Delboy's Garage, Lowering Harley Sportster idle speed, and Vlog.

I keep getting asked by new Harley owners, "How do i reduce my Harley's tickover/idle speed so it sounds like an old Vintage bike......time for a WARNING...!

[@aboutmyfathersbusiness8324]

Dropped my idle on my 2010 Road Glide 7 months ago to 800 rpm. According to the dash gauges, they show amps are reasonably steady between 12.5 and 13.0. All running lights are on and no issues with the fuel pump. Oil stays steady at 30 psi (just as stock 1100 rpm). No issues at all. At idle. my 1980 Shovelhead has 10 psi of oil pressure when hot. No issues with the motor for 26 years. Just replaced the main seal in the transmission as it no longer held oil. I am now reasonably convinced the high idle on the later models is an emissions requirement.

[@ChuckWood]

keeps the cat hot.

[@Wilbarrow]

Sir I would like to just say THANK YOU very much for sharing your incredible knowledge with us. This world is a better place with you on it. Take care and keep the shinny side up.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks Larry, you are very kind sir, im glad the videos can help and inspire you.. thanks for wathcing, and take care.. Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Steeve, you really are too kind, those are amazing comments to make, and i truly appreciate it, i think 8/10 riders know something, and could pass it on if they tried, and if we all shared our knowlegde, imagine what a powerful collective force we would be, im no mechanic, you need certificates to call yourself that, but any rider can learn the basics to keep thier bike safe, but so many dont, its up to us who do, to put a hand on our brothers shoulders, and bring them along with us..peace. Del.

[@scotlan6114]

you are correct.. I used the FP3 Fuelpak to adjust my idle which is specific to temperature. the higher the temp, the slower the idle and vice versa..colder the engine temp, the higher the idle. the Fuelpak Tuner does allow a user to adjust and set the idle, and I'm glad to have come across this vid. excellent info which I will keep in consideration when tuning. Thanks.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Kate, i wont go into a How-To, becaue i dont think thats what you want....but maybe this can help, there are three kinds of Sportster engine..an 883, a 1200, and a converted 883.. the 883 has lower crank gearing, so the lesser power can cope pulling away, and the 1200 has bags more power so doesnt need lower gearing... so when you convert an 883, you end up with a bike that has loads of power AND nice low crank gearing..making a fiesty fun bike...and better than both.(which is then an XR1200)

[@MultiSim0n]

Thanks for information. Thought mine was ticking over too fast but feel confident now that all is well. You sent a reply to me a while ago about Velociraptor air cleaner. Got it all sorted and jets done and it's great. When I get stuck again I'll let you know. Keep up the great work! Simon.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks Jim.. yeah you're right... i always say it this way..."Did the bikers of the 1930's get all dreamy eyed about the bikes if 1915, did they try to make them sound the same or look the same..."No, of course not, they embraced the new age and better technology and never looked back... and much as Harley bikes are designed to evoke a laid back past era, they are modern reliable efficient bikes and should be embaced as such, just like our Brothers from 70 years ago did. thanks for watching Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hey Lars, i cant see any reason why you would need to upgrade the oil feed, unless you are running more power via bigger pistons and revving the bike out more. If you wanted to drop your idle speed then it wont hurt to make the oil do a bit more work.but remember you still load more pressure on the bearings as there is less resiprocating inersia and the cylinder firing hits harder against the big ends..but all in all, upgrading oil feed is never a bad move..hope that makes sense, good luck, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

You are most welcome and glad you did it as you now have proper oil pressure again at idle... cheers Del

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks P, i knew you would see it the right way..and i almost used Truimph's new bikes as another example, but that would have made it even longer..the new biker likes the ease of use, and often to thier credit they DO know the difference, they know they would truly want a charming old 57' panhead, but see the prices, the work in keeping one on the road, and opt for the easier dealership option..at least we are getting new bikers to replace the old, and thats vital to all of us..take care, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Prof...yeah you can side step the dealer for that...the little electirc modules are plug and play.. they all come with instructions, and fit 'piggy back' with your existing ECU, you just connect them up and cable tie them under the left side panel.. Google a few options, "Kytech", "Power Commander" "V&H", lots of after market options..and most of all, as long as its not running lean, and you are happy with the performance, then you can live without it...but it will make it a bit crisper.Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Yes, to check the plug colour....ride along at high revs...pull in the clutch and hit the kill switch...thsi will kill the engine before it has a chance to idle and then the plugs will show the mixture you are getting at road speed....it feels a bit weird killing the motor while you are riding along...but just keep the clutch lever pulled in, and brake safely to pull over to the side of the road.....this way you will have the right reading on the plug tips.. good luck, and ride safe. Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

No Gary, that will make a rough aggressive idle thats hunts and surges, but what the new guys want is a bike to idle like a 36 Knucklehead..its the super heavy flywheel that helps it lolop along like a giraffe, and a long stroke cylinder..modern bikes are short stroke and lightweight cranks, think about it, you'd never make a modern fuel injected Corvet V8 sound like a nail head sidevale V8...its just different engineering..and the danger is in the oil gearing.. good to hear from you buddy, Del.

