Harley Davidson Sportster (vanity)

5/12/09 | Brwnsuga

[valkyry1]

Now that’s riding!

[BraveMan]

When I started riding in the early ‘70s a 450cc bike was considered a big bike. 650cc bikes were the monsters of the day. Sportsters were off the charts huge, snarling viscous animals. Mind you, I didn't own a 1000cc motorcycle until my fifth bike. I didn't own a Harley until my seventh bike. Having said that, I've known people whose first bikes were giant killers; they all survived & are riding to this day.

I'm giving you the same advice I'd given my daughter. Start small for the first year; it's just easier to learn & evaluate things on a smaller bike. They're simply less intimidating. If you find motorcycling is indeed for you, trade up the following year. If not, you're not out a ton of money when it comes time to get rid of it.

Post a picture of your new ride when you get it!

[uglybiker]

I will definitely protect my money maker (face) and It makes sense not to buy a new one BUT the new ones are so pretty.Good move on the 'lid'. I use Nolan flipface helmet, meyself.

Right now, there's lots of slightly used harley's on the market. And they're purdy, too. ;-)

[Melas]

Somewhere along the lines it happened. At one time the touring bikes were 74ci, now that’s a small bike

[Niteflyr]

Yeah someone should tell Evel K that he was jumping a girls bike all those times....I would pay to be there to see that! LOL!

[Salamander]

I reckon God’ll have to.
Evel passed away 2 years ago.

[Niteflyr]

I reckon God’ll have to. Evel passed away 2 years ago.

Ya know right after I posted that I wondered if he was still alive....I thought he was too tough to die....

[Melas]

I’ve checked the Nightster out. When I run the wheels off of this one, I think I’m going to go in that direction. It’s a beautiful bike.

[calex59]

I remember the K models. I can tell I am getting old when I read people calling sportsters "chick" bikes. What a crock. Back in the day the biggest bike, except for the Harley 74, was a 650, 500 being average. I rode Harleys, all of them 74 pan heads(bored out to 80) for years and if I had the money I would buy another one now. Sportsters were considered "the" bike to own when I was young, after the K model came the 883 and every MAN wanted one, at least the ones I knew. I consider a 900cc machine to be too big for a beginner to start out on.

Speaking of squirely handling bikes, I put a 61 cu inch knucklehead in an old Indian scout frame, for those of you who might know what that was, and it was one he** of a bike. Never dropped it, either on purpose or by accident. Can't say the same for a couple of my old 74s though. Most of my buddies rode 650 BSA or Triumphs, no one would have dared tell them they were riding "chick" bikes in a derogatory tone, I can tell you that!

[Just another Joe]

I think you’ll find the comfort factor a little low on the Sportster...particularly on longer trips.

If you want the comfort level to be higher just put on a mustang seat.

I ride one to and from work on any day that doesn't have rain.
I can ride in the rain but prefer not to.

Here's what I ride. It's an older ('98) 883.

[Niteflyr]

Most of my buddies rode 650 BSA or Triumphs, no one would have dared tell them they were riding "chick" bikes in a derogatory tone, I can tell you that!

Yeah we must be from the same era. :o)

I didn't find out about the "chick bike" thing until after I bought a new Sporty in 2001. Seemed to be a thing among other Harley riders and no one else. Why some would be derogatory to other riders is beyond me because as you say (and even today) 900cc is not a toy....and back then they were huge. Maybe it was something rival biker gangs used to intimidate each other. Now the wannabe's have picked up on the insult. It never bothered me but I did move up to a big twin as I wanted to do long distance with two up or I wouldn't have sold the Sporty.

[Sensei Ern]

“I will definitely protect my money maker (face)”

I doubt they were thinking your face when the construction guys tell you to “shake your money maker.” ;)

[harpu]

Sportsters have a high center of gravity and thus are somewhat tippy. My suggestion...buy someting with a lower CoG. Besides, Sportsters really don’t retain the resale value that a big twin does...if you’re buying Harley.

[harpu]

In fact there’s an old joke in the Harley world that goes like this; “what’s the difference between Sportster and STD? You have a better chance of getting rid of an STD easier than a Sportster.”

[StarfireIV]

If you’re going to do this thing. Take the safety course, get the bike delivered, putt around the neighborhood and/or find an empty parking lot. I went from the 250cc training bikes they used to a 1340 EVO Dyna Glide this way. Someone called the police once, they stopped me, I told them what I was doing. They said ok, “better to be training here than have us be called to scrape you off the road somewhere.”
That was 6 years and 55k miles ago. Get what you want. You will have fewer second thoughts then.

[brwnsuga]

Thank you.

[Mustng959]

I’ve got a 2006 Harley 883 Sportster and I love it! I’m 6’ tall and almost 200 pounds. My Sportster sits higher than the Custom models or “Low’s”. I don’t enjoy taking long trips but do enjoy around town and going to “Patriot Guard Riders” events in my area. I’ve been riding bikes for over 35 years and have had Hondas, Suzukis, Kawasakis and a 1200 Harley Sportster. But for what I do and enjoy, the 883 fits the bill. If I could change anything it would be to add a 6th gear for high speed cruising. It’s all up to one’s preferences for riding. I would not want to take my 883 on a 500 mile ride.