sleepybear has that right. occasionally somebody needs to put all these "problems" in perspective.
with a shovel/ iron sportster etc - ALWAYS have a small vice grip, file, screwdriver, spare points, spare condenser, small bit of chain, punch, couple of master links. - or lots of cash for the tow truck...
the vice grip is for when a cable would break - you use the file to cut a groove in the cable housing, break off a inch or two of housing, then thread the cable through whatever end was broken and clamp the vice grip on - voila good to go - takes about 20 mins of serious hard work.
then there is ignition failures... and then there are chain failures.
riding into alb from sak, in 82 or so, in pouring rain at 110kmh or so - washed out the chain - got to calgary to the hd dealer - didnt have ONE roller left on the chain, hung down 4". ONE trip from or, to co, to mn, to man, to bc to or - 3 chains two sets of tires - three sets of points, several oil changes, one fuel line, one fuel filter, headlight bulb, entire tail light - left it somewhere in co never to be found.. redid heads and rings that winter - next year was the south - redid heads and crank that winter - next year was to midwest - redid trans, forks, etc & new valves again.
all the whining i read - get real.. its just soooooooooooo g(*d*&^% whimpy.
my current bike in its worst day is so way cool and reliable. its just plain majic - get on, push button, ride to whereever... puts a smile on my face every day.
hell, even a oil leak just makes a mess - put in oil and go - whats the big deal & who cares as long as it runs right. the chain oiler on a shovel put out more oil than the "horrible" pics of oil leaks on heads... have any of you ever been in the back of the pack that had a few flatties in it?

? - total loss oil - drip out the bottom - there would be a 8 or 10" wide lane of dry to ride in - look at a pair of nice legs on the side of the road and go sliding.. left turns were always dodgy - the chain oiler kept the left side of the tire a touch wet at times... and then when it rained.. the first 5 mins was exciting.
i just dont get it at all - the new hd's are just so cool, so reliable, so fast.. what is all the whining about? im confused.
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