Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
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Old Jun 11, 2010 | 08:12 PM
  #71  
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I don't think Harley makes a sportster (any size/type) with worthwhile seats or shocks.

I think that is part of the trick to get people to upgrade to something massive and expensive.

Why must you have to get a 100 cubic inch motor to get a good seat, or do their seats also suck?

On a side note, chrome is great stuff, very easy to clean, it does not scratch easy, does not rust, fade, chip....

Brett
 
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Old Jun 15, 2010 | 08:07 PM
  #72  
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-you'll love it! Buy whatever you can afford. Just go!
 

Last edited by eneyege; Jul 2, 2010 at 08:58 PM.
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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 04:13 AM
  #73  
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With that engine sticking out the left side and the rear fender... I think it may be a Dyna...

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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 08:03 AM
  #74  
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This is VERY good advice.
I dont know how many people I know of who got into motorcycle riding, got a big new Harley, then crashed and don't ride anymore.

I would say, buy an old street and dirt bike and go dirt riding for a year, its loads of fun, learn all that out of control responses, how to lock the back wheel up and slide, how to react when coming around a turn at speed and finding a big hole or a truck coming the other way, and other fun things where you can fall and not get killed.

Then, get a used street bike that is good for your size and skill level.

Brett




[quote=eneyege;6867303]
Originally Posted by Certainteed
if its your first bike, dont buy a brand new harley. go buy a beater bike for this season and put some frikken miles on it. you may not even like riding. and to be honest, you're more likely to drop it or get yourself killed in your first season.[/QU -you'll love it. Buy whatever you can afford. Just go!
 
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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 07:01 PM
  #75  
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Default 883R nice

I'm 6'0 and 230 lbs and if i rip on the throttle it will give me all i want for acceleration. 60mpg highway is wonderful for commuting back and forth to work. It's stock and ill definitely throw on a good after market seat. 2006 883 insurance is full coverage for $75.00 a year.

I see no lack of power or desire for more after all its my cruiser and though i can easily run at 75mph i rarely choose to. Heck i rarely drive my Jeep Liberty at that speed. After all its a Sportster. I see guys driving the big twins full fairing and all around town and i'm like whats the point in that. For a little cash you can make an 883 into a 1200 or why bother use that cash to put on bags, a good seat etc, etc and cruise with anybody else? I gotta grab tight to my drag bars when i lay on the throttle of my 883 thats for sure.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 08:07 PM
  #76  
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I dunno about you guys - I bought the 1200C after the Harley rides passed through town and I got to try the 883 & the 1200 - Frankly, I`m a bit disappointed in the 1200 - I don`t find it all that powerful and I`m only 5`7" and 175 lbs. I think a big guy like like him would be somewhat disappointed too. I bought the Sportster rather than say the Dyna because I felt comfortable riding it. If I was bigger I would have gone for the Dyna.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 07:06 PM
  #77  
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Originally Posted by shiftharder
I dunno about you guys - I bought the 1200C after the Harley rides passed through town and I got to try the 883 & the 1200 - Frankly, I`m a bit disappointed in the 1200 - I don`t find it all that powerful and I`m only 5`7" and 175 lbs. I think a big guy like like him would be somewhat disappointed too. I bought the Sportster rather than say the Dyna because I felt comfortable riding it. If I was bigger I would have gone for the Dyna.
Why would he be disappointed? I think the 883 is underestimated and the 1200 over hyped. The 883 fits me fine as far as i'm concerned. Once i put a Sundowner seat on it and some highway pegs i'll be totally set. The Sportster 883/1200 and just damn sexy looking bikes imho and very affordable not to mention racy and fun. Somebody mentioned other Harley's cruising at 85/90mph ie Road Kings. That kinda defeats the purpose of why many of us ride. Sportsters are for us that like it raw. Yeah raw purebread motorcycle woot!
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 08:23 PM
  #78  
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Originally Posted by Wildon883R
Why would he be disappointed? I think the 883 is underestimated and the 1200 over hyped. The 883 fits me fine as far as i'm concerned. Once i put a Sundowner seat on it and some highway pegs i'll be totally set. The Sportster 883/1200 and just damn sexy looking bikes imho and very affordable not to mention racy and fun. Somebody mentioned other Harley's cruising at 85/90mph ie Road Kings. That kinda defeats the purpose of why many of us ride. Sportsters are for us that like it raw. Yeah raw purebread motorcycle woot!
i know you like your 883. thats awesome. but a 1200 is the ****.

and rolling 90mph on a 1200 is cake. the bike wants to settle in at 85 anyway. i've had showoff-baggers run past me at those speeds and i always overtake and blow by them. its downright fun. talking with them at gas stations is a riot cause they got nothing on a 1200. "taxes paid" on a big twin means squat. last weekend i blew past a dude a a buck-ten and i was loaded for a weekend of camping

my 1200 is still 100% stock

the cool thing about your bike is when you're ready you can convert it to 1200 and then you've got a redlight romper/ big-twin stomper.
 
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Old Jul 3, 2010 | 03:44 AM
  #79  
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Originally Posted by mwegryn
If you can afford a 1200, do it now. You can do a 1200 conversion on an 883, but in the end you'll spend about the same anyhow. Like others are saying, sit on them. The 48 already has forward controls, which will save you an additional $400.
Your wrong IMO,you can get a 1200 kit for $550 and if you do the work yourself that's all it will cost you. There is a $2k+ price diff on a 1200/883. I looked at that. I have had 2 883's the 06' I have now and a 89' 883H. The 89' seemed faster but it was chain drive & 4spd,geared different. I have no issues keeping up on my 883 and it will do 100 mph all day. I'm 5'10" but 180lbs. My 06' I bought in 07' new off the showroom now has 18k on the ODO with no major issues happening. The petcock went bad but that's it. I've had other bikes along with this so I put miles on those to but I have ridden a 1200 my bro had before he got his Nightrain and yes it has more torque and such but so far I really haven't felt the need to go to a 1200 and I do ride 2 up with Dawn alot in these mountains where I live. Seriously if I want to go faster I jump on this.......

it's a 600R and I know a 1200 can't keep up with it...by the time they get to 80mph I'm at 125mph.......Harleys are cruisers and semi sporty but really if you want fast fast look elsewhere. Are you really going to ride any Sportster 100+ mph for longer than a couple seconds? I'm not saying Sportsters suck because mine will never go anywhere ever & is my favorite bike since I was in HS in the late 80's! But 1200's aren't the end all fast *** machines....they are still cruisers.
 

Last edited by twisty571; Jul 3, 2010 at 03:54 AM.
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Old Jul 3, 2010 | 12:11 PM
  #80  
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Originally Posted by casteel
i'm a bigger guy and i'm wanting a HD bike. since i'm on a budget i'm wanting to get a Sportster.
Size and weight don't matter, I'm 6-1 and 220lbs now, when I bought my sporty 2 years ago I was 250, riding 2 up the wife and I put over 400lbs and the 1200 didn't skip a beat.

That said, don't buy a Sportster, if you're doing it because you're on a budget I recommend waiting saving some money and buying the bike you really want. Like a woman there is nothing worse then settling for one you don't really like. Getting rid of the old one when you find a new one will be tougher than you think, although unlike a woman you may be able to keep both.
 
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