Harley For Sale...

Before answering that ad in the paper, "Harley For Sale", there are things you may wish to consider. Putting down your hard earned money on that Harley for sale (or any other motorcycle) is a big step. There is nothing better than the feeling of ownership, especially if it's your first Harley. Unlike a car, owning a motorcycle is more personal and how close a rider feels to his/her bike stems from the riding experience itself. Therefore before you buy, whether used or new, it's good to think about what kind of Harley or other motorcycle you wish to own.

If you have already determined the type and style of Harley you are looking for and have made up your mind to buy "used", please check out the article on Title and VIN Numbers.

Sometimes knowing what kind of Harley you want is easier than scraping together the money actually buy it. If this sounds like you then skip forward to Buying a Harley.


Motorcycles come in many different styles and it is important to match the bike to your riding style and expectations. Harley Davidson is known more for their cruiser and custom style bikes than for sport bikes, even though the Sportster falls under the sport bike category to some degree. Your riding style is important since this will directly effect the riding experience for you. In other words, if taking long road trips is what you have in mind then buying a sport bike isn't the best choice. This may seem obvious but you'd be surprised how many people buy a bike that ends up sitting in the garage because it didn't fit their needs.


Others make the mistake of buying a motorcycle that is beyond their riding ability. Buying a motorcycle that is too big or advanced for you will either end up discouraging you from riding or worse, result in injury. Select a motorcycle that you can skillfully maneuver and manage. If you are a beginning rider you should pick a bike that is light handling and not over-powered for your skills. Only after those skills improve should you move up to a heavier or higher powered bike.
If you have decided that a Harley Davidson is your motorcycle of choice it is time to consider the various Harley models available. Here are a few styles when selecting either a new or used bike.

Touring
Sometimes referred to as "Baggers", touring bikes range from fully dressed travelers to cruisers ready for a road trip. If you are planning to take long trips this style of bike is for you. When picking out a touring bike weight is something to consider. Touring models are comfortable for long hours in the saddle but can weigh in around 800lbs fully loaded.

For a beginner this may be too much to handle. Harley touring bikes include the classically styled Road Kings and the fully equipped "Glides", such as the Road Glide and Ultra Glide. These bikes fall under Harley's FL designation with the exception of the Heritage and Fat Boy. See Harley model designations for an explanation of model numbers.

Cruisers
Harley Fat Boy, Heritage, and the earlier Nostalgia model would fall under this category. While not an official category of motorcycle with Harley Davidson, these bikes are similar to touring bikes due to their big FL style front ends though they are classed as Softails. While not as heavy as full touring bikes these bikes are still heavy and not for the beginning rider.

Softails
These bikes are unique to Harley Davidson and have the look of a rigid mount bike from the early days. Softails incorporate a hidden shock to provide rear suspension and are very popular as a daily rider or as the foundation of a Harley custom. These bikes are lighter in weight than their touring and cruiser brothers.

Dyna
Also known as a "rubber mount" the Dyna model has a dual shock rear suspension like the touring bikes but a lighter front end shared with both the Softails and Sportsters. Unlike these others the Dyna has a rubber mounted engine to reduce engine vi