Need Immediate Decision Help! 883 or 1200 or..?
 

Hello All,

Well, its been a long time coming. I finally got my mc license and I am ready to buy an HD. I have been on short rides off and on since my twenties (almost 50yrs old now). I have rode Royal Enfields in India and other bike in Indonesia and in the USA over the years and I have taken motorcycle safety course here in LA.

BUT, I consider my self a beginner rider. I am trying to decide which HD to get as my car lease is up in two weeks.
I have heard:. I have never owned a bike and still feel unsure on a bike. I am not an experienced rider!

1. Most everyone lays their bike down within 6 months of being a new rider.
2. If you get an sportster 883 you will for sure want to upgrade to 1200 within a year.
3. Don't get a new motorcycle when its your first bike.

So I don't know whether I should get an old Honda Shadow or something like that to practice on for 6 months?
But I also don't want even want to lay down a used sportster 883. I really don't want anything other than a Harley but I am afraid of banging the hell out of an an expensive bike even a used one is expensive.
I could really use some experienced riders suggestions..
Much Thanks in Advance
Gregg

Get what you want. If you have past riding experience, it won't take you that long to get back into the swing of things. Just remember the basic rules. Watch for debris in the road, when riding in traffic try to stay in peoples rear view mirrors as long as possible, don't forget to put the kickstand down when getting off.

So, if you want a Harley, buy a Harley. I agree that the 883 will be boring in less than a year. And the newer ones aren't as easily upgraded to 1200 cc as the older ones were. Try a couple different bikes out, and get what you want. I might also suggest a look at a Super Glide. Not a lot more cash, but a lot more bike than the Sporty.

I was without a bike for 30 years. My first bike back in the game? My 2011 Road King. Would not be as happy on anything less.

I bought my 08 1200C and haven't been on a bike since 1974. Never laid it down yet and have almost 18K miles on her. Get a twin cam if you can afford it. Street Bob or Super Glide like the last poster said.

:icon_that: I would also suggest getting a bike with an engine guard or putting one on the bike you get if it doesn't have one already. That way if you drop the bike it will help minimize the damage.

Just ride it and quit worrying yourself over something that MIGHT happen. If I did that I'd never get to ride and enjoy the freedom it offers.

How about a nice used 2004+ 1200cc Sporty? You can typically find them from around $3k to $5k. In the grand scheme of things, that's pretty cheap. If you find one around $3.5k (which isn't rare) you'll probably never take a depreciation hit on its resale. And if you do bang anything up, used parts are cheap & plentiful on eBay. Plus if you carry full coverage on the bike, no worries.

The reason I suggest a 2004 or newer 1200 is because that's the first year of the smoother rubber mounted motors. Which makes it a bike that you can put some miles on. As for the 1200cc, they're much quicker than the 883, and geared much lower than the 883. This makes it a decent freeway cruiser that you can run at 90mph all day ... I have. The 883's rpms are wound up pretty high at 80mph. They both get around the same gas mileage as well. The lower gearing seems to make up for the higher HP.

IMO, a 2004+ 1200cc Sportster give you the absolute most bang for the buck. It's an outstanding bike at those prices.

So unless at nearly 50 years old, you're 5'2" 110lbs and tremendously out of shape ... I'd go with the Sportster suggested, you won't regret it.

First thing you need to do is get rid of the idea that "Most everyone lays their bike down within 6 months of being a new rider". If you have that in your mind, the first time you run into any trouble you will lay it down as you've already decided that it's going to happen. My attitude is that, no matter what happens I'm not going to go down.

Get the 1200 sporty. As you yourself said, you will want to trade up from an 883 within a year anyway.

Get the 1200. Ride it carefully, don't do anything stupid and you will not "lay it down". That's a load of bunk that you heard about everyone crashing in their first 6 months.

If you ride like a retard, you'll crash and die. Just ride within your limits, all the time and you will be fine.

z out.

Deleted

Get a super glide you you will be sorry in 6 months if you don't