Softail Standard, Harley-Davidson, FXSTI, 2002, EFI, Mike's 
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This page offers a chronology of my bike purchase,
a book store, some links, and a testimony of how the bike came
to be a fixture in my garage.
- NOTE: Being an owner of my second new H-D, I remember when I used to surf the web, hunting for anything that would satisfy. I especially enjoyed the personal sites made by bike owners, and I liked them a bunch more than the dealer sites, because dealer sites were all the same. Hope you enjoy this site, because when I searched for info on the Softail Standard, I found absolutely nothing. And, if yer interested in owning a Harley ... may you some day be blessed with having one.
- The photo at the right is my bike. My first bike, a 1999 Sportster 883 Custom, can be found at http://www.onceforall.com/sportster.htm
- After you get past the initial photo of my bike, and past the featured books from my store, you can find additional links at the bottom of this page.
- I have one of the most comprehensive on-line H-D bookstores available!
- Click above --To buy Harley-Davidson books, videos, games and calendars!
- Here are ...
- Featured Books: Just click the book or title to order.
100 Years of Harley-Davidson
Motorcycles -- by Willie G. Davidson -- Price is $45.50, you save $19.50
(30%)
- With sexy full-page photo spreads and plenty of motorcycle lore, this commemorative volume celebrates the centennial of the legendary motor company. Willie G. Davidson, vice president of Styling at Harley-Davidson and the grandson of one of the original founders, gives a decade-by-decade account of the company and the rise of biker culture. He describes the tinkerers perfecting the "motorized bicycle" in the basement of the Davidson family home in Milwaukee, Wisc., in 1903; the role of women riders-who were among the bike's earliest enthusiasts-and H.O.G. rallies and socials; and, of course, the postwar decades when rebel types "eager to have too much fun" captured the public imagination and forever changed the image of the motorcycle. The book includes two-page spreads of motorcycles for years during which Harley offered a new design, and Davidson shares his own passion for the machines and his memories of the family business throughout. "
Harley-Davidson
Sportster Performance Handbook -- Price is $17.56, you save $4.39 (20%)
- Reviewer: Gary Schwebach (gschweba@aol.com) from Indianapolis, IN. -- "Great guide to high performance for low dollars.This easy-to-read handbook discusses all aspects of Sportster performance, from engine to suspension modifications. It provides suitable modifications at every price point, from dirt cheap to very expensive. I used it to customize my 1999 883 and am delighted with the results. It also provides valuable lessons for anyone interested in modifying any motorcycle. I would recommend this book to anyone planning to customize their ride."
The V-Twin Tuner's Handbook -- Price is $23.95
- The fastest racers don't win with guesswork. They plan their work and work their plan before they buy a single part or tighten a single bolt--and so should you. If you're building an engine or doing your own tuning, to be competitive you need a thorough understanding of the key power producing factors. And knowing how to calculate critical values will take the guess work out of engine modifications and tuning, saving you time and money. The V-Twin Tuner's Handbook, Volume One provides you the pro secrets needed to stay ahead of the competition.
-- To browse for more Harley-Davidson books, videos,
games and calendars!
- Click Here to search for ALL Harley Items at Amazon.
- ... The timetable of my bike: how it and I became one.
- May 2001 --
I'm in the
Army, stationed in South Korea. I was recently promoted, and
with the extra cash each month, I decided I would buy a second
Harley. I had my eye on a neighbor's Dyna Wide Glide. Real nice
bike. After my promotion, I started a new job during May 2001,
and an officer who works in my new office had a motorcycle helmet
at his desk so I asked what kind of bike he owned. He took me
outside and showed me a Sportster 883 Custom. My itch came back,
and I had nothing to scratch it. Call it "Harley Fever."
- October 16, 2001 --
Surprisingly, there's lots of Harleys in Korea.
Quite a few Service Members them, mostly Sportsters. When you
are in the military service stationed overseas, the Army and
Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) sells new cars and motorcycles.
You can get any bike you want for Stateside delivery, but you
can only get Sportsters while you are physically in Korea. Some
rule they have. There's not a lot of bikes available to buy --
about every three months, Harley tells AAFES how many bikes are
available for military customers. If you happen to walk into
the AAFES new car sales office at the right time, you might get
one. Call it "Luck."