[@LicoDays]

Thanks! Very useful information. I’m a new rider with a 2015 Sportster 883, who was wondering how to lower the RPM of my bike. Thankfully I saw this video before I ruined my Bike.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thank you so much Frederico for your kind and generous donation, it all goes towards making the videos and running the projects, so it's very much appreciated.. Glad the information could help you out!

[@Moonfleet41]

No problem Kate... that would non be a concern, PennyPitstops Harley is a converted 883, and its totally reliable, and a real blast to ride... pulls away from any factory 1200, thats for sure.... good luck with it... Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate.. the answer to that is no, KZbin shrink all uploads to one format and resolution, if you are having buffering issues then thats your broadband speed...you need a good connection to stream videos... and you may have a 'download limit' too, they can slow it down as you approach it towards the end of the month...also times of day can effect it..Sunday afternoon is the worst, everyone is online so it loads the network... i load in 720 too, so not that high anyway, cheers, Del.

[@hazepennington9303]

This guy knows his stuff about Harley's, I like it when a technician tells you exactly what can happen from doing certain modifications to your Motorcycle,, he's right in everything he said..💯👍

[@Moonfleet41]

yeah i got that....the the issue is not that "we cant fix them with a lolly stick and some blue tack" its that now days we dont NEED TO... they dont go wrong... they just work...and baring a puncture, almost nothing will stop a modern harley from getting you where you want to go......and im sure that even back in those sepia tinted days we all remember... we would have far prefered NOT to break down and have to bodge it home...but to just make it all the bloody way home...lol.. cheers mate Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Its great to hear form a guy who has longer experience than me.... you're dead right of course, the old bikes were so utterly different to today machines in everything but looks... Today, with digital ECU management, the spark is fired only when it is needed... and a fat healthy spark it is too... thanks for watching Captain..i truly appreciate your support... ride safe, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Karl, congratulations on the Dyna, they are, in my opinion, the best Harley model and for me, the less frippery and dangly bits the better, give me a black Streetbob any day! ... Always happy to help if I can, get an avalanche of e-mails every day, but I'll do my best! ... Happy riding, Del

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Steve. you're right to think about raising that idle back up, it's damaging in many ways, it not only starves the top of the motor of oil but also places undue load on the bearings and it struggles to keep going, the big and small end bearings will suffer plus the valve train and cam suffers with the excentiated lash too. Just raise it up so it bobbles over gently with no labour..and a carb motor it will vary in different temperatures, but thats ok as long as not too low. take care mate. Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

If you mean the res' cap is weeping...its a common mistake when handling the cap when its off....ill bet you took the cap off, with its rubber liner too and laid it upside down so as not to get the wet side dirty????? this lets fluid drain back between the white plastic plate and alloy cap...and it slowly weeps out of the tiny air holes on the side...take off the cap and all the liners..dry the whole lot bone dry with a cloth, reinstall and it will be fine..its not leaking, just excess spillage

[@Moonfleet41]

No, i think it is only a few people who want thier bikes to idle real slow like an old Knicklehead, and there are a few electircal items in the aftermarket that can make that happen... the warning here is that it will lower your oil pressure and cause lubrication issues...

[@ghostanime84]

Thank you for this vid. I'm new HD and got a 03 Sportster. I was worried it was too high now I know better. No worries here anymore. Thanks!

[@PeterF-zb1kf]

I know this video is a few years old but I'm glad I found it. I'm new to Harley's and bought a Sportster 72. First thing I thought was its idling to high at just over 1000rpm. Spent an age looking on how to lower the idle. Then came across this video. Thanks. I shall leave it alone.

[@Moonfleet41]

Good plan Peter, enjoy your bike mate !

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate, congratulations on your bike, that's a great choice. You can indeed treat your bike to some special oil to help protect your internals if you want to....they will run fine on ordinary mineral, but if you intend to ride it hard, then there is no reason not to increase the internal protection a bit.... The best oil for your Harley if you want to splash out would be "Screaming Eagle Syn3".. this is developed for the XR1200 which revs to 7k and also for tuned Harley motors...good luck, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi again...ok, unfortunately i can't make a video setting up a Harley carb as i dont have a carb'ed Harley, but i watched your video, and it sounds fine..that's a pretty much correct idle speed, not too slow, and firing nicely, to check the mixture is right, put a plug spanner in your pocket, find a long straight road and ride for about three minutes at top revs...hit the kill switch and pull over without letting it idle...take the plugs out...if the tips are biscuit colour, that's bang on. Del;

