What kind of Harley should I get?

Question

So i posted a question saying i want a v-rod and everyone says its too hard to handle for a new rider. So what kind of harley should I get? It HAS to be a Harley, NOTHING ELSE!!! I want a nice one, and one with a loud engine. I crave that sound!! I'm 15 years old, female. And I DO have enough money, of my own, to buy a sportster right now, or something else, used. But I'm still going to save up.

So what type would be good for a girl beginner? I DON'T WANT ANYTHING SISSY/GIRLY, I want something tough, something that looks tough also.

Thanks!!

not to be rude or anything, but i don't like those racing bikes, those suzuki's, they are for little boys and they belong on the race track not the street. they are a very nice/hot looking bike, but absolutely NOT FOR ME!!! sorry!

i was thinking more along the lines of a sportster. but i have no idea.

to tom b, stupid i have enough money, about 8 or 9 grand in the bank!! RETARD! i have enough money to buy anything i want! so BACK OFF!

Answer 1

A sportster has a reputation as being a "girls bike" but I disagree. The sportster with the 1200 ci motor has plenty of power, and isn't terrible to ride. BUT, it does have a small gas tank and isn't very comfortable for longer rides. One lady in our club has one, she rides the breakfast rides on it, but those are usually less than 80 miles. If you can save a little more up, I'd suggest either a Dyna low rider, or maybe wide glide, but you should understand that you should take a motorcycle safety course first, so that you can use their bike to learn on, before you climb on a bigger Harley. The Vrod is not an easy bike to learn on, but if you think it fits you, and feels right to you, then by all means, go for one. I don't care for the Vrod myself, but that's just my personal taste, not because of any problem with the bike. Spend a little time sitting on some of the different models, remember too that a dyna wideglide weighs about 500 lbs empty, so you need to be able to put both feet flat on the ground to balance properly, which is true on any bike. Also, there are a million ways to customize a sporster to your own personal taste and needs. The 883 CI sporster is discontinued, but the 1200 ci sporster is still very much a part of the harley line. It's the better motor anyway. Remeber that you can lower a sporster very easily too if you need it lower for your size.
whatever you decide, ride safe.
Remember that in the end, there are only two kinds of riders, Those who have been knocked down, and those who are going to be knocked down.

Answer 2

Sounds like a sportster is the bike for you. Anyone can say anything but you like what you like, and nowadays with so many good bikes, that is really what matters.

Get a 883 sportster. Check for style, seat height, color etc. If it has most of what you want get it. It will be less expensive then a 1200 and easier to learn on. After you are feeling a little bored with the power, get a 1200 kit put on, the HD dealer can do it. Get all the stage 3/ported/cam stuff if you want. The cool thing is you can do almost anything with a sportster.

As far as being a girly bike, sportsters aren't, anyone who says different has there head up their *** and you can safely ignore anything they say. Paint job, forward pegs, slipon mufflers take care of any of the girly stuff in most peoples minds. Don't worry about anything but what you want. Get a 883 Sportster.

Hey Meilskul, since you had to throw out you have been riding for twenty years, I have to ask, did you start as a moron or did it take work and time? If you were a "real" rider you would have told this 15 yo new rider that just like sportsters, anything after AMF is also not a harley. In fact, if you don't have a panhead you really are just a poser. Why on earth would you reccomend a $16k plus, 672 pound motorcyle. Oh that's right, you had twenty years of training riders, you probably work for a HD stealership.

Answer 3

If it's a Harley you're looking for, I'd recommend a Sportster, either 883 or 1200. I'd look at one a few years old. It will be a little bit cheaper than a new one. You'll need that extra cash for insurance on the bike. As others have mentioned, chances are you will go down within the first year of riding. It doesn't matter if you take the MSF course or not, you will go down. I took the class and strongly recommend it. It's a good starting point. Riding experience teaches you a lot too. I'm a pretty safe rider, but still went down in the first week of owning my first bike and a second time after that. That was a long time ago and haven't gone down since. Knock on wood. You will have a good time with the Sportster. After a while you'll probably want to move up to a Dyna or Soft-tail. I can understand your desire to own a Harley. I've owned Jap bikes but once I rode a Harley I've not owned or ridden a Jap bike since. Harley's are great bikes, enjoy. As I mentioned in my answer to your previous post, go with black.

Answer 4

If not ridden before i would start with a sportster. A 833 you could be happy with but the 1200 you will want in time. Both are about the about the same wieght and just change the pipes to get the sound you want. Do not put a lot in extras because hard to get it back out of the sportster. In a few years sell it and move up to a big twin. As for the other guy saying if you can pick it up from it's side on flat ground anyone can if shown the right way. Just go with the sportster and maybe even look into a used one with low miles and warrenty left with add ons that the last person payed for and not getting thier money back on. In a few years move up. Thier are plenty of guys on 883 sportsters so your 1200 will be good.

Answer 5

First off: Congratulations on wanting to buy a real bike.

The Vrod would be a very difficult bike to learn to ride on.

Once you get your drivers license, take an MSF course to learn the basics of riding. They will supply the bikes and it will give you the opportunity to get the feel of a bike.

If you don't have any experience riding and you have your heart set on a Harley, then you should consider getting a used 883. It's the smallest Harley and it handles well. I say used because then you won't spend all of your money and you will be that much further ahead on saving for a larger one when you are ready to move up in size.

Answer 6

I normally rip on harley questions but I will not do that this time. Honest answer is that you may wish to get a used "beater bike" for you first bike. Most people dump their first bike, many do it more than once. Those who have had dirkbikes tend to be alright but you never mentioned having one so I'm guessing you have not. An old sportster may be a good first bike. It will not make too much power all at one time so there will be no surprises, makes more sense to me than getting a rocket to begin with anyways. Before you buy a bike maybe take an MSF course and learn how to ride one, look at it this way if you drop one you will not have to pay to fix it:) All that said you can buy the sound of a harley cheaper made by a different company and get less headaches (repair bills) as an added bonus. Have fun with your new toy and please get good gear (helmet, jacket, gloves, ect).

Answer 7

Don't know anything about how many hours you've got riding or your size with a bike that can weight as much as 800 pounds that makes a difference. What kind of riding do you want to do? Nothing wrong with a sporty fun around town but I wouldn't want to ride it to sturgis. If you start out with an 883 you can build it as you need to to a 1200. There are a lot of Sportsters out there that are a few years old and have very few miles on them, then you can set it up the way you want it. Ride for a year and move up to something else. I like the FL models but I ride distance and the fat front wheel is smoother on the highway.

Answer 8

The 883's are a nice beginner ride. But instead of spending all your money on a motorcycle that chances are will get laid down a time or two while learning to ride, why not buy a less expensive jap bike like a Honda. Learn on it, after you get the experience of riding then get a Harley. A lot of the non American bikes offer a v-twin. Honda has some, Suzuki and Yamaha also has some. I also heard of a new motorcycle that is American made called Ridley. They have the look of a Harley but they are automatic.

Answer 9

I would start with a 1200 Sportster. It is a fairly small bike but has plenty of power for when you outgrow an 883. But no matter what anyone says you must go and look at the bikes yourself and talk your parents/guardians into buying it. (most states won't sell to minors)

Answer 10

I'd go with what Byron said on this one. Check them out top to bottom. The Sporster lineup would be a great start. Sit in the saddle of as many as possible. Go to more than one dealer to what's out there. You can do some research for new & used bikes on www.cycletrader.com.

For the sound you want you will have buy some aftermarket pipes. Vance & Hines, Cobra, etc.