Looking at Bikes

[miglan30]

Give the Triumph dealership a look before you make a final decision.

 

[red devil]

Give the Triumph dealership a look before you make a final decision.

+1

 

[mygar]

Give the Triumph dealership a look before you make a final decision.

That was my original choice actually but the 48 just checked a lot of boxes for me.

But i think its best i stick with used market. The yr will change over... rainy season soon... see if i can pick up a bike for cheap. Maybe even honda... or a beater... ride for 6mo to yr and see where this is going. Maybe learn what i like or dont like. So that will limit my choices.

 

[Winston Carter]

Yes, they are not touring bikes for sure. I think it fits 90% riding i will be doing. Longer rides... need to plan fill ups. The comfort level... well i probably can tolerate more than most. I regulary ride (road bicycle) on 50 to 60 mi stints... 3 to 5 hrs without stopping depending on terrain

I for sure will contact you for questions. Thx!

If you are going to take long trips forget everything but a Harley Street Glide or Dresser. The others will just be uncomfortable and beat you up. If you try to save money you will most likely be broke down somewhere on the side of the road.

 

[Winston Carter]

Son's bar hopper. Def not touring. Good for 30 mi. trips. He gave $7,000 for it.

 

[Winston Carter]

Don't look at this picture too long or you'll get Harley Fever.

 

[Bfd70]

If you are going to take long trips forget everything but a Harley Street Glide or Dresser. The others will just be uncomfortable and beat you up. If you try to save money you will most likely be broke down somewhere on the side of the road.

Disagree. Partially. I agree that the street glide is lush. It is also a TERRIBLE choice for a first bike at 900 lbs. i ride one now. I even added a driver backrest for long rides. 20 years ago i could do 500 mile days on a sporty, drink all night, wake up and do it again. It ain’t the arrow, it’s the indian.

 

[mygar]

Don't look at this picture too long or you'll get Harley Fever.

View attachment 144193

I have it pretty bad already :/

 

[Winston Carter]

Disagree. Partially. I agree that the street glide is lush. It is also a TERRIBLE choice for a first bike at 900 lbs. i ride one now. I even added a driver backrest for long rides. 20 years ago i could do 500 mile days on a sporty, drink all night, wake up and do it again. It ain’t the arrow, it’s the indian.

Aclub here in Dallas "The Scorpions" 30-40 years ago when you drove by their club house all you would see is hard tails and springer front ends. Now days all you see sitting outside their club house is street glides and dressers. You get older, you get smarter.

 

[mygar]

If you are going to take long trips forget everything but a Harley Street Glide or Dresser. The others will just be uncomfortable and beat you up. If you try to save money you will most likely be broke down somewhere on the side of the road.

I do worry about buying someone elses problem ... but also dont want to pay arm and leg for something i will learn on or find out is not quite what i am looking for.... kinda like jackets maybe... oh boy!

 

[Winston Carter]

I do worry about buying someone elses problem ... but also dont want to pay arm and leg for something i will learn on or find out is not quite what i am looking for.... kinda like jackets maybe... oh boy!

You are always better off buying brand new.

 

[mygar]

Well one thing i have learned is when you ask bike owners what would be a first good bike... well boy like poking a hornets nest! Heck some folks will look across from them and will declare you never being up to owning a harley ever!

But for myself... i think i need to dip my toe a bit... see where this takes me. I hope to buy a used dependable bike to learn on... and learn what i do or dont like... not take such a big depreciation hit.

When i have more info i can buy exactly what i want new.

One cool thing about the sportsters.. i think its the type of bike you can still keep if you decide to go to a bigger touring bike. If im patient... i probably can score a great deal.

But maybe i will just beat up on an old honda... but that sure doesnt excite me!

 

[lina]

There are always some cool vintage HD jackets on eBay and Etsy...

 

[HoosierDaddy]

After a 650CC Triumph years ago...750 Kaw...HD 1350 LowRider Custom..I finally found my fav bike to ride. Bought this 1200 Sporty new after retirement and rode it throughout my 60s and still today at 71. Many 600 mile round trips of fun right with the big boys. It still looks new just like this pic....

 

[mygar]

After a 650CC Triumph years ago...750 Kaw...HD 1350 LowRider Custom..I finally found my fav bike to ride. Bought this 1200 Sporty new after retirement and rode it throughout my 60s and still today at 71. Many 600 mile round trips of fun right with the big boys. It still looks new just like this pic.... View attachment 144206

Very nice. Is that a sportster custom? Looking at those... bigger tank for more miles... do you know if the geometry of the frame is the same as the 48? Just wondering if the the custom is more comfortable to ride

 

[mygar]

Yes..it is a 2003 100th Anniversary 1200 Sportster Custom. Now the new Sportster Customs are rubber mounted with an even bigger tank than mine ( I think 4 gal ) and fuel injected. I think my tank is 3 1/2 gal. The old small Sportster tanks were 2 1/2 gal. I think I run about 110 miles before fill up. You might run 150 miles with the 4 gal. I've ridden the new Sportster customs and 48s and they are nice. However I like mine. It just fit the first time I threw a leg over. I like the forward controls on my custom. The new customs have went back to regular foot controls. Not fond of the more cafe style of the 48. Go sit on a few and check them out.
HD

Yep you are right on the tanks. I did go and check out what they had on floor. You can get them with mid or forward controls. They did not have a 1200 custom on the floor though....

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I edited and updated this post as I remembered more about the new Sporter Customs......Yes..it is a 2003 100th Anniversary 1200 Sportster Custom. Now the new Sportster Customs are rubber mounted with an even bigger tank than mine ( I think 4 1/2 gal ) and fuel injected. I think my tank is 3 1/2 gal. The old small Sportster tanks were 2 1/2 gal. I think I run about 110 miles before fill up. You might run 175 miles with the 4 1/2 gal. I've ridden the new Sportster customs and 48s and they are nice. However I like mine. It just fit the first time I threw a leg over. I like the forward controls on my custom. The new customs have went back to regular foot controls. Not fond of the more cafe style of the 48. Go sit on a few and check them out.
HD

 

[red devil]

Here in the UK, something like a Suzuki bandit 650 is generally recommended as a first bike, as it's reliable, heavy enough, and easy to resell. You can practice all you want it on it for a year and resell it at a minimal loss a year later.

 

[rolf s]

My first big bike bought at age 41. Before this I had a cuople of 50cc bikes when I was 16 and a vintage 50cc Vespa. Its an 84 fxr with an modern twincam engine.

 

[JMax]

My first big bike bought at age 41. Before this I had a cuople of 50cc bikes when I was 16 and a vintage 50cc Vespa. Its an 84 fxr with an modern twincam engine.

That is one heck of an Fxr. Perfect bike.