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate... not had any personal experience of the Thundermax, so cant offer any kind or worthwhile feedback.. but with the RPM, 800 will be fine, if it was my bike, i would maybe go to the trouble of fitting an oil pressure gauge, this way you will see exactly how your oil pressure is doing and whether its lubricating properly at idle, if the gauge drops to nil at idle you'll know its too low....if it stays healthy, you may even be able to drop it back to 750 amd know its safe..cheers buddy, Del

[@Moonfleet41]

Hello Ryu. thank you for your question....Yes you can install some different shock absorbers on your Harley, and as long as you only change the size by a maximum of 2 inches then that is fine.... I have a short video on the adjustment of the throttle cables, i will send you that in a private mail, but have no video of how to change them, we only film the things we do here, not all jobs.. sorry not to be more help... take care, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Simon, thank you, you are too kind, with the Discovery people, its all on who tells them about it and votes for me..but i do it got you, not the TV.. with washing your bike, ill risk sounding a bit obvious, but its just common sense mate, Penny rides it what ever the weather, so when its dirty, just wash it off with hot soapy water and a sponge, take your time and get every bit of dirt off, then rinse with a watering can, and dry it off..then just polish up the shiney bits , easy mate.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thankyou for your kind comment, i did hear they were from Brazil, and its good to know that people are aware they do damage... take care, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate,18" apes are pretty radical to ride with,but if you truly want them that big you'll need longer clutch cable, pair of longer throttle cables & longer wiring for the switch gear,which if they are wired through the bars,is a hefty task being fiddly & long-winded..but if you could bear to go with 12" apes then get some Streetbob bars from your H-D dealer & you can also get a plug in wiring extension kit & just Streetbob cables, way easier and way cheaper! The 18" option could cost double!

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate, thanks, am aware of all that, but it's important to keep the information simple, anyone with your knowledge would know better than to do it anyway... thanks for watching, appreciate your input, Del

[@Moonfleet41]

You are right on all counts Jimbo, bikes have moved on a whole country mile in two decades, they are easy now for any joe to buy and ride and just put away and forget till the next time.. my point in this vlog was to make mention to those who want to hane the old vintage feel, then there is a price to pay, because modern bikes are just not the same...the good thing about progression is that it keeps new bikers coming in to the fold..and that is crucial to our survival.. thanks for watching. Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

hey buddy.... mentioning Sugar Bear in any post must be done with reverence and respect... he is a total legend and one of the Godfathers of motorcycle customising...a man who touched off a blaze that has engulfed us all and will burn in our hearts for ever.... i have so much respect for him, he is one of my tive "Bucket" conversations...just to share a five minute chat with im would make my life whole...him, Indian Larry, and George Barris are the true free thinkers... thanks for wathing, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

If it has sat for two years, then its only gonna be clear whats up after you try to start it....pump the tyres up, fiut a new battery, put some new petrol in it....and hit the button.....then go from there...you never know, it may just fire up and ride you away..good luck.. Dell

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks ZX you're very kind, The point here is that there are many new harley owners, some investing £10,000 or more in thier new pride and joy...and they follow the old historic rose tinted dreams into harley ownership, often without realising that a modern harley has very little in common with the old vintage bikes..everyone loves the old charming beat of a 60 year old bike, but to try and make your modern bike do that has a hidden danger i wanted to highlight..thanks for watching... Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi John, always best to check, it truly does reduce your oil pressure, which is never good, in extremely hot weather it would certainly lead to accelerated wear, but if you have got away with it so far, it's all good! Thanks for watching, Cheers Del

[@tinaanguiano6687]

Hey Del, I did as you suggested and put the proper specs for the jets. I tried this before but it just wasn't running right. However, this time I rechecked everything for the third time from when I replaced the manifold gaskets. After I got it all back together everything is running perfect. No pops, backfires, or idle issues. I guess it's true when they say third time is a charm! Thanks for your input and posting great information for us all. Tina

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Tina, thats great news, im so glad you got it figured out, its pretty satisfying to make it run right in the end.. take care and ride safe... Del.

[@smock19nathan]

You have to be one of the best explainers i have ever watched, great job! I have a 07 1200 and would love to hear it gallup, but i would rather hear it run for years to come. Much thanks from the U.S.A.

[@Moonfleet41]

Lots of things to be carefully considered there, if you are truly thinking of taking a sportster out to 1440cc, then you need to know the side effects of the finished work...and the massive extensive amount of work needed to make it reliable.. to go from 883 to 1440 is almost a race motor, you will be boring out the crank cases, making provision for hugely increased crank case pressure, and lots of work to fuel it right...yes it would be a brutal bike..but a hard bike to build and live with..

