1st Harley recommendation
Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Montreal
1st Harley recommendation
Hi all!
Looking for my first Harley, coming from a Japanese street/sport background...
Am really liking the looks of the Dyna Soft tails without bags and fairing... Looking to ride country roads (canyon carving) and highways. Am 6' tall and 215 lbs.
I am looking at the used market and am slightly overwhelmed! I see a lot of Street Bob's, Fat Bob's, Wide glides and street glides in my area for sale. Trying to keep it around $10K for used and under $20K for new...
Any suggestions you can give me from your experience would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Looking for my first Harley, coming from a Japanese street/sport background...
Am really liking the looks of the Dyna Soft tails without bags and fairing... Looking to ride country roads (canyon carving) and highways. Am 6' tall and 215 lbs.
I am looking at the used market and am slightly overwhelmed! I see a lot of Street Bob's, Fat Bob's, Wide glides and street glides in my area for sale. Trying to keep it around $10K for used and under $20K for new...
Any suggestions you can give me from your experience would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,120
Likes: 1,906
From: Unreconstructed
Hi all!
Looking for my first Harley, coming from a Japanese street/sport background...
Am really liking the looks of the Dyna Soft tails without bags and fairing... Looking to ride country roads (canyon carving) and highways. Am 6' tall and 215 lbs.
I am looking at the used market and am slightly overwhelmed! I see a lot of Street Bob's, Fat Bob's, Wide glides and street glides in my area for sale. Trying to keep it around $10K for used and under $20K for new...
Any suggestions you can give me from your experience would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Looking for my first Harley, coming from a Japanese street/sport background...
Am really liking the looks of the Dyna Soft tails without bags and fairing... Looking to ride country roads (canyon carving) and highways. Am 6' tall and 215 lbs.
I am looking at the used market and am slightly overwhelmed! I see a lot of Street Bob's, Fat Bob's, Wide glides and street glides in my area for sale. Trying to keep it around $10K for used and under $20K for new...
Any suggestions you can give me from your experience would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Sportster. Not a big twin, (the good ones, IMHO) stopped production 2022 but are coming back next year.
Dyna. The best, IMHO, stopped production in 2017. RIP.
Softail. Completely new in 2017 onward.
You are in the Dyna specific section of this forum.
Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Montreal
A must read!
Start here Moto 101: Learning your Harley ABCs - RevZilla you can skip the beginning if you're not interested in history and go to the '90's section and beyond. You're not interested in a bagger, so your modern choices are:
Sportster. Not a big twin, (the good ones, IMHO) stopped production 2022 but are coming back next year.
Dyna. The best, IMHO, stopped production in 2017. RIP.
Softail. Completely new in 2017 onward.
You are in the Dyna specific section of this forum.
Sportster. Not a big twin, (the good ones, IMHO) stopped production 2022 but are coming back next year.
Dyna. The best, IMHO, stopped production in 2017. RIP.
Softail. Completely new in 2017 onward.
You are in the Dyna specific section of this forum.
Thanks for the article, a good primer into the world of Harley's! A must read... Learned a lot!
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 183
Likes: 88
From: Upstate NY
Any of those bikes you mentioned would be good. Go to a dealer and sit on some if they have good used selection.
Can't go wrong with a dyna. I'd say if it fits and feels comfy get a dyna street bob (note; dyna street bob was later replaced by the softail street bob) totally different bikes.
Can't go wrong with a dyna. I'd say if it fits and feels comfy get a dyna street bob (note; dyna street bob was later replaced by the softail street bob) totally different bikes.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,051
Likes: 19,180
From: The Wasteland
Dynas are pound for pound and dollar for dollar the best HDs produced. Slap on a set of bags, a touring seat, and a windshield and you're ready to tour the country. Strip them down and you have a great bobber/chopper style bike.
They are also decent in the corners just as they come from the factory but upgrade the shocks and forks and you have a great canyon carver.
They are also decent in the corners just as they come from the factory but upgrade the shocks and forks and you have a great canyon carver.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 893
Likes: 537
From: Central NY
I had a 2015 Softail slim that I absolutely wish I'd kept. It had a 103 motor, ran great, great looking bike, a lot of fun to ride. No storage, no fairing.
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My first Harley was a 2008 Fat Bob and it's been the best motorcycle I have ever owned . I do have fairing and bags on it and few other engine mods . The Dyna Line is one of the best Big Twin bikes to start with all I can say is sit on as many as you can to see what fits you the best and go from there .
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,528
Likes: 6,407
From: Honah Lee
Coming from smooth running Japanese, you better try the Dyna. It's just may drive you nuts especially stopped. And it only came in a TC.
At your price range , that's not going to touch a M8. There only partially balance as a Cruiser and fully balanced as a Softail.
Look at the Softail TCb engine line.
Keep in mind it's hard to find a non molested one and depending on year, parts are really rare.
Make sure its in good shape, low miles and runs perfect. Good luck.
At your price range , that's not going to touch a M8. There only partially balance as a Cruiser and fully balanced as a Softail.
Look at the Softail TCb engine line.
Keep in mind it's hard to find a non molested one and depending on year, parts are really rare.
Make sure its in good shape, low miles and runs perfect. Good luck.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 15, 2026 at 04:54 PM.