Harley Davidson has been considered as the iconic American bile for ages and owning this bike is luxury for some and sheer passion for alot of others.

Harley Davidson Motor Company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in USA is the manufacturer of these fine motorcycles.

The Harley Davidson Sportster Motorcycle happens to be the proud member of the Harley Davidson Motorcycles family and came into existence in the year 1958.

The Sportsters bikes were inaccurately based on the then popular K-model racer. The first ever Harley Davidson Sportster was pretty lightweight, relatively narrow and stripped down and had earned a good amount fanfare among the sports bike enthusiasts.

Many bike lovers believe that the Harley Davidson Sportster gradually evolved to become the Harley’s cruiser bike model.

There is a group of people who also like to call this beautiful bike as the semi-sports bike, now that is an interesting way to name a bike!
Today’s evolved Sportster resembles the XLCH Sportster bike model that was created in the year 1958 but amusing enough every single part of the Sportster is different when compared to the XLCH Sportster of 1958.

The batteries and battery boxes, engines, carburetors and air cleaners, exhaust, mufflers, brakes and rotors, rotors, cables and charges, gas tank, oil tank, swing arm, rear shocks, wheels, forks, frames, everything is different but surprisingly the resemblance is austere.

One has to bear in mind that Harley Davidson bikes have always been considered as or rather was intended to be the chopper style bikes. In fact it was Harley Davidson bike that has given a rise to the new whole new cult of custom created bikes.

People often find this fact as contradictory but then if you have ever owned a Harley Davidson or have been an avid admirer of any model of Harleys you would know what it means to be believe in evolution but not revolution.

It is this characteristic of the Harley Davidson Sportster Motorcycle that has made the bike what it is today, a truly retro yet state-of-the-art bike till this date.

It is for this fact that the Harley Davidson motorcycle company, which is the oldest motorcycle manufacturing company, has retained its popularity and credibility as the one of the most renowned motorcycle companies in the world.

The Sportster Motorcycle too lives up to the standards set by the earlier models of Harley Davidson’s motorcycle company. By this yardstick the Harley Davidson Sportster Motorcycle is a real-time example of the evolving work or let’s say a work in progress. Have you ever seen two Sportsters that looked exactly the same?

Believe me one doesn’t have to be a Harley Davidson motorcycle fanatic to be able to answer this. Any layman who knows a little bit about Harleys will answer the question. You will never find two Sportsters that look same, it is again for the reason that the like any other Harley Davidson bike, the Harley Davidson Sportster Motorcycle too is full of possibilities when it comes to the additions and modifications.

This is especially true for the basic XLH 883 and XLH 1200 models. The type and number of modifications that you can do to your Harleys Sportster can be limited only by your own creativity and imagination.

Whether it’s engine performance, safety accessories, comfort and convenience accessories, appearance accessories, the possibilities are many.

It is the final touches that you give to your Sportster that lends the personality to your Sportster.

No wonder that even today a well-maintained and well-treated Sportster is capable of fetching you a 100% of the original cost price as the resale value.

Mustang motorcycle seats are made for many different types of motorcycles including Harley Davidson motorcycles as well as many import bikes like Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and the new emerging American brand Victory. All Mustang products are made in the USA. This company has been making quality saddles and passenger seats since 1980. Many different types of seats are available as well as sissy bar pads or backrests. Most cycle seats these days are not made with leather but a look alike vinyl cover or synthetic leather, however these motorcycle seats are made to look like seats made from genuine leather. For example the Regal Duke is made with a custom pillow styled seat cover that is made to look like leather. Sissy bar pads to match are also available. This company is also very active in the motorcycle community by attending many of the bigger bike shows like Biketoberfest, Sturgis and Bike Week. 
Most of Mustangs seats are designed to have a very classic old school biker look therefore giving your bike more of a custom feel. Products like the Regal Duke are made to look like and old school bench with a leather look. Some of these saddles also come in a studded version which will also give your ride a more custom look. Below are some examples of some of the products made by Mustang.

The Custom Square back Seat comes with a great functional shape for two-up riding. This seat has crisp, clean lines, with sewn-in center panels but no buttons or unnecessary stitching to clutter it up. Constructed with a premium-quality expanded vinyl cover for durability and great looks.

The Sport Touring Seats with Studs and Conchos has a deeply pocketed driver seat is at the ideal cruising angle, and the passenger sits comfortable in a bucket seat. These seats have a premium-quality expanded vinyl cover, and built-in steel support wings in the passenger seats. The Driver’s back is well-supported by nose of passenger pad that extends forward. This particular piece comes studded with conchos. Studded version has skirt with conchos, accent studs and braid that extends below the edge of the seat. 

Contour Studded Sissy Bar Pads are made to provide maximum support for your passenger. The foam is contoured to follow the natural curvature of your back, and has a premium-quality expanded vinyl cover. Pads mount to OEM backrest, and include chrome screws. The pad measures: 9″H x 12″W.

