Hi All,

I'm new to riding, I've taking 2 private lessons at a MSS/MSF school and am registered for their course. The first lesson I rode a yamaha & honda second one I rode a street 500 and enjoyed the comfort of the 500 more and did better on it.

I'm 5'8 185 in good shape.

I'm looking 3 bike options:

Get a used sportster. My max spending is 3-4k. I was looking at 1988 883 thought it would be cool to have one from the year I was born. But was also thinking of buying any used one. I know 2004- have the rubber mounts and are more advised.

Was also looking at financing a new Iron or a Fat Bob. I like the way both of them look. I do like driving my car fast, but I'm not looking for bike to go fast in. My main thing are safety, comfort and maneuverability since I live in a city.

Thank you,

Roger

 

Brooklyn? Where do you plan to park it?
You need more riding experience before getting a new bike.

 

Good luck riding. I'd do the used Sportster. Maybe you will, maybe not drop it as a new rider. But it will hurt less if it is a $4k bike

 

Only advice I'll pass on is almost everybody who starts on a small bike like a sporty within 6 months wishes they had bought bigger. Avoid a bagger for a starter and test ride before you buy, choice is yours don't rely on others to tell you what's right for you you'll get as many different opinions as there are bikes on the road.

 

Buy a $500 beater, and ride it everywhere, in every kind of weather. Learn to deal with traffic and road hazards and pedestrians and random chickens on a bike you can afford to destroy.

Once you have 20k-ish miles on that thing, find a bike that fits you. Ignore style at first. Just demo and test ride every bike you can (including non-Harleys) until you know exactly which bike to buy.

You'll know you're ready when you don't feel a need to ask anyone else's opinion.

Until then, go cheap.

GM

 

Those 500 and 700 were made for more urban / city riding and the 500 starts for around $5000 new so I'm sure you could get a used one more than likely with low miles in your price range. Personally I started off on a Honda CBR 250

 

Sound advice.

My Son is in the market for a bike and he'll be getting a <$2000 metric cruiser.
Then after a year or two he plans on moving up to a Harley.

 

My vote would be for a used Softail. Lower center of gravity so it's more forgiving and it's big enough to last you for a while.

 

I would buy used for a first bike. Do you have a secure place to park a motorcycle in Brooklyn?

 

Starting off on a bigger bike as a beginner is like buying a 44 magnum as a starter pistol. A good instructor will tell you it is not about power but control. Why doesn't Harley use Dynas and baggers in their riders edge motorcycle classes? The reason it is good to start on something small is because it gives you a chance to gain the confidence and skills necessary to operate a motorcycle in real world traffic. No amount of practice will prepare you for the real thing. The best motorcycle is the one you are least intimidated by at least that's what my riders edge instructor told us. Good luck and be safe