Hi there guys, new to the forum and have some questions.

So I've been shopping for my first HD ever. I saw a great 2008 xl1200R on craigslist for $5,000 (he said he can move on the price a bit hopefully $500) on 22k miles 10 min away from my house. The guy has been riding for 45 years he said and I am pretty sure he took good care of the motorcyle, doesn't have any major dents and scratches. It looks exactly like the pic I'am attaching. I really like the dual front disc and the tach meeter, but I am shorty (5'3) and I can hold the bike on my toes, but I was hoping I can flat foot the sportster. The other thing is that the guy put forward controls and I can't reach them, so I'll need to order mid controls that I checked for $500 are the only ones that I found.

I went to see the bike today and comming from ninja 400 this thing scared me. It was so loud and vibrant. It was basically shaking the handlebars like crazy. The engine was cold, but is that normal? Will it get better when I ride it? When it warms up?

Now the other option I've got is to buy a newer (2015-2018) used XL1200 which is going to be 2' lower than the 2008 and I like the way it looks like way more than the 2008, but I dont want to give up the dual discs and the tachometer. So I was wondering what are the differences and why I like the newer one more and the only things that I saw was that the newer ones have lower shocks in the backend and smaller 3.3 gl tank.


So my questions are:

Should I buy the 2008 XL1200R and put shorter shocks that way I'll have the way the new ones look like and it's gonna be comfortable for me to handle the 680lb machine
And buy the mid controls for $500 so I can at least reach the transmission peg .

Or just buy a used newer xl1200 which will be again around the same mileage, more expensive, no dual disc brakes and no tach. (Better colours for sure!) Again I can't believe how much more I like the 2018s more and the only difference that I see is the it is lower in the back than then 2008 and the colors ofcourse, but I plan to wrap or paint the 2008 if I get it!

Please advice me in these tough days! Ride safe!

 

Which one speaks to you more? Which one are you going to walk away from and turn to look at. That’s the one.
the tach and dual discs would not be a necessity. On a sport bike yes. Cruiser not so much.

 

Don't get hung up too much on dual discs; they look sportier and add weight (unsprung weight) to the motorcycle.

Now before someone starts a argument about stopping power - I will concede that dual discs do provide more stopping power when the brakes are heat soaked and you are at you are experiencing degraded braking until heat is dissipated. This can and does happen in racing situations where maximum power is followed by maximum braking - repeatedly and in short intervals where heat dissipation is an issue.

For the most, if not all of us riding the street, our brakes (single disc thought they may be) never get so hot that the added mass of unsprung weight is of any benefit whatsoever.

 

Thank you for your fast reply. The look of the newer for sure!

Don't you guys think that I can change the visual look of the 2008 to look like the new one if I change the rear shocks with shorter ones? I asked a friend and he said the old ones look like for old people and the new ones look for youngers and I am 26 :P

 

Your going to spend more money trying to make it something it isn't rather than buying something that fits you right out of the box. Tippy toeing on a bike will eventually let you drop it. Flat foot only!

 

I agree with this statement/recommendation 100%!

Go with your gut...always...you'll know YOUR bike when you see/ride it.

Don't try to force yourself into something the COULD be, MAYBE one day, made into what you want...go with the one your heart immediately jumps for. You'll be MUCH happier in the long run (especially once the "new to you" factor wears off and you've put several miles on it)

My .02

 

Save your money and move up to a bigger model, your going want to do it sooner or later anyway.

 

Roadster all the way!!!
And yes touchdown, he may want to "move up" soon, I've had my Roadster for 12 years and I'm not quite ready to "move up" yet, maybe in another 12 years or so...or maybe not.

 

I think OP mentioned he was 26...looks like it'll probably be the "later" option you mentioned...like in another 30 years or so before he'll be needing one of those massive "old man" models...lol

 

Lowering kits are fairly cheap and easy. As for looks, HOTLAP has a perfect example of the what can be done with the 1200R. Sportsters are very versatile bikes, you could go in any direction with it.