any BIG guys riding 1200's??
 

1st post.. sorry
sold my xs650 rat last year and have convinced myself if i can quit this stupid smoking habit of mine, i am going to buy a new bike in may. was 99% sold on a 2010 streetbob till i saw the forty eight @ the expo in cleveland. that thing is BAD... i loved the Iron when it came out, but felt it was a little small for me. i'm 6'1 and pushing 300.. i don't wanna look like a gorilla on a moped, but that 48 is pure sweetness. reminds me of an Exile Bullfighter. i liked the nimbleness of my 650, but it was a rigid and ROUGH.
ANY LARGE GUYS RIDING SPORTIES??? i've eliminated the "girls bike" mentality, and think that i could have the 48 ALMOST built to my liking for around the MSRP of the stock "Bob"
the only thing that concerns me is the size, and power of the 48.. allbeit that the 1200 is the same size as the early model shovel engine, in a much lighter chassis, with modern equipment...
any opinions?? 48, or Bob??

The power should be fine, I would worry about the incredibly small gas tank. I was 5'10 and almost 300 pounds when i had my Sporty and I felt comfortable on it but I probably looked kinda funny but i didn't give a rats ass. I do find the Street Bob a better highway bike though and it has quite a bit more room.

It doesn't matter how ya look on a motorcycle, it's how ya feel on the bike. Is it comfortable and fun to ride. ........And a Sportster is NO girls bike, don't matter what "they" say.:)

you're a big guy and that 48 was designed for the skinny-pant hipster kids. you should consider the bigger bike.

i quit smoking 5 years ago. it was the hardest thing i ever did. i dont go back because i would just have to quit again and i'm just not into being miserable. good luck man. you can do it.

OK, I'll be politically incorrect.

Are you a teen/early twenty something that want's a bike to hop 5-20 miles from point A to point B? If the answer is yes, a 48 may be for you.

On the other hand, if you're looking to do 100-300 mile day rides, it's probably not the best choice.

Im close to 250lbs and 6'2" and ride a nightster. My lady says i looks good on it.

Dude, way to go on the stopping smoking, As for the bike. I think youd be more happy with the bob. 300 might may you feel big on a 48. i gaurantee riding that thing homw with stock pipes, mids and that super quiet stock exhaust, it would feel like a toy. Im 200 lbs and 6'3" thats how I felt. Untill you put tall bars, a seat that will sit ya back and forwards, oh and big exhaust, thats how it will feel. But even with that, the bike might still feel kinda small to you. If I were gonna get a street bob, Id prb do a solo seat, some sick apes, and put a 3-4 degree rake kit on it. Then Id slam the front and back, now with u being heavier, you may not want to if you plan on doing two up. but you could with heavier springs. then Id look something custom to the fender, like a shadtree customs rear fender set up, or something of that nature as they get mixed reviews. of course some exhaust, even paint if you want. Youd do all that to a 48 for the most part anyway. So it would only be a few thousand more. Point is, a bob could look sick with soem imagination, nd that 48 could too, but not fit you as well. of course if your digging the 48, role with it.

thanks so much guys for the advice.. and to answer some of the questions, i'm 29, gonna be 30 this yr.. ( this is another reason to buy a new bike.. midlife crisis LOL)
i don't plan on it being a 10 mile bar hopper, but don't see any 400+ mile rides in my immediate future. but 200-300 would be enough for me for a day. to be completely honest, the only 2 bikes i've spent some time on were my 650 rigid, and my dads vtx1800, the rigid was a POS, but FUN AS HELL.. and the VTX is GREAT for highway riding, but is somewhat cumbersome riding around town. in all reality, the vtx seems too powerful at times.
my ONLY other major concern would be that at some point my wife decides she wants to ride, currently she is anti-motorcycle, and i did take her out on the vtx, but she wasn't too into it..
i really wish i could get up with a demo close by, and take each out for an hour or so.. but i don't see any close demo's around where i live..
thanks again for the help. any other suggestions are most appreciated!!!

maybe she'd say that if you rode another model. just maybe.

Age and size have nothing to do with the type of riding one does a majority of the time. Lots of adults use a bike for daily commutes or rides to the store. Yes, a bike should be chosen on the style of riding one plans of doing but it has NOTHING to do with age or size.