Hello!
Sometime in the very near future I'll be taking the Motorcycle Safety Course to get my license in Va and cannot wait to begin riding (most of my experience is on fourwheelers when I was younger and only as a passenger of a Fatboy, which I loved!). Although I would absolutely LOVE to get a Fatboy, a 700+ pound bike may not be a good "beginners" machine. I've had others continuously recommend the Shadow or VStar, but there's something about a Harley that I need to have, and be apart of. There's a bike, and there's a Harley.

After some expert extensive review, I believe that I've narrowed it down to a Sportster for my first bike. It seems to be well rounded, within my price range, customizable and something that I shouldn't tire of easily. My question is, because the 883cc and the 1200cc are basically the same weight (~520lbs), why wouldn't I go with a 1200cc to begin with? I'm 6'0 175lbs, so I don't think that ride height or this weight range would pose as a concern. Not that I'm looking for speed or crazy power with a motorcycle, let alone a Harley - I love them, but thee are other bikes for that, but I do hear of people getting someone tired of a Sportster and wanting something else shortly after. I don't mind spending the money on a 2005 $6,000 beautiful looking Sportster, but I don't want to get 2-3 years down the road and feel that I've maxed out already.

What are your all's thoughts and experiences? I look forward to joining you all on the road!

 

I bought an XL1200 for my first bike two years ago. Still fun as hell and definitely no desire to get rid of it any time soon, if ever. Might be nice to have something bigger for long highway rides, but I would still want to keep my sportster too. A lot of sportster owners will probably tell you to get the 883, and then upgrade to a 1250cc kit when you have the money. I say don't waste your time with all that, and go right to the 1200.

 

883 insurance rates lower... Fun factor the same. Had my 883 for 6 years with no desire to upgrade engine or buy a bigger HD machine.

 

My 1st bike was a 1200 and boy I tell you if i would've got a 883cc I probably would've traded it in, in a month. It's always good to have some extra power behind you. My friends have crotch rockets and my pops has a streetglide with a 110 so if I would've got the 883 I would be far behind lol. And everyone I know who has 883s always tell me I'm lucky I have a 1200. Good luck with your purchase and ride safe!

 

If you can install the big bore kit yourself, get the 883. If not start with the 1200.

I really can't wait to I get a big bore kit.

 

Thanks for all of the replies! I'd much rather have that "little extra" and not use it, than the other way around.

Just for fun, still sticking with beginner bikes (similar weight range and easy ridability for a novice) what would you all recommend? As I've said, I am a fan of the Fat Boy style and I do have a special liking for chopper/custom styles (I'll admit, the Honda (hold on now....) Fury did catch my eye, but if I'm going to drop that much money, I'd rather just put that towards a "true" chopper with that huge rear tire! And no Shadows, VStar's, Suzuki Blvd's - I'm tired of lookin' at those, haha (ain't got nothin' on a Harley!)

 

Three years ago I bought a used 2005 883 XL Custom for $4500. I was happy with it for about two months. It wasn't the power issue, but my wife started riding with me and it just wasn't cutting it two up. I traded for a '98 Dyna Convertible and was over joyed with the difference. I recently added a 2007 Road King to my garage. Now, if I feel like blasting into town alone, I fire up the Dyna.....a road trip, or when Momma feels like coming...the Road King is our baby. I understand your concern about beginning on a heavier bike, but truthfully, riding any of them ain't all that different. My advice would be to consider at length how you'll be using your bike, and buying the model that best meets your needs. It's gonna be way cheaper then inching up one at a time the way I did.

 

my safety course instructor told me to start with the bike you intend to end up on, if you start with a sportster you have to relearn the dyna cuz its a different bike, weight feel etc. so my first bike was a heritage classic and ive never had any problems.

 

Ask 100 different people and you're bound to get 100 different answers. I've had 3 Sportsters. All of which started out in life as an 883. The first one I converted to a 1200. The second stayed mostly stock. This one has the taxes paid and have been satisfied with it so far.

Don't get me wrong, having a 1200/1250 offers a good deal of extra power. I just haven't felt the drive to convert this one. I'm going on a 3000 mile trip in a few weeks and will evaluate after the trip if I will or won't.

I'm 5'9" and a stout 220#. I'll weigh the bike down with at least an additional 50-60 pounds of stuff not including the weight of the saddlebags, windshield and 2 additional gallons of gas. I've already tested out the bike on the highway with a moc run of about 100 miles and had no issues with being under powered.

I'm not trying to tell you the 1200 isn't worth it. It is to many. I may even cave in myself. That said, in daily riding, the differences aren't as tremendous as you'd think. If you should decide to get the 883, just make sure you get a well tuned Stage 1 to make it run like it should.

 

1200 and done insurance is cheap