Buying an 08 sporty or move up?
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Intermediate
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RE: Buying an 08 sporty or move up?
Wow great forum....I've found a home. Went to alot of forums but this one takes the cake. So many of you responded in just a day ,thanks all.
It's not a thing where I'm letting others influence me. I mean most of em are saying Sporty's are great bikes but not to sink the money in an 8 year old bike that I wont get back. I think one of the main things is my size. At 5'6" 145 I really feel in control of my Sportster. (Oh by the way it was 883 bored to 1200 before I got it. ) I ride it everywhere. To work daily, corner store, day off A1A with no destination etc. I do feel however it needs more power.
It's not a thing where I'm letting others influence me. I mean most of em are saying Sporty's are great bikes but not to sink the money in an 8 year old bike that I wont get back. I think one of the main things is my size. At 5'6" 145 I really feel in control of my Sportster. (Oh by the way it was 883 bored to 1200 before I got it. ) I ride it everywhere. To work daily, corner store, day off A1A with no destination etc. I do feel however it needs more power.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,154
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From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: Buying an 08 sporty or move up?
ORIGINAL: Flea
Wow great forum....I've found a home. Went to alot of forums but this one takes the cake. So many of you responded in just a day ,thanks all.
It's not a thing where I'm letting others influence me. I mean most of em are saying Sporty's are great bikes but not to sink the money in an 8 year old bike that I wont get back. I think one of the main things is my size. At 5'6" 145 I really feel in control of my Sportster. (Oh by the way it was 883 bored to 1200 before I got it. ) I ride it everywhere. To work daily, corner store, day off A1A with no destination etc. I do feel however it needs more power.
Wow great forum....I've found a home. Went to alot of forums but this one takes the cake. So many of you responded in just a day ,thanks all.
It's not a thing where I'm letting others influence me. I mean most of em are saying Sporty's are great bikes but not to sink the money in an 8 year old bike that I wont get back. I think one of the main things is my size. At 5'6" 145 I really feel in control of my Sportster. (Oh by the way it was 883 bored to 1200 before I got it. ) I ride it everywhere. To work daily, corner store, day off A1A with no destination etc. I do feel however it needs more power.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Metro Milwaukee, WI
RE: Buying an 08 sporty or move up?
Flea,
You can make that bike of yours a real barnburner! But, it will never be as comfortable as a touring bike.
I have to agree with Mandog on this one (I'm suprised too!!) and if the $$ let's you I'd go for a Road King to accompany the Sportster.You CAN have your cake and eat it too! [8D]
You can make that bike of yours a real barnburner! But, it will never be as comfortable as a touring bike.
I have to agree with Mandog on this one (I'm suprised too!!) and if the $$ let's you I'd go for a Road King to accompany the Sportster.You CAN have your cake and eat it too! [8D]
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Nuevo México, Los Estados Unidos de América
RE: Buying an 08 sporty or move up?
Only go bigger if you want to ride slower...
The 883, 1130, 1200 and 1250cc Harleys will waste any of the Big Vs anywhere near stock.
Go big for comfort, not power...
The 883, 1130, 1200 and 1250cc Harleys will waste any of the Big Vs anywhere near stock.
Go big for comfort, not power...
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RE: Buying an 08 sporty or move up?
This is helping alot. Since 80% of my riding is soloing and I am comfy on a Sportster since im tiny I think im leaning twoards staying in the Sportster family. When discussed with the Mrs. we've thought about touring a different way. Bike in the back of the truck, getting to destination then riding our crotches off where we want to. So if a bigger bike means slower with more comfort the hell with that. So this brings up the next problem. I dont wanna keep the 2000. I nvr did. I love the bike but wont pour cash into an 8 yr old bike unless it was a classic bike project. I bought it to evolve into harley riding from an old Bonnie and before that was a dirt bike nut. So now that I know I will spend the rest of my life riding a Harley and the next 5-10 years plus on my next one I'm 99% sure on a new bike purchase. So with the nightster in mind all i've read or hear is how bad they ride. Can this be sovled with shocks (mabye 430 progs) and a different seat. Also I don't like what i'm hearing about ground clearance and scraping the feelers on the pegs. Possible solutions?
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 889
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From: Long Island, New York
RE: Buying an 08 sporty or move up?
ORIGINAL: Flea
This is helping alot. Since 80% of my riding is soloing and I am comfy on a Sportster since im tiny I think im leaning twoards staying in the Sportster family. When discussed with the Mrs. we've thought about touring a different way. Bike in the back of the truck, getting to destination then riding our crotches off where we want to. So if a bigger bike means slower with more comfort the hell with that. So this brings up the next problem. I dont wanna keep the 2000. I nvr did. I love the bike but wont pour cash into an 8 yr old bike unless it was a classic bike project. I bought it to evolve into harley riding from an old Bonnie and before that was a dirt bike nut. So now that I know I will spend the rest of my life riding a Harley and the next 5-10 years plus on my next one I'm 99% sure on a new bike purchase. So with the nightster in mind all i've read or hear is how bad they ride. Can this be sovled with shocks (mabye 430 progs) and a different seat. Also I don't like what i'm hearing about ground clearance and scraping the feelers on the pegs. Possible solutions?