[@Moonfleet41]

hey Byron, good to hear from you buddy, its all just boring crap from the past, but at some point it can teach us lessons for the future....too much information makes you a nerd, so i temper it back a bit..lol.. thanks for watching mate... Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Ok, that's great as they are dead easy... have a close look at the carb, while looking also twist the grip to open and close the throttle, you will see the little wheel that turns to open the throat....that little wheel comes to rest on a screw (called the 'throttle stop')....you adjust this screw to set the position that the throttle stops at....so once you have identified it, just run the motor till its hot...and screw the adjuster in so the revs lift up to a sensible level...job done.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hello Edson, great to hear from you and welcome aboard ... I am always very happy when people watch the videos from so far away, I bet the weather is warm where you are LOL! ... thanks for watching, Del

[@Brentboy111]

Direct and to the point. Brilliant! Have wondered about this all winter. I always work on the principle of "just make it happen" when it come to my nightster. Ok Del,got it mate,shall not be touching it in any way. I also realise how I knackered my old '81 sportster. Genius vid's. You da man!

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Jim... thanks mate, common misconception, so thought it would mention it... thanks for your kind comments mate, cheers, Del.

[@Jeefster-is8xl]

Hi Del, great vids, they've had me giggling now a few times since finding 'em. Super informative and I think you come across as a top bloke! My situation is that I have 2007 Fatboy that used to run erratically on the original EFI system that it had. I have a personal disliking of the 'new style' HD dealerships for a number of reasons so I didnt want to keep taking the bike in to the shop if I could avoid it. Having owned carbed HD's before I just hated the feel of the injection system. (maybe thats what made me think it was running strange) Long story cut short, I took the EFI and all of the associated electrickery off the bike. I plumbed in a Mikuni 42 + Evo intake manifold and used an Altmann ignition system for the sparks. This modification absolutely transformed the bike, and it pulls and responds so much better than it ever did with the EFI (in my opinion) I'm conscious of the issues with the low idle therefore always keep mine at the sweet spot, which is slightly less the EFI's, but higher than the real old ones. Its hard to know the exact RPM's without the tacho. I done the work myself one day in the garage, and can highly recommend the Altmann ignition system, and Charles Altmann himself. I sourced the parts through Mark at 'Barnaby Wilde' in Honiton, Devon and he is also a great bloke to deal with. I really dont like the new Harleys, with ABS, and fuel injection, (its just not right & proper :) and find the dealerships really annoying bland places full of beige people. (eg) One day whilst visiting a stealership in Newcastle I had my old Triumph jacket on. Some guy noticed this, and came up to me with a straight face, tapped on the Triumph logo, then informed me that I had spelt Harley wrong!!!! I quickly exited the shop past the Harley Barbeque range and lawn mower accessories (really!!!) and vowed never to enter such an establishment ever again. Just thought I'd share that with ya. Sorry to go on. All the best from down under, Geoff.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Geoff....your mail had me nodding in agreement all the way through mate, Bland and soulless places with beige people (usually failed car salesmen), and nothing to offer you unless you have £10k to spend and a brain injury.....in the face of Victory, Indian and all the Japanese cruiser bikes...the one thing Harley have left over them all if the hard core brand or a hard core bike...but take a look at the bike...and its like Hulk Hogan....looks hard till you learn he like Tofu and yoga..!!!! Loving the idea of going back to carb, obviously the new bike have to conform to radical EU laws to get them sold...but that doesnt stop us doing great mods like this...well done buddy, and ive made a note of Altmann, i love companies like that. ... With your idel speed, the Softail motors have external oil lines and a dry sump, so run a heftier oil pump to cope...so you can run yours happily at 900 and have no ill effects.. its Sportster that will suffer the most as they need to be 1100 to be really safe, they just dont have enough crank weight to keep the pistons rolling with inertia, so rely on the combustion stroke, which is ever 4th turn...and that, with 3 turns to slow down, punched too hard on the bearings... To best set the idle without a tacho....use the "Willam Tell Overture", (Lone Ranger Theme), as that will give you 1000 rmp....play the song in your head and set the idle trotting along to that....works every time. ! Thanks for watching mate, and ride safe on your Harley.. Del.

[@byronand5]

Really interesting background and technical info, thanks mate! I don't get the chance to just hang-out with anyone who knows a lot about Harleys so Del's Garage is the next best thing!

[@jimbo80982]

Hey Delboy , not much of a harley rider myself but this still stands. I moved from an 1993 XT 600 to a 2012 Vstrom 650 (from the dealer) a couple of weeks ago and I am surprised how far we have came. You look even at that bike from 1993 with all its parts exposed , manual choke , manual idle setting , manual lights , classic carbs ,bare basic electrics and look at the showroom new electrics of the V-Strom with its fuel injected , autochoke , low emission engine.I think it shows good progression

[@Moonfleet41]

No problem buddy, its a very common question and we get asked it all the time, you can make simple single item upgrades to Harleys, or go the full fat and change the whole respiration system, but it needs to be the right parts..and guys so often get told by the dealer they MUST go the full fat way and spend a fortune on pain of engine damage and warranty void..but its mostly to sell you parts you dont need...so ill send you a quick run down in PM where i can type more than 300 characters....Del.