Regal Duke Saddles feature low, custom-pillow styling with leather-like exterior. The two-piece foam improves rider’s back support, and keeps passenger from sliding forward. The seat base plate matches OEM for exact fit. Matching sissy bar pads are also available for this saddle.

You can readily buy these products directly from Mustang or one of their network of dealers and accessory shops which are located all over including Europe and the USA. Many seats, pads and types of saddles are available from Mustang. Almost all motorcycle makers are covered in their product offering from Honda to Harley Davidson or Victory Cycles.

Vehicles of all sizes are monitored for legal noise emission levels. This includes compact cars, S.U.V.’s, big 18 wheelers and all motor homes and R.V.’s.

Did you know if you put a sporty muffler such as ‘glass packs’ on your vehicle to give it a sporty growl, you can get a ticket from law enforcement for violating the noise emission level designed for that type of vehicle. It’s true. You can also get a ticket if your vehicle makes to much noise due to it’s original tailpipe being broken or worn out.

Most area’s can also ticket you for motoring with your car stereo to loud.

I have no problem with these laws and practices, so long as they apply to everybody.

I’ve taken it upon myself to perform a little project at a major Wisconsin intersection. Sitting off to the side just past the sidewalk (about 15 feet from the roadway) I sat on a chair holding a noise meter. I watched the readings of the different types of vehicles. I wasn’t surprised by my findings. Most late model cars barely moved the needle. A really good reading for such quiet vehicles.

Most 18 wheelers pulling away at the green light moved the needle about a quarter way across the dial. Not bad at all considering the size of the vehicle and it‘s massive motor.

Honda Goldwing Motorcycles were about half the reading of the semi’s. Then there were observations of a vehicle I can’t stand.

Harley Davidson Motorcycles not only were louder, but in fact they actually buried the needle on the noise meter. Even after they left the intersection and were still accelerating a block away, they were still registering a quarter scale on the gauge.

These vehicles with motors 40 or 50 times smaller than that of a 18 wheeler were catastrophically louder than the big rigs.

I’m not just comparing the sizes of the motors, but the entire size of a tractor trailer.

It would take a excess of 50 Harleys to equal the size of a 70 or 75 foot tractor trailer combination.

That would be parking the Harleys sideways next to the 18 wheeler from its front bumper to it’s back bumper 3 tears high to equal the size of one of these rigs.

Not only that, the sound of these Harleys actually give headaches, rattle windows and wake up people that are sleeping.

Okay. This isn’t cool. It isn’t funny. It isn’t awesome. It isn’t legal. IT IS A CRIME!

These bikes violate vehicle noise emission laws, they are noise pollution and they disturb the peace.

They don’t get ticketed for their violations. This is yet another crime.

I’m among a growing number of people that **** these motorcycles because of this.

We need the noise laws to apply to everyone.



Below I’ve cut and pasted a email sent to me a while back regarding this topic, please read it.



Hi Joe

I noticed you don’t like loud bikes. I’ve owned several Harley Davidson’s over the last twenty years. None of them were loud. I gave up biking and Harley Davidson activity because it is turning for the bad. People now days are buying the bikes just to see who can be the loudest. They buy the bikes to rattle windows and **** people off. I don’t think this is right. You could have a great looking bike with a $2000.00 paint job and all kinds of accessories but if your pissing people off it ain’t the beautiful bike you think it is. These Harley gatherings are bad news too. You get these things stopping cross traffic to let the rest of their group run stop signs and red lights without breaking up their group and without the assistance of law enforcement. I also don’t think its fair that people in cars can get a ticket for not wearing seat belts but bikers don’t get tickets for not wearing helmets. The saying loud pipes save lives is a bunch of crap. There are lots of quiet bikes on the road. Also bikes, mopeds, joggers. These things don’t make the racket of a Harley Davidson. Harley’s ain’t turning into symbols of broken laws. They are symbols of broken laws. I didn’t want any part of this picture so I gave up biking and sold all my Harley leather some time ago.

Marty P.

Reporter Joseph Toth

Washington Micro Bank BBS

Harley Davidson

This classic series of motorcycles has a long and storied history with a legion of fans that includes owners, motorcycle enthusiasts, old and young alike. Distinguished by its style, unique engine sound and fan loyalty, Harley Davidson motorcycles are unlike any bikes ever produced.

From modest beginnings in 1901, Harley Davidson Incorporated was the brainchild of William Harley who had developed a small, powerful engine. Like many engine manufacturers of the era, these engines were intended for use with existing bicycle designs, combining motorized power with pedal power. From a small shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Harley and his partner, Arthur Davidson embarked on a journey that would revolutionize the world of motorized transportation.

1903 saw the introduction of its first production motorcycle. The early Harley-Davidson bikes were popular as race machines. By the end of the decade, Harley Davidson was selling a version if its bikes for use as police vehicles. Shortly thereafter, The Company introduced a 45 degree V-twin engine design that would represent a style synonymous with Harley-Davidson for years to come.

