bob, super or Sport
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From:
bob, super or Sport
Well hi everyone. Been lurking for quite some time. I will be a first time bike purchaser hopefully by the end of August. Have my seat reserved in the safety course and with the exception of a run around a parking lot many many years ago, have never riden a street bike only dirt.
I'm just trying to get a feel for opinions as to what others would do with their first bike purchases if my situation would apply to them and in today's pick of bikes out there.
I'm of the type to get what I want up front, worry later. I don't want to buy something only to be looking to sell it in a year or less after I feel comfortable.
The three bikes I have narrowed down to are above. Of which these issues concern me.
1200C sportster - will likely outgrow in a year after purchase.
SuperGlide, no issues at all 'cept maybe I don't think I would like the mid's. 6' 150 lbs. Seems like a very clean, nice bike other than that.
Bob, now this is actually the one I'm very interested in with the exception of mid controls and those Ape's. Do they take some getting used to in comparision to a lower set of bars? Seems like with your arms up higher it hampers your steering. I'm not complaining by the way just what my head thinks.
-- I'm sorry for rambling but I've been looking at dealers and talking prices, dreaming and saving for a long while. Call it my mid life crisis if you will. I'm still in the camp that being a new rider I have to buy a smaller bike but most of my friends that ride from dressers to crotch rockets say it's not as hard as you think even if the big is bigger. You get used to it very very fast . . . and "Practice in a parking lot" for a while first.
Regards . . . and I enjoy these forums and can't wait till I get home to read all the new posts.
I'm just trying to get a feel for opinions as to what others would do with their first bike purchases if my situation would apply to them and in today's pick of bikes out there.
I'm of the type to get what I want up front, worry later. I don't want to buy something only to be looking to sell it in a year or less after I feel comfortable.
The three bikes I have narrowed down to are above. Of which these issues concern me.
1200C sportster - will likely outgrow in a year after purchase.
SuperGlide, no issues at all 'cept maybe I don't think I would like the mid's. 6' 150 lbs. Seems like a very clean, nice bike other than that.
Bob, now this is actually the one I'm very interested in with the exception of mid controls and those Ape's. Do they take some getting used to in comparision to a lower set of bars? Seems like with your arms up higher it hampers your steering. I'm not complaining by the way just what my head thinks.
-- I'm sorry for rambling but I've been looking at dealers and talking prices, dreaming and saving for a long while. Call it my mid life crisis if you will. I'm still in the camp that being a new rider I have to buy a smaller bike but most of my friends that ride from dressers to crotch rockets say it's not as hard as you think even if the big is bigger. You get used to it very very fast . . . and "Practice in a parking lot" for a while first.
Regards . . . and I enjoy these forums and can't wait till I get home to read all the new posts.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,682
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX
RE: bob, super or Sport
I have a Bob and it's fine for handling. Got fwd controls for more room (6'2"). The bars are not high up for me, so it's little difference.
You do not need a smaller bike to start, but if you wanted to go that route you could find a non-HD dealer that has the upgrade for full-price deal. You could start on a Sporty, then trade it in within a year for the price you paid as the down on the bigger putts. When I came back from about a 15-yr layoff I got a big, powerfull ride. Was not hard to get used to it.
You do not need a smaller bike to start, but if you wanted to go that route you could find a non-HD dealer that has the upgrade for full-price deal. You could start on a Sporty, then trade it in within a year for the price you paid as the down on the bigger putts. When I came back from about a 15-yr layoff I got a big, powerfull ride. Was not hard to get used to it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 3
From: Texarkana, TX
RE: bob, super or Sport
Well,... I have an 06 Superglide and I love it. I am 6-02 and the mids can cramp you a lil on long distances but I really like the mids in town and through the twisties, so I just put on a set of hey pegs for around $65 and I added the H-D Tallboy seat and its all really comfy now. I recently took a 400 mile round trip ride with no complaints at all. I also like the Bob as well,... I think it all comes down to personal taste. They both will ride the same.
John
John
Banned
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 1
From:
RE: bob, super or Sport
I am 6' with a inseam of 30" and I ride a 06 dyna FXDI with mid controls, oh right, I weigh about 240 + or - a few, LOL anyway I installed the bobber bars, what I wanted was the white engine-tranny combo with the mag wheels, so i now have a superglide/bobber and I love it, the bars are just the right height for me, I can do 6 hours in the saddle with no problems..why Mag wheels, I do a large amount of highway rideing, hench I can plug the tubeless tires if need be. your doing the right thing, think it through and get the bike you really need and want..Happy rideing[sm=biker.gif]
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 1
From: FootBaLL FieLD
RE: bob, super or Sport
I was in the exact same boat as you just 4 months ago and know what you are going through. I'd definately get a Dyna over a Sportster. As many here will suggest, test-ride some first. I rode both in my trek all over SW Alabama bike shopping. I personally found the Dyna to be more stable all around than a Sportster ... and I knew if I bought a Sportster I'd be trading up in a year anyway. The 6-speed gearbox is worth the extra cash alone in my opinion.
Now, the choice between the BoB and the SG is strictly a personal preference decision. Choose the one that gives you the most of what YOU want in a bike ..... silver or black engine ..... mini-apes or not ..... tin color ..... etc. I chose the SG because I knew I was getting a chopper blue bike and the silver engine, black frame, and tins all blend really well together. Add a little chrome here .... a little black there ..... it all fits without over-powering other parts that in turn need to be replaced. I also just rolled my bars up on my bike to a somewhat "mini"-mini-ape look that fits me perfect. You will want highway pegs ... that I'm almost sure of.
Lastly, you might want to take a serious look at a Lowrider. I dont know your price range, but the LR would give you quite a great deal that you would be adding later .... and you did say that you'd rather "get while the gettin's good" as folks say around here. The Lowrider might just be the bike for you .... worth a look anyway eh?