[@packjoe2004]

Thanks for this information. New Sportster 883 owner. Yes, when I start my bike cold, rpm around 1500, then I wait until 1100 before I take off. I came on here to see if I can lower rpm but you changed my mind.

[@davehughes8212]

So glad I came across this one! I just sold my '74 XLH and got a 2002 sporty. I was surprised by the high tick over and was going to try lowering it. Not now! Cheers :-)

[@Moonfleet41]

Glad I could help!

[@Jbcmastertech]

Awesome information. I have a 2016 1200c and when hot it idles at 1050 rpm. Sound good to me and now I know I'm not hurting the engine. I was considering a manual idle control valve but after watching your video I'm not going to do that to my bike. Thank you for the info.

[@Moonfleet41]

Most welcome buddy... as long as its controlled by the ECU, then dont mess with it.. the dealer can attend to it if you think its idling too fast.. that way you retain your warranty cover too..!

[@Moonfleet41]

You and me both Brother.. i had to sell my Harley, needed the money, but ll get back there and life will be good.... and yeah, ill have a modern 96" injected motor i can thrash and abuse...not a leaking old concrete mixer that gets flustered and wets its pants over 55MPH...

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks Earl....just sharing the love mate... appreciate you watching.. Del.

[@zambam3]

hello Del, I love your videos brother. You keep things simple and you seem to care about the new riders. I did a frame up restoration on a '73 superglide and I learned a lot. I think you can tinker with the old bikes a little, but there are torque specs and info for a reason. The sound of old bikes are amazing. Older bikes need more maintenance,but are straight forward. Keep up the good work! Cheers from Canada, Rob

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate,without a rev counter it's impossible to tell accurately,but you can be approximate by counting the beats..if you imagine a Harley motor ticks over with the famous 'potato potato' sound, better described as 'buddum' 'buddum' 'buddum'..with each "buddum" being 2 beats or 1 revolution of the crank..so if you are looking for revs per minute there are 60 seconds in a minute,so if you look at your watch second hand & count the "buddums" as 10secs passes on the dial, then multiply by 6...easy!

[@zx8401ztv]

I know nothing about harleys but its dam good advise, if you want old then buy old but expect to work on the old beast a lot to keep it happy. As far as requests are concerned, your a nice bloke and you know what your doing, people will see you as a fountain of knowedge and you dont mind sharing your knowedge with people. You just saved loads of unnessary engine deaths!, spot on mate :-)

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate, great to hear from you, I'm glad the videos worked for you ... it's great to fix your own bike... funny you should say that too, as the next video up next week will be some Harley How-To's... removing the levers is not as straight forward as on Japanese bikes, so going to cover that in detail ... I am jealous of where you live, I bet the weather is warm and the people friendly! Take care and ride safe, Del

[@johnathandavis1523]

I used to have a 2006 sportster that I bored out from 883 to 1200. I put a mikuni hsr42 carb on it and it has an idle adjustment knob. I would usually turn the idle up high to let it warm up instead of choking it. but you can turn the idle down manually until it dies if you want to. I rode it several years with a low idle between 650-700. without problems. granted I never took the bottom end of the motor apart

[@Kris_Stiletto]

A Sportster Motor was built for speed. It has four cams, one for each pushrod, instead of one or two camshafts with multiple cam lobes. This enables the Sportster to rev. higher and be a better "Performance" Motor than the "Touring" Big Block. They have always been different animals. Everyone that rides HD's, from way back when, knows that... The Sportster, in it's different forms, has always been HD's "Sport Bike..." Now, with that said, sure it doesn't meet the requirements of today's term of "Sport Bike," but, it is... Maybe, it should be called a "Classic Sport Bike." Like Triumph's, BSA's, Norton's and so on... These were Sport Bikes in the 60's and 70's, when I was a young man. That's why I like them, I remember what they used to be... The modern Sportster is everything the "Old One's" were, but without all of the issues and problems that were caused by the hot air-cooled cast iron heads and cylinders, charging system, and the excessive vibration that always vibrated everything loose. My first Sporty, a 1979 Roadster 1000cc (Iron Head), was notorious for these issues. I rode that Bike for 7 years and put almost 77,000 on it. It was the Bike that I had when I was in the U.S. Army, in the early 1980's. Even though it had a ton of issues, I loved it and I've been hooked on Harley's ever since. Before I had my first Harley, I had two Suzuki GS550 Four's and a Kawasaki LTD750 Four. I've owned 6 Harleys since the 1980's... I like to build my own Motor's top-ends and I like to do my own maintenance... Good technical information. But, all real Harley People know that a Sportster Engine is very different than the Big Block Touring Engine found on the Fx's and Fl's... If you want the Big Block Single or Twin-Cam Sound, you have to purchase this type of Motor, no doubt... But, any Bike, made by anyone, can be a "Bobber." A "Bobber" is a stripped down "Stock Bike." It's a Bike that's had anything that doesn't make it go faster taken of it. It's the Classic "Street Fighter" Style for Motorcycles... Back in the day, we didn't have all of the "High Performance" parts like we do now. So, the way to make your Bike faster was to strip it down to the bare necessities; that's what a "Bobber" is. A "Bobber" can still be registered as a "Stock Bike..." A "Chopper" is the same thing, but you cut the frame to change the length, trail, rake, or rear suspension. It, usually, can still be registered like a "Stock Bike." A "Custom" is what ever you make on your own from scratch or stock; it can be all of the above or a Bike that's not make from any stock parts at all. That would be a "Total Custom. A "Total Custom" can not be registered as a "Stock Bike." Peace, Stiletto :)

