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Welcome Area OnlyNew Member Welcome Area Only. Be sure to pop in here and introduce yourself & let us know what Harley Davidson you own. Save your bike related questions for the proper area.
The last time I rode I was 19. Not because of an accident, but my father's passing left me with other things to worry about and I felt riding was an excessive risk at the time. That was about 10 years ago, I've wised up some, and I'm ready to get back on a bike. My first was a 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan 800. Would you believe me if I told you I NEVER put that bike down? I came close on no less than three (distinctly exciting) occasions, but always kept her wheels-down!
Anyway I figure I'll make a separate thread for this, but I'm hoping for some buying advice on my new hog. Obviously, I'm going for an HD this time around and I've chosen to get a Sportster. Head-to-toe, I measure at 6'5" and lean(ish) at 220. Thus, forward controls (or perhaps a crash bar) seem ideal.
So, I've looked at two bikes and like them both, probably more than I should for only having looked at the two of them. One is a 2015 Sportster 883 just under 1,000 miles with plenty of customization. The other is a 2017 '48 over 1,500 miles.
The 883 already has the stage 1, but I don't like the profile so much. Like it's a cruiser trying to be a sport bike. Perhaps I'll swap out the handlebars, or try lowering the tank first. And add a crash bar.
The '48 reminds me of my Vulcan, and I feel as though that thick front end will be a big help on my city's awful, pothole-ridden, gravely streets.
Welcome from Spartan Country, Michigan! I tell a lot of new comers to the forum to get: Factory Service manual and the Parts manual. Get a three ring binder and record all your maintenance, repairs, accessories, etc. This will be a great reminder of what was done when. And great material to pass along to the new owner should you sell and upgrade. Also know how large your fuel tank is, and record your fuel usage. I have an app called Simply Auto that I record all my fuel used. I use the odometer and use the fuel gage as reference only. I reset the odometer to zero on fill ups, and I know I can safely get 200 miles on a tank on around town riding. Good Luck!!
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Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
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