The post-war years saw a rapid expansion in production, along with some ownership bumps in the road. The mid 1980s saw ownership shift from AMF to a group comprised of Harley Davidson management. The Company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1987. The rest, as they say, is history.

The big V twin engine configurations were reflected in many subsequent designs including the F Head, Flathead, Knucklehead, Panhead and Shovelhead, all exceeding 1000 cubic centimeters in displacement. The smaller V-twin designs reflected a smaller displacement under 1000 cubic centimeters until the introduction of the Evolution and Ironhead series of engines and are found on the Sportster X series bikes.

The V Rod, introduced in 2002, incorporates a liquid cooled 1130 cubic centimeter super bike engine. The VRSC models are unique in both style and performance from all of its predecessors. The 60 degree V twin engine features fuel injection and was developed with the help of Porsche.

Even the Harley Davidson logo has created incredible marketing potential with after market merchandise and accessory sales accounting for up to 5 percent of the Company’s revenue. The distinctive HD eagle reflects the respect Harley Davidson enjoys from competitors and motorcycle fans.

Royal Enfield

The pride of British manufacturing companies, Royal Enfield has established a reputation that dates back to the mid 1800s. Like many early manufacturers of personal transportation, founder George Townsend focus on producing parts for existing bicycle designs, and by 1893 was producing and selling complete bicycles under the Enfield name. It was not long before Townsend turned the name Enfield and its slogan built like a gun into household words across Great Britain.

The most endearing product introduction by Royal Enfield has to be the Bullet. With a single cylinder, four stroke engine, the 1933 Bullet sported a dramatic front to rear rake making for truly classic line. World War II brought a one of a kind bike from Enfield, the Flying Flea. Complete with its own parachute and packing cage, the Flying Flea could be dropped from an aircraft along with the troops provided a means of motorized battlefield transport not previously available.

The Royal Enfield line even included a version of the famous red-painted Indian motorcycles, after the company acquired the brand name rights. The RE Indians were discontinued in the 1960s. Intense competition from Japanese motorcycle producers during the 1960s and 1970s meant the Royal Enfield needed bikes that could match the speed and performance of the Asian bikes.

The answer was the Interceptor line of extremely fast motorcycles, with a top speed of over 105 miles per hour and able to cover the quarter mile in les than 14 seconds. Sadly, production could not keep up with demand, and the Interceptor became the last of the Enfield line to be produced in England.

Royal Enfield motorcycles are still produced in India and exported worldwide, including to the United Kingdom and to the United States. The famous Bullet bikes still anchor this legendary line of motorcycles with versions which includes the 500 cubic centimeter Elektra X.

If you have heard of motorcycles, you have heard of Harley Davidson motorcycles. Motorcycle buffs swear by these motorcycles that have an iconic status in the motorcycling world.

The history of these motorcycles goes way back to the year 1901 when William Harley came up with a bike fitted with an engine. Arthur Davidson, a friend of Harley backed him in producing a racing motorcycle in the year 1903, which was bought by a childhood friend. However, soon the popularity of these motorcycles moved out of the realm of buddydom and into the real world when one of the Harley Davidson motorcycles won a race. It was also the time when the production plant of these Motor Company moved out of a wooden shed and into more modern production areas.

In the 1950s the these motorcycles featured in many wins and soon became a household name. The popularity of these motorcycles can be gauged from the fact that in 1983 the Harley Owners Group was established and within six years it boasted of over 90,000 enthusiastic members. It was the biggest motorcycle club worldwide to be sponsored by a manufacturer.

The worth of these motorcycles was further proved when it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1987.

With every passing year, the quest to invent and add more such motorcycles continued. The race wining spree also carried on unabated, as did the feat of selling more bikes than any other manufacturer.

In the year 2006 another milestone was achieved when the first authorized dealer of Harley Davidson motorcycles was chosen in china. Today, there are dealers of these motorcycles in more than sixty nations, with over 9,000 people working under its banner. So, in most parts of the world you can hope to buy and enjoy the delights offered by such motorcycles.

There is a wide array of these type motorcycles offered by the company, in various shapes, colours and styles. There are touring bikes, recreational and sports racing bikes etc. the Ultra Classic Electra Glide is one Harley Davidson motorcycle that has several attractive features for the greatest comfort and style. Its advanced audio system is the cherry on the cake.

Understanding that motorcycle clothing and accessories are an integral component of biking style, the company produces an entire range of to jazz up the Davidson motorcycles and their riders. The accessories that they produce are sidecars, chrome covers, windshields, seats, mirrors, backrests, sissy bars, hand controls, saddlebags and pouches.

The clothing line caters to the needs of men women and children too and includes all kinds of leather goods, jackets, vests, shirts, pants, eyewear, boots, racing gear and also gear for different kinds of weather.

So, for an overall enjoyable and thrilling motorcycling experience all that you have to do is to pamper yourself with these attires and accessories and ride a Harley Davidson motorcycle.