waiting to see what others say...
Good for a beginner?
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 45
Likes: 4
From: Plano, TX
Now, my personal opinion is a Softtail of any flavor is a solid, all Harley and only Harley in looks, and all around great scoot for riders of any level. Just sign up for a MSF course, go spend a day on their trainers before you try a larger heavier bike, but if you can ride a bicycle and pass the MSF course, you can ride a Softail. Just be patient when you get your own bike, there is no shame in tooling around the neighborhood avoiding big roads and speeds over 40 until you are comfortable.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,158
Likes: 68
From: Martinsburg, WV
Also, make sure you have enough money saved up or good enough insurance to take care of the bike and yourself when you lay it down.
Because anyone that thinks starting with a bike that's heavy, handles like crap, and has terrible breaks is just as daft as the people that think a 600cc race rep is the perfect first bike because it's super light and the engine is only .6 liter. You know, about 3-4 times smaller than most passenger cars.
Because anyone that thinks starting with a bike that's heavy, handles like crap, and has terrible breaks is just as daft as the people that think a 600cc race rep is the perfect first bike because it's super light and the engine is only .6 liter. You know, about 3-4 times smaller than most passenger cars.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,158
Likes: 68
From: Martinsburg, WV
And hopefully I'm guessing right here, but you didn't pay a ton for that bike. Go check out some of the mods in the sportster section; there are some badass looking bikes there. Once you learn to ride well and you're comfortable on it, you'll have a bike you can make in to whatever you want.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 17
From: Ontario Canada
Take the rider's course if you don't have your endorsement yet.
Then test ride a handful of Harley's you like. And consider the type of riding you're going to do. For instance, I'm primarily a big city urban rider who does that daily. But I like to take hours long trips on occasion. So I have a bike that has enough power and comfort for me. But I have a bit of a stripped down, nimble bike to get me in and out of tight spots.
If I toured up and and down the state, I'd have a different bike, a tourer. That's not to say you can't do the city on a tourer, and you can't tour on a stripped down bike. You can. It's just right tool for the right job tends to work out well.
Also, a sporty is still a big bike relative to all motorcycles. It's just smaller for a Harley.
I'm not trying to be an **** here, and I only mention it because I slipped with my weight for a while. But if your 240 bills is not a healthy 240 bills, at 5'11'' and age 29, it might be a better idea to think about shrinking to fit a bike of your choice, as opposed to growing to fit ever bigger ones.
Just my comment from the peanut gallery on that. Again, I only bring it up because I'm 45 and have dropped nearly 30 soft pounds over the last several years, and have never ridden better and enjoyed riding more. None of the aches and pains and comfort issues I was getting when I was heavier.
Then test ride a handful of Harley's you like. And consider the type of riding you're going to do. For instance, I'm primarily a big city urban rider who does that daily. But I like to take hours long trips on occasion. So I have a bike that has enough power and comfort for me. But I have a bit of a stripped down, nimble bike to get me in and out of tight spots.
If I toured up and and down the state, I'd have a different bike, a tourer. That's not to say you can't do the city on a tourer, and you can't tour on a stripped down bike. You can. It's just right tool for the right job tends to work out well.
Also, a sporty is still a big bike relative to all motorcycles. It's just smaller for a Harley.
I'm not trying to be an **** here, and I only mention it because I slipped with my weight for a while. But if your 240 bills is not a healthy 240 bills, at 5'11'' and age 29, it might be a better idea to think about shrinking to fit a bike of your choice, as opposed to growing to fit ever bigger ones.
Just my comment from the peanut gallery on that. Again, I only bring it up because I'm 45 and have dropped nearly 30 soft pounds over the last several years, and have never ridden better and enjoyed riding more. None of the aches and pains and comfort issues I was getting when I was heavier.
What he said unless you are a weight lifter in a big way as muscle weighs a whole lot.
