First bike
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 951
From: Redneck Riviera
You could purchase a Dyna model, but at your height you'd need to change the seat to accommodate you.
A seat like a LePera Daytona Daddy Long Legs will do the job.
Good luck in your search.
A seat like a LePera Daytona Daddy Long Legs will do the job.
Good luck in your search.
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 2
From: Zagreb
Josip,
I am 6 foot 6 inches (1.98m) and about 215 pounds (97.5kg) I have rode Sportsters longer than you've been alive. I also have a softail. BOTH required some minor changes for me to feel right, but both DO feel right after those adjustments. A Sportster is not a "small" bike! Lot's of Harley guys have that attitude towards them because they are not as large as other models, but it's not that long ago the biggest engine Harley made was 1200cc!!!! My Sportster and Softail parked side by side, show VERY little difference in overall vehicle size. Your choice, if between these two models, will have more to do with #1 price and #2 style.
#1 What can you afford? Understand that you will undoubtedly want to make some comfort and cosmetic changes once you buy it. Consider those costs in your budget.
#2 What do YOU want? Do you like chopper-like bikes? Cruisers? Touring-types? Do you expect to personalize/customize your bike or ride it with the standard equipment that comes on it? These are things you should consider before narrowing your decision. If you are hung up on getting a "BIG" bike, do not buy a Sportster you will never be satisfied with!
A Sportster is not merely a "small Harley" as some think of them. A Sportster is a motorcycle specifically designed for different purposes! Sure you can put windshields and saddle bags on them and dress them up to be baggers, but that's not what they're intended as. It was the original sportbike in 1957! It's a design that has lived on for 60 years. The motor is not as large, but the bike is overall lighter as well. IF you do not recognize and appreciate Sportsters for what they are - and what they are not - you will never be satisfied with it.
Many people start riding big bikes without any problems. My personal recommendation though, for someone with zero experience, would be to buy a cheap, used enduro or dual sport bike and ride it everywhere you can at least for a few months. They are great fun! They are also very forgiving of mistakes!!! Something a big heavy street bike definitely is not. This is especially true if you are going to be riding in the countryside a lot. Even more important if using unpaved roads. Learn how a motorcycle handles different situations on a light easy handling bike and you will be able to ride anything with confidence! Make a few bad mistakes with a big heavy bike you can't even lift off the ground and you will become overly cautious and never fully enjoy riding. Another option here in the states is most dealers offer to give you the purchase price when you trade-in a new Sportster or Street model on a big twin within a year of buying the smaller bike. If that is offered by your Croatian dealer, consider a Street 500 or 750 for a few months! They are smaller, lighter, nimble and more forgiving of mistakes, yet they have all the benefits of a Harley - dealer support / service, warrantee, etc. If the dealer offers that, you get your learning experience AND the big bike you really want without extra cost.
Don't worry so much about size and image. First concentrate on learning to ride well on whatever you choose and you will enjoy motorbiking for a lifetime!
Best wishes!
I am 6 foot 6 inches (1.98m) and about 215 pounds (97.5kg) I have rode Sportsters longer than you've been alive. I also have a softail. BOTH required some minor changes for me to feel right, but both DO feel right after those adjustments. A Sportster is not a "small" bike! Lot's of Harley guys have that attitude towards them because they are not as large as other models, but it's not that long ago the biggest engine Harley made was 1200cc!!!! My Sportster and Softail parked side by side, show VERY little difference in overall vehicle size. Your choice, if between these two models, will have more to do with #1 price and #2 style.
#1 What can you afford? Understand that you will undoubtedly want to make some comfort and cosmetic changes once you buy it. Consider those costs in your budget.
#2 What do YOU want? Do you like chopper-like bikes? Cruisers? Touring-types? Do you expect to personalize/customize your bike or ride it with the standard equipment that comes on it? These are things you should consider before narrowing your decision. If you are hung up on getting a "BIG" bike, do not buy a Sportster you will never be satisfied with!
A Sportster is not merely a "small Harley" as some think of them. A Sportster is a motorcycle specifically designed for different purposes! Sure you can put windshields and saddle bags on them and dress them up to be baggers, but that's not what they're intended as. It was the original sportbike in 1957! It's a design that has lived on for 60 years. The motor is not as large, but the bike is overall lighter as well. IF you do not recognize and appreciate Sportsters for what they are - and what they are not - you will never be satisfied with it.
