Hello all. I worry that threads similar to this one have probably been started quite a few times before, but I searched around the Sporty forum for quite some time and didn't find any, so here goes...

I am in the market for a bike. I am pretty small, so I am looking at the smaller offerings from everyone. Looked at everything from Harley's 883's to Yamaha's 650's, Honda's 750's, so on and so forth. Recently I went to the local HD dealership and sat down on an '07 Sportster 883L. Let me tell you... I haven't sat on a more comfortable bike yet. I've plunked my butt down on every single bike I've been remotely interested in, and nothing comes CLOSE to how that 883L felt to me. I swear, it's like HD spec'd me out and designed the bike around my dimensions.

All that said, I also utterly love how the bike looks. There's just something about Harley styling that seems impossible to imitate.

Now, my question. Everyone I have talked to either seems to LOVE Harleys, or absolutely HATE them. I've read probably literally hundreds of reviews of all the bikes I'm interested in, and none seem quite so divided as do Harley reviews. One person will say "My new 883 is the best thing to ever happen to me, runs great, no problems, etc!" while the next review will read, "This bike was the worst decision I EVER MADE. DO NOT BUY A HARLEY! This thing has been in the shop more than it's been on the road." Etc etc... So on and so forth. This is very confusing to me. I don't see how such a division can really be feasible, unless most of it just boils down to the love/hate thing people seem to have with Harleys. What's up with that?

This will be my first bike purchase. I've never ridden a street bike, only dirt bikes, but I know I want a cruiser. I've been researching it for probably well over a year now and have yet to make a final decision. I figure if I'm gonna do it, might as well do it right, ya know? Can any of you help me out?

Thanks very much in advance!

 

Stop considering and start buying. Now's the time to be a buyer.

On top of that, I bought my used 05 last September and so far I've put 6K miles on it. No problems. Just regular maintenance.

 

Bought my first bike last year,a 1200C Sportster, and have nothing bad to say about. It's a great bike and has never given me trouble. Harley seems to be having great deals on 2007's now, it's a great time to buy.

 

BTilson,
I've yet to figure out why the Love/Hate. I bought my Sporty after riding a Metric Cruiser for many years, and I can tell you I was warned so many times that I would regret the day that I bought a Harley, much less the dreaded Sportster. I've had mine now for well over a year and put many many miles on it in all kinds of weather and road conditions. I had one episode with the rocker box during the first 500 miles, but the dealership handled it promptly and to my satisfaction. Since then, I have never been happier that I bought my Sporty.
I think it's like anything else, you are going to get a bad apple from time to timeno matter what brand you buy and the other camp (Harley or Metric) will never give that consideration when they start blasting away.

Here is my advice to you. You have found a bike that you like and fits you. Buy that sucker, ride the fire out of it, and let the critics keep fighting it out amongst themselves

-Andy

 

I would suggest a nightster. THey are very low...too low for me. I initially wanted an nightster. They are HOTTTTT
But it sat way too small for me. It felt like a toy between my legs. I then sat on a 105th edition 1200C sportie. That fit me well. Nightster would seem to fit you very well. Black on black is the best IMHO

 

I went through the same thing for one and a half years , I owned triumphs in the 70s and wanted to get back inti it. Looked at the big four metrics, triumphs and was very confused. Once I got it out of my head that water cooling wasn't a big deal Harley just stuck out, so hell i bought the XL 883 and I can't even ride it till april,the dealer is giving me free heated storage till april 15th. Then I get to ride it back 400 miles I can't wait. Good luck.

 

If you take care of it, without babying it, a Sportster will last as long as any other machine.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_2535127/tm.htm

I did the same research you did. I bought a Honda, it toped the Sportster in most of the reviews. It was more of a breakdown machine, special order parts,than my Sportster. The Honda stealerships in the New England area are worse than the HD stealerships. Honda indes don't do V-twin cruizers, just sportbikes or wings.

 

Btilson,

If you liked how it felt when you sat on it, you will love how it feels when you ride it. I just bought a 2008 XL 883 in vivid black, I have about 320 miles on it so far, but I LOVE IT!!

You will not find a better or more comfortable motorcycle. The horror stories you read are from many many years ago and most people just didn't take care of them. If you are reading horror stories from recent, then they are the idiots who try and ride wheelies, etc. on their harleys. They are a cruising bike, not a sportbike.

I am 6'3 and 282lbs. So I am no small dude, but mine fits me well, I love it. GO FOR IT!!

Jason

 

Your asking this in a Harley forum? You don't think that there is anyone here going to tell you to buy a Honda....Do ya? You want to go through life wearing a Honda or Yamaha shirt?
Buy the Harley and welcome to the family.

 

Rofl, well said