[@delboydereuck6031]

***** Totally agree buddy.....oooh could you do so much to improve the Sporty motor.....shorter stroke and wider pistons, better cams, lighter crank, and a carb per cylinder with accelerator pumps, there are some amazing tuned 1340 motors out there, making over double the factory power and reliable on pump gas too.... like you say, its all about protecting those all important Big Twin sales....who would buy a lumbering 350kg barge if they could get the same power in a bike thats 100kg lighter, 8" shorter and can lean more than 10 degrees without grounding its frame.... i'd imagine they make twice the profit in a fatBoy as they do in an 883 iron..!! but without a "starter bike" to net the newbies in they'll never sell the hay makers..!

[@delboydereuck6031]

Nobody denies that the MoCo has been playing to their party faithful ever since the lessons they got taught in the slump of the late 70's, it nearly cost them extinction, so they looked at who buys their bikes, and who still loves what they build best...and have been playing their tune ever since, why else would they have put Buell to bed, why are they still making frames that weigh 10kg all by themselves, truth is they have enough loyal customers to keep them afloat for another 40 years... as long as they dont rock the boat again.....who needs innovation when you have a full order book...!

[@delboydereuck6031]

frames that weigh 100kg...oops

[@Kris_Stiletto]

***** I agree. I've owned three Sportsters, a 1979 1000, 1988 1200, & 2005 883/1200. I've also owned two FXR's and one Dyna Super Glide. I love riding Sportsters in Town. I ride everyday. And, around the City and for short rides, the Sportster "Rocks!" It's a blast to ride. And, if you do a few modifications to the exhaust, intake, and ignition, they really perform nice for a "Vintage" style Bike... But, it would be nice to see a gear driven primary, better placement for the crank position sensor, a stiffer frame, better suspension, and a sixth gear... Perhaps, now that Indian has the Scout, Harley-Davidson will give the Sportster more attention in the performance department...

[@Kris_Stiletto]

***** Check your connections to the battery. If it previously worked fine, maybe your battery is getting old... The new HD's can't function properly without a good charge. I like to put mine on the battery tender every now and then. And, I use the modern type AGM Batteries from Batteries Plus, part number XTAX14L-BS, with the better technology. If not that, check your ignition fuse...

[@Kris_Stiletto]

A "Bobber" is just a stripped down "Stock Harley." This was done to make them lighter. In the "Old Days," this was a "High Performance" technique to make them go faster. It has nothing to do with the "Model" of the Bike... Stiletto :)

[@pR1mal.]

One big reason that the "Bobber" movement came into existence was because of WWII surplus Harleys and Indians, and later surplus police bikes. They were relatively plentiful after the war which made them relatively affordable, and like all bikes they lend themselves well to a gearhead with a little imagination. Being duty bikes they carried around extra weight from crash cages, huge fenders, luggage racks, radio's, windshields, etc. Gearheads took those heavy bikes and started "bobbing" pieces off. Anything considered extra had to go. The emphasis was on light and mean. Not surprising really, many of those guys were former combat veterans who had become accustomed to the adrenaline of being shot at. The bikes gave them a taste of that excitement and vitality. Adrenaline. The clubs they formed gave them back some taste of the brotherhood they had experienced in combat, many of them felt isolated and it was a great coping mechanism for them. And during those times many people couldn't afford a car, but could afford a bike. I guess the more some things change, the more they stay the same.

[@michaelsullovin7786]

Very well explained. Makes perfect sense. I guess the Harley engineers who actually made/engineered the engine and manual should know what's best.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hey Rob...thank you most kindly sir, thats very kind of you to say.. i DO indeed care about the new riders, and its a terrifying prospect that some day we will all be either legislated or technologied out of existence...already most kids leave school and cant fix a fuse in a plug... and fathers done seem to teach their sons any more...and as bikers are a brotherhood, its on us to help the new blood and keep them safe under out wing until they are fully fledged...ride safe buddy, take care, Del.

