Motorcycle Question

I've owned an 883 and 1200 Sportster. I bought the 883 because I had never had a Harley and I wanted to try one, but didn't want to spend much. Within months, I had the Harley bug and upgraded to a 1200XL Custom. It was a 2002 model that vibrated a lot and the Custom has shortened suspension that was unbearable on the roads around here. I believe Harley rubber mounted the Sportster motor in 2005, so they don't vibrate like the older models. I think a newer Sportster that was not a Custom with lowered suspension would be a decent bike. The roads are just too rough around here for the shortened suspension. A buddy of mine had a newer 1200 and it was pretty nice.

I went from the Sportsters to a Deuce to two different Road Kings. For longer trips, the Road King is awesome. The Deuce was nice, but it had forward controls which I don't like for longer rides. With your feet forward, all of your weight ends up on your tailbone. The Road King has floorboards. When I got my first Harley, there was no way that I would have floorboards or a windshield. Now, I wouldn't do without either one of them.

If you think you might like to go on longer rides, I highly recommend the Road King, but it's a bigger bike and maybe not the best to learn on. It would also be better for passengers, but I wouldn't recommend having passengers until you're really comfortable with riding.

If you buy a used Sportster at a good price, I don't think you would get hurt much on dollars if you sell it later to get a bigger bike.
 
blackdeuce said:
I highly recommend the Road King
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Road Kings are amazing bikes. Unless you are looking for a full dresser, I think they are the best bike Harley makes.

I am bias of course, as I put over 80,000 miles on Road Kings between the first '94 that came to my town and my '96.

A picture of my '96 (I did a bit of custom work to her):

P4270001.jpg
 
CAJUNLAWYER said:
Saw a 2009 Harley Davidson 883 Sportster with the Black Denim package. Has 2,100 miles and the guy is asking $5,875. Is that a good price? Is this a good bike for a 56 year old's first motorcycle? Was thinking about offering him $5k to see what he does.
If I get it-do any of you have any thoughts on getting it past the wife when she gets home Tuesday from Atlanta :D
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Caj, I don't know motorcycles but as to the wife; it is usually easier to get forgiveness than permission, flowers and jewelry help.
 
I have a couple years on you, & had a bike since I was 16. I guarantee if you are over 160 lbs, An 883 Sporster is not for you.
I Can't tell you how many people that wanted to start, or return to riding, Bought a Sporster, & Traded up to a Road King, Fat Boy,etc.-- It will initially cost more, but well worth it.
 
I agree with those who say you will be quickly disappointed in a Sportster.

The UP side is if after a bit you deside that riding a motorcycle is not for you, you will have a bike that shouldn't be too hard to re-sell without taking it in the shorts.

The DOWN side is if after a bit you deside that riding a motorcyle is for you, you will be ready to upgrade to something else before the first riding season is over.

I have owned a number of bikes and I love my current Electra Glide Ultra Classic, but don't let the Harley crowd tell you there aren't some good metric bikes on the market as well. The Suzuki C50 and Kawasaki Vulcan 900 are a couple of great "first bikes" for the money that'll get you through several riding seasons before you'll want or need to upgrade.

Also, in this tough economy, it's a buyers market.
 
CAJUNLAWYER said:
If I get it-do any of you have any thoughts on getting it past the wife when she gets home Tuesday from Atlanta :D
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Sure-
Tell her a client left it to you as settlement for the bill when the Governor didn't come through for him. :eek:
:D


jus' kiddin' Caj. I'd want you for MY lawyer. ;)
 
Don't get a Snortster for a first Harley. If you are a new rider, buy a Honda Shadow and ride it for a year, then get a full size Harley. A Sportster will beat you to death.
 
Don't know anything about motorcycle..

Please send me your personal information via PM so I can take out an insurance policy. I am thinking personal injury.. Not from the bike but from the wife. After the Lab puppy this may be a bit much! :)
 
Not a bad price BUT Sportsters are the reason that people think that Harleys vibrate. AND they are small bikes.
I bought a Sporty because I really liked the styling - The bike just looked GREAT :) I used to ride 20 miles to work. When I got there my hands, feet and butt were numb for like an hour - Same deal when I got home. I had mine for almost 2 whole weeks before I went back to a Big Twin.
OTOH - I don't believe that I lost any money on the trade.....
 
Good God Caj; Just think how many S&W's $5600 would buy.But I'm an older bike rider. Started in 1947 with an Indian Scout. Last one was a 1982 Honda 750K.gave it to my son ilaw in 1989. But I forgot. I've got a 1977 Honda Trail 90 in my shop.Good hunting rig.
 
Ask yourself this question. Do you want to learn to ride a motorcycle or do you want to putt around on something that looks good and will draw attention to you? A Harley is a fine bike for a beginning rider because its performance is so limited it will never demand any real skill from you. And they do look good. But you will never become much of a rider on a Harley. The few Harley riders that can really ride a motorcycle started out on something else, usually in some kind of racing, and ended up on Harleys when they wanted to slow down.

If you really want to ride, get something else. I can suggest half a dozen bikes in the price range of a Sportster that are better motorcycles in every respect, and will do everything a Sportster can do plus much, much more.

Whatever you do, get rider training, the MSF course or its equivalent.
 
I'll bet the reason that Sportys for sale is because he wants a bigger bike. (or he got the snot scared out of him) Harley had a special a couple of years ago where if you bought a Sportster and traded it in within a year for a bigger twin they'd give you all your money back on the trade in. There's a bunch of them setting around in the back room of dealerships.

Go ahead and get it and go play. There'll be something bigger in the future. And if the wife gives you any lip, just put your foot down. Your the man of the house, don't take any li........ Sorry got to go wife's calling me.
 
Marshwheeling said:
Ask yourself this question. Do you want to learn to ride a motorcycle or do you want to putt around on something that looks good and will draw attention to you? A Harley is a fine bike for a beginning rider because its performance is so limited it will never demand any real skill from you. And they do look good. But you will never become much of a rider on a Harley. The few Harley riders that can really ride a motorcycle started out on something else, usually in some kind of racing, and ended up on Harleys when they wanted to slow down.

Whatever you do, get rider training, the MSF course or its equivalent.
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You paint with a broad brush and I could not agree less, except for the part about the MSF course.
 
Just my two cents, based on riding experience for over 40 years, as well as a MSF basic and experienced rider course instructor. The Sportster is a good entry level motorcycle as well as for some a total package motorcycle. Any more it is kinda the Harley answer to a sport bike, they are fast and light and it has been my experience that the brakes work well, sometimes too well, (front brake grab). Others that have said you will soon want to step up to a bigger bike for some reason are correct. I can remember a time some years back when we didn't think anything of rolling around on the largest production bike (outside of Harley), being a Honda 750, and took them cross country. Now we have to have an engine twice that size to consider it a road bike. Basicaly, if the bike fits you and you are comfortable, and it fits what you want to ride it for, it will work for you. I always suggest taking at least the basic rider course tho.
 
I think you should buy the Sporty and ride it to Atlanta and pick your wife up. When ya'll get home you will know if you want to keep it or get a Big Twin. Offer 5K and get going as you don't have much time.
 
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