have any family or friends that ride. Bought a 92 FLHS a few months back. I do a 1 min warmup then just take it easy for the first 5 miles or so.
There is an old book, published in 1974, called "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", and it is a really good read. As for myself, I have always been a mechanic and motorcycle rider, and spent many years working in bike shops. I think the most important thing is, once anyone starts riding, they get increasingly interested in the bike itself, and most learn a lot about the care and feeding of their own bikes. They will still have a shop install tires, do tuneups, etc, but only a few of us rebuild the engines and gearboxes, and make major modifications. At any gathering, however, there will be LOTS of technical talk among riders, and most people know A LOT about what they are riding.
1st time viewer. Totally enjoyed it. You seem to be about just like a majority of folks out there who ain’t impressed with a bunch of bells and whistles. Ride safe ride free!
I always worked on my own bikes because I grew up poor, so if you wanted to ride it you had to fix it. From that it evolved into working on other bikes, but you don't need to wrench to ride a motorcycle, as long as you have a wallet. I prefer to work on my own whenever possible, cause then at least I know who it was that killed me, lol!
Yeah, me too....currently pulling an Evo motor apart that was in a fire...needs a total rebuild...I will get a shop to do the bottom end, but the rest is really not that hard to do.
I used to wrench when I was younger & my body wasn't beat up. Many people give up when they get to my age 61 & physical problems develop. With my problems, on paper I shouldn't do most of the activity I do but I'm NOT A QUITTER. I'll be 62 in 7 months, I have disc issues in my spine & neck including a slipped disc, my shoulder joints are shot, my feet have pain like tooth aches I could go on & on. I'm not on pain killers. I lost 109 lbs & eat healthier. I pray and meditate everyday. I DON'T judge how my day is going to be based on the first hour upon wakening. I need to keep moving and GET OVER THAT HUMP. ( most days it works) I love to ride, refuel, repeat. In the past 2 yrs I purchased a 2003 Springer, I helped build my 2003 Sportster Nor Cal style chopper & bought and customized a 2018 Heritage 1,868 cc. Both 2003's are carbureted. My passion since 11 yrs old has been motorcycles. I'll do whatever it takes to stay passionate. God bless.
I'm all about old bikes and trying to learn to wrench on them. I don't think I'm that mechanically inclined but I used work on my own cars all the time so I have the want to get my hands dirty again.
I do what I am comfortable fixing but for the most part, I take my bike to the shop. I do have a buddy that can fix anything Harley-Davidson So when I have to he fixes my bike.
You're always making great videos man, I truly appreciate it. My biggest limitation I've encountered so far is the carburetor... I just can't figure it out. Estou ansioso pra conhecer vc, será um grande prazer! Ainda estou esperando a confirmação das férias...
I wrench on all my bikes and my car! I have been doing it since learning from an early age through trial and error, taking engines out! fitting new gearboxes, suspension etc in old Fords from the seventies and eighties! I enjoy it knowing my back wheel is tight and secure because I have done it myself! A famous Irish Road Racer Joey Dunlop always prepared his own bikes! It gave him the confidence to ride around the famous Isle of Man TT race at breathtaking speeds! I haven't stripped an engine yet, but I have rebuilt a turbo! fitted a bathroom suite, built a wooden garage! Tiled a floor! learnt to weld! replaced an engine gearbox and running gear out of an old 1978 Ford Escort mk11 RS2000 into an older 1968 Ford Escort MK1 1100 Automatic! I like working on my bikes and do all the servicing myself! You can do most things! you need the tools to do it, and thoroughly research what it is you want to do, you just have to not be afraid to try tackle it yourself!
I been riding since age 10 my neighbor Dave Elles NASCar Driver , showed me how to tune up my first street bike little SL70 Honda I had to do it he watched let me use his tools , I have owned 17 Motorcycles in 48 years the last 20 years 3 Harley Davidson , I have more miles backing up to curbs that most have going forward , From 1999 to 2006 My average year I get in 20,000 miles I ride year round even in temps 20 below 0 . Im not a Biker Im a Motorcyclist , Bikers park their ride from september to may . I wrench on my $hit , had too many backyard meth heads f-ck up more $hit and had to spend thousands in rebuilds . Oil change and he forgot to add the oil , WTF I road 40 miles before the dummy light come on , but my engine was cooked . took one in for heads the guy took a grinder to ported polished flowed heads it stall at 2500 rpm to 3500 carboned up the jugs in the 2 months of trying to figure out what was going on . that was 2 engines lost . took my trans to the last of the 3 shops in 100 miles of me it come back worse after 1200 $ and they told me it was the shifting drum shift forks and dogs . they had it 2 months said they rebuilt it , you think they installed all that hell no , sold me 2 kits for 500 bucks. NO more if it blows up its on me . I have more tools that only get used every 10 years than I know what to do with but I have them.
Imho, any bike that's newer than 1995 can be difficult to work on. Why? Electronics creep in. As the bikes get newer. They get more complicated. Not my thing. Great vidoes man. Take it easy.
I’m not mechanically inclined at all but my neighbours both rode motorcycles and I learned to do some basic maintenance on their motorcycles, like oil changes, installing new windshield. The neighbour two houses away his Harley fell over in the shed he puts it in. He came asked for help, getting it upright. The windshield was caught under a shelf and it snapped, after I got the bike on it’s wheels. He started bitching about the windshield which was a accident. He was being a prick about it, I told him I can put it back on it’s side. He stopped bitching immediately.
You’ve hit the nail on the head! My first Harley was a 1983 Shovelhead Sturgis 1340, which had a panhead adjustable sidecar forks and FLH swing-arm, plus every wire was in black! It was unreliable but interesting! My finest moment came at 1am on a dark night when it cut out, the starter failed, & the kicker went down but failed to come back up, so I set to & disassembled the kicker at side of the road! After a couple of hours cursing it kicked back up! A good feeling! Fantastic! Later a misaligned crank caused a small engine disaster so I swapped it in 1996 for a Rowe Machine Sportster. Whilst I’ve had new Dyna models since, that old Shovel is really where my interest remains as I could do stuff on it myself, & discuss it’s problems! I’m no mechanic but if you read about stuff, & get stuck in, eventually it becomes easier to work on.
