Actually I can. I have it modified to run cooler and the proper shocks and seat to ride all day. My problem now is stopping for gas.

I've now had the opportunity to travel all around the highways and rural back ways near my home, and I'm never more than 25 miles away from gas. The problem is not logistics, it's the hassle.

My philosophy so far is that I can buy a lot of fuel for 800 bucks, the average cost of the proper tank, perhaps paint and then removing the wiring from the tank I have--and electrronics is not my strong suit.

I do have a big twin, the Sportster is just a passion, and of course, buying a 1200 Custom would immediately solve the problem. But then, us old fudds never had ready made anything, so where's the fun without a struggle. I'll find a 4.5 tank soon, and then the problem will be solved.

BTW, that little girlie bike is piling on more miles and wearing out more rubber than most Electra-Glides.

That girlie bike comment was BIs comment It just didn't quote right. The manley calluses on my a$$ was my comment. Just giving him a hard time back. LOL. I own a Sportster Custom with a 4.5 gallon tank. I log in a minimum of at least 100 miles a day on that bike and my wife and I tour with it. Believe it or not. I like the way the Sportster's handles and how it responds. I'll have to admit though we have our eyes on the new Switchbacks. I test rode one of those. It gives all the comfort of a big touring bike without giving up the handling. But believe me I know for a fact that a Sportster is not a girlie bike.

No prob. However, I've been humorously referring to Spinner as my 'girlie bike' since a minor dust-up in another bike forum. I think there was an ego smack-down going on, and the big twin guys were deliberately trying to build their street-reps on the backs of Sportster guys. These guys started referring to smaller motorcycles as 'girlie bikes.'

I shut part of that down by asking for the members to take pictures of their odometers.

But I do have to state something in a act of full disclosure. Yesterday I called the shop, and with the sudden rise in temperatures, the mechanics got slammed. Both Betty and Spinner are now stored at a remote location called "cold storage." I asked the Fish, the service writer, to schedule Spinner to be the first bike back as space on the transport truck becomes available.

Not only is Spinner a mechanically completed and needs only the final test ride for the mechanic to sign off, but Betty needs a new rear tire. A minor glitch, and she can wait a bit.

But that request is telling. Over the past few years, I'd rather drive the Sportster. Yes, gas prices are a factor, but I wanted the girlie bike. The ego bike can wait. In fact, I've even considered pickling the engine and placing her in long-term storage.

I'm a proud Sportster owner. I always envision myself on Sportsters. Rode a girlie bike for two of the five years I was a real biker. At this rate, in less than two years Spinner might need a valve job and another new rear tire. At that time, most of the Electra-Glide crowd will still be polishing garage virgins.

"garage virgins" LOL

I think part of this problem is also the price of gasoline. The shop tells me that the average Electra-Glide mileage dropped from the overall average of 4K to 1K. Part of signing in a bike for service is tabulating the actual mileage. They have all of the demographics.

I guess I don't get it. Every time I got a better bike I logged more miles. For example, bigger isn't better. I had a CBX that was very expensive to drive--even a replacement rear tire. The following year I was embroiled in a long court case and riding time got very precious. I sold the CBX and bought a little Honda CX500. Guess what? Despite the reduced time, my mileage soared.

I got a better bike for me, and I was actually doing biker stuff, like riding.

When this fact was pounded into my head, I went back to Harleys. First bike purchased? Why, a Sportster, of course. I still wanted to ride.

The new Sportsters with the fuel injection get unbelievable gas mileage.

Yes, they do. The problem is that the two gallons of the peanut tank can not fully be used, and there's no reserve.

The 3.3 Nightster tank is 'better,' it just looks like a banana. It doesn't have the same traditional peanut lines. And instead of 50 miles on the peanut before the light goes on, I might get 80 on the banana.

Considering the cost, I'd rather have the 4.5 gallon tank. I think the lines are better, and now you have a clear-cut touring option.

If the big bike had to go, I could see buying a 1200 Custom as a replacement.

Don't get me wrong..I had a Sportster. Loved it for the 2-3 years I owned it. I was young,cash was low,it did the job. However no matter what you do to a Sportster its not better than touring on a big twin bagger glide I don't care how you paint it or add a large gas tank to it. The majority of Sportster owners don't ride far. The miles you put on Tourist are local...don't kid yourself. Not to mention a tall rider on a Sportster looks paramount to a circus bear on a tricycle,no offence. Sonny got away with it..for awhile...because he was short. He eventually wised up and owned various glides. Plus as the HA franchise expanded it was better and made better sense ridng a big twin bagger of sorts than a bone rattling Sportster long distance. Usually with age comes wisdom. In Sonny's case it was true. An HA once told me they ride upwards of 20,000 miles a year and I am sure its not w/in there local jurisdiction like the miles you put on your Sportster.

And if someone wants to own a geezer glide to ride around town,so what? Maybe the person always wanted one. Maybe that same person has no interest in long distance ridng? So what. What a person does with his/her bike is their business same as it is for a tall rider to own a Sportster dispite to some they may look like that proverbial circus bear on a tricycle. So what. Ther riders are obliciously happy.

When I am to old to feel safe touring I will probably own a Sportster to ride locally. I might even log a bunch of miles riding locally. I'm short so hopefully I won't look as much like a cicus bear on a tricycle...just an over fed bear on a tricycle. So what.

Don't get me wrong..I had a Sportster. Loved it for the 2-3 years I owned it. I was young,cash was low,it did the job. However no matter what you do to a Sportster its not better than touring on a big twin bagger glide I don't care how you paint it. Ther majority of Sportster owners don't ride far. The miles you put on Tourist are local...don't kid yourself. Not to mention a tall rider on a Sportster looks paramount to a circus bear on a tricycle,no offence. Sonny got away with it..for awhile...because he was short. He eventually wised up and owned various glides. Plus as the HA franchise expanded it was better ridng a big twin bagger of sorts that a bone rattling Sportster long distance. Usually with age comes wisdom. In Sonny's case it was true. A HA once told me they ride upwards of 20,000 miles a year and I am sure its not w/in there local jurisdiction like the miles you put on your Sportster.

And if someone wants to own a geezer glide to ride around town,so what? Maybe the person always wanted one. Maybe that same person has no interest in long distance ridng? So what. What a person does with his/her bike is their business same as it is for a tall rider to own a Sportster dispite to some they may look like that proverbial circus bear on a tricycle. So what. Ther riders are obliciously happy.

Don't forget Tourist you never owned an Ultra or a Classic or a Road King. Betty is not the same. Your adverse comments are based fromn some deep rooted psychosis,lol. I'm just cheesing you Tourist but it is a fact that your comments on Baggers are not based on any fair personal experiences. You can't talk the talk if you haven't walked the walk and expect any credibility. Can you?

When I am to old to feel safe touring I will probably own a Sportster to ride locally. I might even log a bunch of miles riding locally. I'm short so hopefully I won't look as much like a cicus bear on a tricycle...just an over fed bear on a tricycle. So what.

I can agree with you, as much as I love my Sporty when we go on a trip with it our butt cheeks are scolding us. That is why we've been looking at the Switchback. It appears to give us the best of both worlds. I Know after my test ride on it my a$$ was begging me to get it.