So I just switched from my 600 cc 2004 Honda Shadow to a 2006 1200 Custom. I'm buying it from a used motorcycle dealership and I went to check on the bike and everything looked fine. Cables for the brakes and clutch were good, lights were good, everything was clean, almost 20,000 miles and clean title so everything's looking good.

My only concern is that when I had one of the employees start the engine the engine seemed to vibrate intensely. I didn't feel it initially; I noticed it when looking at the bike while it was running. Is that normal for 1200 customs? Is it just because the bike has a large engine? I don't know and I don't want to take a loan out for a bike that'll need some sort of repairs soon.

Thanks or the feedback!

 

2006 sportster has a rubber mounted engine which will vibrate at idle and smooth out on acceleration. I believe 2003 was the last of the solid mounts that vibrated like hell all the time.

 

 

 

 

Yes. I came from all japanese bikes, parallel twins, inline 4, etc. You may not feel it due to the rubber mount, but when you lean to the side and actually look at the engine, it looks like a paint shaker. Lots of movement and bounce, translates all over the engine. Totally normal and smooths out almost instantly when you get rollin.

Dont overpay from a dealer, lots of good used sportsters on CL now.

 

If it didn't vibrate at idle, then I would be concerned!

 

 

Definitely give it a test ride, but sounds normal to me. I went from a 2002 Honda 750 ACE to my 2011 Sportster 1200C. The sporty definitely shakes a bit more than the ACE.

Also, do be careful when you first let the clutch out on the Sporty. Big difference in power. On my first test ride on the 1200, I darn near came off the bike taking off from the first stop light! Wasn't expecting that.

 

its normal, first time i started up a 1200 sportster i laughed cause it was shaking so hard,.....you get use to it .