Riding the Harley-Davidson Sportster through the Center of the Sun ...
A work friend, Jesus, and I rented Harleys from the local dealer, Biggs in San Marcos. This is the first time either of us had ridden Harleys and neither of use was that comfortable with spending an extended amount of time on someone else's bike, but hey, that's why they offer rentals. I rented a Sportster XL1200C Custom and Jesus a Dyna Wide Glide, apparently the next smaller bike in the Harley-Davidson line. After signing papers and getting the run-down on the bikes we left Biggs at 10AM. It was already hot in San Marcos, probably in the high 80’s and rapidly climbing.
With jackets on we rode up the 395 past the 76 and into Fallbrook. This was the period of getting used to the XL1200 motor. I’ve ridden v-twins in the past but nothing of this size (Suzuki’s SV650 to be exact). At first the Harley motor seemed very rough, with the momentum of the internal mass, crank, pistons, etc. quite noticeable, especially at low RPMs where the Suzuki is extremely smooth. The Screamin' Eagle pipes were also a lot louder than what I am used to on my bikes, cracking out a low bark that increased in urgency up the power-band. The Sportster Custom has the forward controls and this was also a new experience. My initial impressions were very mixed with the Harley but as we rode my comfort level with the machine began to increase.
When we stopped in Fallbrook the temperature had to be over 100-degrees. We chugged some water, stuffed our jackets in the saddlebags, and applied another round of sunscreen. From Fallbrook we took the 76 East, looking for more open roads and the opportunity to get a sense of how the Sportster handles the twistys. By now had become very comfortable with the riding position and most of the controls. The only thing really throwing me off is the Harley-Davidson turn-signal configuration with a button on each hand control and, something I kept forgetting, automatic cancelling once you make the turn. Obviously, these are not significantly problematic issues, they just take some getting used to. The forward controls quickly grew on me, though I think it would be ideal to have standard pegs and highway bars for maximum comfort. Being able to weight the pegs would provide better feel for cornering and allow the rider to take some of the load off the back.
Jesus and I rode into the Pala Casino around noon and the temperature had to be 107-degrees. After cooling down we headed back out, going from the 76 to the 79 and down into Santa Ysabel where we stopped for Gatorade. On that stretch we encountered a few drops of rain from some of the clouds overhead. The cloud cover really helped drop the temperature and this leg of the ride became very comfortable.
Having had a couple of hours on the Harley I started to take in the sounds of the bike. Being a bit of a gear head I tend to be pretty tuned into the sound and feel of my machines. One of the first things I noticed with the Sportster is the fairly loud fuel injectors. They definitely make a noticeable sound at idle and constant, cruising throttle. It’s not a bad or annoying sound, just something that is very discernable in the fuel injected version. Second I notice pinging or pre-detonation that I’m guessing was caused by a combination of the heat and shite gas provided by the previous renter. The engine knock became very apparent with a twist of the throttle – I don’t believe these bikes have knock sensors, electronic sensors used on fuel injected cars to detect pre-detonation and retard timing, so the knock was not entirely unexpected. Third, I noticed rattling coming from several unidentified locations around the engine at certain ranges of the power band. I’m not sure if there were loose chrome bits or if this is “normal” for Harleys, either way, it wasn’t a big deal.
By now I was very happy with the Sportster and the appeal of the 1200 v-twin really became apparent. Unlike my other bikes the Harley is extremely relaxed, as the rider you feel in control and well positioned. The bike handles remarkably well, much better than I had expected, and by this time I was used to the hum of the engine through the Screamin' Eagle pipes. Riding through the back country, sun on my arms, the pulse of the motor underneath, the tone of the engine put a smile on face – this is what riding should be like.
We made it through Ramona, down into Escondido (friggin HOT) and to the gas station to fill up the Sporty before taking it back to Biggs. We had completed about 130 miles and consumed 2.8 gallons of gas! Amazing mileage for a fun bike and an awesome ride. This experience has really changed my perceptions of Harley-Davidson’s motorcycles, its given me a real appreciation of the machines and the experience of the ride.
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