fastbob

There are many great mysteries that intrigue mankind . Who built the Great Pyramids ? , What really happened at Roswell ? , What was the true function of Stone Henge ? Who shot JFK ? and WHAT IN THE NAME OF F**K DO THE LEDs ON AN OPTIMATE CHARGER ACTUALLY MEAN ??

Now that you have the correct tyre pressures , whack the tyres with a big spanner and memorise the note that they make . This is a quick way of checking for a drastic fall in pressure .

Do so if you must . Personally I like to announce my arrival by a good blip of the throttle while simultaneously flicking the kill switch . Then again , I don't think there is a side stand switch on my Harley .

The only electric motor I want on my bike is the one that starts the engine .

I've just told you what's what . Get a mint condition Dyna . The latest Harleys are so bland that you might as well get a Jap lookalike . They've got ABS , balancer shafts and even liquid cooling . They are assembled using components from all over the world and can hardly be described as American . All they make now are Soft Tails that are , at best pretentious . But if you want to blow 15 to 20 grand on a new Harley then go ahead . But if you are buying one for the bike and not the brand name , a Dyna is where it's at .

Well just buy one then . Good luck . ( A V-Rod is not a Dyna by the way . )

I'm biased of course but if you want to venture into the world of Harley Davidson then you would do well to be looking at a second hand Dyna Super Glide . People buy Harley's for a variety of reasons so there are plenty of ten year old bikes that are barely run in . A good place to start is anything from 2007 onwards because that's the year that they introduced hydraulic cam chain adjusters . Don't piss about with 1450s , go strait for a 1585 or a 1690 then you won't be riding around wondering " What if ? "

I've just realised . By Sportster S you mean that new thing not the original Sportster S .

I had an 04 1200 R for a few years . Great bike , best of all worlds . Carb , twin discs , rubber mounted engine , tacho , big fins , 5 speed box .

If you look at it objectively you need a Suzuki or a Kawasaki because they are superior in every way . But if your heart rules your head you will get the real thing and learn to live with it .

Now it all makes sense .

Ok then . That proves conclusively that I do NOT have a Stage One filter or backplate . I would be interested to see what the new one looks like when it is installed. ( Without the chrome cover obviously )

It's been a long hard week so please forgive me for being so slow on the uptake . What are you actually replacing ? The backplate AND the filter element or just the filter element ? The back plate in THIS picture is a standard item and not part of a stage one set up .

Ok , so if that is what's going on it , what is coming off it ? I'm delighted if that is , in fact , a stage one filter and housing but I can't imagine what a standard one must look like . I await an update with baited breath .

Why would you go around pissing in people's Hot Tubs ?

Pretty sure it will look like this .

Cheers .

Here you go . A Stage One filter kit looks like this . This particular one is Arlen Ness but the Screaming Eagle one is much the same . You have the option of fitting the black finishing disk , an aftermarket circular cover or the original chrome cover although that is asking rather a lot of a single bolt . Mine has the original back plate with the little air scoop which , in combination with the chrome cover , effectively forms an airbox .

Nah , I'm pretty sure I've got a standard backplate and filter but I'll do a bit more digging .

That's brilliant news ! I just assumed that because the filter is still in an air box it was still untuned . I thought that a different backplate needed to be fitted so that even though the original chrome cover remains , the filter is exposed all round . But that's just because of how my Sportster was set up . As I've said , it runs great . The only time it let me down was when I went for a rather over exuberant overtake and I hit the rev limiter mid way through . What pipes are on your new one ?

Cheers Ian . I can't say that I find mine lacking at all but it's only my second Harley so I really don't have a benchmark . Still can't get the battery out by the way . That screw is wearing out cobalt drill bits . God knows what it's made out of . I'll have another go at it at the weekend .

What does the difference feel like with the Stage One tune ?

What ? I got caught out after dark and could hardly see a thing ! Took me ages to get home wobbling around at 40mph . That said , I haven't ridden in real darkness for years .

Ian , if you don't like the pull back risers I'll gladly do you a swap .