My father and four of his brothers owned an automotive repair shop,my brothers and I started wrenching in our early ages . I joined the military and wrenched on numerous aircraft Kc-135A,B52G,C141A/B C5A,B & M,retired and kept wrenching on my passion,VWs...Dont know man,you think i could wrench on a Harley.
you prob already figured this out. My '91 evo softail with a dyna ignition and hi flow mufflers gets 175mi on a tank before reserve. It has run 20w50 for 70,000 mi .I have used my trip odometer for a gas gauge for years. This works so well that I use it on my '05 Heritage even though it has a gas gauge (worthless), by the way my Heritage with a CV carb HD hi flo mufflers gets 200 miles before reserve (??)Another thing I found I had a lot of noise on the evo that I couldn't find that ended up being my tank mounts were tired. When I went looking for the buzzing sound I pulled the tanks (5 gal) and my throttle cable had the plastic worn off 1 Cable with a shiney place on the tank. Replacing the rubber mounts solved the problem.
Although I love old vehicles with ancient technology, there is one thing I do like about this digital age that I sure didn't have when I had to learn mechanics (and other things) the hard way, and that is RUclips videos. If I'd had RUclips and Google and forums available "way back when", I would have been in heaven. It has accelerated my learning ability to warp-speed. Growing up in a tiny town in the hills of West Virginia before the days of cable TV - or even color TV - was really hard for those of us with a thirst for knowledge. Still, I was able to work on my new-to-me single cylinder Honda and "Twingle" Puch/Allstate. Add to that a British car with Lucas electrics and there was no choice but to learn how to fix it myself. Am I complaining? No, it made me appreciate the fact that I had learning skills, no matter what. Today I am retired and when I want to fix something, I head to Google, RUclips and forums to learn from other people's trial and error. This really helps me to "learn my limits". I appreciate all of you who like to share. Saddle Tramp, as always, thanks for your videos and insights.
Scooters is C-O-O-L. We have a great local shop like that here in Jamaica Plain MA called Milwaukee Iron. You put some nice touches on that Nostalgia Tramp, esp the blackwall tires...you saved that bike man, she was goin down the road of degradation....but she looks and sounds happy snappy now
Just changed my tires on the 2007. Brakes on the back, new stator and regulator. I dig turning the wrenches as much as I like riding. Some of my best riding buddy’s don’t turn wrenches. They’re still full bikers.
Old. Olde school. Air cooled. Carbureted. No computers, no silly 'power modes', no onboard music, no ECM, no FI, no liquid cooling. Just me, some rubber, and an engine that I'm not afraid of. Mine has a stock Mikuni and learning how to use it is definitely in my future. Plus all the other little ins and outs. My favourite line, and I think it was yours, "If I'm broke down in the middle of the desert, I know that I can fix it." And that's just the way I want to be as well. Leave the shop only the sophisticated or milling type work, and leave everything else to me. Might have them change and balance those tires too. So much easier on a machine.
I was going to ask if you solved the High Speed Wobble .. I guess that would mean replacing the wheel bearings... I guess they are permanently sealed wheel bearings.. I own a shop manual for almost every vehicle I own .. Older cars and trucks .. Front end loaders North West Cranes that weight 90,000# Class 8 trucks a 6 wheel drive FWD truck fork lift ect.. Usually you need a shop manual for the more major repairs..
About knowing your limits: I had a "slight" problem that should have been easy to fix. After a couple of days of trying, getting frustrated, walking away, coming back , trying again and repeating this cycle several times, I decided to take it to the local Harley dealer/garage which was the very last thing I wanted to do. But I figured if it requires certain skills and replacement parts, it would be worth it. The initial fix took over 6 hours and it failed horribly. I was 2 hours from home, across the mountains, and had no way to get there. The service department arranged with the sales department to get me a brand new loaner for the ride home. On the 9th day, they called and said my bike was ready and I rode the loaner back to get it. They said they had no idea what the root cause of the problem was, so they replaced ALL of the parts and there would be no extra charge above the 6-hour repair and even that was reduced. They probably "ate" over $2000 in parts and labor and they never gave me any hassle or runaround. They treated my old 2005 Sportster as if it was the most expensive bike they ever sold -- and I didn't even buy it from them. I've never bought a new bike in over 55 years of riding! In this case, "knowing my limits" paid off in spades. I'm happy to report that not all dealerships are "stealerships".
Hey guy I've seen a few of your videos as I'm into the older bikes myself. And if your limitations are tires and wheels bearings then your pretty much set. Let me tell you though Tires and bearings couldn't be easier to replace I the garage . I do all of my own repairs and have never had any outside help on any bike I've owned unless it's machine work. I didn't ride for about ten years then out one day I seen a FLH at a yard sale. Very clean machine and loved the color of it. Wasn't what I really wanted but the price was right and I wanted to ride again. I've had three back surgeries among others and have arthritis pretty bad but I can still ride in comfort . Doesn't affect me thank God and I couldn't be more happy in my element in the wind... Anyway bike was an 01 FLH TC88 twin cam. Fuel injected, computer, sensors, belt drive, newer machine. It ran great, smooth ass ride but it just wasn't me or what I wanted. Went through three sets of tires, TPS, air intake temp sensor, head temp sensor, crank sensor, intake seals, rocker lockers for noisy ass valve train, fuel tuner, etc.. I did a lot of work to that ride and it was a nice cruiser but I don't like modern bikes with newer technology!! Can't stand it!! Again yard sale, clean, price was right... Anyway I looked the entire time I rode it for an older machine and after three years finally I found what I was Looking for. Now I own a 73 FLH Shovelhead and absolutely love this machine!! This bike is all me. Its an older ride, much lighter, easier to maneuver and handles much better than the 01 which surprised me. And the sound of a Shovel is it. The bike was rebuilt seven years ago and the cat I got it from only put 400 miles on it. Well after owning it a few months it needed a lot of fine tuning not to mention freshening up with new seals and gaskets which I'm doing in the spring. The man that built it passed away and it went to auction and was sold along with seven other older bikes. I believe it was assembled and then he died as EVERYTHING was out of adjustment!! I literally had to adjust everything that has an adjustment but now it's like an entirely different ride. It's far from stock but I like how it's been done. Suites me well. Can't wait till it warms up so I can enjoy being out in the wind. Nobody around here rides old bikes they are all newer rides. These days are different from my days of growing up. I drove 67, 68 Camaros, Chevelle's, GTOs as daily drivers to work with big block four speed trannies pulling the front end off the ground and raced them on the weekends. These days are so different. I'm old school all the way myself. Anyway the old Shovelhead is a great motor it's got soul. I can fully understand the trade you did getting the older bike as i did the same. I also rebuild and run vintage chainsaws from the fifties to cut firewood. I just enjoy fixing things. I was an auto mechanic as a profession until I messed up my back so I been 🔧 my entire life. I still have all of my tools I bought off the tool trucks back in the early eighties I use on a regular basis. Three older brothers growing up in the sixties as a kid with muscle cars in the driveway everywhere turned me into a gearhead at an early age. Doing ones own work is pure satisfaction and gratifying. It's feeling good about rebuilding your own things and using them. If I couldn't work on my bike I wouldn't even own it. I don't want some other cats hands in my machine. Old Harleys are like a work of art to me. Anyway I can relate to you and how you think and doing your own thing, fixing your ride, digging the older bikes... I'll check out some more vids soon....✌🏻
types of "motorcycle enthusiasts" Biker = rides anywhere in any weather, works on his bike Checkbook Biker = went to dealership bought bike because buddy has one, minimal riding, no wrenching Sidewalk Biker = wears biker clothing, but does not own a bike
One of the biggest problem Harley faces is they keep making it harder and harder for riders to do their own maintenance and repairs. You can't even bleed your own brakes anymore. Need to remove the forks to change the fork oil. Have to remove the outer primary cover to check or adjust the primary chain. This isn't what Harley riders want. They love getting dirty wrenching on their machines. Take that part of the Harley experience away or make it too difficult for the average guy and you'll keep losing customers. And not everyone can fork out $85+/hr labor.
