SimeonC wrote on 01/15/14 at 21:45:29:Thanks everyone for your input... My oil tank idea is not as much for long rides (even though its a good idea) but more for the classic true bobber style.. Its more of having the aesthetic value and uniqueness, Example being would you rather have a universal slip on exhaust, or a true, tuned, sleek, custom bent full exhaust... You see having a look alike just doesn't feel the same as having the real deal . If your a biker you can understand where I'm coming from . Oh, I understand alright.
Try a 500 mile ride (250+250) on a 1hp, 50cc moped that'll do 25mph, 30 downhill...
Try a 600 mile ride (oneway) on a cold winter's night in puring rain, with a 6V electrical system and a 35W headlight, and nothing more.
Try a "mere" 120 mile ride in below freezing temperature with only a wind jacket and jeans because they were one full day behind schedule and had
lied about having the bike ready...
I showed up and it wasn't
...so I had to ride her home after closing hours because I couldn't afford to spend the night in a local motel...
There are many ways to mean "biker":
- buy a bike that's 3 years' salary to you, polish her up and ride her to the local biker bar, and that's the fartherst she'll ever go... but you have all the patches because they were mail orders.
- buy a bike that's a wreck to restore, spend all you've got and finally have her rolling and ready, only to realize she really isn't what you intended - but you spent all you had so it's ride or die (=sell)
- buy a bike that's only a few month's salary, ugly as a bat and reliable as an iron hammer and bore the h3ll out of your friendly mechanic and pay him to teach you how to do emergency repairs by the streetside,
and send him a "thank you!" postcard from that far away place he wished you luck for - and you made it !
Personally, my Savage is reasonably stock standard, save for a K&N air filter, a rejetted carb and a Sportster slip-on muffler.
My idea of highway bars are to protect the knees and ankles in case of a fall, not to stretch my feet and legs into gynecological positions...
I replaced the narrow 24" drag bars with 32" drag bars for comfort, yet waived the miniapes, however nice some people think they look, because they do not allow the kind of control I require.
I ride in the rain. I have rain gear and an armored jacket and a FF helmet. The bike gets wet ? So what, it'll dry out eventually.