The law that standardized control placement was a result of accidents and deaths from riders unused to different control configurations and not to protect HD as it required them to make changes too. The fact of the matter is that Harley-Davidson made Sportsters, their best selling model, which shifted on the right side from their inception in '57 as did the predecessor K model flatheads. I'm a little late to join in here but wanted to add a point about Uncle Sam making laws to protect Harley-Davidson by requiring all bikes sold in the US shift on the left and brake on the right. I have a 199 myself and have been told by several people over the years that this model was better that any that followed, including a local (East Anglia/UK) ex champion who owns a 199B Obviously that is an opinion that many will disagree with but my 199 is my favourite bike to ride. This cable operated brake is a bit spongier than the direct operated rod and opinions will vary as to what is best. I can not be sure from your pictures but I think I can see a blob of weld but the bracket seems to have been cut off. LH was standard and with this set up the rear brake is operated by a cable that loops across to a bracket on the frame down tube near the silencer. The gear change can be set either LH or RH. The only thing basically not correct is that seat is wrong. In the UK we would have had a different tank to that fitted for the rest of the world. Other minor changes including adjusting the height of the engine in the frame by a small amount. The gear ratio's were also changed with most notable visible difference between 199 and 199A is the later has a smaller rear sprocket. Had an aluminium bash plate under the engine, reinforced swinging arm and a different magneto cover and kick start. The 199A came out in late 1978 was painted blue. Your bike in the picture is defiantly a 199 so the red paint is correct.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
December 2022
Categories |