Bike Selection Advice
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69,901
Likes: 18,590
From: South Florida
This type of question (which is fine to ask) always brings 100 diff responses. Here is mine.
You can test ride the different bikes at a Harley dealership.
Figure out what you would like for the bike to do for you. Meaning, do you want to tool around the city streets all the time? Are you more prone to ride across the USA and do other long rides?
How much bike storage space (like saddlebags or trunk or both) are you anticipating?
After you figure out what you would like for the bike to do for you, how you want to use it, then test ride several bikes at your local Harley dealership.
I have been told when I started and I was told a lot, just because I am new or just came out of motorcycle training school, it does not mean you need to start off on a small bike and work your way up. That can be expensive. Just go to the bike that will fit your needs.
Lastly my friend, (and welcome to the forum by the way) do not let it be a money thing to slow you down from buying the bike you really want. You are not going to miss the money every time you sit on the bike. You are going to have the greatest joy ever as you know. So if you have to make payments for a while, not a big deal. Get what you going to really enjoy and live life.
BuzzCap7
You can test ride the different bikes at a Harley dealership.
Figure out what you would like for the bike to do for you. Meaning, do you want to tool around the city streets all the time? Are you more prone to ride across the USA and do other long rides?
How much bike storage space (like saddlebags or trunk or both) are you anticipating?
After you figure out what you would like for the bike to do for you, how you want to use it, then test ride several bikes at your local Harley dealership.
I have been told when I started and I was told a lot, just because I am new or just came out of motorcycle training school, it does not mean you need to start off on a small bike and work your way up. That can be expensive. Just go to the bike that will fit your needs.
Lastly my friend, (and welcome to the forum by the way) do not let it be a money thing to slow you down from buying the bike you really want. You are not going to miss the money every time you sit on the bike. You are going to have the greatest joy ever as you know. So if you have to make payments for a while, not a big deal. Get what you going to really enjoy and live life.
BuzzCap7
Welcome to the forum.
This perpetual question is really all about you.
Got gobs and gobs of money and wouldn't think twice about taking a match to a few tens of thousands of dollars? Got good health and life insurance?
If so, buy whatever you want.
If not, start old, small and cheap. In addition to the previously mentioned advantages, the truth is you don't have any idea if riding is for you. You won't until you have a bike and live with it for some time. You can end up with a $10k or $20k white elephant in your garage, or you can end up with a $2k white elephant in your garage. Your call.
This perpetual question is really all about you.
Got gobs and gobs of money and wouldn't think twice about taking a match to a few tens of thousands of dollars? Got good health and life insurance?
If so, buy whatever you want.
If not, start old, small and cheap. In addition to the previously mentioned advantages, the truth is you don't have any idea if riding is for you. You won't until you have a bike and live with it for some time. You can end up with a $10k or $20k white elephant in your garage, or you can end up with a $2k white elephant in your garage. Your call.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,351
Likes: 648
From: Vegas, baby!
I have been told when I started and I was told a lot, just because I am new or just came out of motorcycle training school, it does not mean you need to start off on a small bike and work your way up. That can be expensive. Get what you going to really enjoy and live life.
BuzzCap7
And the chances of that happening involve a lot of factors such as rider size, ability, location, etc.. The wrong choice, or just bad luck, can greatly affect someone's ability to "really enjoy and live life". Some of us ride for years, even multiple decades, so there is no reason to be concerned about getting the scooter we think we want, especially since having no experience prevents us from knowing what we would enjoy more, with which to gain experience.
If a new rider is a 'one and done', which a lot (most?) of new riders are because actually riding a motorcycle is nothing like riding in a 'class' setting, there will be no harm done from getting some experience before making such a, possibly life changing, decision. If a new rider decides to stick with it, they will have lost a little time.
Last edited by rjg883c; Jun 30, 2018 at 08:21 AM.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 20,823
Likes: 1,506
From: Nowhere
That is as far as I went. You are correct. The warning bell for me was they listed 2 Dynas as choices when the stated goal was a Softtail and nothing more as far as criteria goes.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,556
Likes: 1,846
From: Albuquerque, NM
OP: Not to disagree with Mr. Wolf here, but to illustrate the danger of getting opinions on a forum. I own both a Street Bob and a Superglide, and my experience is exactly the opposite. My Superglide wasn't comfortable for me until I set it up more like my Street Bob, especially the seat and handlebars. I put about 5,000 miles on the Superglide including a couple of 500 mile days, but I never got used to the handlebars, to the point of being uncomfortable, and I liked the Street Bob seat better also. I've done 800 mile days with no problem with the setup that I like.
The point here is NOT that he's wrong and I'm right, the point is that different things work for different people.
All of that being said, I still strongly agree with all the comments about getting a cheap bike first. I rode a metric myself for 25 years before switching to HD. I've known some people who bought a Harley for their first bike and it worked out fine, but they're exceptional. I've known LOTS more who regretted starting on a Harley for a variety of reasons. And still more who ended up not liking the reality of motorcycling regardless of what they started on. None of this is meant to discourage you, just hopefully save you some money. It's also easier to build those necessary skills on a smaller lighter bike first before getting a larger heavier one.
Good luck with whatever you decide and welcome to the forum.
The point here is NOT that he's wrong and I'm right, the point is that different things work for different people.
The super glide has a nice neutral seating triangle. Foot pegs are positioned to give you nice control. Handlebar position and setup also offer good leverage. The Street Bob is also a pretty easy bike to get used to and ride but it has less going for it in the comfort dept in just stock form. If you plan on doing longer distance rides or adding a passenger, something to consider. Neither stock seat is particularly comfortable but the Street Bob is more a bar hopper whereas I have taken the Super Glide to SD and Florida from Ohio without issue. IMO the Super Glide is more about the riding experience itself than it is about style, although I like the look of the bike..............
All of that being said, I still strongly agree with all the comments about getting a cheap bike first. I rode a metric myself for 25 years before switching to HD. I've known some people who bought a Harley for their first bike and it worked out fine, but they're exceptional. I've known LOTS more who regretted starting on a Harley for a variety of reasons. And still more who ended up not liking the reality of motorcycling regardless of what they started on. None of this is meant to discourage you, just hopefully save you some money. It's also easier to build those necessary skills on a smaller lighter bike first before getting a larger heavier one.
Good luck with whatever you decide and welcome to the forum.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,982
Likes: 6,110
From: Florida
'Fit were me, I would go for the SuperGlide Custom hands down a much better looking bike; in fact the best looking bike the Co. has ever made, and EVERYBODY has a Street Bob. Especially a denim black one.
