| Author | Message | ||
     Xring |
BadWebbers, I have a lady friend looking for her first street bike. We've been looking for a couple of years and she has settled on a Sportster Low model. Now HD is making the 1200 in a Low; the two bikes are about the same weight and size; she is asking me which to get. I don't see any drawbacks to her getting the 1200. Can you? She isn't a Buell kinda girl; but the upside is I'll be keeping the Sporty at least part of the time. So I can ride it to work occasionally. Thanks, Bill | ||
| Oldog |
X the 1200 is the ticket, the extra torque makes it more forgiving IMHO sounds like win win | ||
| M2nc |
The 883 is down on power and she will out grow it quickly. The 1200 has enough power for the long haul and rides just as easily. | ||
| Tom_b |
The 883 may be down on power, but compare cost when purchased. It is not that big of a deal once she does out grow the 883 sporty to put a 1200 kit in it and then have a sleeper 883 to hot rod around. I've seen this done several times and the friends that did had no complaints | ||
| Tramp |
the 1200 kit does NOT make the engine the same animal as that of the stock 1200 sporty. I've performed this ritual for many customers (it was wildly popular on the '90s). just go with the proper 1200 model. it will also depreciate far less ath an 883 with the 1200 topend kit. | ||
| Sarodude |
Personal opinion: Sportsters are cool bikes - and they suck for beginners, small folks, and less brawny folks. Add up the scorecard (lotsa ladies are small, beginning, non-brawney types) and you have a 2 wheeled liability. Shit, I've seen ladies in the upper 5' range have trouble handling a Sporty. I LOVE the Sportster. At least I do before somebody takes the Sport out of that bike by putting apes and highway pegs on. I just don't think they're good at what most people say they're good at: A good beginner's or chick's bike. Get a Softtail. Get a Blast. Get a VStar. -Saro | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Weight is your prime enemy when you are a newbie. The new sportsters are really heavy now. I vote for a dual purpose or a blast. | ||
| Josh_ |
Sporty's should only be sold with Hugger solo seats, buckhorn bars and highway pegs the way God intended. The main problem with a Sporty is the center of gravity - it's a (relatively) heavy bike with a high center of gravity. 'course Buell's only compound the problem by taking a heavy motor and moving it up 3" but I digress. Get her a real beginner bike. Savage 650, Blast, SV650. Something she can pick up used for cheap and then drop a few times and not worry about. I know several ladies that started with Sportys. None moved up quickly. I work with a lady that took two years of "practice" on her 1200 before she even rode to work. My mom started on a SV650 Savage. Rode it a year before moving up seamlessly to my 1200-converted Hugger and rides that all over with out a problem. Unless your girl is used to bikes or is 6' I would not suggest a Sportster as a first bike. | ||
| Seth |
My friend's wife took the MSF course than bought a Sporty 1200, she loves the thing. One thing I should make known though is that she's 5'9"; not a short girl. I figure that if your lady friend isn't tiny (petite) and can sit on the seat pretty much standing flat footed, the Sporty should be a good bike. ...my $.02 | ||
| Aldaytona |
I had a girl and her parents come into our dealership looking for a 1st bike. They asked me what was the best bike for a new rider, i took them straight to a Blast. The girl said "that aint cool" and went right for the Sportster. No logic could sway them and she bought the Sportster. This was during the Bike Week madness, heavy crowds and traffic. As her parents and I watched her pull out onto Beach street and almost drop it and get hit, she was shaking and dragging her feet down the road as far as we could see, with everyone else going around her. Her parents looked at me and I smiled and said " now that's COOL aint it?" and walked back inside with them staring down the road, mouths hanging open.  | ||
| Xring |
Thanks for the replies. For her, it is a Sportster or nothing. We've had her sit on every bike we could the last year or so. She zeroed in on the Sporty at the Cycle World motorcycle show last year. I would rather see her start on a smaller,lighter bike. On the other hand, she rode dirt bikes a lot when were were in high school, and she is athletic and a quick study. So I think she'll be OK after taking the MSF course. The depreciation of the 1200 vs 883 is one of the things I was thinking of. Thanks. Bill | ||