Changing Motorcycle tires is easy .. You just need a stand to balance them on or have them balanced after you have changed them. I bought a Yamaha FZ-07 .. I mounted side Cases, a Top Case.. I cigarette lighter USB Jack and a GPS unit.. and a tank bag that clamps on to a bolted ring.. I had to adjust the chain a few times when it was new.. Being a Yamaha I did not think there would need to be any maintained until I hit 7,500 miles.. Then I hit a Deer.. Now I have to replace the Forks Radiator and a bunch of small part.. I don't miss Carbs at all , but still have not spent $450.00 on a fuel controller that I can adjust with a lap top ..
Last summer I picked up a non running 78 goldwing that I'm trying to get back on the road. I'm no mechanic but I love to work on stuff and tinker. I ride a 05 sportster as my daily driver. I love bikes, and want more of them. Great channel.
Lmao keep the rubber side down. My dad has always told me keep the rubber side down and the hairy side up haha. Great content and agreed 100%. I don't know much about mechanics of bikes but I try to learn all I can when I can. And try to be self reliant. But being A single father with 2 little ones its hard to. So I'm not always able to just tinker like I would like to. But I don't feel like that makes me less of the "biker trash" as my pops would say
I been riding Harleys since the mid 70's and being from Saskatchewan Canada there was one dealership in the whole province so I had no choice about doing my own wrenching. to me that's fun and getting to know your ride. Remember at that time it was owed by AMF and quality was left a lot to be desired. I will not buy a new Harley because I simply can't wrench on them myself. Either way it's all about your feelings about your scoot.
In my opinion a real biker is one who loves freedom and the joy of riding! Whether you wrench on one or not shouldn't be the standard. Neither should the amount or distance in the saddle! Besides, if we all did 100% of our own maintenance a lot of mechanics who make their living by the wrench would be out of a job! Me personally I hate working on cars, bikes, or bycycles. But can everyone that rides a bike build a house from scratch?
i bought a 97 cust xl for that exact reason,, simplicity,, carb solid mount motor, turned it into sixties style bobber wouldnt trade it for anything love riding it and love working on it,, the new harleys are too tame! too computerized no soul lol im with ya on the old skool mentality just wish i still had an old carburated pickup truck GB
Yeah, Harley took all the flavor and soul out of their bikes when they went fuel injected. You used to be able to tell who's bike is who's just by listening to it, but not so much anymore.
I have always wrenched and welded and wired and painted my bikes. Because it's fun!
It's called Man Therapy. Next to riding, I like working on my bike. Washing and waxing just get in the way of real fun. If I can't clean it with a rag, paper towels or a small micro-fiber towel with some Windex or detail spray, I usually don't bother. Bling is not for me.
I rode at the back of the pack at every ride. I was the wrench. Some broke down. I would stop with them and fix. Half our mc could wrench....but I could fix.
There's a big difference in fixing and wrenching. Too many that try don't have a clue what what they're doing.
Right on. Been there.
I've owned motos all my life. I started riding bikes at 15. I've continually had a moto and a pick up truck since then. I'm 73 years young now and still have a pick up and three Harleys. I've wrenched on all my bikes through the years. Learning along the way. All my friends ride also, but some are not mechanically inclined so I help them when they need some help.
I had the opportunity to graduate from MMI several years ago. I learned much about the new EFI bikes, and a whole lot more about the older bikes.
I've built and sold many ground up HDs in my home garage. I decided to retire earlier this year and sold all my machines and closed down my shop.
I was fortunate to have a father that was exceptionally good with his hands. That man could tackle any problem and come out on top. He taught me everything he knew. From concrete, heavy equipment, mechanics, horticulture, agriculture, BBQing, patience, etc, and how to survive in life.
My life has been full, and I now enjoy the time with my kids, grandkids, and soon great grandkids. So if you don't know much about how your bike works, hang out with that greybeard in your group and sit by his side as he's wrenching on his bike. Ask questions. That's the only way you'll learn.
Amen ol timer
One old timer to another...you are right.
I have 3 shovelheads and 5 ironheads, do all my own work, top to bottom, through the years collected all the tooling necessary for full rebuilds, still change my own tires by hand.
65 yrs old for me just changed out starter on truck. Oct sold my bike had 2007 til 2020. Thinking about another or fishing boat. Dam want them both lol.
Exactly why my newest bike is an Evo Road King with a carburetor. Easy to work on and reliable. I know fuel injection is more efficient but its computer controlled and subject to needing the software to diagnose problems. 15 years ago I bought a tire machine. Its invaluable since I have three bikes. I support my indy shop by buying tires,oil and parts from him. Looks like some nice improvements on your old softail.
I had to learn to work on my own bikes when I was just a kid. When I grew up, I worked hard, saved some money, and bought a well-used Harley that I fixed up myself and have kept her going for the past 20 years. I couldn't imagine letting anyone else work on it. Great bike and even though I want to find an older evo soft tail now, I'll still keep my other old Harley, no way I'd ever sell it as long as I can still ride.
I wish I could work on my own bike but I fall into that group that takes it to the shop. I have done items like adding lights or changing seats but not much more. Thanks for all of your time in getting these videos out. Ride Safe
I worked on Harleys for years at dealerships and chopper shops and I found that most dont know shit about their bikes>
I wouldn't take my bike to a Harley dealership. I don't trust them to do as good of a job. Plus, in recent years, I have had issues with H-D parts quality. They sold me a pair of new fork slider tubes that were not fit to use. I tried to point out to them that the new ones had worse pitting, scratching and scoring than the leaky one I pulled out. They grudgingly waived the restock fee (WTF?? It's their crappy parts that is the issue).
