buy what you want but ride it with respect and ride it slow and easy dont ride with others if they are gonna push you to dire above your ability. I learned alot about motorcycles riding dirtbikes and i do think there is some merit to starting out with a used smaller bike till you perfectthe fundamentals and learn to ride defensively. A lighter bike is easy to turn and move out of the way of a steel sled for an inexperienced rider. Besides everyone is raging sportsters but they make great project bikes to keep and make an awesome bar hopper out of when you move up to a bigger bike. just my opinion. but what is a fact is take a riders safety course before riding on the road!

 

A few different opinions, lol. I started on a sport bike & later got a fully dressed Yamaha. I never dropped any bike, everyone is diff. I now own a Softtail & it fits my body & is a good style for my riding situations. I ride a lot of city & like taking long highway rides. Tough position your in, lots of choices when your not sure. Take your time & ask lots of questions.

 

Buy what you want and take it slow and easy. You can drop a sporty just as easy as you can a softail or dyna etc. Although you can get an older sporty for very cheap. The first bike I owned was a rigid EVO that I built with a high amount of trail and was a bitch to handle at slow speeds. But I just took my time and rode by myself for a while. Oh and I took a good course first and did have off road experience.

 

Have to agre with some here get what you want and go slow take the safety course if you haven't and ride sideroads and parking lots till you get the hang of it and feel comforable. Relax and you should do ok

 

Don't wait! Get the Harley first and get one big enough and to your liking. They are all easy to ride.

 

Lots of advice out there. Hope hogfinatic can sort all this out. I would like to add one thing. Don't let anyone talk you out of a sporty if that is the bike you like or wanna start on. They have a 1200 cc motor which is pretty big and were originally designed to be a racing bike. They are not something to look down on like some do. What ever you get, take your time and be safe

 

If you have ridden bikes before I say buy what you like and want to ride for a while. I wouldnt waist time and money buying something small and changing out in a year. Softails ride easy. well balanced. My first bike is the sled I have right now. I raced moto for alot of years and had sport bikes and had never ridden a Harley before. I bought what I liked. My Deluxe rides easy.

Stone

 

If you go with a new Sporty and you become fairly proficient quickly, then you will regret it and trade it fast. I know because I did it. I suggest that you do what I should have done but didn't: buy a used Vulcan or Yamaha V Star with floorboards and a 900+ cc engine and get a feel for a cruiser. Then trade it in after your first season (or sooner, if you have the means) on a Softy.

 

For myself I started on a 750 Honda and dropped it less than a block from the shop honestly I had no experience whatsoever had to figure it out as I got home. Two years later got a 1600 kawasaki and two years later wanted bigger and got a 2300 triumph then a year after wanted smaller and got the deluxe

 

I agree within reason. Stay away from a full dresser if you've never ridden before, but don't wast cash on something you don't want. If you do want a "learning bike" buy the cheapest thing you can find. A $2000 bike wont go down much in value in a year. But like the others have said, take the course! Also, be sure to start slow. Spend lots of practice time in parking lots or whatever and get VERY comfortable with your bike. Would be a great idea to rent one to make sure you get something that fits you. As far as what bike to get? Well that all depends on what you like, and what ridding you want to do. You'll have to figure that one out on your own. I know I made about 20 visits to the dealer before I finally pulled the trigger...