| Dano_12s |
Bill, my vote goes to the 883.We've had a few. Once you put miles on it and she gets comfortable riding it is simple to add better power+handling.As far as loosing value the base is $6500.00.I think you'd be fine on a trade-in...IF SHE WOULD GIVE IT UP.My latest is a '02 883[1200]W/100 H.P.at rear wheel.Fun machine! | ||
| Tramp |
is your lady friend short-ish, light-ish? if so, get an older honda 450 rebel for $600- or so, put "ride to live, live to ride" stickers on the tank, and tell her it's a sportster. when they've got that harley fever, they're likely gullible enough to believe a moped's a night train. | ||
| Xring |
She doesn't so much have Harley fever as she wants what she wants...as only a woman can. We had her sit on and look at every metric cruiser at the CW show, and as soon as she saw and sat on an 883L she said this is the one. I'd like to say that my own desire to have a Sportster in the garage has nothing to do with it, but that wouldn't be completely true. She's about 5'5", average weight. I resist the upgrade-power-later option, mostly because I would be the one handling it and/or doing the work, and I don't have time for it. At this point in my life, I want to be able to buy-and-ride, and be happy with it. I'm trying to resist the bigger is better mentality, but in this case I'm not sure smaller is better, either. :-) Thanks again guys. Bill | ||
| Bake |
1200, the 883 is gutless for passing. | ||
| Mikej |
Test rides are probably the only real way to know, either from a dealership or thru HOG membership loaner bikes. Have her take an 883 and then a 1200 and then an 833 and then a 1200 again for test rides to get a real feel for her wants and needs. That's the only way to know what will work and what won't. | ||
| Bomber |
once a mind is made up, it's tough to change went to an MSF Advanced Class last spring, and there was a lady on a bugger that was loudly and clearly disparaging everything that wasn't a big twin in the class -- commented on the Jap Crap (looking at my M2) as well, and wondered about their owner's patriotism said she'd done the beginner's class, and could wait to get on a real bike -- had three weeks of experience on her bagger, and was accompanied by her boyfriend which was good -- as he had to lift the beast up off the crash bars about a dozen times in the morning -- they were no where to be seen after the lunch break this is by way of a seconding of MikeJ's motion for test rides -- we all know sitting on something ain't riding it -- she may, two blocks form the dealer, change her mind -- but no one else will, I'm thinkin | ||
| Road_thing |
I'll bet that poor bugger was getting tired of carrying her! rt | ||
| Djkaplan |
"1200, the 883 is gutless for passing." I agree wholeheartedly, but I know two (male) riders that are very impressed with the power from their 883s. Maybe they're mistaking noise for power! All a matter of perspective... I guess. | ||
| Ezblast |
I pass both all the time - GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Henrik |
The 883 is likely a much better deal $$ wise than the 1200 *if* you intend to do power upgrades anyway. You can buy some seriously nice motor work for the price difference between the two. Motor work that will put you well above what the stock 1200 will ever achieve no matter the bolt-ons. Just a thought. Henrik | ||
| Bomber |
Thang, Thang, Thang -- (shaking head and sighing) | ||
| Percyco |
Sarodude is right.....the Sportster isnt a beginners bike. They are heavy and have a high center of gravity. I dont know where the myth of a H-D Sportster being a beginners bike or a girls bike started (probably some grease-ball biker gang). The Sportster was originally built to compete with Triumphs and other overseas street racers of the day. My 883 isnt as mean as my XB, but with the few mods it has it's able to pull the front wheel......  | ||
| Kdan |