Good luck to you ...
PsTaN
Now, the choice between the BoB and the SG is strictly a personal preference decision. Choose the one that gives you the most of what YOU want in a bike ..... silver or black engine ..... mini-apes or not ..... tin color ..... etc. I chose the SG because I knew I was getting a chopper blue bike and the silver engine, black frame, and tins all blend really well together. Add a little chrome here .... a little black there ..... it all fits without over-powering other parts that in turn need to be replaced. I also just rolled my bars up on my bike to a somewhat "mini"-mini-ape look that fits me perfect. You will want highway pegs ... that I'm almost sure of.
Lastly, you might want to take a serious look at a Lowrider. I dont know your price range, but the LR would give you quite a great deal that you would be adding later .... and you did say that you'd rather "get while the gettin's good" as folks say around here. The Lowrider might just be the bike for you .... worth a look anyway eh?
Good luck to you ...
PsTaN
Trending Topics
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,946
Likes: 32
From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: bob, super or Sport
Ask youself this....
Do you like silver powdercoated engines?[&:]
If the answer is yes, then get a Superglide, and use the difference in price to upgrade/customize as you want to to make it right for YOU. The Bob is just a Superglide with Wideglide Bars, a solo seat, and a black krinkle powdercoated engine/tranny instead of the silver engine/tranny, and different gas tank. The Superglide come with the lower bars and has the speedo on the handlebar clamp, where the Bob has a different gas tank with the speedo on top of the gas tank.......[&:]
It all depends on price to me......if you can get the Bob for less than 1K over the Superglide, it would be worth it if you really like the black motor...any more than that, and you're getting screwed in my opinion......[&:]
Forward controls are expensive for the '06 asnd newer bikes, unless you install yourself....as stated in an earlier post, you can buy the forward mounted pegs, where you can use them on the highway, and still use the mids around town...[&:]
That said, Superglides rule!
joe
Do you like silver powdercoated engines?[&:]
If the answer is yes, then get a Superglide, and use the difference in price to upgrade/customize as you want to to make it right for YOU. The Bob is just a Superglide with Wideglide Bars, a solo seat, and a black krinkle powdercoated engine/tranny instead of the silver engine/tranny, and different gas tank. The Superglide come with the lower bars and has the speedo on the handlebar clamp, where the Bob has a different gas tank with the speedo on top of the gas tank.......[&:]
It all depends on price to me......if you can get the Bob for less than 1K over the Superglide, it would be worth it if you really like the black motor...any more than that, and you're getting screwed in my opinion......[&:]
Forward controls are expensive for the '06 asnd newer bikes, unless you install yourself....as stated in an earlier post, you can buy the forward mounted pegs, where you can use them on the highway, and still use the mids around town...[&:]
That said, Superglides rule!
joe
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 2
From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: bob, super or Sport
The differances between one Dyna and the other are fairly small (except for the WG). Seats, bars, tank, gauges, colors, etc. Minor stuff. The important stuff is all the same - engine, trans, brakes, susp, etc.
If you like to do your own customization, pick the Superglide. It's the cheapest of them all, and makes a great blank canvas. If one of the other Dynas just happens to be perfect for you, and it gives you a woody just the way it is, buy that one.
As for the sporty, that's a whole 'nother animal. The sportster is the hot ord of the Harley world. Smaller, lighter, faster, quicker than anything else H-D makes. Cheaper, too. Out of the box, it will severly thrash any other machine except (maybe) the V-Rod. Mod for mod, it will outperform anything else. But it's smaller. Best for around town, day trips, and touring for one. If I could afford two bikes one would be a sporty, no question.
What are you going to use the bike for?
If you like to do your own customization, pick the Superglide. It's the cheapest of them all, and makes a great blank canvas. If one of the other Dynas just happens to be perfect for you, and it gives you a woody just the way it is, buy that one.
As for the sporty, that's a whole 'nother animal. The sportster is the hot ord of the Harley world. Smaller, lighter, faster, quicker than anything else H-D makes. Cheaper, too. Out of the box, it will severly thrash any other machine except (maybe) the V-Rod. Mod for mod, it will outperform anything else. But it's smaller. Best for around town, day trips, and touring for one. If I could afford two bikes one would be a sporty, no question.
What are you going to use the bike for?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,958
Likes: 1
From: West Tennessee
RE: bob, super or Sport
Here's what I did. I looked at bikes for five years but had never ridden one. Liked them all but didn't have a clue what I would get. Took the MSF course in January. I had spent a lot of time on ATV's so the control layout and general idea was there. I took to it quickly. I rented a custom Deuce for three days and just loved it. When I return it, I see the Black Denim Street Bob for the first time and instantly I knew it would be the one. I spend the next month riding Dad's `06 Fatboy and `02 Road King. Loving that Road King but wanting something sportier. Don't like the "B" motor of the Softails. Not long after I had the cash to put down and came home with a Street Bob. I like it more and more every time I ride it and can't leave the damn thing alone for five minutes. The mini-apes are really comfortable and didn't take any time at all to get used to. I did make the right decision.
I just couldn't see spending a couple years on a cheap bike just to learn. The MSF course and a few days on a rental made me quite comfortable. I think your first bike should be exactly what you want. Even that big 750lb Road King is pretty easy to handle. As long as you don't drop it.
Oh yeah and the forward controls are the best thing since sliced bread!
I just couldn't see spending a couple years on a cheap bike just to learn. The MSF course and a few days on a rental made me quite comfortable. I think your first bike should be exactly what you want. Even that big 750lb Road King is pretty easy to handle. As long as you don't drop it.
Oh yeah and the forward controls are the best thing since sliced bread!