Lookin to get my harley cherry popped! I recently made the decision to get out of the sportbike thing and get a cruiser. Found a super clean '02 sporty 1200 with 61k miles on it. The guy is asking 3200 and says he's had it about a year and thought he could teach himself how to ride but changed his mind. Says he hasn't done anything to it but crank it and that it runs good. Having never owned a harley I'm new to how they react to sitting. Also is this high miles for what it is? My '07 ninja has 27k and I didn't think that was too bad. Any advice or input will help!

 

If it's sat for a while, primary concerns would be oil deterioration/condensation buildup, battery discharge, and tires. If you can do it yourself, an oil change won't cost much and will give you peace of mind. It sounds like the battery's good. Check the manufacture date on the tires. If they're older than five years, get new ones. Additionally, if it's sat and hasn't been moved very much, the tires may have developed flat spots. Look for those as well as cracks in the sidewalls. That mileage shouldn't be an issue, though $3,200 sounds a bit high.

That's about all the helpful input I can give without knowing more about the bike. What kind of condition is it in? Any rusty spots? Dents, scratches? Is it clean? How was it stored? How many previous owners? What modifications have been made to it? Has it ever been down?

 

Not saying I wouldn’t buy it, but that’s a $2,000 bike IMO. If $3,200 is your budget, there are much lower mileage Sportsters out there.

 

I personally wouldn't buy a bike with 61K miles...seems like a lot.

 

If you factor in a hd rebuild or new engine (3000) then go for it... or jus look for a better bike

 

$3200 for a 2002 rigid mount carbed Sporty with 61k miles is HIGH.
When in market for Sportsters, key milestones that you may want to track are these:

2004 - Rubber mounted engine introduced on all Sporties
2007 - EFI instead of carb.
2014 - ABS Brakes and Can Bus wiring

Also check this very informative blog out
http://silodrome.com/buying-guide-ha...son-sportster/


oh ... I almost forgot ... a warm welcome to the forum.

 

Thank you all for the replies! Think I'm gonna hold off and let this one by til something better comes along.

 

Smart move

 

Any pre 07 that sits for an extended period will need carb clean/rebuild. It's cheap and easy. I would follow previous advice, fluids, battery and plugs. If you like the bike, make him an offer. I agree low 2000 on this one.

 

Lots of good advice thanks. Think I'm gonna go for a 2005 with 3200 miles. Only $4500!