Ended up with CCE hard chrome slider tubes and I am extremely happy with their performance on my Dyna using Bel Ray 15W (stock is 10W). Hell, the only reason they failed after just 15k miles is because the stock ones are criminally underdamped.
But hey, Harleys are great bikes once you fix the mistakes made by the designers, lol!
Yeap! I am one of them. I wish I could. Don't knock me though!
@@skorpius752 They have really gone downhill. I worked for dealears during the AMF era. Most were good. Some were uppity if you had long hair, tats and rode a not so stock machine.
Im 54 , i got first Harley when i was 15 , a basket case 69 XLCR,, when i was building it over a 2 year span , all the old timers my dad included all said the same thing, i will sit with ya and tell ya how to do what your doing but they wouldn’t touch a wrench , they taught me you ride it you wrench it.. and thats what i did . My profession is a Harley tech at a dealership.. not only did they give me the knowledge to wrench my own ride , but they also gave me a trade , a way to support myself threw out my whole life to feed my family and get me what i need.. those days and sense of pride and wrenching on your own ride are long gone and lost on todays younger generation,, such a shame...now that doesn’t mean ya have to know everything either because i don’t either,, it was a different time back then and we got a sense of pride of building fixing etc.. our own rides ,, i personally dont care for this new world we live in , and i esp don’t care for the direction harley moco is going either ,, but hey thats a discussion for another day..
I learned to wrench I can't afford the Harley Shop.
I'd rather a old evo than any of the new harleys nothing like em but each to there own nothing sounds better than a carb harley.
amen!!!
Love your videos, thank you! This one took the words right out of my mouth as I spin my own wrenches and share much of your philosophy. Pains me to on the rare occasions to leave my scooter for anything outside my scope of patience or capacity necessary for certain jobs.
You just keep wrenchin Saddletramp...We don't need no shops and NO COMPUTERS for our Bikes! Only thing I use shops for is tires and if my Bottem End were to go out on me....Happy trails!
Amen to that Saddle Tramp. I have a 2001 Road King that I plan on keeping for a long time.
Good deal, man!! Thanks for your time and attention!!
Loved the Vid Brother.....old bikes will always have a place as long as dudes like you continue to love them.
Thanks, bro. I hope there will be more after I'm gone.
When I lived in CT I used to go to my cousin's shop and I would do things for him and he would help me out and show me things on my bike. I would mow his lawn, cut down trees, split and deliver cord wood to him and even do oil changes and tire replacements on his customer bikes and he would do some stuff for me on my bikes. Now I live near Cleveland and no more nice cousin to help me out. So I have to man up and do it for myself or get out the checkbook. I usually choose man up as much as I can. The more money I save the more riding I can get in and maybe I can buy an new gun, I love guns....
Great video Tramp. Your channel is gaining traction well deserved. Your vids have a great vibe to them.
Thanks Tony.
Self sufficiency & eternal vigilance , will keep your knees in the breeze !
Amen! My 96" is largely over my head! But exhaust, tuners, plugs, air filter systems... even now some stuff is common sense!
The 96 is easy. It's like working on a tractor.
Back in the day I did all my own service work and was blessed to never have to get inside the motor. I did have some work done to my first "cruiser" that I needed special tools for so I just hired the job out. My current ride is a 2019 FLHR which was brand new and I'm good to let the HD shop take care of it. I got a great service package with it so the only thing I pay is the upgrade for synthetic oil that I use.
Always appreciate your video content and words of wisdom. Your a solid down to earth guy who most of us viewers can relate to.
Thanks, man. :)
Jesus taught us to watch what we say....you're in your right mind and you make great vids.
Thanks for sharing your day and knowledge with me. Be safe
Some people just aren't mechanically inclined, I don't hold it against them. If they have someone else work on it but love to ride, that's good enough for me.
I know a number of "mechanics" that are not mechanically inclined!!!!
@@meabob ha that's no lie
good enough for me too. ride on
@@pcontiman Same to you friend
But most are just too friggin lazy to learn how to do it right!
Watching the work & changes you've made on that evo almost makes me want to swap my 2013-103 street glide for the same setup you now have, that evo sounds incredible ")
Judging from the condition of most of the bikes I've bought, a lot of bike owners don't know crap about fixing or maintaining their rides. Kudos to those who do. Anyone who wants to can learn...especially now days with the internet.
About of the bikers i hang with do their own maintenance & repairs. Most of us seem to have "that guy" who we can turn to for info on the more technical stuff who is always willing to help out a fellow biker. I think the numbers are dwindling on hands on bikers these days. I don't have a problem with a guy buying a new bike & knowing nothing about it, after all it's about the ride, but i believe one gets more satisfaction out of knowing that you are the one responsible for keeping the machine on the road.
To me, I want to work on my own stuff and no computer stuff. The new computerised machines may have their place but not under me. I can hear a bike and diagnose most issues. Give me a carb, kicker to back up the starter and give me a magneto over electronic ignition. All things break but I can fix the older stuff. God bless you bro.
I appreciate the vids. I'm looking to get a cruiser. I commute on a 2009 Tiger 1050. I dig it. I have worked on my own dirt bikes/ dual sports for the last 30 or so years. The tiger was my first real street bike (had it for over a year now) and I'm looking for a Cruiser. I've been drawn to the road King. But new or old? Or an 06 Yamaha Roadliner.....not sure. But id like to wrench on a Harley. I was impressed by your decision to trade the 12' to an EVO. After all I've read and watched on Utube I think that is where I am going. And I think you are right on the "disposable" twin cams. Great stuff and insight on digging motorcycles. Keep up the good work
I ride and I wrench on my cycles it is a great feeling of satisfaction
The 1998 Wide Glide I just bought is cold blooded as all get out too! I’m ok with it though, because that Evo runs like it’s brand new once it’s warm.
I own a Harley Davidson heritage flstc. I’ve owned many bikes and I see this one as the one I will keep. Evo 80 cu. inch. Not fast but will run all day at 50-60 mph. Bike fits me well and the bike is carburated. The wife has a 2002 springer softail which was a gift from her dad. We will eventually trade our 1999 gold wing for a new gold wing or a ultra classic and those will be the bikes we keep. Great video. Make your life your own. God bless
The only guys I know that dont wrench are the rich guys that buy new bikes, rarely ride them, and let the dealership handle all the maintenance. I dont have the money to pay someone else to do it so I learn from the old guys or youtube how to fix it myself.
