Hi! I am nee to riding and new to Harleys. I choose a Honda Grom as my learner bike. I recently decided to put my big girl pants on and I bought a 2004 Harley Sportster 1200 custom.

​​​​​​Now here is what my issues are. The bike is not comfortable for me to ride. I am having trouble finding any information or anybody who can help me and tell me what kind of adjustments or things can be added or changed to make it more mine. I am 5'7 and 160 lbs.

My handlebars are just not comfortable and the levers for the clutch in the brake I literally have to grab them with my fingertips and it's just not comfortable. But nobody seems to be able to tell me how I can adjust it or get new handlebars or what I can do to make it better for me they're like try this Bank Santa Barbara sit on it and see what you feel. That's fine and dandy but that's not going to tell me how it's going to be in everyday use when I'm riding a bike for 2 hours and going around a curve because my Sportster seems like it wants to drive itself and it wants to take me out until I'm coming traffic I don't know what I'm doing wrong but it's like I can't steer it.

I put on wider foot pedals instead of the pegs and that makes it a little better for my feet cuz I feel like I was flapping trying to get my feet on there sometimes.

This will be the third windshield I ordered none of them seem to work before the bike literally blows me off of it when I get up to speed around 7580 which is your common speeds for highways I ordered another one but I don't think it's going to be tall enough I think it's still going to hit me square and knock me out or try to knock me off the bike but that's we'll have to wait and see.

Now I've got a problem with the neutral light I don't like the very basic dashboard that I have but that's what I got the only thing that lights up on that little dashboard above the speedometer is my green neutral light but it only lights up sometimes.

Usually nine times out of 10 when I first start the bike and first start writing the bike the neutral light comes on when I'm in neutral no problem. Since I am a new writer and since I don't have all my gears lighten up which is what I would prefer it's been the most important for me to at least know more neutral is. Because it is so easy for me to click up and down and just bypass it all together and thinking I'm in another gear and I'm not. So also too not having to hold the clutch the entire time while I'm sitting at a light because I was thinking it wasn't going into neutral but come to find out it's not lighting up just show me that I'm in neutral. but the night light only quits working after I've been riding the bike. If I turn it off and go to ride at 15 minutes later the neutral light will work at the beginning of the ride towards the middle and the end it will stop this is very frustrating cuz I cannot physically tell unless I let out the clutch which of course the bike is going to want to jump you know and if it stalls when I do that if I did it jumps like you start it and it's in first gear and you don't have your clutch in that kind of jumping is what I'm talking about then my bike will not automatically start right back up like it'll take awhile before it'll start up it just won't start how do I know this cuz I've done it twice where I thought it was a neutral but I wasn't because the light wasn't coming on.

I don't know what I'm doing with this bike I don't understand why nobody can seem to tell me how I can get this bike to be a little bit more comfortable I'm thinking it's not the right bike for me and that really upsets me cuz I've spent a lot of money and now I'm stuck with it.

I got caught in the rain for the first time ever the other day and I know they say that the little bit of rain raises that oil to the top of the street whatever. But I'm going to tell you what it was like driving on ice I have never been so nervous and scared before my entire life even going slow I was slipping all over the place I'm surprised I did not lay the back down and somebody told me that it was because I got thin tires little tires on the 1200 and I need to go up to a heritage I don't have right now and then I know I'm going to get caught in the rain again. I just know I am. And I did not realize that's how dangerous they were. Not dimension that the gas to win in the storm or rain whenever you want to call it pushed me literally into on the lane of oncoming traffic thank God nothing was coming but it just pushed me and there was nothing I could do but slow down I could not steer against it. The other day during the sun when I was riding against the wind came through and hit me in my shins and when it did it wanted to push the tires out from underneath me luckily I was able to keep control and but I mean I don't understand how easy it is to lose control or contact with the with the road nobody ever told me it was that literally that dangerous I can't believe people ride in the wind and ride in the rain because I wouldn't do it not on this bike and I don't know if it's just me being new if if it's just so tired of being small I don't know if there's anything other than that's just the way it is and nobody ever told me.

what's very frustrating is there was oh yeah just go online and order a part oh don't go to Harley it's way you know too expensive. Every time I go online and order a party it gets here and it doesn't fit it doesn't work even if it states that it's for my bike so now here I am with this indicator none of the lights show up the oil light or whatever else is on that little thing doesn't show up then the neutral only light works sometimes I really wish I had more information on my dash than just a speedometer how many miles it's got on it in a neutral light that works radically.

