Triumphrat

yonder · 02-11-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonnieGreenDon

I own a highly modified 94 Sportster converted to a 1200 and a new Bonnie. The Bonnie handles much better, but the Sportster will blow just about anything on the road away in 0-60.

Hardly a fitting comparison. Majorly hot rodded H-D vs. bone stock Bonnie... hmmm.

Quote:

The key with Harleys is that there is so much that can be done to them to increase power to the back wheel. My Sporty has about 92 hp.

So you've basically doubled (more, really) your horsepower. That really doesn't have anything to do with the subject at hand.

mikeinva · 02-11-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonnieGreenDon

I own a highly modified 94 Sportster converted to a 1200 and a new Bonnie. The Bonnie handles much better, but the Sportster will blow just about anything on the road away in 0-60.
It just vibrates like crazy over 60 because of the hard mounted motor.

Herein lies the problem with the Sportster. When Harley switched the Sportster to rubber mounts, they added 100 pounds to the weight of the bike. A stock bike that was a marginal performer went from mediocre to worse. It made the bike smoother on the highway, but the tradoff was a significant weight increase.

The key with Harleys is that there is so much that can be done to them to increase power to the back wheel. My Sporty has about 92 hp.

with all the good stuff added
thats not saying much if you started with a 883 you added 317 cc got a little over 90 hp
a 790 bonnie+199cc will give you around 90 hp with 100lbs less weight.
I wish you lived closer we would have to see lol

NewOldSkool · 02-11-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by yonder

So you've basically doubled (more, really) your horsepower. That really doesn't have anything to do with the subject at hand.

I dont mean to rain on the parade either, but it is very relevant. Just like our bike and replacing parts is the (IMO)normal thing to do, most HD guys upgrade parts at the dealership too. Yes you will see alot of bone stock HDs, but the ones that are going to pull up to you at a light might be the ones that did change out the pipes, etc and will pull you. I do believe we have a great bike with super potental, but HDs are the same for me. I like the Sportsters and think that a modded one, even only moderately tuned would be a pretty fast bike for what it is. Plus aren't HDs torque machines?(really asking)

Mondo

Oh and I would still take my Bonnie anyday, but would mind adding a Sporty to the mix.

yonder · 02-11-2008

Just dragging things back to the original topic, kicking & screaming if I must...

...I'm trying to explore/discover the capabilities of a stock Bonnie vs a stock Sportster.

Once you get into modding, it is an infinitely long slope and you don't really settle anything.

Joe Blow has $8K to blow on a new bike, and he's looking at the Sportster 883 and the Bonnie. Just how badly is the stock 865cc Bonnie going to spank the 883cc Sportster? And how badly is the stock 1200cc Sportster going to spank the 865cc Bonnie (best I can tell is about half a second in the quarter).

NewOldSkool · 02-11-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by yonder

...I'm trying to explore/discover the capabilities of a stock Bonnie vs a stock Sportster.

Do a search, the topic has only been cover and compaired countless times. Or even search google, it is the normal compare in bike mags as well. IMO, it boils down to... where do you want your feet at? I look at them differently I guess, maybe I'm weird. But I know I am happy with my bike and I do not care if it is compared to another. If I bought a HD it would not be for the same type of riding as if I went shopping for another Bonnie. So it is like us asking to compair the the GT1000 to the Thrux which will come up yet again. Then people will have the same arguements as here.

schnabba · 02-11-2008

1/2 a second can be the difference in reaction time and a 150lb rider versus a 250lb rider.... the real world has lots of variables....

a more interesting set of tests would be real world acceleration activities... stop light to stop light, where you may not get above 45mph.... 45-75 roll on like on the highway....

if I could own just one harley.... just one.... Code Name NOVA

some interesting timeslips... you can click on individual ones to see what the actual configurations of the bikes are.... the slower ones are more stock.... http://www.dragtimes.com/Harley-Davi...ag-Racing.html

Brooksie · 02-11-2008

It almost seems more fair to compare the Bonnie to the bigger Sportster, the XL1200 series.

That's the ticket. 1200 HD runs nice. Be careful. 904's love 'em to death.

sweatmachine · 02-11-2008

Just to drag this thread back off topic, I'd love to find an un-loved 883 sportster and put a 1200 kit in it. 883-1200's haul ass.

Like others have said, a stock 1200 sporty will stomp an 865 bonnie. I've ridden both, it's true.

Iceseven · 02-11-2008

The history is there for the Sporty, it was designed to compete against the British invasion of the late 50's and even had right shift like the Brits.

I agree with Sweat, ridden both and ran hard against a friends 1200 Sporty with my T-bird and I broke away at third gear but he kept up until that, my old 1974 Trident would thrash the 1200 or T-bird though. A 1200 Sporty is a good running machine and I wouldn't take anything away from them.

This is my repeat response from page one,

Only found this comparison to 1200R and Thruxton from Motorcyclist

Corrected 1/4-mile (Harley 1200R) 13.02 sec. @100.03 mph
(Triumph Thruxton)13.26 sec. @ 99.99 mph

0–60 mph (Harley 1200R) 4.66 sec.
(Triumph Thruxton) 4.99 sec.

Top-gear roll-on,
60–80 mph (Harley 1200R) 5.11 sec. (Triumph Thruxton) 6.45 sec.

I wouldn't take anything away from the 1200 Sporty, they run strong.

M700R · 02-11-2008

Yes - the 1200 sporty is a pretty quick machine stock. A couple of buddies have 'em, and I won't knock their bikes. They look good and run strong. I seriously thought about buying one... Forgive me... The 883 was only moderately interesting to me though, and heck, I ended up with a Scrambler, likely the slowest of the lot. Go figure...