I know I do my own stuff;
Never had extra $ to pay someone and never had a pleasant service experience.
“If I have to pay someone and stand in line and wait ; I’d just go ahead and do it myself “.
🤠❤️👍🏻🤠👌👋🏻
Besides it’s better knowing your scoot anyways on the road .
I was up at sturgis in a cabin; the guy in the cabin next door had an easy up over his bike with a cover on bike.
I told him I changed my own oil before coming .
He said; “ you changed your own oil !!!”
I said ; yeah; and I changed my back tire too .
He said : “you changed your own tire !!!”
Meanwhile he polishing his bike with cover and easy up over it .
Hmmm-
Well ; there’s all kinds out there-
ST always like your vids. had a chopper back in 70's and have never been on a bike since.
I like your current ride , and your an alright guy. Peace.
Your channel came up as a suggested video. So my first view was your "straight swap". I usually scroll through a few videos to get a feel for what people are saying. I consider myself a motorcyclist not a biker. I have been riding for 8 years now. I'm not a HD guy. Although I do appreciate the natural sound and looks of a well tuned and cared for HD. Well any motorcycle for that matter. I ride a 2000 Honda ACE and I try to do most of my general maintenance myself. Unfortunately I will never be that guy who takes my heads off and adjusts my lifters. Maybe someday I'll have to attack my stator. As I've logged 135k on my wheels since purchasing her. Anyways. I've liked the feel of what I've seen so far...no "brand arrogance". You just like what you like. So I have now subscribed. I'm not a motovloger myself. I'm not that interesting of a character for that. My few videos are just a way to show I'm not a troll. #RideOn
Right on, man. Right on.
I like this channel for the same reason.
The World Wide Web has made it it a lot easier to wrench a bike these days for uncommon problems to solve, or for parts hunting. A manual is always a great to have no matter what bike you have. Doing preventive maintenence keeps wrenching to a minimum,.
I've never done a crank shaft job, other than that......there is nothing difficult on an EVO!
I don't do tires either, because it's cheap do get done, and a little hassle to do it yourself. Bearings are easy enough!
You're absolutely right, know your limits. I rode panheads and shovels so I learned how to wrench when needed.
collector plates on 3 shovelheads and 5 ironheads, ride them all, do ALL my own work, have tire spoons for changing tires, wheel bearings are easy peasy, have a flywheel truing stand for doing bottom ends, lots of accumulated tools for rebuilding old iron, been riding 55 years, my favorite pastime is wrenching on bikes, generally do around 20,000 miles yearly.
I'm in need of help saddle tramp pls...1997 Electra glide with stick Evo 80...front plug fine back plug dry soot....did wd 40 to intake but no change in rpm...
Changed plugs....switched plug wires...no change.....any idea
The use of the word "biker" has changed since the 70s. Use to be that a "biker" was part of an "outlaw" club and a "rider" was someone who rode but wasn't part of a "outlaw" club. Now days anybody with a bike calls themselves a "biker" even if they never ride.
I really appreciate your videos doc. I find myself at a crossroad between old bikes and new for pretty much the same reason as you. I’m not a mechanic in the truest sense of the word but I’ve picked up enough from the old man and personal experiences to keep my scoots running and the thought of losing that ability with the new stuff makes me a bit uneasy. Thinking about doing some RUclips “moto-vlogging” chronicling my experience with it as well. We’ll see... Keep up the good work.✌🏾
I do sone of my own. Oil change, clutch adjust, brake adjust, small wiring jobs, tow hitch install, road guard install. I like doing my own stuff, but I stop at my local shop too. I like hanging out and throwing them work to help keep them in business.
If I can do it myself and save a buck, I’ll be damned if I’m going to farm it out.
I wrench on everything, not just bikes. Refrigerators, to box trucks and everything in between.
I do what I can, wish I knew more.......But..... I can build my own home from footings to placing the lazy boy recliner. Concrete, block, brick,framing,structure design,,shingle,siding, elec, plumb, You name it in residential building, I have the know how. So I lack in my mechanical skills but have the ability thru You Tube to take on those tasks if I choose too. Carry on.
Hi, I just started subscribing to your channel. I have a '96 Heritage Softail too, and I'd like to ask if you could do a quick video on attaching and raising your bike on your lift. I have a drive on lift, but no room for it in the place I'll be working on it this winter. So I'll be using the same type of chassis lift in your videos. All the best, Art....
Yes I do think motorcycle riders should maintain their bikes to a certain extent, but in saying that there is always a glitch. Eg,I bought a Ducati monster for my wife off a Christian family, he assured me the belts had been done at 30k by himself with receipts, 50k comes up, time to renew. Pull it apart and he had put square toothed belts on round cogs. Either he didnt know, didnt care or was too tight to pay freight to return them. This could have caused a lock up, how dangerous.
I had a 2009 super glide but traded it on for my dream bike a 2000 fxr4 Evo in screaming yellow buil buy the cvo part of Harley all hand built no problems ran Mobil one 15w50 no leaks the Evo was always kept cool and it only had 7000 on it when I bought it back in 2009 and it now has 12000 I'll never get rid of it no need for a new one God bless you brother
did you mean 120,000? because 5k in 10 years is baby miles
No the bike only has 12,000 because I have had 4back operation's because a woman on a cellphone in a car ran me off the road when I had a 2000 hd Sportster started shifting down then front wheel caught a rut sending me over the handle bars hiring the speedometer and the bike was still doing over 50 but I had my leathers helmet boots gloves broke no bones only a concussion and a sprained neck later my left leg broke both the fibula and the tibula and crushed my ankle so riding now is limited but I still love it even though I'm fully d disabled
Jason Koestner good for you buddy! Do what makes ya happy and don’t bother with the haters!
Kool video Homie and thanks for sharing 😎
Thanks
for your videos! I started watching with your trade and continued as you made some repairs. I am enjoying watching and really admiring your work and how you approach each task. You explain everything in straightforward, understandable terms and free of colorful language. I have wrenched on my cars, never did any major engine work, but worked on everything else I could succeed at. Still, do but not as confident with all the new electronics. I dont work on my bikes, (2004 FATBOY/2016 Ultra Limited low.) I just dont know how to. I have the service and repairs done at the local shop.
Regardless, enjoy riding. It is my therapy. Again, Thanks for sharing and keep posting.
Lou
I cringed when he laid that rear wheel pulley side down.
Why ...
Another really good video.