I'm scared to death about how squirrely it is I'm scared to death over the fact that it seems to want to drive itself and not go around damn curve even if I'm leaning even if I go high on the curb and move in low even if I'm leaning staring it still wants to bring me out like I'm not even in control of the bike I don't understand it.

Is this the way it just supposed to be in is there anybody who can help me do some modifications to this damn thing so that it's a more comfortable ride for me I mean I can't be the only girl that size in the entire world that doesn't want a huge bike right now because I'm just learning.
​​​​

 

Making my way through this post a couple things (not to be harsh):

1.) Did you take the safety class and did you pass?
2.)When you bought the sportster did you sit on it, test drive it, see how it felt? Or was it a my friend said go with this model so that’s what I’m gonna do situation? Or just a crappy dealer?
3.) Regarding the neutral light? Never trust the light, and finding neutral is tricky sometimes, unless you’re trying to show off at a light lol. The friction zone is huge if you don’t know if you’re in neutral. Slowly start letting out the clutch without any throttle, if the bike bogs down or starts pulling, you’re not in neutral. Pull the clutch back in and try to find neutral and repeat procedure. The light will probably be green at this point, so just find first and go.
4.) Just an unsolicited piece of advice, do a ton of parking lot work to see if you can get comfortable on the bike because if you’re constantly running wide on curves and not in control of the bike, it’s going to end very bad.

 

Depending on year the dash light harness gets moisture in and the board corrodes and fails.

When the roads get wet initially they are slippery. After a good downpour the road gets better.

I could suspect the steering bearing might need attention if you don't feel like you are in control but could equally be the tyres.

Check out DK Custom setting up your bike: - How to Set Your Bike up for YOU...The Comfort Triangle (dkcustomproducts.com)

What year and model is the bike?

How many miles has it done and what is the service history?

What tyres are on the bike and what is the tread depth?

 

1. Your size, or lack of size, is not your problem. You would've towered over me when I began riding, licensed on the street, And you are about my size now.

2. How are you "it seems to want to drive itself and not go around damn curve even if I'm leaning even if I go high" without counter steering? If you are counter steering you shouldn't "even if I go high on the curb and move in low even if I'm leaning staring it still wants to bring me out like I'm not even in control of the bike".

3. Although I had been riding daily year around for almost 3 years when I had a bad accident while desert racing, when I resumed riding 3 years later it was by working my way up
on different size scooters. A Yamaha 100cc, Kawasaki 400cc, a few midsize etc.

I never rode, or even sat, on a Honda Grom but it seems that wasn't much of "learner bike". It seems to me you would benefit from some actual experience on a smaller motorcycle.
A Sportster is not a "huge bike", but it seems too big for you to handle at your level of experience.

Another thing to consider, that is more important than money, is that learning to ride a motorcycle is not like learning to drive a car. A simple mistake on a motorcycle, such as taking a turn wide, can mean "game over".

 

The Sportster is about twice the motorcycle compared to the Grom. The Sportster you are riding is about double the weight and length. My advice, borrowing from above practice in an empty parking lot. Go slow and practice low speed maneuvering. If you haven't done a motorcycle safety course on the heavier bike do so NOW.
As for making the Sportster more yours.
-I like the forward controls over standard. I'm 5'4", I have had a couple of Sportster's. The leg position, IMHO, is more comfortable.
- I have a removable windshield. At highway speeds it makes me more comfortable than without. If I am just riding around at speeds <40 mph, I can remove it and enjoy the breeze.
​​​​​​-Handle bars. What is your complaint. Are they to high, low, wide. I have a riser on mine that makes it very comfortable.

The neutral light. It is just a light. If it is not broken the only advise I can give you is to always believe you are in gear. Start the bike with clutch in and ease it out. Always.!

 

Another vote urging you to take the motorcycle safety course. You'll learn a lot of stuff that will help you deal with weather and many other conditions, as well as basic riding techniques and safety - both of which will benefit you greatly (no offense intended). Even after the safety course, time spent practicing in an empty parking lot is very beneficial.

As far as turning, you need to keep your eyes on where you want to go. Leaning is part of it but your eyes have to be looking at where you want to go.

My experience with windshields on the Sportster is that they are OK for taking some of the pressure off of your chest at higher speeds. But you'll still get buffeting and plenty of air on your helmet and legs. A full fairing is really the best cure, and there aren't many of those made for the Sportster.