My boss, a Lieutenant Colonel, came to work today
and announced he just bought a Sportster. My "Fever"
went up again. That same day, I went
to see the AAFES salesman and asked him what was available in
a Big Twin. He looked in his computer, and there were quite a
few available for Stateside delivery, scheduled to be built at
the factory during December for military customers. He pulled
up a few: a black Electra Glide Standard; a Dyna Wide Glide;
and a Softail Standard. Prices for the Electra Glide and Softail
Standard were about the same. The Dyna Wide Glide was about $2,500
more, so not to buy it was an easy decision. I was sold on the
Softail Standard by price ($12,728). Total price was $14,319
-- which includes a 4-year warranty, H-D security system, and
the usual processing, storage and delivery fees. I gave him $300
to put my name on the bike, and then all I had to do was arrange
for financing.
- New Years Eve, 2001 --
- I'm just waiting now. Fortunately, I have to take a business trip back to Texas during the later part of January. So, I'm going to pick up the bike at Bell County Harley-Davidson http://www.texas-harley-davidson.com/ in Harker Heights, Texas, the same place I bought my Sportster. I'm going to have installed Cycle Shack turn-out style slip-on pipes; high-flow K&N air filter; EFI chip upgrade; a turn signal module which turns the turn signals into additional red brake lights; and braided stainless brake lines (front and rear).
- I started the Softail Standard Owners Group at Yahoo. The Group exists for Softail Standard owners to share what they've done to their bikes with other owners. The Softail Standard Owners Group can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoftailStandardOwners/
- January 20, 2002 --
- I got into Killeen, Texas today. What a total waste of time, waiting to pick up a bike. There's absolutely nothing to do BUT wait, and the time just won't pass quick enough. I called the dealer right away, and tried to take delivery right away. No dice. The scheduled delivery date of January 23 couldn't be changed -- not even to the 22nd. What a downer. Save me, please.
- January 22, 2002 --
- I went to "see" the bike today. What a beauty, especially with the solo seat on it. I loved the way the rear fender stood out with this seat on.
- January 23, 2002 --
What a wonderful
day! The only problem with delivery is the dealer wouldn't take
a personal check for the $936.00 of Texas state taxes I had to
pay. Had to make a trip to a local bank to cash the check, then
back to the dealer. C'mon ... let's get past the the briefing
by the salesman. I receive enough briefings in the Army! The
best thing about the briefing was the Polaroid instant photo
the salesman shot of me with the bike. Once I took off, I spent
the next 12 days riding before work, during lunch, and late into
the night. I was able to put 635 miles on it in 12 days. What
a rush, this bike is!!!!!!
- October 11, 2002 --
- There's just one problem with this bike, and I just found out today. I checked out the 2003 models before, about as soon as H-D put all the info on the web. But just today I noticed H-D is putting 150-size tires on the ass end of the 2003 Softail Standard. Why couldn't they do that in 2002???!!!?
- December 10, 2003 --
- It's about time I update this webpage. I've been tellin' myself this for a year now.
- I've had this Softail Standard in Korea since April this year. I've been riding the hell out of it and adding a few goodies.
- One of the first things I added was an engine oil cooler. It's off the bike now because it kept developing leaks. If I was not tightening the hose
clamps,
the assembly would turn loose whenever I did an oil change. Finally,
all it did was poor oil all over the road one day, so I removed
it completely.
- If I haven't already mentioned it, the saddle I put on is a Lepera Bare Bones Gel, and I also have the Bare Bones Gel pussy pad. They both give the bike a great look. I also added a chrome toolbox to the left side; polished billet H-D foot pegs, passenger pegs and shifter peg; a Kuryakyn trigger lever for the front brake and a Kuryakyn Silhouette (naked lady that looks like an Oscar statue) lever for the clutch; a leather tank panel with a pouch; chrome swingarm inserts; chrome swingarm pivot bolt covers; chrome front axle covers; and black rear axle covers. I recently got a set of saddlebags from Leatherlyke, which I also like a lot, and a Saddlemen T-Bag sort of deal when I haul extra shit around on the luggage rack.
- Will post some pics soon.
Click to subscribe to SoftailStandardOwners- Later ...
Harley-Davidson
... you get what you pay for, but you pay for the name at the
same time.
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Don't bogart that joint, my friend ... pass it over to me.