I gotta be honest. There's just something about a Harley... When I was a kid, Harley was still selling Pan heads. My fate was sealed.
Anybody who is passionate about the machine they ride will learn to wrench on it. Nobody works on my scooter but me. It is a relationship only a true rider knows. I am not crazy about the term biker, to many people think if you own a Harley you are instantly a biker. NOT!! RIDE FREE BROTHER!!
Well said, Man!
Great video. God blessed me with a mechanical mind. I have to know how things work. I can’t imagine life any other way.. thank you Lord that you didn’t make everyone like me as that would make things really boring..I really enjoy your channel. Keep it up..
I totally agree with you on that! There is nothing more satisfying than fixing, or building your own stuff! Great video man!
Real bikers build there own bikes! If they can afford it!
friend do you have any idea if the seat from a 96 heritage that fits to an 883 can fit into mine heritage 06?
Hey man, love the content of your channel and the way you share your knowledge. Oh The Evo is nice looking ride too, i like what you've done to it taking back to a stock performance type will give it longer legs over time 👍. It won't let you down. Looking forward to seeing more of your vids in the future 👌😎
If you own early Twin Cam, you wrench.
Great video love your channel. Awesome bike. Just wish I could turn a wrench
You had me hooked on this series....I watched all the vids straight through, I like your style SaddleTramp. :D
I have modern bikes, but like you, I to do my own work...I never want them to see a shop, I do as much as I can figuring it and learning as I go. I bucked up, bit the bullet and changed my Victory's wheel bearings last fall and I have yet another set of tires to go on any day now....The jobs aren't so bad once you do dig in and do them.
Thanks for the great vids
Right on, man. Just keep wrenching.
Buy a shop manual for EVERY THING AND YOU'LL EVEN LEARN WHAT TOOLS YOU NEED!
why the 4-5 min warm up? what exactly are you looking for? new rider looking at you tube videos for help don't have any family or friends that ride. Bought a 92 FLHS a few months back. I do a 1 min warmup then just take it easy for the first 5 miles or so.
There is an old book, published in 1974, called "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", and it is a really good read. As for myself, I have always been a mechanic and motorcycle rider, and spent many years working in bike shops. I think the most important thing is, once anyone starts riding, they get increasingly interested in the bike itself, and most learn a lot about the care and feeding of their own bikes. They will still have a shop install tires, do tuneups, etc, but only a few of us rebuild the engines and gearboxes, and make major modifications. At any gathering, however, there will be LOTS of technical talk among riders, and most people know A LOT about what they are riding.
The author has passed away now. I bought a copy when I heard that sd news
i just bought a 75 harley ironhead to rebuild it
1st time viewer. Totally enjoyed it. You seem to be about just like a majority of folks out there who ain’t impressed with a bunch of bells and whistles.
Ride safe ride free!
that bike sounds nice...!!..and windshields are great ...:)
I always worked on my own bikes because I grew up poor, so if you wanted to ride it you had to fix it. From that it evolved into working on other bikes, but you don't need to wrench to ride a motorcycle, as long as you have a wallet. I prefer to work on my own whenever possible, cause then at least I know who it was that killed me, lol!
I DO WHATEVER I CAN, EXCEPT MOTOR WORK
Yeah, me too....currently pulling an Evo motor apart that was in a fire...needs a total rebuild...I will get a shop to do the bottom end, but the rest is really not that hard to do.
I used to wrench when I was younger & my body wasn't beat up. Many people give up when they get to my age 61 & physical problems develop.
With my problems, on paper I shouldn't do most of the activity I do but I'm NOT A QUITTER.
I'll be 62 in 7 months, I have disc issues in my spine & neck including a slipped disc, my shoulder joints are shot, my feet have pain like tooth aches I could go on & on.
I'm not on pain killers. I lost 109 lbs & eat healthier. I pray and meditate everyday.
I DON'T judge how my day is going to be based on the first hour upon wakening. I need to keep moving and GET OVER THAT HUMP. ( most days it works)
I love to ride, refuel, repeat. In the past 2 yrs I purchased a 2003 Springer, I helped build my 2003 Sportster Nor Cal style chopper & bought and customized a 2018 Heritage 1,868 cc. Both 2003's are carbureted.
My passion since 11 yrs old has been motorcycles.
I'll do whatever it takes to stay passionate.
God bless.
I'm all about old bikes and trying to learn to wrench on them. I don't think I'm that mechanically inclined but I used work on my own cars all the time so I have the want to get my hands dirty again.
Right on, bro. And never think that you've arrived. Always have room to learn more of what you don't know.
2 wheels or 3 enjoying the bike, the wind that's all that matters
You found yourself a new subscriber ! Bought my first harley 2 months ago, 01 wideglide absolutely love it, cheers from Canada !
How do I reach you on Facebook?
My buddies bike was flipped end over end by his brother.we are looking for alot of parts
I'm not a biker and I wrench. Just because I ride a motorcycle, I don't call myself a biker.
Truth!!
I do what I am comfortable fixing but for the most part, I take my bike to the shop. I do have a buddy that can fix anything Harley-Davidson So when I have to he fixes my bike.
You're always making great videos man, I truly appreciate it. My biggest limitation I've encountered so far is the carburetor... I just can't figure it out.
Estou ansioso pra conhecer vc, será um grande prazer! Ainda estou esperando a confirmação das férias...
Just like you, I do what i can... but I try to be honest about what I can't do and not get in over my head.
Right on, man. Digging your progress on chopper by the way. Freakin righteous.
I wrench on all my bikes and my car! I have been doing it since learning from an early age through trial and error, taking engines out! fitting new gearboxes, suspension etc in old Fords from the seventies and eighties! I enjoy it knowing my back wheel is tight and secure because I have done it myself! A famous Irish Road Racer Joey Dunlop always prepared his own bikes! It gave him the confidence to ride around the famous Isle of Man TT race at breathtaking speeds! I haven't stripped an engine yet, but I have rebuilt a turbo! fitted a bathroom suite, built a wooden garage! Tiled a floor! learnt to weld! replaced an engine gearbox and running gear out of an old 1978 Ford Escort mk11 RS2000 into an older 1968 Ford Escort MK1 1100 Automatic! I like working on my bikes and do all the servicing myself! You can do most things! you need the tools to do it, and thoroughly research what it is you want to do, you just have to not be afraid to try tackle it yourself!
