I've owned two pre-AMF Sportsters (XLCH) '66 and '68. They were very hard to start, vibration like crazy. I ride to the beach (150 miles) and my arms would be numb. Not to mention the fact that you need to go over all of the nuts and bolts periodically so the fenders or chain guard wouldn't fall off. I also owned a '72 BMW R75/5. Very smooth, very quiet. Between those two I would take an old BMW opposing twin over an HD any day. If I could have any of my bikes back it would be my '82 Honda V45 Sabre. The V45 did not have the mystique of the HD's or the class of a BMW but it was the nicest motorcycle that I ever rode.

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Sunny PA
79 240D
83 300SD