As far as the reach, the bars can be tilited back some to help with that. There are also different handlebars and seats available that move the controls and the rider closer together. Do your research. Some Harley dealers keep a stock of different seats and will let you try them out (just sitting on the bike) if you ask them nicely.

 

1. Congratulations on your first post to HDF, to the Forum.
2. All the above comments and recommendations apply.
3. As a female your hands are probably smaller and the clutch & brake levers can be kind of stiff. They make things like Muller power clutch https://www.denniskirk.com/muller-mo...prd/382823.sku However, not cheap.
4. There are also different levers you can buy that reduce the reach required to grip them along with different sized grips.
5. A Honda Grom is one step up from a minibike and like said above the Sportster is at least twice the size and weight along with being a little more top heavy.
6. How old are the tires? Check the date codes and if they are old they may be contributing to the handling issues.
7. Does the bike have any modifications to it done by the previous owner.
8 A couple of pictures of your bike would help in seeing how it is laid out.
9. The neutral safety switch can be sticky sometimes, my 2003 Sportster neutral light quit working and I am sure it is the switch. It is a pain in the butt to get to so I just go by feel.
10. Check the air pressure in your tires if they have good date codes, tire pressure can affect handling.
11. Lots of good knowledge here on the forum and you can get the assistance you need, just take the issues one at a time, explain them and relate to how they affect you.

 

Just my two cents im not a expert ,Judging by what you have described they way things are and your stats , sounds like the bars are to wide for you to get a good counter steer , being that you started on the grom ,the bars are narrower than the sportster and the grom is a hole lot lighter than the sportster so to fix the bar prob. I would most likely say a narrower set of bars would help .
as far as the levers go , as stated above they to make adjustable leavers ( but i think the narrower bars will help with that as well )
neut. light yeah id have a good mech. Check that for you , i have three sportsers 1 dont work , other two do at the moment .
And dont get to discouraged , your going from a small very light bike , to a bigger heavier bike it will take some changing and getting used to but once you get it the way you want it and its comfortable you be glad you made the purchase
as far as checking for bars only thing i can tell you is have a friend hold bike straight while you sit on it close your eyes and hold you hand in most comfortable position , see where there at , thats what everybody has always said , sad part is it does work that way ,but most people dont try it , as far as making what you have comfortable well that kinda hard to help you with out knowing the set up maybe is you post a pic of the bike , we can help you alot more then we know what we are looking at .

 

According to many articles I have read one has to counter steer to get a bike to lay over whether we consciously do it or not.

When I first started riding a motorcycle I was very conversant with scraping the odd bit on the ground without noticeably pushing the bar forward on the side I wanted to turn in.

I can only believe that the amount of counter steering actually required for the speeds we go at is so small as to be imperceptible.

It isn't anything like the speedway guys who have a foot down and are opposite locking it which is the most extreme form of counter steering you could have.

 

Thanks for replying!

1. Yes and yes. But both of us know that this 2 day class that I took at Harley Davidson is just barely getting my toes wet. And one could talk all day long but it doesnt hit until the same till you are on the bike experiencing it. For example, Like no one told me about how I could almost get blown off the bike at higher speeds even though it should have been common sense. Things I never considered before when riding with someone else driving. And I am talking about 75-80 mph. Highway speeds.
2. I researched on what bikes were good for women, good for beginners. It was listed as one on several pages. Now after purchase as I talk to different people I find that its not a good one for modifications or accessories. I find out about the tire width and how they are known to ride. I bought it from a kid off off FB marketplace. Unfortunately I have had to figure this all out by myself. I didnt have anyone I knew who rode to ask or mentor me in this endeavor. Just something I wanted since I was a kid. Alot of it learning for the first time when I experience it. Have no clue beforehand.
3. Yea I have been trying that but its brutal on ny hand and fingers. Trying to figure out a better way for my handle bars and levers. Heard there were levers that u could "dial" into different positions. Not sure if this will help or how it works in the real world. I can sit on a bike with different handlebars but until i actually ride with a different set will I know if they are for me. And this can be expensive to change because of the length of the different lines. And then come to find out its not really better.
4. And you are so right about that! I will try. But not sure how that will help this situation because its. Not at slow speeds that I have difficulty. Its highway speeds. At slower speeds I have no difficulty steering. Just trying to figure out where I am going wrong.