Editor’s Note: We’ve been fans of this Dual Sport Sportster ever since it graced the cover of Hot Bike back in 1991. Well, it just so happened a little birdie (Mark the Butcher) hipped us to the Dual Sport Sporty’s current whereabouts. As it turned out it remained relatively unchanged, and it was in impeccable condition. In fact, the dual Sporty was getting ridden quite a bit by the current owner, a 78-years-young Bob Scott of Hesperia, California. We had to go out and pay Mr. Scott a visit to see how the bike was holding up. After an afternoon of photographing Bob ripping through the high desert on the dually, we knew this bike and its story were worth another feature. It just so happened that we tracked down previous editor, Buck Lovell, to write the follow-up piece to his original article from 1991. Enjoy.

When Mr. Jay Tullis founded the Progressive Suspension company in the mid 1980s, we doubt he had any idea how successful it would become in such a short amount of time. The company name “Progressive Suspension” was derived from the “progressively wound” springs found in many of their markedly superior suspension products of this era. Particularly in rear axle suspension shock absorbers. Remember if you can, the relatively few and somewhat primitive suspension items being offered for sale at that time. If you are an older rider, you know what I’m talking about. Harley-Davidson was in the very early stages of becoming gang-buster popular like nothing previous. Harley-Davidson went on a 25-year popularity streak. Progressive Suspension was to benefit from this situation like many existing and yet-to-be-discovered aftermarket companies!

This particular Harley-Davidson Sportster was intended for use by a Mr. Darryl Prieur who weighed 350 pounds and stood 6 feet 3 inches. Darryl needed suspension components both front and rear that would perform above and beyond the normal duty cycle. Darryl rode this bike to and from his job at Progressive Suspension a total of 45 miles both ways. Seven of those miles were on less than improved unpaved roads. That’s when Darryl has the most fun! This dual-purpose machine is completely reliable transportation, as well as being a totally fun one-off two wheeler for recreational riding! Say jumping ditches and climbing hills as well as squirting down rocky, un-maintained trails and roads. At the time of the original story this 1991 XL Sportster had no equal in the fun department. That front fork is a Kayaba cartridge unit with 10 full inches of travel. Progressive Suspension fork springs work with Progressive “Baja” Magnum rear shocks! For after dark riding across no man’s land, two Cibie 50/100 are bolted onto the handlebar/fork tops. Darryl chases jack rabbits with the unit on high beam!

Current, and long-time owner of this very special Harley-Davidson Sportster is Bob Scott, a high desert resident who has owned and ridden this machine for more than 15 years. Bob found this two-wheeler in a Craigslist advertisement reading “dirt bike Harley.” That was enough to pique his curiosity! He promptly purchased this dirt bike Harley.

Bob is a long time off-road and desert racer of both two wheelers and four wheeled race vehicles. He was in the habit of scouting the different racetrack courses riding Time Machine to become accustomed to the turns and straights prior to a race. Scouting a racecourse is a good habit to have when you’re a racer, and it seems Time Machine attracted a great deal of attention of its own. Bob told me that virtually anyplace he went this orange motorcycle with the checkered seat was already well known. Scott only very recently reluctantly decided to stop riding motorcycles due to being 84 years old. His confidence and riding skills were in his mind diminished enough to make such a decision. He said, “It takes a long time to recover after a fall.” Time Machine is now retired after a long and illustrious career as a racing machine, and a conversation slash entertainment piece. But Time Machine is still “eye candy” in any Harley-Davidson rider’s mind!

Words Buck Lovell