The XL Forum cookies are only used to keep you logged in. The XL Forum administrators don't have access to the cookies stored on your mobile device or computer. You can delete the cookies at anytime by logging out and checking the DELETE COOKIES box.
The XL Forum doesn't share, or sell, your information with any person or company.

83XLX · #21 19th December 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdny37

Well, if we're going to get picky then a chopped hardtailed bobber and so on with an Ironhead engine should still be posted in their relevant sections. Technically they're not Sportsters and this is the Ironhead Sporter section.
Just my two cents.

I don't agree completely with that sentiment. If they have an Ironhead motor, what better place to discuss problems/fixes/tuning, etc.?

chadpm · #22 19th December 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83xlx

i don't agree completely with that sentiment. If they have an ironhead motor, what better place to discuss problems/fixes/tuning, etc.?

+1

60weight · #23 19th December 2012

+1 83XLX
Personally I enjoy reading about any Harley older than 1985...from members here...Like the Super Glide build..Seems like Old Friends most times.Guess whats best is Folks stayin happy tho..

Gcram399 · #24 19th December 2012

Mick, I didn't see anything inappropriate in either of your posts. I learned early on here (actually got chastised by a few guys) that there's a place for everything and everything in it's place.
The XLForum was titled so as to give "all Sportster owners, lovers and lurkers" a great variety of options to read, learn and share. It provides everyone a place to express their opinions and experiences. The biggest plus for this site is it provides a slot for each variety of Sportster. Bert didn't just glob them all together.
Bert also had the foresight to add all those sub-sections for other interests so there would be a place for just about any topic possible to prevent the main sections from getting muddied.

Not being an Ironhead owner doesn't mean that I don't have an interest in them. I just try to refrain from adding anything to that section unless it is something that I have a direct interest or knowledge that comes from my 55 years of age or from my vocation as a machinist.

Without the large number of members here (Sportster owners from 1957's- current) the site will surely die like so many others.
I know the purists would like to see this as a technical site covering nothing but their own current model year or generation, but without an open mind the site won't grow and eventually those that are left will dwindle away (die)and all this information will be lost. Those hard core guys left standing will be left talking to themselves.

The influx of new people, new sources and new ideas is what will keep this site alive, but keeping what we have accumulated already in order will insure that it will remain usefull.
And just so you know, the Moderators here on the XLForum, do a great job that doesn't go unnoticed.
Thanks

Yellowstone Kelly · #25 19th December 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdny37

Well, if we're going to get picky then a chopped hardtailed bobber and so on with an Ironhead engine should still be posted in their relevant sections. Technically they're not Sportsters and this is the Ironhead Sporter section.
Just my two cents.

Yikes, I hope it doesn't come to this. My stock '82 Sportster almost never gives me any problems, at least not yet. What I need help with is the '69 "chopped hardtailed bobber" I'm (very) slowly building, and this forum is full of people who have the info and experience I don't have.

I also enjoy the humor that many of the members add. I don't want that to go away. I really enjoy reading about the GBB rides in the northeast, even though there's not a whole lot of technical info in those posts. Very entertaining, though.

I can understand the OP's reasons for posting about his new bike. If you hang around long enough, members of the forum start to seem like friends you want to share things with, Sportster-related or not.

Mick, I think you're doing a great job as moderator. Just creating this thread shows how much you care about doing the right thing. There's no way to keep everybody happy all the time, but this is a great forum to visit because of your (and most likely others') efforts. Thanks for doing what you do.

nikki · #26 19th December 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellowstone Kelly

Yikes, I hope it doesn't come to this. My stock '82 Sportster almost never gives me any problems, at least not yet. What I need help with is the '69 "chopped hardtailed bobber" I'm (very) slowly building, and this forum is full of people who have the info and experience I don't have.

I also enjoy the humor that many of the members add. I don't want that to go away. I really enjoy reading about the GBB rides in the northeast, even though there's not a whole lot of technical info in those posts. Very entertaining, though.

I can understand the OP's reasons for posting about his new bike. If you hang around long enough, members of the forum start to seem like friends you want to share things with, Sportster-related or not.

Mick, I think you're doing a great job as moderator. Just creating this thread shows how much you care about doing the right thing. There's no way to keep everybody happy all the time, but this is a great forum to visit because of your (and most likely others') efforts. Thanks for doing what you do.

)+ 1 Yellowstone Kelly. Nikki

simeli · #27 19th December 2012

I am a fairly recent member of this forum so really I don't know all the ins and outs.

I understand where Mick and others are coming from, however, I don't see a problem (or watering down of the forum) with interesting post about off topic subjects if they relate in some fashion to the discussions at hand (ie: air boats powered by harley engines, head design used by various makes and models of vehicles etc. etc.) I also do not see a problem with the posting of a superglide rebuild.

If we are going to hold strictly to the rebuilding, tuning, restoration and problems of Ironheads in the purest form, then there are many unrelated post that would have to be eliminated, discussions of bored and stroked engines and their modifications would essentially be off topic, hard tailed, chopped and raked sportsters would be off topic.

Humorous post would need to be eliminated, discussions of breakfast at Tiffany's would have to go.

In a word all things that make this an interesting forum could be eliminated and you would have a perfectly technical forum, which is a good thing in and of itself, but you would lose the flavor that makes the site interesting. Yes you can eliminate the personalities but then we could all just sit and read the shop manuals and get pretty much the same excitement out of it.

I don't envy the position of any moderator on any forum of any type or their job and would never accept a position as such. However, the term moderator carries a meaning and that is to moderate, to hold a balance, to give direction to the discussion. There is a fine point of balance to hold a discussion to but at what point do you draw the line without killing the interaction?

There is a lot of traffic on this site (which is dedicated to the ironhead) I believe that a lot of the reason for the amount of traffic and views on particular threads is member interaction (off topic banter) and to lose that you lose the essence of the site.

Just my own uneducated opinion of course.

Loner · #28 19th December 2012

Mick I agree with you, there are other sections for other things.
BTW IMHO if it has a Ironhead engine in it, be it chopper,bobber or even a snow mobile then it is related.

When I want to talk about my EFI rubbermount I go to that section, when I want to talk about my import bike I go there, same for the cafe bike project I want to do this winter.

I don't own a IH but I still look just to see what is a going on, I'm also a motorcycle nut and incurable gear head, and the pictures of motors taken apart and the owners showing their solutions to the problems is like crack to an addict for a gear head.

nickstoyz · #29 19th December 2012

I agree Mick! And like others said, this section is for ironheads. I've only been on here for half a year but in that time from reading members posts, I've learned so much! You or I kinda get to know a member by thier posts and replys. People from so many places from all over the world meet from this forum, Like the breakfast thing. Someday I will make it to one of those. Maybe there can be a midwest one and a west one, who knows. The technical advice here is +1000 in my book! So much knowledge in here and a bit of humor. And like what was previously said, there is other sections in this forum for other topics you wish to disscus. Thanks to all!!!! Happy hollidays to all!

Counter Steer · #30 19th December 2012

I am guilty of posting a response in the ironhead section that was general sportster related. I deleted the post and have been more careful these past few years to not only look at the topic, but the forum as well.

As an owner and rider of a twin cam, a shovelhead, a rigid evo and an ironhead, I easily allow myself to get confused about what goes where and why. It is a good thing the world will end Friday. My personal hell will be to ride an ironhead with a stock seat for the rest of eternity. My a55 will ache but I'll look good forever.