This is helping alot. Since 80% of my riding is soloing and I am comfy on a Sportster since im tiny I think im leaning twoards staying in the Sportster family. When discussed with the Mrs. we've thought about touring a different way. Bike in the back of the truck, getting to destination then riding our crotches off where we want to. So if a bigger bike means slower with more comfort the hell with that. So this brings up the next problem. I dont wanna keep the 2000. I nvr did. I love the bike but wont pour cash into an 8 yr old bike unless it was a classic bike project. I bought it to evolve into harley riding from an old Bonnie and before that was a dirt bike nut. So now that I know I will spend the rest of my life riding a Harley and the next 5-10 years plus on my next one I'm 99% sure on a new bike purchase. So with the nightster in mind all i've read or hear is how bad they ride. Can this be sovled with shocks (mabye 430 progs) and a different seat. Also I don't like what i'm hearing about ground clearance and scraping the feelers on the pegs. Possible solutions?
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,541
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From: Nuevo México, Los Estados Unidos de América
RE: Buying an 08 sporty or move up?
ORIGINAL: Mandog
Slower is a crock of ****.
Slower is a crock of ****.
Sportsters are quicker than the big Vs, not so much faster I guess, they are about the same top-end, but the big Vs there at lower RPMs, if you want to make the fast/quick distinction. The sportsters will run out of gearing up top, the Big-Vs just run out and stop accelortaing around 115-120. We're talking stock/near stock here.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,154
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From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: Buying an 08 sporty or move up?
ORIGINAL: Mandog
Slower is a crock of ****. You looking for a bike to do a fastquarter mile than keep the one you got and put money into it. You want to cruise at 80 or 90 mph on the highway (too slow for ya?) for 6 hours than get the touring bike.
Slower is a crock of ****. You looking for a bike to do a fastquarter mile than keep the one you got and put money into it. You want to cruise at 80 or 90 mph on the highway (too slow for ya?) for 6 hours than get the touring bike.
Like a few of us said before, it's all about what you want. There are options if you wanna keep your sportster or even pick up a newer one.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 889
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, New York
RE: Buying an 08 sporty or move up?
ORIGINAL: 6o66er
No, that's a crock of ****. For about 1/8th of the cost of a new RK or any touring bike for that matter I can put a 6 speed in my Sportster and do a real nice suspension upgrade front and rear. With the right seat and controls setup he can be comfortable and, at the same time, do just fine on street, strip OR highway and he won't pay 16 thousand or higher to get it.
Like a few of us said before, it's all about what you want. There are options if you wanna keep your sportster or even pick up a newer one.
ORIGINAL: Mandog
Slower is a crock of ****. You looking for a bike to do a fastquarter mile than keep the one you got and put money into it. You want to cruise at 80 or 90 mph on the highway (too slow for ya?) for 6 hours than get the touring bike.
Slower is a crock of ****. You looking for a bike to do a fastquarter mile than keep the one you got and put money into it. You want to cruise at 80 or 90 mph on the highway (too slow for ya?) for 6 hours than get the touring bike.
Like a few of us said before, it's all about what you want. There are options if you wanna keep your sportster or even pick up a newer one.
Air Suspension
Bat Wing Fairing
Lower Fairing
Cruise Control
Wind Sheild
80 watt Music system
Heavy front end suspension
6 speed
96 cubic inch motor
You got me ...your right...slap on a more comfortable seat and your rigid is just as comfortable as my Ultra. Especially for two up which is what the original poster asked about.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,154
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From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: Buying an 08 sporty or move up?
I do runs to vegas, socal, and northern AZ ALL THE TIME with people who ride rigids, both highly modded sportsters AND big twins. A few of them bring their wives and gfs and they rarely, if ever, complain.
Maybe the rigids you rode were **** piles and their owners/builders just didn't know what the hell they were doing with the front ends, wheel and tire combos, and rake and trail measurements.
And how did rigids come into this in the first place? I don't remember him saying ANYTHING about a rigid...just a NEWER sportster. And half the **** you listed is useless to a Sportster enthusiast anyways. **** your stereo and your ginormous ugly *** fairings....who needs that **** on a bike? A windsheild seems to work just fine on a Road King. And as for your "96"...you can talk em up all you want, but they're NOT that great. All that **** kinda takes away from really enjoying the ride for most people I've met. And btw...you CAN put air shocks on a Sportster. Hell, I could take em off your bike and have the whole system installed and working on mine in a day.
Oh...and as for your claim on "Heavy front end suspension"....that's fixable on a Sporty too. It's also fairly inexpensive when compared to buying a whole new bike.
Maybe the rigids you rode were **** piles and their owners/builders just didn't know what the hell they were doing with the front ends, wheel and tire combos, and rake and trail measurements.
And how did rigids come into this in the first place? I don't remember him saying ANYTHING about a rigid...just a NEWER sportster. And half the **** you listed is useless to a Sportster enthusiast anyways. **** your stereo and your ginormous ugly *** fairings....who needs that **** on a bike? A windsheild seems to work just fine on a Road King. And as for your "96"...you can talk em up all you want, but they're NOT that great. All that **** kinda takes away from really enjoying the ride for most people I've met. And btw...you CAN put air shocks on a Sportster. Hell, I could take em off your bike and have the whole system installed and working on mine in a day.
Oh...and as for your claim on "Heavy front end suspension"....that's fixable on a Sporty too. It's also fairly inexpensive when compared to buying a whole new bike.