Hey, I'm a new owner of a 2004 XL1200C and it's also my first Harley. I've always liked the Sportster becauseI feel it's a true bike without the excessive (and sometimes unesecessary) baggage of bigger bikes. Certain people (non-owners) feel that it's not a true Harley and I try to defend it the best I can. It might be jealousy, i don't know. But, since most of you seem very knowledgable and I'm still learning and just picking things up, can you give me some facts to defend the fact that although it's not as expensive as the bigger bikes, it's still a Harley? Maybe you can give me some advantages that the Sportster has over the other H-Ds?? I just want to get educated and in turn educate the people don't even have the guts to buy a Harley. Thanks.

Niko

 

My understanding it's the Harley that's been in production longer than any of the others. It's also the fastest, best performing HD w/ the exception of the new V-rod. And if they tell you the V-rod is a real Harley, then don't even bother giving them a second thought. They're a moron. The V-rod is the least Harley of them all, although it's an awesome bike. Why give them any facts when you can just tell them "Learn to read Jackass, it says Harley Davidson right on the tank." Don't waste your time giving them facts, you can't argue with an idiot, you'll never win.

 

I like your attitude. Maybe if they grow some ***** and actually ride, they would understand.
Thanks

 

I took this from Donny Peterson's heavy duty cycles web sight. he has helped out in a lot of diy forums



Something I'll never understand is why some Harley riders discriminate against other riders especially in light of the way society has stereotyped the Harley community and discriminated against it over the years. You've heard the disparaging comments like "Half a Harley" or "Girl's Bike" along with many others levied against the Sportster bysome in the Big Twin crowd. If so. How come it's faster than the BigTwin is? How come it's been the Factory racer in differing events for forty years now? What about the Buell, Harley's answer to Japanesesuper bikes, being based on the Sportster It has always had superior technology and Been more nimble than its brother, the Big Twin. Back in the Sixties, The Sporty led the charge when an Englishike-dominated sport converted first to the "Milwaukee Limey." Speaking of the old days, when watching early biker movies, you see the "real deal" riding their beloved "CH's" that today have become living legends? Nobody I know laughs at or puts down these guys. Yes, the "CH" is short for the brutal, knee-busting, kick start Sportster. Don't look like no half-Harley to me even though that's what some call it. Please take this last statement from where it's coming from…not me. But it's a comment I hear time and again from those in Harleydom who wish to pick on their own instead of fighting those who attack from the outside. Yeah, so they call it a Girl's bike in a derisive manner. This connotes frailty that inhibits them from handling "a man's bike." Well if you think about it, a smaller, physically weaker person would be better suited to a Softail with a lower seat height, a lower center of gravity and a set of front forks that pivot more easily on a smaller contact patch, skinny 21" wheel. That's if you think. Sportsters feel as if they have a higher center of gravity, making them seemingly more awkward to the uninitiated and you need long legs to touch the ground They'll pop a wheelie without even thinking about it. And light to light, try to beat one, with a "bigger" Harley, like a Softail for instance. A customer of mine is a seemingly mild mannered pharmacist. He wins about $500 bucks a month racing Big Twins on his 883 converted to a 1200. He hasn't even reached for the big gun yet….the 1200S with a hundred ponies at the rear wheel. I guess everybody's mad at me by now, but it needs to be said. So why on earth does Harley make this bike, its entry-level model? It's harder to learn on and it's the prototype for its factory racers-in order to prove it has a superior product in terms of speed. I don't understand it. As what should be isn't, and what isn't should be. I know, I know. The real reason the Sportster is the entry-level bike is that it's cheaper than the Big Twin models. Just wait until feminism gets a firmer grip in the last bastion of chauvinism, Harleydom and deals with "the Girl's Bike syndrome" and its connotations of weakness. It'll be fun to watch for those who love a good winnable fight. Now how about the men who ride and must put up with this reverse discrimination? Maybe feminism will wipe the slate clean. Or maybe, those who are free thinkers and strong of mind already know that the Girl's Bike has dominated Flat Track racing…you know, where you go full speed around corners with no brakes….and hill climbing…a brutal sport for the brave where Sportsters go up hills not suited for motorcycles. Now, how about the wheelie kings. You know, in a man's world, anyone who can do the block long wheelie, shifting gears as they pose dangerously on one wheel, scraping the rear fender on the asphalt, shooting up sparks as they roar by, are more Often than not on the Sportster. Motor builders have long recognized the superior technology used by Harley in the Sportster, some examples of which are:
a. Pushrods that go straight up and down instead of

 

Whoa, that's a lot of reading. "It's a Harley Jackass" is a lot quicker and to the point!

Seriously though, that's a lot of good information. Thanks for the post! I learn something every day. Today I learned a couple things.

 

You guys are making me laugh and feel much better. Between all that info (which I will use) and "It's a Harley Jackass," I'm all set.

Thanks for the info.

 

the only people who say stuff like that are people who dont know anything about harleys. I went with my dad the other day to a bar with lots of harleys there. Everyone was checking out each others bike and so on. I still have the temp tag on mine, and people were comming up to me asking me questions and saying sweet bike. And these guys had some bad *** bigtwins. Lots of custom stuff and choppers etc. So i figure if i get approval from these guys f**k what anyone else says.

 

I've seen the posts about sportsters being a girls bike a few times now, and I just dont care. I love my bike no matter what anyone says. plus I'd love someone to walk up to me and call me, well, anything other than crazy and Ill knock em on their ***.
I dont look at any bike and think any less of the people who own them, well except victory (some of thoes guys think their taking over the world with their "new american bike") What bothers the hell out of me is a grown man with his hat on crooked, driving a dodge neon that says "NEON" across the windshield with a giant friggin spoiler and the seat reclined all the way back while wearing a pink shirt and calling me "bro" or "dog". now thats a guy you can tease.

 

You don't need to defend your choice of a fine motorcycle to anyone. You bought it, you ride it, what anybody else thinks does not matter.

Enjoy your scoot, ride safe so you can do it for longer.

 

I agree with Pat, you do not owe anyone an expaination.... You have a Harley, it is yours, and have faith it your bike. This bike has been king of the dirt tracks and won more titles for longer than most of the guys giving you grief have owned bikes. This is like a truck owner saying that a Corvette is not a Chevy.... you own a much quicker model of other models. Again, IMO do not let opinions doubt what you know...