Harley Davidson Sportster (vanity)

5/12/09 | Brwnsuga

[al_c]

Here's a review from motorcycle.com

[JaguarXKE]

I’ve been thinking of getting a bike again after a 30 year hiatus. I’ve been torn between a Sportster and the Triumph America (the new 09’s are fuel injected).

[Eagle Eye]

The 883 would be a good starter bike that you could keep for a long long time.

[Zeddicus]

Thank you for the advice. 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 on ya for making the wise decision to protect your noggin.

I know the lure of new bikes is strong. But do yourself a favor and at least give a look to some late-model used bikes. Chances are you'll find a bunch that are just as pretty as a new one, might have some farkles added by the previous owner that you'd really like to have on a bike (vs. a bone-stock new one), and will save you some money.

[RedStateRocker]

I'll echo the folks here who say take a safety course from the MSF.
If you’re smart you'll do it before you go bike shopping; doing a little bit of riding first will make it much more fun to check out bikes, and those first few rides are the most dangerous, particularly for the bike. The odds are VERY good you will drop your bike at first, the MSF classes teach you on little old cheap bikes where that is no big deal (still not advised to drop a Honda 250 on your foot, but compared to a sporty...). Learning to ride (and completing the driving portion of the DMV test) is much more fun on a little dinkey beater.

If you are going used, the 2004’s and newer have much better engine mounts (less vibration) and the 2007’s and newer have fuel injection.

2004 Sportster 1200XL, smoky gold

[brwnsuga]

Thanks.

[SampleMan]

HD Sportster is Harley’s girl bike, so it should fit the bill. ;-)

[brwnsuga]

I have been planning my outfits.

[absolootezer0]

shadow is a very economical bike, i love mine to death.

[krogers58]

Get a nice dirt bike and learn to ride off-road, it will save your life once you start playing dodge a car on the road. A 250 level bike would be about perfect....nice and light, you’ll learn to ride in a non-threatening situation, assuming you don’t go out and get on some expert trails. You’ll have a blast learning, and if you buy your dirt bike right(cheap) you’ll be able to get all your money back, when you switch to a road bike. Good luck and wear a helmet at all times, no matter how “uncool” it seems to some bikers.....

[blackie]

The 883 Sportster will work fine for a beginner. I’ve owned three Harleys over the years, one of which was 1990 1200cc Sportster. I was a good bike, I rode it for ten years and sold it to a Sheriff in Nevada, he’s still riding it.

After I sold it I got the bug to ride again and deciding I wasn’t too old to continue to ride. in late 2000 I purchased an ‘01 Suzuki SV650, it’s the most fun street bike I’ve ever ridden. I’m still riding it, it’s my 22nd motorcycle, I’m 78 years old and still riding. I purchased my first bike (a Harley 45) when I was 19. ;)

Take the plunge, buy one, take the rider safety course and you’ll wonder why you waited so long to buy one. ;)

[Billg64]

triumph hands down

[bmwcyle]

Why not fly?

[Melas]

I’m a true Sportster aficionado. I’m on my 3rd Sporty, and having owned 2 big twins, I’ll never own anything but a Sportster.

That said, it’s not a good choice for a beginner. I really like to see beginners on small 250cc-450cc bikes for a at least a year. Earn your stripes then move up to a full-sized bike.

[brwnsuga]

I’m 78 years old and still riding.

I just looked at your homepage, I wanna be just like you when I grow up. I looked at a 1200cc but I thought it was a little ambitious for me.

[absolootezer0]

out of curiousity, why a harley?
if you just want the cruiser look, there are a number of other bikes that are very comparable- they look very similar, handle the same or better, and cost a lot less.. leaving you extra money for gear, accessories, etc.

[Landru]

>ping<

Solid help's on the way. {i hope}

[Ghengis]

In that article, they show some 'Anarchist' art. One photo has paintings of Ronald Reagan with a black bar across his eyes with "DESTROY" written on the black bar.

Ironic taht tehy are showing new models of Harleys at this art show. Ronald Reagan helped save Harley-Davidson.

[brwnsuga]

It’s a great American brand. My good friends own a Harley and another bike called a Hibusa (or something) The Harley is a beautiful custom bike. Maybe its peer pressure because Harleys are so, so cool.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

I know only a very little about bikes, but what I have seen is that Sportsters depreciate massively in market value, as they are far less desirable than the longer wheelbase ones. I’ve seen say 10-year old Sportsters selling for 1/3rd of what the equivalent-age longer ones sell for. So a used one might be a much smarter buy.