New Harley Oil Use.

[dt]

As most of you know, I just purchased a 2009 XR1200 Sportster a couple weeks ago. As of the end of my morning ride today, I’ve got 218 miles on it. Before I went out, I checked the oil and it was at the bottom of the stick range; one quart down, but cold. I rechecked the manual and it’s clear that the cold engine level should be below the top of the range but it doesn’t say exactly where. So I took the bike out and when I got back, I checked again…down one quart, hot. That means, hot, the oil level is right at the very bottom of the lowest point on the stick range. (Same as the cold pre start I might add).

When I got the bike, I gave it the twice over and the oil tank was full. So, it’s gone through a quart of oil in a little over two-hundred miles. That doesn’t seem right…does it? What do you all think? Anyone break in a new Harely recently?

I called the dealer … no answer … I know they're open Sundays, so I drove down to Brandon and they’re closed for inventory today. I’ll ask them, but I’m an immediate gratification guy and I want to know what’s up. Any thoughts?

[dt]

I spoke to the dealer today and they said NFW on a quart after a couple hundred miles, although it would blow through some oil during the 1,000 mile break in as valves and seals seat and whatnot. I'm taking it in on Wednesday and have them take a look.

Actually, it was going in anyway 'cause the rear brake needs adjustment, and I don't feel like screwing with it while it's under warranty, AND we're going to talk about some better rear shocks and changing out that pussy horn! I'll keep ya in the loop.

[mrbones]

Yeah that oil doesn't sound right. New shocks after 200 miles? Aren't they adjustable?

[mrbones]

Every bike needs a little tweeking to make it fit its new owner. I put long stem Harley mirrors on mine so I could see behind me. You might have those already, I can't tell by the photo. But "long stem" in HD's definition is still pretty short.

[mrbones]

You can sort of see the mirror on my bike in the first photo in this thread.

http://bikerflorida.com/forum/index.php/topic,236.0.html

[dt]

My front shot in the show-off gallery didn't give a clear view, so I found a stock shot. Shorter looks like the answer.

By the way, someone chromed up the pipe covers on this shot. Mine are brushed aluminum. That looks nice.

This new Tech Corner was a good idea.

[dt]

This new Tech Corner was a good idea.

Maybe folks can share some things they're doing to their bikes or have done, even if they aren't looking for help. I'm always interested in reading about that stuff.

Quoting yourself is the equivalent of talking to yourself. 

[mrbones]

Man, those are tiny though. I'd cover them with blind spot mirrors. You're welcome to stop by my house and try out the long stem ones if you want.

[mrbones]

What was the verdict on the oil usage?

[dt]

HD Brandon found no problems, except that they say I wasn’t checking it properly. I followed the owners’ manual that says to check the oil while the bike is leaning on the stand. The dealer said the manual is wrong and that it needs to be checked standing straight up and that’s how they topped it off when I took delivery. You wouldn’t think so, but there’s a big difference on the stick.

[mrbones]

What heck are you using the manual for? lol

[dcameras]

changing out that pussy horn! Cars can’t hear the horn when their windows are up.

I know what you are talking about with the horns. I had a guy changing lanes on me week before last and luckily he heard my horn that time. You should have seen how quickly he jerked on the wheel to get it back in his lane and yes he was on his cell phone at the time. I have since then put one of the horns listed below on the Honda. In fact I had to use the new horn today on someone that was starting to pull out in front of me.

You might want to try a Wolo Bad Boy horn. http://www.wolo-mfg.com/air.htm
Those things are loud. You should be able to find them in your area if you have a Harbour Freight near you (I think they have them) and they should be less than the price listed on Wolo's site. There are other brands that are like these also.

 

[dt]

Hey thanks! That's something I keep putting off, but it's definitely something that needs to be done to this bike.

Right now it's got one of those little button horns in between the front frame (see photo). The dimensions of that Big Boy look a little big (4 1/2 inches on the side), but I'm going to check tonight.

The other thing that's a pain on this bike is the rear brake lever (see photo). It's got such a tiny surface and it's up so tight to the pipe, I'm often pushing on the pipe rather than the lever. I made the HD techs take it out and tell me what they could do. They agreed that it's somewhat of a nuisance, but that there was nothing they could do. It's funny but I've never tripped over anyone who has this same complaint with the XR. Not so much a complaint; I guess I'm mostly used to it now, but only by being conscious that I need to find the right foot placement to use the rear brake.

[dcameras]

I was able to put the horn in the front cowl section on my Honda. I have heard of people putting that horn on Harley's just not sure where they mounted it.
As far as the brake lever I am not sure. I went in the warehouse where my boss has his Harley(VRod) and it doesn't have the lever there. His is forward of the engine. Will the lever come off and rotate counterclockwise just a little and then go back on? Just a thought.

[dt]

Thanks for looking. I've been over this pretty well with the dealer and, currently, there's nothing we can do. The brake/hydraulics is like a contiguous unit. Eventually, they'll probably come up with an aftermarket lever with a bigger pedal platform. That would be the solution.

[bagobones]

changing out that pussy horn! Cars can’t hear the horn when their windows are up.

I may have gotten in on this one a little late, but I just changed my horn from one of those Nautilus air horns to a pair of Chrome-plated FIAMM horns. All I can say is HOLY SHIT THEY ARE LOUD!  The nautilus horn was cool, but the delay in sound is annoying as the little compressor winds up. These Fiamm horns actually hurt my ears, even with my helmet on. The first day I used them, I had to "wake up" a guy who didn't see that the light had gone from red to green and was still sitting there tuning his radio...The guy actually jumped in his seat. I will soon post a photo of the ones I have installed for future reference to anyone else looking for an obnoxious "upgrade".

[dt]

Good point. Any kind of a delay for pressure build up wouldn't be good.

[dcameras]

I haven't had any delay in the horn blowing on mine. Not yet anyway. Hopefully there won't be either, a delay would not be good at all.

[bagobones]

i took my first ride of 2010 two days ago. 39 and sunny. perfect.

I once again scared the shit out of somebody who was sitting at a light that was red and they didnt notice that it had just turned green. This girl visibly JUMPED in her seat when I let her have the double chrome FIAMMS from right behind her. Worth every penny!

[dt]

lol 

Reminds me that I need to get one of those...

[mrbones]

I need one, too. Just make sure you're out of the way of you scare the crap out of someone in a moving vehicle.

[niteman]

I'm not familiar with HD's, but if not mistaken that hex nut (right above where the red arrow ended up) should be an adjusting nut that should give you a small amount of vertical adjustment for the front of the lever. This also looks like it may be the plunger assembly for the brake hydraulics. Take a look at that if you haven't. I may be way off base though. Good luck.

[dt]

That’s the plunger bracket with a pin and retaining ring on the back. Over the past year, this issue has come up frequently from all I've read, but no one seems to care to do anything about it. The newer version of the complaint is that some lateral play develops in the lever (seems like the higher mileage bikes) allowing the lever to put an unsightly scrape on the pipe guard. I don’t have that issue at all. Overall, I’ve just gotten used to it, but still hope an aftermarket lever will come out some day. I’m not going to hold my breath waiting on MoCo to deal with it. It’s still a very low volume model, and they just reported a loss of $55 million for 2009 yesterday. Mostly Buell and MV restructuring costs, but Ouch! 

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/793952/000119312510010259/dex991.htm

Their stock (HOG) dropped $2, down to $23, but the whole market bombed yesterday (actually the entire week was a bust), so who knows what the effect of the earnings announcement was.