I been riding since age 10 my neighbor Dave Elles NASCar Driver , showed me how to tune up my first street bike little SL70 Honda I had to do it he watched let me use his tools , I have owned 17 Motorcycles in 48 years the last 20 years 3 Harley Davidson , I have more miles backing up to curbs that most have going forward , From 1999 to 2006 My average year I get in 20,000 miles I ride year round even in temps 20 below 0 . Im not a Biker Im a Motorcyclist , Bikers park their ride from september to may . I wrench on my $hit , had too many backyard meth heads f-ck up more $hit and had to spend thousands in rebuilds . Oil change and he forgot to add the oil , WTF I road 40 miles before the dummy light come on , but my engine was cooked . took one in for heads the guy took a grinder to ported polished flowed heads it stall at 2500 rpm to 3500 carboned up the jugs in the 2 months of trying to figure out what was going on . that was 2 engines lost . took my trans to the last of the 3 shops in 100 miles of me it come back worse after 1200 $ and they told me it was the shifting drum shift forks and dogs . they had it 2 months said they rebuilt it , you think they installed all that hell no , sold me 2 kits for 500 bucks. NO more if it blows up its on me . I have more tools that only get used every 10 years than I know what to do with but I have them.
Imho, any bike that's newer than 1995 can be difficult to work on. Why? Electronics creep in. As the bikes get newer. They get more complicated. Not my thing. Great vidoes man. Take it easy.
I work for Harley Davidson. The answer is.... No they don't.
I’m not mechanically inclined at all but my neighbours both rode motorcycles and I learned to do some basic maintenance on their motorcycles, like oil changes, installing new windshield. The neighbour two houses away his Harley fell over in the shed he puts it in. He came asked for help, getting it upright. The windshield was caught under a shelf and it snapped, after I got the bike on it’s wheels. He started bitching about the windshield which was a accident. He was being a prick about it, I told him I can put it back on it’s side. He stopped bitching immediately.
You’ve hit the nail on the head! My first Harley was a 1983 Shovelhead Sturgis 1340, which had a panhead adjustable sidecar forks and FLH swing-arm, plus every wire was in black! It was unreliable but interesting! My finest moment came at 1am on a dark night when it cut out, the starter failed, & the kicker went down but failed to come back up, so I set to & disassembled the kicker at side of the road! After a couple of hours cursing it kicked back up! A good feeling! Fantastic! Later a misaligned crank caused a small engine disaster so I swapped it in 1996 for a Rowe Machine Sportster.
Whilst I’ve had new Dyna models since, that old Shovel is really where my interest remains as I could do stuff on it myself, & discuss it’s problems! I’m no mechanic but if you read about stuff, & get stuck in, eventually it becomes easier to work on.
Hmm. I have a 2005 FXDI and it doesn't seem all that complex to me. I guess it's all relative.
My father and four of his brothers owned an automotive repair shop,my brothers and I started wrenching in our early ages . I joined the military and wrenched on numerous aircraft Kc-135A,B52G,C141A/B C5A,B & M,retired and kept wrenching on my passion,VWs...Dont know man,you think i could wrench on a Harley.
you prob already figured this out. My '91 evo softail with a dyna ignition and hi flow mufflers gets 175mi on a tank before reserve. It has run 20w50 for 70,000 mi .I have used my trip odometer for a gas gauge for years. This works so well that I use it on my '05 Heritage even though it has a gas gauge (worthless), by the way my Heritage with a CV carb HD hi flo mufflers gets 200 miles before reserve (??)Another thing I found I had a lot of noise on the evo that I couldn't find that ended up being my tank mounts were tired. When I went looking for the buzzing sound I pulled the tanks (5 gal) and my throttle cable had the plastic worn off 1 Cable with a shiney place on the tank. Replacing the rubber mounts solved the problem.
Although I love old vehicles with ancient technology, there is one thing I do like about this digital age that I sure didn't have when I had to learn mechanics (and other things) the hard way, and that is RUclips videos. If I'd had RUclips and Google and forums available "way back when", I would have been in heaven. It has accelerated my learning ability to warp-speed. Growing up in a tiny town in the hills of West Virginia before the days of cable TV - or even color TV - was really hard for those of us with a thirst for knowledge. Still, I was able to work on my new-to-me single cylinder Honda and "Twingle" Puch/Allstate. Add to that a British car with Lucas electrics and there was no choice but to learn how to fix it myself. Am I complaining? No, it made me appreciate the fact that I had learning skills, no matter what.
Today I am retired and when I want to fix something, I head to Google, RUclips and forums to learn from other people's trial and error. This really helps me to "learn my limits". I appreciate all of you who like to share.
Saddle Tramp, as always, thanks for your videos and insights.
Scooters is C-O-O-L. We have a great local shop like that here in Jamaica Plain MA called Milwaukee Iron. You put some nice touches on that Nostalgia Tramp, esp the blackwall tires...you saved that bike man, she was goin down the road of degradation....but she looks and sounds happy snappy now
Just changed my tires on the 2007. Brakes on the back, new stator and regulator. I dig turning the wrenches as much as I like riding. Some of my best riding buddy’s don’t turn wrenches. They’re still full bikers.
Old. Olde school. Air cooled. Carbureted. No computers, no silly 'power modes', no onboard music, no ECM, no FI, no liquid cooling. Just me, some rubber, and an engine that I'm not afraid of. Mine has a stock Mikuni and learning how to use it is definitely in my future. Plus all the other little ins and outs. My favourite line, and I think it was yours, "If I'm broke down in the middle of the desert, I know that I can fix it." And that's just the way I want to be as well. Leave the shop only the sophisticated or milling type work, and leave everything else to me. Might have them change and balance those tires too. So much easier on a machine.
I was going to ask if you solved the High Speed Wobble .. I guess that would mean replacing the wheel bearings... I guess they are permanently sealed wheel bearings.. I own a shop manual for almost every vehicle I own .. Older cars and trucks .. Front end loaders North West Cranes that weight 90,000# Class 8 trucks a 6 wheel drive FWD truck fork lift ect..
Usually you need a shop manual for the more major repairs..
About knowing your limits: I had a "slight" problem that should have been easy to fix. After a couple of days of trying, getting frustrated, walking away, coming back , trying again and repeating this cycle several times, I decided to take it to the local Harley dealer/garage which was the very last thing I wanted to do. But I figured if it requires certain skills and replacement parts, it would be worth it. The initial fix took over 6 hours and it failed horribly. I was 2 hours from home, across the mountains, and had no way to get there. The service department arranged with the sales department to get me a brand new loaner for the ride home.
