Following my cancer diagnosis and surgery in late 2014 I have followed my medicos’ advice and refrained, except for a few occasions, from riding my beloved Harley.
Then, back in August this year I received the pleasing information that I’m in remission and can resume riding.
Now my Harley Heritage Softail hits the scales at 327 kilos dry or 720 lbs if that is your preferred measure. Dry means just the bike with no accessories and an empty fuel tank.
Whatever way you care to look at it, that’s lot of weight so I decided to get something lighter and settled on a Harley Fat Boy, 305 kilos dry or 672 lbs.
Here in Australia as the 2017 model year approaches, special discounted prices are offered on 2016 Harleys and I decided it was time to strike a deal.
The special offers expire today, the 30th September. Have I done a deal?
No.
Why you may well ask?
The answer is simple really.
During my long convalescence I’ve mucked about with the Heritage and changed a few things.
For example, I’ve fitted quick release mechanisms to the leather saddler bags, changed to Fat Boy handlebars, removed the windscreen and added the smallest Harley sissy bar and pillion pad I could find.
You will see the difference in the following two images:
Here is my beauty as delivered, 327 kilos or 720 lbs dry weight.
Now here is my beauty, minus saddle bags, screen, mini ape bars and the extra large pillion pad.
Total weight of the goodies I removed, 48 lbs or 22kilos.
If you do the math and come up with the same figures as I did, guess what?
My stripped down Heritage now weights exactly the same, dry, as does the Fat Boy I was contemplating buying, 305 kilos or 674 lbs.
As both bikes have the same capacity fuel tank, they would be equal in weight when fully fuelled up and ready for the road.
Now on the plus side, everyone tells me I look ‘fantastic’ when I’m out on my Heritage and should never change the model.
Just have a gander at yours truly out on the Heritage. It’s said there is nothing like a bit of self promotion, so, here I am.
Looking every inch a ‘biker’ and loving it.
Here I am again, this time pretending to be an intellectual after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University. What a poser.
Anyway, as soon as it stops raining and the roads dry out, I’ll be going for a ride on my Heritage, all thoughts of a Fat Boy out of my mind and I’ll congratulate myself that the bike’s weight loss has saved me quite a few dollars that I can now invest in more bling for my beloved Heritage.
Hoo roo for now.
CREAKINGBONES 
Great news about the remission! And a great post in general. You look good on the bike, like you are meant to be there. What did you major in your BA?
Police Science. Not forensic science but more a criminological approach to crime and its prevention. I already had a Diploma in Criminology from Sydney Uni and built on that. Totally useless and impractical from the reality of policing on the street but excellent on the CV whilst safely ensconced and immersed in administration.
Light-weight bling, so as not to pack the pounds back on….
Absolutely.
I’m pleased t hear that things are better health wise Bones.
It is one problem with our beloved Harleys, they are so bloody heavy! My Ultra Limited is 100kg heavier than your as delivered Heritage……! fortunately I have the Softail Standard as an alternative.
One Harley benefit of course is that the point of balance is quite low compared to some other brands. Ultras are certainly heavy. Some years ago when my wife Desma bought her Sportster 1200 custom an old mate came into the dealership right at that moment. Russ was then in his mid seventies and had his heart set on a top of the range Ultra. Russ would have been about 7 stone wringing wet. He climbed onto an Ultra and looked like a pimple on a pumpkin but he had an enormous smile on his face. That was soon removed when Greg, the salesman walked over to Russ and in our presence said to him,’ Are you interested in buying a Harley?’ Russ said’ ‘Yes, I want this one, I’ll pay cash right now if you can register it for me straight away?’
Greg is a responsible Harley lover and he simply said to Russ,’ Des is buying a sportster. Why don’t you get one too?’ Russ said,’ No, I want this Ultra’.
Greg took the smile from Russ’s face when he simply said,’I’d be making a big mistake if I sold you an Ultra, they are just too big and heavy for you. Don’t be offended but it’s my policy to sell only bikes that are a suitable size and weight for the customer. I’m sure you understand.’
Russ was mortified and walked out of the dealership. He phoned us later and said how pleased he was that Greg spoke as he did. Russ added that he was finding his K1300LT Beemer difficult to move around and had forgotten that the Ultra was much heavier than my Heritage which he had once taken for a ride around the block. The Heritage was much heavier than the K1300 Lt.
Just goes to show that there are responsible bike salesmen around.
Sorry to be so long winded.
That’s both interesting and quite comforting, it would have been easy for the Dealer just to take the cash, good for him being so responsible.
My Ultra is fantastic, but I know that I won’t be riding it very long term, I’ll still have my Softail long after the Ultra and I part company!
Good thinking Dookes, The left knee gets a pounding with the stop/start in heavy traffic. I’ve long since given a miss now that old injuries are catching up with me. Poor old Russ would have been a danger to himself and everyone else if the dealer had gone ahead and sold him an Ultra.
Double congratulations Bones. A grand way to mark the good news. Where there’s a wheel there’s a way yeah? – dirt bashing has been my recovery.
Thanks mate. I’ve never ridden a dirt basher ,closest I got was a mates GS Beemer and that was on a dirt road. I almost ended a ladder to get on the thing. Great bike but not my cup of tea.
Great to know that you beat whatever it was that crept up on you.
We’ve only done the usual quads on hubby’s folks’ farm for the cows. But the muddy roads in the Troopy are fun! I’m on the up and up, thanks. Still getting the land legs back but good to be walking. 😊
Good for you. We are an elite mob.
Fantastic health news – yay! Love the photos – what a beast!! (you or the bike, I wonder!) Wonderful, and thanks for putting a smile on my face today. 🙂
Good news for sure. Every new day is a great bonus. Funny though, every day I plan to go for a ride, it pours with rain. Can’t get the Harley wet. Today, brilliant sunshine and other obligations mean that I can’t go for a ride. Have to settle for just sitting on it in the shed.
Nice to know that the post gave you a smile. Frowns take more muscle power and are a waste of energy anyway.