Many people start riding big bikes without any problems. My personal recommendation though, for someone with zero experience, would be to buy a cheap, used enduro or dual sport bike and ride it everywhere you can at least for a few months. They are great fun! They are also very forgiving of mistakes!!! Something a big heavy street bike definitely is not. This is especially true if you are going to be riding in the countryside a lot. Even more important if using unpaved roads. Learn how a motorcycle handles different situations on a light easy handling bike and you will be able to ride anything with confidence! Make a few bad mistakes with a big heavy bike you can't even lift off the ground and you will become overly cautious and never fully enjoy riding. Another option here in the states is most dealers offer to give you the purchase price when you trade-in a new Sportster or Street model on a big twin within a year of buying the smaller bike. If that is offered by your Croatian dealer, consider a Street 500 or 750 for a few months! They are smaller, lighter, nimble and more forgiving of mistakes, yet they have all the benefits of a Harley - dealer support / service, warrantee, etc. If the dealer offers that, you get your learning experience AND the big bike you really want without extra cost.
Don't worry so much about size and image. First concentrate on learning to ride well on whatever you choose and you will enjoy motorbiking for a lifetime!
Best wishes!
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 2
From: Zagreb
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 981
From: Northern VA
Im a little shorter (511) and same weight. I rode my first motorcycle in a MSF course 2 years ago and after the class I picked up a 2011 Dyna Street Bob. I rode around the neighborhood and a local school for a few days before I ventured out onto the main roads. I then started riding it early (6:30-7:00 AM) when the roads werent crowded. I feel that was a great starter bike. You would need forward controls but many uses Street Bobs come with forward controls. Just take it slow until youre comfortable. I recently traded the Street Bob for a Street Glide which I love.
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 2
From: Zagreb
Im a little shorter (511) and same weight. I rode my first motorcycle in a MSF course 2 years ago and after the class I picked up a 2011 Dyna Street Bob. I rode around the neighborhood and a local school for a few days before I ventured out onto the main roads. I then started riding it early (6:30-7:00 AM) when the roads werent crowded. I feel that was a great starter bike. You would need forward controls but many uses Street Bobs come with forward controls. Just take it slow until youre comfortable. I recently traded the Street Bob for a Street Glide which I love.
thanks
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 157
Likes: 57
From: MD. USA
thank you for your advice. I was thinking on getting yamaha mt07 as I read that is the best beginner bike, but I just dont like those bikes. Im not hang up on a big bike, I just want/like chooper and the main thing that i would add would be the side bags to put my camera gear and just cruise around. I tried riding new iron 1200 and the feeling was great, and i suppose it is similar to street bob. And the price difference is not much. I understand what you said about safety and feeling secure ridinig a bike (Make a few bad mistakes with a big heavy bike you can't even lift off the ground and you will become overly cautious and never fully enjoy riding) so Ill think to go back to yamaha mt07 to get used to a riding a bike all together. I wouldnt like to get scared and never ride it again.
You can strap the bag to the seat or rear fender of the Yamaha just as easily, but you might want to use a smaller bag. My tripod or other bulky tools have been bungeed to this bag and sissy bar equally well. You can of course wear a backpack while riding. Many do. I find it very uncomfortable though and overly restrictive to operating the bike. You will have to experiment with what works best for you, but this has been my own experience. Here is a photo of me leaving the track after a very long (and HOT!) day of shooting motorcycle races two years ago. All my equipment is on my back, soon to be tied to my sissy bar!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,013
Likes: 7,137
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
Josip~
Start on small/lightweight, easy to learn on motorcycles. Then move up the scale of power/weight to your goal. There's got to be some form of motorcycle instruction in Croatia somewhere.
It doesn't matter how tall/big you are, learning to ride is the same for everyone that have the faculties to do so.
Say, while I'm talking about Croatia, do you notice a lot of Americans cruising their own boats/yachts to Croatia?
Start on small/lightweight, easy to learn on motorcycles. Then move up the scale of power/weight to your goal. There's got to be some form of motorcycle instruction in Croatia somewhere.
It doesn't matter how tall/big you are, learning to ride is the same for everyone that have the faculties to do so.
Say, while I'm talking about Croatia, do you notice a lot of Americans cruising their own boats/yachts to Croatia?
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 157
Likes: 57
From: MD. USA
Wow! I just noticed my wrinkled fingers in that photo.
That was a HOT day. About 98F with uninterrupted sun. I became dehydrated and had mild heat exhaustion symptoms, but those wrinkled fingers really tell the story. 
Sorry Josip. Did not mean to hijack your thread!
That was a HOT day. About 98F with uninterrupted sun. I became dehydrated and had mild heat exhaustion symptoms, but those wrinkled fingers really tell the story. Sorry Josip. Did not mean to hijack your thread!
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