Big difference?
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
I can't match Danktat's tats, but am similar height and have two big twins. Have always admired Sportsters, since iron heads, but they always seem too small whenever I sit on one or ride one.
Harley are currently promoting new 2009 model Sportsters by saying if you trade up to a big twin within a year they will give you your money back. Says it all!
Go with a big twin.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Maine
I have a 97 sportser 1200 custom and a month ago bought an 04 superglide. I love them both for different reasons. The sporty is small and easy to toss around and ride hard, overall fun bike. The down side is: vibration, not gr8 2 up and very stiff clutch. The Dyna is just plain smoothe!!! A little bigger for added comfort and 2 up riding. Horsepower is equal bit the dyna has much more torque, that I like!! I was gonna sell my sporty after getting the dyna but dam I dont want to now. I still have a soft spot for the sportster.
I ended up buying a used Wide Glide with a dealer assist on financing from a private owner. It is an '03 with less than 3000mi on it and a few mods already done. It cost me less than several of the sportster models would have cost me if I were to have gone to a dealer to get it new. ALOT of people are hurting for money right now for money. Look around and I am sure you can get a great deal on just about whatever model you want to do the footwork on 
Happy hunting.
Happy hunting.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Buffalo, NY
It's kind of like buying a house. You always end up spending more than you plan to but you find a way to make the payments and you end up with what you really want.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Thats the thing im going used but it seems that people here in NC feel they are worth what KBB retail value, looks like im going to have to drive and get a good deal
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 3
From: Vancouver, BC
I'm 6'0" and rode an evo sporty for several years. I liked it a lot but always felt a bit too big for it. I ended up spending an awful lot of money getting it set up so it was comfortable (and cool)....in the end I realized I was building a dyna - LOL -
Anyway - you aren't too big for a sporty if thats what you like but you'll need forwards, a seat that moves you down and back a bit (I had a barebones) and a set of drags on 6" or taller straight risers. The riding position is pretty comfortable (I rode lots of trips on it of 400 miles a day) but since you asked; my advice would be to go straight to the dyna. You're gonna end up getting one anyway so why spend all the time and money getting the sporty to work for you when you could just buy the dyna and get it over with?
My compaison of the two is this: Dyna is a smoother riding bike that turns lower revs and vibrates much less at hiway speeds (this may have changed with teh newer rubber mounted sporties but I have no experience with those). The Dyna is also much more stable feeling and I find it easier to ride - much less fatiguing for longer trips. The sporty has a higher centre of gravity and feels a bit "tippy" compared to the dyna. Both are quite nimble and easy to maneuvre but the dyna is bigger and can carry more of a load (passenger, luggage etc). Also there are way more aftermarket stuff for the dyna so its easier to customize it to how you like it.
Anyway - you aren't too big for a sporty if thats what you like but you'll need forwards, a seat that moves you down and back a bit (I had a barebones) and a set of drags on 6" or taller straight risers. The riding position is pretty comfortable (I rode lots of trips on it of 400 miles a day) but since you asked; my advice would be to go straight to the dyna. You're gonna end up getting one anyway so why spend all the time and money getting the sporty to work for you when you could just buy the dyna and get it over with?
My compaison of the two is this: Dyna is a smoother riding bike that turns lower revs and vibrates much less at hiway speeds (this may have changed with teh newer rubber mounted sporties but I have no experience with those). The Dyna is also much more stable feeling and I find it easier to ride - much less fatiguing for longer trips. The sporty has a higher centre of gravity and feels a bit "tippy" compared to the dyna. Both are quite nimble and easy to maneuvre but the dyna is bigger and can carry more of a load (passenger, luggage etc). Also there are way more aftermarket stuff for the dyna so its easier to customize it to how you like it.