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I was also debating between getting a Dyna or a sportster. I liked the styling of a dyna, but also liked the speed and efficiency of the sportster. What eventually sold me on the sportster was seeing that sportsters could be customized to look like Dynas. So going with the sportster seemed to give me the best of both worlds.
Get one ride it the way it is and the rest will fall into place for you. Once you start riding it, your priority list will not be exactly like anyone elses.
To get my XL 1200 R to what I thought it should be for long distance fast riding I changed the following: front fork springs to Progressive, rear shocks to Progressive, Mustang solo seat, fuel tank to 4.5 gal, handlebar to a Dyna pull-back, engine protection bar to a Lindby, relocated the front turn signals, rear turn signal brake-light kit, front & rear brake discs to full floaters, open exhaust and SE A/C with rejetting.................... I should have purchased a Dyna to begin with! ....................... (but I do really like my Sporster) .... BC
i ride an 06 1200c. i am a cheap old bastard so i got to stage 1 for $300.00. the bike has always been fun, but it did not sound like a harley should imo. i used cycle shack baloney cut slip ons, (great but a little loud), a used Kuryakyn a/c , and had the rejet done by a local indy for $60.00 or so. the seat has to be the next change. now that the bike is more fun, i want to ride longer, as is i can go the first 100 miles ok. after that , i get monkey butt every forty or so. stock seat is crap. other than that, i have no complaints about riding a sportster vs any other harley.
To get my XL 1200 R to what I thought it should be for long distance fast riding I changed the following: front fork springs to Progressive, rear shocks to Progressive, Mustang solo seat, fuel tank to 4.5 gal, handlebar to a Dyna pull-back, engine protection bar to a Lindby, relocated the front turn signals, rear turn signal brake-light kit, front & rear brake discs to full floaters, open exhaust and SE A/C with rejetting.................... I should have purchased a Dyna to begin with! ....................... (but I do really like my Sporster) .... BC
Love to see a picture Big Cholla. I am thinking of adding a 4.5 tank and Lidby bar to my Roadster.
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Good morning everyone,
Unfortunately, my finances are not going to allow me buying either a roadking or softail so I'm going to start with a sportster xl1200c.
Any opinions as to pipes and seats and accesories, etc. ? Let me know. thanks.
Mike
First thing you need to do is Stage 1 the bike. IT is a night and day difference. I put on a Screaming Eagle air cleaner, Dynojet and Python slip-on mufflers. It made all the difference.
Next, you need a sissy bar and luggage rack to haul some stuff around with you. SAddle bags, if that is your taste as well.
Windshield is good too if you're out on the highway for too long.
And the suggestion to change to Progressive suspension is a good too. I plan on upgrading my suspension as well. I would have done it sooner, but my trips are not tooooo long, so I have held out a bit.
Get one ride it the way it is and the rest will fall into place for you. Once you start riding it, your priority list will not be exactly like anyone elses.
my sentiments exactally. the sportsters have the 4.5 gallon tanks now so you should be good to go with the factory one. pipes all depend on how much you are wanting to spend and how loud you are wanting. im running vance and hines pipes with big city thunder baffles on my softail and really love the sound. the thunder baffles are offered for a different range of pipes so if your not happy with your current pipes, you could change the baffles which is cheaper than buying another set of pipes.
seats depend on if you plan on riding two up with you gf or wife or riding solo. mustang and corbin seem to be really popular brands. i havent tried a seat with the gel insert so i cant comment on them. another choice is there is a guy on the forum here in nc who will modify your current seat. cant remember his name right off but he has a thread somewhere on the forum. not asking a bad price either.
the stage 1 upgrade should be on your priority list of things to be done. although im not all that crazy about the se filters however you could always change it to a k&n. if you do plan on changing the pipes, it may pay off to change them first then have the stage 1 done or do them at the same time as hd can remap the FI to your new pipes.
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