On the 9th day, they called and said my bike was ready and I rode the loaner back to get it. They said they had no idea what the root cause of the problem was, so they replaced ALL of the parts and there would be no extra charge above the 6-hour repair and even that was reduced. They probably "ate" over $2000 in parts and labor and they never gave me any hassle or runaround. They treated my old 2005 Sportster as if it was the most expensive bike they ever sold -- and I didn't even buy it from them. I've never bought a new bike in over 55 years of riding!
In this case, "knowing my limits" paid off in spades. I'm happy to report that not all dealerships are "stealerships".
Hey guy I've seen a few of your videos as I'm into the older bikes myself. And if your limitations are tires and wheels bearings then your pretty much set. Let me tell you though Tires and bearings couldn't be easier to replace I the garage . I do all of my own repairs and have never had any outside help on any bike I've owned unless it's machine work. I didn't ride for about ten years then out one day I seen a FLH at a yard sale. Very clean machine and loved the color of it. Wasn't what I really wanted but the price was right and I wanted to ride again. I've had three back surgeries among others and have arthritis pretty bad but I can still ride in comfort . Doesn't affect me thank God and I couldn't be more happy in my element in the wind... Anyway bike was an 01 FLH TC88 twin cam. Fuel injected, computer, sensors, belt drive, newer machine. It ran great, smooth ass ride but it just wasn't me or what I wanted. Went through three sets of tires, TPS, air intake temp sensor, head temp sensor, crank sensor, intake seals, rocker lockers for noisy ass valve train, fuel tuner, etc.. I did a lot of work to that ride and it was a nice cruiser but I don't like modern bikes with newer technology!! Can't stand it!! Again yard sale, clean, price was right... Anyway I looked the entire time I rode it for an older machine and after three years finally I found what I was Looking for. Now I own a 73 FLH Shovelhead and absolutely love this machine!! This bike is all me. Its an older ride, much lighter, easier to maneuver and handles much better than the 01 which surprised me. And the sound of a Shovel is it. The bike was rebuilt seven years ago and the cat I got it from only put 400 miles on it. Well after owning it a few months it needed a lot of fine tuning not to mention freshening up with new seals and gaskets which I'm doing in the spring. The man that built it passed away and it went to auction and was sold along with seven other older bikes. I believe it was assembled and then he died as EVERYTHING was out of adjustment!! I literally had to adjust everything that has an adjustment but now it's like an entirely different ride. It's far from stock but I like how it's been done. Suites me well. Can't wait till it warms up so I can enjoy being out in the wind. Nobody around here rides old bikes they are all newer rides. These days are different from my days of growing up. I drove 67, 68 Camaros, Chevelle's, GTOs as daily drivers to work with big block four speed trannies pulling the front end off the ground and raced them on the weekends. These days are so different. I'm old school all the way myself. Anyway the old Shovelhead is a great motor it's got soul. I can fully understand the trade you did getting the older bike as i did the same. I also rebuild and run vintage chainsaws from the fifties to cut firewood. I just enjoy fixing things. I was an auto mechanic as a profession until I messed up my back so I been 🔧 my entire life. I still have all of my tools I bought off the tool trucks back in the early eighties I use on a regular basis. Three older brothers growing up in the sixties as a kid with muscle cars in the driveway everywhere turned me into a gearhead at an early age. Doing ones own work is pure satisfaction and gratifying. It's feeling good about rebuilding your own things and using them. If I couldn't work on my bike I wouldn't even own it. I don't want some other cats hands in my machine. Old Harleys are like a work of art to me. Anyway I can relate to you and how you think and doing your own thing, fixing your ride, digging the older bikes... I'll check out some more vids soon....✌🏻
types of "motorcycle enthusiasts" Biker = rides anywhere in any weather, works on his bike Checkbook Biker = went to dealership bought bike because buddy has one, minimal riding, no wrenching Sidewalk Biker = wears biker clothing, but does not own a bike
One of the biggest problem Harley faces is they keep making it harder and harder for riders to do their own maintenance and repairs. You can't even bleed your own brakes anymore. Need to remove the forks to change the fork oil. Have to remove the outer primary cover to check or adjust the primary chain. This isn't what Harley riders want. They love getting dirty wrenching on their machines. Take that part of the Harley experience away or make it too difficult for the average guy and you'll keep losing customers. And not everyone can fork out $85+/hr labor.
Changing Motorcycle tires is easy .. You just need a stand to balance them on or have them balanced after you have changed them.
I bought a Yamaha FZ-07 .. I mounted side Cases, a Top Case.. I cigarette lighter USB Jack and a GPS unit.. and a tank bag that clamps on to a bolted ring..
I had to adjust the chain a few times when it was new.. Being a Yamaha I did not think there would need to be any maintained until I hit 7,500 miles.. Then I hit a Deer.. Now I have to replace the Forks Radiator and a bunch of small part..
I don't miss Carbs at all , but still have not spent $450.00 on a fuel controller that I can adjust with a lap top ..
Last summer I picked up a non running 78 goldwing that I'm trying to get back on the road. I'm no mechanic but I love to work on stuff and tinker. I ride a 05 sportster as my daily driver. I love bikes, and want more of them. Great channel.
Lmao keep the rubber side down. My dad has always told me keep the rubber side down and the hairy side up haha. Great content and agreed 100%. I don't know much about mechanics of bikes but I try to learn all I can when I can. And try to be self reliant. But being A single father with 2 little ones its hard to. So I'm not always able to just tinker like I would like to. But I don't feel like that makes me less of the "biker trash" as my pops would say
I been riding Harleys since the mid 70's and being from Saskatchewan Canada there was one dealership in the whole province so I had no choice about doing my own wrenching. to me that's fun and getting to know your ride. Remember at that time it was owed by AMF and quality was left a lot to be desired. I will not buy a new Harley because I simply can't wrench on them myself. Either way it's all about your feelings about your scoot.
In my opinion a real biker is one who loves freedom and the joy of riding! Whether you wrench on one or not shouldn't be the standard. Neither should the amount or distance in the saddle! Besides, if we all did 100% of our own maintenance a lot of mechanics who make their living by the wrench would be out of a job! Me personally I hate working on cars, bikes, or bycycles. But can everyone that rides a bike build a house from scratch?
Don't sweat it, just keep making repair's, riding and upgrade videos.
i bought a 97 cust xl for that exact reason,, simplicity,, carb solid mount motor, turned it into sixties style bobber wouldnt trade it for anything love riding it and love working on it,, the new harleys are too tame! too computerized no soul lol im with ya on the old skool mentality just wish i still had an old carburated pickup truck GB
Yeah, Harley took all the flavor and soul out of their bikes when they went fuel injected. You used to be able to tell who's bike is who's just by listening to it, but not so much anymore.
SaddleTramp
true that!