don't spend 12k for a sportster...you'll be trading for a dyna in a year and you will lose half your money.'

Buy a 1 or 2 year old dyna with the stage one already done

 

Do you want to be a Harley Owner or Owned by a Harley?

You buy that bike and finance all those mods and you'll be owned. Never sell future time and earnings for a motorcycle. Buy used and pay cash. If you can't do that; wait until you can. You can buy 883 Sportsters 04 and up all day long for 4 to 5k. And in 3 years, that bike you're looking at buying ain't gonna be worth much more than that.

 

Maybe add a tuner.
Check out Hammer Performance for the 1250 kit, many people say it performs much better.
And I would price the labor, you may be looking at over $3000 more from Harley.

I would buy the bike first with $800 down, get the free hog membership and then order all your parts from the dealer to get an additional 10% off with the hog membership and no shipping charges. Take the bike and the parts to a local bike mechanic and have them install for half of what Harley would charge.
Use the remaining $1200 from your down payment to pay for labor on the parts install.
This method may save you about $2000 plus interest.

 

I'm look at it like I will either spend this much on the bike over time and slowly get all the stuff I want or pay some interest to get it all right away. I fully understand and appreciate all of the advice about the finance.

I had a 2005 883 that I had to sell when I joined the Navy active duty in 2007 and have been dying for a new bike ever since. I've had six years to carefully select everything I like and would want to do to a bike so it's not just a spur of the moment thing. I really appreciate all of the advice and opinions.

 

Very interesting ideas, thank you. I will most likely not go the route I have posted after reading all of this advice.

I have thought about getting a Dyna but to be honest I am not a very experienced rider, my first and only bike was the 883 brand new in 2005 and I only rode it for two years, stepping up to a Dyna is a bit intimidating.

 

you will be comfortable on the dyna in only 5 minutes. I actually think it is easier to ride then my sporty was. The sporty always seemed so top heavy.

Go to the dealership and test ride a dyna before you make up your mind...and make sure you take it on the freeway...dyna's are just as fun in the twistys but much better at freeway and high speed riding

My first bike was a 2006 sporty...I had never rode a full size motorcycle before...I kept it for almost 2 years and traded it for the dyna....believe me, you won't have any trouble riding it and it will be much more comfy. Try it, you'll like it

 

I bought my 2010 Iron with 6k miles and alot already done to do it for under 8k.

pipes, intake, fuel pak, blacked out turn signals, etc...

I have to agree its stupid to put all that into financing. If you are looking new, they can bargain on addon parts, but not the bikes bottom line. They tend to throw in a 1k giftcard for parts/service. So get your pipes, and intake that way.

 

I will have to take a Dyna for a test ride and see how it feels. I have had numerous people advise me on going for a Dyna over a Sporty, like I said the only reason I am hesitant is because the Dyna always seemed like too much bike for such an experienced rider whose only experience is two years on an 883 and it's been six years since I've owned I bike on top of that. I can afford I Dyna and would not desire to do anywhere near as much to it as I would a Sporty, I'd do pipes, intake and maybe an aftermarket seat and be thrilled. The HD1 factory customization thing looks like an interesting route for a Dyna as well.

 

Forget HD1, that just gets you a bike that looks like everyone else. There are a lot of great non hd parts that will really personalize your bike and make it stand out.

 

I would say buy a 1200... fix it up as you go...Looks like you want instant gratification...Be patient.... the bad thing about this build is, it's still a 883 and that is all it will ever be worth...If you want a 1200 get a 1200 start with something added...do it yourself along the way... all this add on **** you are looking at is easy to install yourself with basic or fairly basic tools and knowledge....Not saying a 883 is a bad bike, i had one and i loved it..