By all means get her what she wants. We all want an opportunity for cheap,slightly scratched bikes that scared the hell out of the noobs and go on E-bay so frequently. I have a friend whose husband "insisted his wife ride a sporty". She's got a nice '69 he fixes right after she drops it in the driveway about 4 times a season. He swears she don't need no riding course. She just needs more seat time. yikes. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Get her a Kawasaki Vulcan 500. It's a nice looking bike and it will out accelerate both the 883 and 1200 (for a boatload less rupees) | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Up until this afternoon I never gave the 883 sportster any credit. But that all changed... I was on a long ride today (400+ miles) and while coming back (about 1.5 hours from home) I had a guy slide up next to me on I-90 he was riding an '06 883. He was just admiring my Buell, so we rode together for some time. At times we were pushing it, and his 883 kept up. The guy was fairly big (225+) and it was maintaining 115mph+ on the mountain grades. He didn't have much acceleration left at those speeds, but he never fell behind. We both pulled off to get gas, and I figured he had all sorts of engine work. Nope, bone stock 883, it was only 2 months old. Never again will I look down at an 883. Funny thing though. He had the stock pipe, and at those speeds I could hear his bike over my XB9. These Buells are so quiet. | ||
| Anonymous |
Bill, Check out the 2007 883 with EFI. New cams, 15% more torque, EFI, further reduced clutch pull effort and you can get a low model with a 25.3" seat height. The 2007 883 is just a plain good motorcycle. Easy to ride and beginner friendly. You definitely notice the additional torque/power. I think it will be worth your while to check it out. | ||
| Ezblast |
I just dusted both on a long strait on my Black Blast tuesday - to make them feel better on the next light when they asked how many cc's is that puppy - I told them 600 - that alone made them look hard and mutter - if I would have told them 515 - they would have called me a liar - but I left the 883 far behind and the 1200 a little over 20 feet behind - I had followed them for 12 blocks watching them bust on and pass every thing they could - then caught them at a light, they checked the bike, pointed, smiled, revved, and I dusted them - period - cruisers are still just that unless set up for drag. GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Blake |
Why posting as "Anonymous"? Please do not abuse that option. It is reserved for use by folks who have a serious and valid need to use it. If you are unsure, please contact a board custodian. Thanks for understanding. Blake | ||
| Hurricaneleah |
EZ, I think Eric Bostrom, Ben Bostrom, Aaron Yates, Scott Zampach, Shawn Higbee, etc, etc, etc might argue that point. Those guys started their professional AMA road racing careers on 'cruisers'. That was some great racing for sure. I have Z-man's old 883 ama bike. I'd be happy to line up against your blast....if you could take being smoked by a girl!  | ||
| Madduck |
My younger brother and his wife ride their 883 custom all over the state. It will easily outrun most cars and trucks. Its performance only suffers against other motorcyles. It easly keeps up with the traffic you are likely to encounter. Plus in a coulple of year you can sell it to those of us who like hot rod sprtsters. The 07 is the keeper of the choices. If the intent is to sell in you may want the carbed version for resale to performance junkies. | ||
| Ezblast |
Bring it! if its a stocker - its toast - of course when you modify all bets are off - why do you think my Blasts are so fast - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
When I get real old - close to 70 - I'll start looking at cruisers - I've seen killer Sporsters and got half my hotrod tips from the drag guys, that doesn't mean I'll own one, they drag too many parts in corners unless very highly modded, and even then will not reach Buell potential though I've seen a few get close with some very pricey parts and mods. GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Djkaplan |
I like Sportsters. I'm in the market for a 2000 model, the solid-mount shaker. | ||
| Ezblast |
Hey - I didn't say I disliked them, just that they are tuned differently stock as cruisers and not the racers of their heritage - a cafe' sportster is totally cool and with todays Buell infused engines they have a world of potential, its just that they where talking about stockers as a beginner bike - personally I'd recommend a Blast - duh - however, if it had to be a sportster I'd get the 883 because the customizing potential is greater - while the 1200s though nice are already slightly specialized into certain styles - this of course is a personal choice - as is all our bikes - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ |
