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Buy used and cheap. Doesn't really matter what bike. Get through the 2016 season. You'll know a lot more about your likes and dislikes 10k miles from now.
I am 5'10 and have owned 2 Sportsters and 2 Dynas. Take the advice of the forum and start with any of the Dyna bikes with forward controls. The size and weight difference is minimal between the Sportys and Dynas but the Dyna is an all around better bike hands down. If you do any riding at all outside of short trips around town you will be so much happier on the Dyna.
None of the above. I have said many times on this forum - a Harley Davidson is a terrible 1st bike to have (not talking about Streets here - too small for the guy). There's nothing about them that lends to the new rider experience. Especially someone your height. The Sportster is NOT a light bike. It's only light as compared to other Harley models. That coupled with a tight rider's compartment makes it a poor choice for you. The Dyna is heavier still, and while you have more room, my opinion is that forward controls are a bad idea for inexperienced riders.
You want to know what the best bike for you is? It's a used Suzuki DR650 (or something like that). Cheap, light (relatively speaking), easy to ride, and fun. It will fit your frame better than most Harleys and WHEN you drop it, you'll be able to pick it up. And the damage won't cost you a paycheck to fix.
My guess is you're a pretty young guy. You want something cool to ride around on. I get that. But that will come with time. It has always been my opinion that one has to earn the responsibility to ride a Harley with years of experience. Many here will differ. I will only tell you that in damn near 50 years of being on motorized 2 wheel contraptions, I have seen many people make the wrong choice and pay the consequences. And let me say that I have had as many people come up and ask me about my DR650 as any of my Harleys. You don't see too many of them riding around on the streets and people find them intriguing.
My kid is about your size, and so was I once upon a time. Don't let the eat more food comments get you. Most people don't understand a metabolism like yours. You probably put it away pretty good and gain no weight. You'll be thankful for that later in life, let me tell you. I'm 54 and look pretty good at 6-4 and 205. It's a lot easier for me to keep weight off than most people I know.
My kid is about your size, and so was I once upon a time. Don't let the eat more food comments get you. Most people don't understand a metabolism like yours. You probably put it away pretty good and gain no weight. You'll be thankful for that later in life, let me tell you. I'm 54 and look pretty good at 6-4 and 205. It's a lot easier for me to keep weight off than most people I know.
Among your other comments, which I felt were right on the mark, this is probably the part I agree with the most.
As a 6' 3" buck-seventy-five guy, it's ridiculously hard to gain weight for some of us. I guess we've been blessed...
Personally, I didn't have any issue starting off with a Dyna for my first street bike. Forward controls are a must; felt like my knees were in my chin with the stock mid controls. I started off riding dirt bikes for a lot of years before getting on the road though.
My first bike was a Dyna, great bike but learned after that first year that I was more suited for a Touring model...traded it in, got a touring and could not have been happier with the switch - as others said, demo, demo, demo & get what you like....
Among your other comments, which I felt were right on the mark, this is probably the part I agree with the most.
As a 6' 3" buck-seventy-five guy, it's ridiculously hard to gain weight for some of us. I guess we've been blessed...
Personally, I didn't have any issue starting off with a Dyna for my first street bike. Forward controls are a must; felt like my knees were in my chin with the stock mid controls. I started off riding dirt bikes for a lot of years before getting on the road though.
Yep. I did the whole weight gainer thing with no love. It comes when it comes.
And imo, you started exactly the way one should - off road. You learn handling dynamics and traction loss at much lower speeds with no cars trying to kill you. Once you've done that, the sky is the limit.
my opinion is that forward controls are a bad idea for inexperienced riders.
This is an important point that tends not to get a lot of air time in this (recurring) debate. I think most riding instructors will tell you the feet-down riding posture of mid controls affords better control of the bike. I am 6 feet tall (198 lbs) and went into my first purchase thinking I would want forwards...one test ride disabused me of that notion.
I ended up with a Dyna Superglide (mids)...I love it, but it is a big, heavy bike by almost any standard (though it does carry its weight low).
I doubt you will be happy on a sportster...I couldn't find one that fit me, and I'm not as tall as you.
Thanks everyone for all the advice. I really appreciate it. I'm going go look into some dynas aswell and once I complete my safety course I'm going to go to a dealership and get a feel for which bike is most comfortable. I actually went to the Harley museum in Milwaukee a few months ago and sat on the few bikes that they allow you sit on at the end just to get a feel for what would be most comfortable. Edit- I live in California, I was just visiting Milwaukee.
Can someone help me out with which bike this is?
Another question I had was what's an ideal year to look at when searching for used bikes. For the most part I was looking at early models from 2000-2005 because of the relatively lower price point. Although I've found a few bikes that I was interested in from around 1994-1999. When I buy a bike I intend to learn the ins and outs of putting it back together and learning proper maintenance so are there any major reasons to stay away from 24 year old bikes?
And how much bigger is any Dyna over a sportster ? Give me a break . You guys act like its a foot longer . And you can do just as much to a sportster as you can to any dyna to make it a comfortable ride.
And how much bigger is any Dyna over a sportster ? Give me a break . You guys act like its a foot longer . And you can do just as much to a sportster as you can to any dyna to make it a comfortable ride.
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