What fuel should I use in my ‘new’ 1998 Sportster XLH 1200? …and where should I shift it?
Bought an IMMACULATE ’98 Sportster with 32,000 miles. I trust the seller — I’m old, he’s 10 years older than me. This is my first ‘big’ Harley — I rode little ones 30-40 years ago… Most of my miles are on British bikes, and some Yamaha time…
I can’t pick up the bike until Tuesday — it’s a holiday weekend, the banks are closed, and the seller wants payment in greenbacks. I’m trying to acquaint myself with the bike before it comes to its new home.
Do I really need to watch out for gas with methanol in it? Will methanol really eat the fuel system, while ethanol and MTBE are perfectly fine?
As long as I’m asking naive questions: Where can I get good data about speeds to operate the engine? Where to shift, where to cruise, what constitutes over revving and lugging this engine… I don’t want to try to rely on past experience and/or intuition.
Thanks in advance for your wisdom!
Paul in WI
Hi,
There isn’t enough rubber or plastic in your fuel system for alcohol in gas to really bother it.
Just buy at a Chevron or Shell station and I would get the midgrade.
When to shift is easy, when it vibrates you shift.
Until you hit 65 mph and you have run out of gears.
If it has forward controls, I would watch ebay for a set of mids. I had an 01 with forward and putting the mids on made it feel like it handled much better. They are more comfortable anyway.
I hope you enjoy it!
Harley-Davidson Museum, 12/27/08
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