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I just went through the same thing and ended with the 883c over the 1200c. The 883 is enough for me now(at least for now) if I feel down the line like I want more I'll get the conversion leaving me over the 1200c (the conversion costs lessthan the price difference based on mydealers annual winter specials)and also allow me to insure it as an 883. The only major difference other than the motor size is the engine covers on the 1200 are chrome where on the 883 (at least in 07 not sure on the new ones) it is not. I'm not that big on chrome so it wasn't an issue for me.
You have the same beginner'sconcerns all newbies have. You know what you ultimately want but maybe it is not in your budget right now and even if it is in the budget you are probably afraid of wrecking it because you are a beginner. You're probably thinking buyinga smaller and cheaper bike to cut your teeth is the way to go, and it is.
Do yourself a favor and look at someYamahas, Suzukis or Hondas around 1000cc and save yourself some serious cash, a used one will save you even more. They're alsomore balanced than a Sportster as the Sportster is kind of top heavy.
I know you may want a Harley, doesn't everybody but buying a high priced Sportster (in comparison to other manufacturers folks)as a beginner bike with the knowledge that you will upgrade isa waste......and if you have the money to waste, then get the big one you want from the get-go.
Do yourself a favor and look at someYamahas, Suzukis or Hondas around 1000cc and save yourself some serious cash, a used one will save you even more. They're alsomore balanced than a Sportster as the Sportster is kind of top heavy.
what are you talkin about? my friend went and did that..he decided since he was new he would buy the yamaha v-star 1100..he loved it at first and i let him ride my sportster and he said he should have never got the yamaha..then we went looking for a harley and the dealers offered him $3500 for the bike he just spent like $8,000 + another $2000 in addons...he was stuck with the yamaha and didnt even want it but couldnt take that kind of loss..now hes dead and will never have the harley he wanted...you only live once and if its a harley you want get it now!!!
I know you may want a Harley, doesn't everybody but buying a high priced Sportster (in comparison to other manufacturers folks)as a beginner bike with the knowledge that you will upgrade isa waste......
i'll tell you to get the 1200 if you are going to do it.sure i ride a 883 and have no intention of getting a 1200.if i get a new bike im keeping my sporty and hell be damned.But your resale will be better and youll be more used to the umph when you decide to go bigger
I actually think there is something to the guy above who commented on looking at metric cruisers. It depends on you. I have always wanted a Harley. I felt I could afford a used 1200C, or a new 883, so I went with the '03 1200C as my first bike. Mostly since I assumed I'd need the power for riding 2 up. Now...I absolutely love it for blasting around town. It's beautiful, fast, raw, a real kick to ride to and from work.But now having ridden my girlfriend's new 600 Shadow (her learner bike), which cost 2/3rds as much, I gotta say it would have been a much more manageable bike to learn on. It's better balanced, much smoother, much more comfortable, more docile in the throttle, yet still has plenty of pep to get up and go. The riding position on it is vastly more comfortable than my sporty. Would I trade my '03 1200C for it? Hell no. But I tell you what, I sure may be ready to swap temporarily after the first 100 miles of a long ride.
Now I'm thinking about a bigger HD more suited for long rides, but can't afford it yet because I dropped some good coin on my current bike. So...if you want a stepping stone and aren't dead set on a Harley, I'd look at the metrics.
Or, if you're like me and have to have a Harley, then get what you can afford - either the 883 or 1200 will do you just fine. Even when my back is aching from leaning on those drag barsand I have pins and needles in my hands from the vibrations...I smile 'cause I'm on a Harley. Just gotta save up for that Rocker C!
i went thru the same thing you are going thru about 2 months ago.. finally decided on the 1200C after speaking with friends who have been riding for a while and reading threads on here. the only real reason i liked the 883 was bc it had way less chrome than the 1200.. not a big chrome fan.
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