[@crouchjoey]

Nice to hear someone telling people what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear...

[@MrDmunk]

Hey thanks for explaining the whole situation with regards to the idling etc

[@Moonfleet41]

Ha ha, 'bar stool bragging rights'...winning the beer arguments is most important aye..lol. thanks for your very kind comments mate, its greta to have suck kind support.. cheers again Del.

[@greenslade76]

many thanks..been told will need a full service brakes bled,carb cleaned blah blah blah,just panic stations on money the over floe did pee out fuel last time i used her so hope that not a big issue,but love your vids have learnt so much as a novice thanks

[@ch2kensh2t]

Took your advice, PO had dropped my 2000 xl1200 and dropped it down to around 850. Just changed my air intake and had to adjust my mixture screw as it was running too lean and found this video while doing research. Turn my mixture screw 1/8th turn out and then adjust my idle until I was at 1050/1100 and it runs so my better! Thx mate!

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi again.... if you watch the video again buddy, i did say, that you can lower idle speed on carbed bikes..meaning "it is possible" but you still do the same damage.. your bike needs to idle at 1100RPM minimum in order to pump oil to the heads....if you set it any lower.. you will dry out the rockers and small end bearings.. the damage will reveal itself in a couple of years when it starts rattling.. leave it alone mate, its very little gain for a lot of future pain... take care, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks mate, ill have a look, well done for getting it all sorted out...its satisfying to do it yourself aye?... ride safe.. Del.

[@cigarcaptain]

Howdy, good videos. Another contributing factor to the unique sound of older Sportsters , in particular the ones with magnitos. Both cylinders received spark at the same time. One being on compression the other on exhaust stroke. Dont know about the new ones but I owned a couple back in the 60s and 70s. Thanks for the videos

[@treefrogs2894]

One of the things I highly recommend to anyone who owned a Harley-Davidson a preheater to your oil tank it's all about your oil viscosity anyone who have a Harley Davidson keeping your oil temperature warm before you start the bike and it's 60 degrees temperature Fahrenheit prolong the life of your motor when you hammer on the trouble on a cold motor massive amount of wear and tear top end

[@earljohannsson1167]

Lots of great information... Refreshing to hear a guy that actually knows his stuff.

[@mickyflakes]

Top advice del...I was looking at lowering my idle, on my 2017 48, stage 2 ....its about 1100 rpm now, so like u say, I leave it has is...cheers..sounds mint anyway..👍

[@Moonfleet41]

Most welcome mate. Glad it helped, modern fuel injection bikes are best with a healthy idle..

[@redponte1]

Thank you for the knowledge, just bought my first harley a sportster 48, and yes the older bikes sound awesome. Mine ticks over when cold bout 1330 rpm down to between 950 to 1050 when warm. I thought I had to let it when warm up as the wife's complains when I do lol.

[@Moonfleet41]

Congratulations on the 48, you must be very proud, they're a very cool bike. and yes, there's no need to run them to warm up, just give it 30 seconds and pull away.. the warming up process can be done by just riding gently for the first few miles.. ride safe and have fun.. Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

........Cont... so if you convert an 883 to 1200, you ned up with what Harley put in the XR1200 and is INO, the perfect combination.... they are totally relaible, it is only a sawp of the pistons and barrels.. then a fuel managment decie to reset the fueling... at best it will cost you about £1000, and be a teriffic bike to ride..and no, there are no reliability problems or issues what so ever... well done for joining the dark side kate...you are among friends.. take care, hope that helps Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Why thankyou most kidnly sir, i really appreciate that, we try to help those with less knowledge and experience to get past the constant need to cry on the dealers shoulder...and you're right, there is no sound like a slow plodding Knuckle Head...but you'll never mate a sporty sound like that...they were never designed to be like big twins,. they SHOULD sound sportier...its in the name .lol... thanks again buddy, take care.. Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

You're very wlecome buddy, thanks for watching... Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

You are right in all counts buddy, the true lesson would be to have those who hunger for the old school 'potato, potato, potato' noise, ride a 36 knucklehead, with its 25BHP, barely able to haul its own ass up the road without a fight....they would soon want thier nice 2009 Dyna back with fuel injection and heated grips..lol...

[@Moonfleet41]

I think you miss the point a atd here mate.. weather you have an FI motor that almost cannot be adjusted, or a carbed motor that can... it is imperative with modern Harley motors that you DONT... the oil pump gearing will fail to send lubricant up to the heads at 800rpm...and at those revs the bike will be stood still, and an air cooled bike stood still just cooks...making the oil starvation problem even more consequential... they tick over at 1150 for good reason and need to be left that way/

[@haufenscheise]

Hey Del, thanks for this eye-opening v-log! Keep up the good work, I´m always watching ;-)

[@juh-ga-naut]

Thanks for explaining. My bike has an EFI. Very helpful info mate.

