I've been reading Harry Sucher's late eighties edition of the Harley story again, unauthorised because the Motor Company were more tightlipped than the KGB and just as zealous in enforcing the 'no talk' policy . . . . I've been focusing on the development and production of the Skirtster species, all this research activity was initially prompted by continually being entranced with a couple of Noot's scoots I've been lusting over recently.
I went trawling for some footage and have come up with some real gold as far as bog stock examples go, we always see em in varying degrees of chopper chic, which I love, but not that often in unmolested/restored original condition . . . . you gotta remember that the raison d'etre behind the lauch of the baby vee twin was to compete with and halt the onslaught of post war Pommy parallel twins and big singles that were kicking American butt in competition events at the time on tracks all across the U.S . . . .
The answer had to be light, potent and posessed of a righthand gear shift, as the Brits had, to lure the riders away from the likes of Triumph, BSA, Norton and the other U.K based manufacturers that were responsible for this bottom kicking behaviour . . . . the flathead K series was the initial model, albeit not officially designated 'Sportster', which was then follwed by the overhead valve model XL which has subsequently gone on to justified legend status.
This fucking neato example of the '68 XLCH illustrates just how lean, stripped and ready for business they were in their showroom fitout, super tight through the waist, the thin barrels on the motor, the 'narrow glide' front end, alloy rims, bars meant for total control . . . . these babies were designed for speed, not just trundling along the freeways, they went on to fame and fortune on flat track scene and their distant progeny are still tearing it up today . . . .
Tragically however, the essence of the term 'Sportster' seems to have been lost as far as the factory goes, even the raciest of the Sporty family these days weighs in at a half ton or so, my 2010 XLX must surely equate to a medium sized tank . . . . yep, yep, yep . . . . 'Sportster' by name only it appears these days.
All you lucky enough to be the custodians of ridgy didge models like the one in the vid, love them, cherish them, draw them near to the hearth, they are deserving of your attentions and our admiration.
I went trawling for some footage and have come up with some real gold as far as bog stock examples go, we always see em in varying degrees of chopper chic, which I love, but not that often in unmolested/restored original condition . . . . you gotta remember that the raison d'etre behind the lauch of the baby vee twin was to compete with and halt the onslaught of post war Pommy parallel twins and big singles that were kicking American butt in competition events at the time on tracks all across the U.S . . . .
The answer had to be light, potent and posessed of a righthand gear shift, as the Brits had, to lure the riders away from the likes of Triumph, BSA, Norton and the other U.K based manufacturers that were responsible for this bottom kicking behaviour . . . . the flathead K series was the initial model, albeit not officially designated 'Sportster', which was then follwed by the overhead valve model XL which has subsequently gone on to justified legend status.
This fucking neato example of the '68 XLCH illustrates just how lean, stripped and ready for business they were in their showroom fitout, super tight through the waist, the thin barrels on the motor, the 'narrow glide' front end, alloy rims, bars meant for total control . . . . these babies were designed for speed, not just trundling along the freeways, they went on to fame and fortune on flat track scene and their distant progeny are still tearing it up today . . . .
Tragically however, the essence of the term 'Sportster' seems to have been lost as far as the factory goes, even the raciest of the Sporty family these days weighs in at a half ton or so, my 2010 XLX must surely equate to a medium sized tank . . . . yep, yep, yep . . . . 'Sportster' by name only it appears these days.
All you lucky enough to be the custodians of ridgy didge models like the one in the vid, love them, cherish them, draw them near to the hearth, they are deserving of your attentions and our admiration.
It's a California Summer wrapped up in a Vailla Shake with a Cherry on top... or maybe Sherri is on top? Both.
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