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Greenville, GA
I was in the same position. I was trying to choose a sweet Street Bob with after market pipes vs a 20011 Fat Boy Lo which was pretty much stock.
I talked to a number of people of what would be a good bike. In the end, I noticed many people 35 and under loved the Dyna. Then my friends who were 45 and older thought a soft tail was a much better choice.
In the end, I decided on the Fatboy Lo, and have not regretted it.
I talked to a number of people of what would be a good bike. In the end, I noticed many people 35 and under loved the Dyna. Then my friends who were 45 and older thought a soft tail was a much better choice.
In the end, I decided on the Fatboy Lo, and have not regretted it.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
My first Harley was a 1979 roadster XLS. That was over 25 years ago. I was 18 year old and didn't know nothing about working on Harleys. I learn quick, because I worked on that bike 80% of the time and road it 20%of a time. The bike was in rough shape when I bought it. I learned a lot from that bike. The 1979 was kind of a odd ball year. The exhaust pipe fit that year only because of the placement on the rear master cylinder. First year of that frame (79 to 81). That frame was designed after the 1977 cafe racer. Very rear bike. That was the first and only year Harley had a semi electronic ignition system. The 1978 was point and the 1980 Was a full electronic system. Most of the people who owned a 1979 converted over to point because the semi electronic was junk. If you have any troubles with it shoot me an email and I might be able to help you out. I have owned 9 different Harley since then, and have 3 now, but I think I learned more on that one then any other. Just a head up If you ever have to mess with the charging system. this is a generator system not an alternator (old school). Make sure you Polaris the system when ever you disconnect or replace any component of the charging system or you will burn up generator with in 20 miles. Real easy to do, go to you tube an there is a video on how to do it.
Last edited by little5150; Mar 26, 2014 at 10:28 AM.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 303
Likes: 16
From: Stockton, CA
I was in a similar situation. Not sure what to get as my first bike.
First a little bit of my history. I had never ridden a motorcycle and had only ridden a moped 30 years ago for about a month. I decided I wanted a bike so I took the MSC course locally here and got my motorcycle license After that I started asking many different riders about easy to learn bikes. Most told me to get a honda 250, ride it for 6-8 months then sell it and get what I want
Then I spoke to more riders and even more. Finally the verdict was in. IF YOU KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOUT YOU AND DONT GET SILLY then a larger bike is fine. Now came the journey.
After looking at many different rides and asking dealerships about easy to ride bikes I got my heritage softail. It wasn't my first or second choice as I wanted a fat tire bike like a hammer 8 or v-rod but everywhere I went they pointed to a softail or dyna and I really thank them for doing so.
The bike is well balanced and with the seating position it is very easy to control even at slow speeds. I do not regret getting it and now my only problem is keeping my wish list to a minimum so I do t break the bank.
First a little bit of my history. I had never ridden a motorcycle and had only ridden a moped 30 years ago for about a month. I decided I wanted a bike so I took the MSC course locally here and got my motorcycle license After that I started asking many different riders about easy to learn bikes. Most told me to get a honda 250, ride it for 6-8 months then sell it and get what I want
Then I spoke to more riders and even more. Finally the verdict was in. IF YOU KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOUT YOU AND DONT GET SILLY then a larger bike is fine. Now came the journey.
After looking at many different rides and asking dealerships about easy to ride bikes I got my heritage softail. It wasn't my first or second choice as I wanted a fat tire bike like a hammer 8 or v-rod but everywhere I went they pointed to a softail or dyna and I really thank them for doing so.
The bike is well balanced and with the seating position it is very easy to control even at slow speeds. I do not regret getting it and now my only problem is keeping my wish list to a minimum so I do t break the bank.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 379
Likes: 7
From: Phenix city Alabama
I'm not rich so buying a small bike to get used to riding than buy something bigger is horrible advice. Who says anybody wants your little bike and now you got more money wrapped up into a loan getting something else. Just Buy what you want. Learn to ride responsibly. Than ride responsibly.