[@jtrude]

Thanks. I was wondering about the EFI engines being set at a certain RPM. Well done video, much appreciated.

[@azkiker]

Hey Delboy thanks for the info on the idle i was doing some research and i have been an avid follower of your channel.... and my God u have been really helpful and informative, If you remember i asked you about the dual disc for my 09 883r a few months ago, so i got that sorted. This idle info u have put up is awesome. Keep it up man!! Arton. all the way from Bahrain

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Arton, you are most welcome my friend, its a pleasure to help... i hope you have warmer weather over there right now than we do..!!!! its minus 6 degrees tonight..!!! Ride safe and keep warm.. Del.

[@azkiker]

no its actually a beautiful weather right now, great for riding ! 19 degrees at night and about 25 degrees during the day. Coldest it gets here is about 10 degrees.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks mate... its a shame most people find out too late..

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks Jim... appreciate you watching.. Del.

[@johnhenry1873]

i have a 2001 883 verry low idle people think it is going to die but she pluggs away just fine and has been for quite some time now over 40,000km on it and when i herd you say its bad for them i thought it would be a good idea to do a teardown of the motor and see if ther was any dammage..there was none kind of a waste of time but at least i know my motor is still in great shape and better to be safe than sorry.. great vid tho.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate, your bike is supposed to run while its on the stand, (provided its in neutral), so unless they make a strange cutout for your country's spec, then it could have a fault with the side stand switch...it may be worth getting your dealer to check the connection and see if its ok....but first ask them if for Lithuania there is a permanent cut out while the stand is down, it may be a law for your country..! sorry a cant be more help...Del

[@snoman003]

Hey, very good explanation. If someone wants a bike with a great idle, get an old shovelhead. if they have a fuel injected Harley, live with the higher idle. However, I will say, progressing from an older harley to a 05 wide glide 88 was a real challenge.....I personally love the "plug and play" as you call it. Get on the bike and go, no more fcuking around.......but I really miss the idle of an old harley "big twin". Perhaps with future tech it can be replicated...but i wont hold my breath.

[@Moonfleet41]

This could go ping pong for ages Goth...i understand you all along..but the point of my video was that you cannot have your cake and eat it... ill leave it there buddy... thanks for watching and take care... Del... P.S. good luck with the Combo mate, its coming on really well.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks for watcing mate... Del.

[@manuelj.quintana6997]

I have to tell you, thanks a lot for your tutorials of how to keep harleys in shape,. I used to pay lots of money to a not certainly cualified mecs to maintain my bike in order, but thanks to you i started doing it myself so i did really saved a lot of money, by the way i had in 2009 a sportster 48 and i just love it more every day, thanks for all ad stay simple as always, i hope 4 more hd videos. Take care del bye

[@Moonfleet41]

Exactly that buddy... and that is what has brought Harley back form the brink of extinction... in the late 70's under EMF they made some of the worst bikes in thier entire history....and onky by getting thier bikes to work like a modern machine whilst they still look like your 900 ironhead...have they kept (and improved greatly) thier position on the market...

[@paddyboy3338]

Great info. Thanks for all the help and advice you give on your videos. Best help on you tube without a doubt.

[@Moonfleet41]

Patrick Coffey Thanks Patrick, you're very kind mate, im glad the videos can help you out.. Del.

[@glytch5]

Thanks very much for this, just got an 06 1200 sporty, and i've been thinking man it seems my engine is ticking over a bit high... was considering looking into setting the idle on the carb, but now I think im just ganna leave it.

[@shanelodge391]

Great job! Enjoy your tips. I have '09 883 Iron with forward controls. Can I fit an oil pressure gauge; Arlen Ness says NO !

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Shane, does Arlen Ness say no, you can't fit one, or no, they don't make one?? ANd why do you feel you need one on a modern Sportster??

[@jimbo80982]

A lot of people will disagree with me in favor of potato but as you say , they aren't designed to do it. Sure , having the noise is good , but Id rather have a bike that lasts longer than me and wont feel like its about to shake itself to bits! Great video , yet again :)

[@-MrRichBiker1967]

Hey brother Dell I hope you and Penny are well haven't reached out in a while happy belated 4th of July hope you had a nice weekend and get some riding in. I have a 2005 15th anniversary Fatboy, ever since I put the G37 Andrew cams in it's been ticking like a Chevy but running strong as hell. (I also changed out the oil pump for high performance fueling and cam plate. It sounds like a 350 Chevy or a small diesel.

[@consiglieri1981]

All this started because I was trying to adjust the mixture screw, I read a lot about it and I did my best, I still don't know if I set it good but now it runs smooth, previously it was "coughing" and I even got a little flame out the exhaust once I was playing with the screw. If you can make a video about how to set the carb proper will be great. Thank you again!