Hey there. I haven't ridden a motorcycle for a very long time, probably 20 years, and then it was very limited. I am planning on taking a riding course at a local H-D dealership this spring. I am hoping that it goes well, and am looking for a good bike to get started with. I love the look of the Sportster 883 iron. I want to be a good rider, and know I have a lot to learn to get the feel and most importantly, the knowledge to be a safe rider.

Any tips from the gallery here? I'm 40 years old, so I'm not looking to race, but find nice stretches of highway to cruise and clear my mind on.
I plan on wearing a helmet and associated leathers for safety. I'm an RN by profession for 13 years, and have seen my share of injuries due to motorcycles, so I understand the risk and the importance of learning how to do it the right way.

I know I don't need a new bike, just letting you know the style of what I would love to ride.

 

My uncle had an 883 Sportster for a while. That was the most unstable, wobbly, underpowered motorcycle I've ever ridden.

It was a struggle to maintain 70 mph on the bike. I know you don't want to go fast, but I would consider the 1200 Sportster (or is it 1100?).

I ride Honda, so I don't know too much about the HD's. But I know that 883 was junk...

 

I am not into cruisers that much. I have a sport bike but my roommate has a Springer softtail. It is a nice bike. I have riden it a couple times. I think his is a 1500 or something. I know you arent lookin to go fast but having a bigger engine is nice to have in case you need the acceleration. Remember it is only as fast as you make it go. Sorry i cant help more i dont know too much about cruisers though.

 

i traded my sportbike for a 2010 street glide.. it is great.. the sportster is little. you wont keep it long..

 

When gas hit $4/gallon last year, I decided it was time to buy a motorcycle. I thought I wanted a cruiser, but after researching what was available and the capabilities of different types of motorcycles, I purchase a 2008 Suzuki V-Strom DL 650. The two other motorcycles that I considered were the Triumph Tiger 1050, and the BMW F650GS.

If you have short legs, you may be better off with a cruiser.

 

Whatever you do, don't go to advrider.com you will be pulled to the dark side.

Cruiser, sportbike, UJM, Dual Sport, Motard.....whatever your style find a bike you like and have fun on.

IMO, something in the 650-750 cc area would be a good choice for someone re-entering riding.

I almost bought a Vstrom (and should have looking back) but I now have a instant classic (Buell Ulysses)

I also like the looks of the Kawasaki Versys

 

My buddy just sold his Sporty. I'm a fairly tall guy, so my knees were up over the gas tank, even with the forward controls. I currently have a Suzuki C50 with floorboards and highway bars/pegs myself. The C50 is a pretty long bike, plus with the highway bars, I can stretch out my legs on long rides.

I agree that the 883 is going to be too small. That's a good size for someone that has never ridden before, doesn't plan to ride a lot, and is a little smaller. I'd recommend the 1200 if you're over 175 pounds.

It's been alluded to in a few other posts, but if you're looking mostly for highway riding, you might want to consider something other than the Sportster. I'm not sure if they still are, but the engines on those used to be mounted directly to the frame (no rubber bushings). This vibration makes cruising very fatiguing.

Anyway, you could probably get a million opinions, and I'm anything but an expert, so I won't ramble any more. It sounds like you have a good plan for safety, but definitely ride smart. This means not only being safe yourself, but also being aware of other drivers on the road. Believe it or not, but a lot of people don't really pay attention to other cars on the road, much less motorcycles. Be safe.

 

i don't come by here much anymore since selling my truck but i did today, and saw this post. early this summer i sold my sportster 883/1200 conversion and bought a dyna custom in its place.

the sportster is not geared for highway riding, its very buzzy at anything over 70 mph. it has a 5 speed tranny and does have rubber motor mounts which i am sure helps some, but if you dont get the custom, the tank is only around 3.2 gallons, so plan on lots of fill-ups at the gas station.

it was however a blast to ride on backroads, and was nice for two-up cruising on those roads as the motor had plenty of torque.

the dyna on the other hand has a 6 speed tranny, and cruises beautifully at 75 on the highway. its rock solid there, even as a 'naked' bike. the dyna is still fun to ride on the backroads as well, and does not push you to ride like a mad man.

asthetically, i think the sportsters are pretty, but don't think its the bike you might be looking for.

there is also a nice web site called hdforums.com which is a great source of info on these bikes.

 

If this is the main reason, might I suggest looking at a Honda Shadow, Kawi Vulcan or a BMW 1200C.

I take it part of the draw to the cruiser is the rising position, and part could be seat height requirements.

The 883 might not be bad, but my '83 XLS was a rattle death trap ( still in the AMF back to HD cross over time ). My DDS was looking at the BMW 1200C for 2 years, and got a HD. After 3+ years, he can't ride that far, for his hands being numb from vibrations. He purchased new, so it is only a 3 or 4 year old HD.

The Honda Shadow has some displacement options ( in used terms from 600 to 1100 ? ) and the BMW 1200C would only be used, and an oilhead, not an airhead version.

The larger displacement Shadows are shaft drive, as is the BMW ( no belt / chain maint every 300-500 miles ).

If you are looking at the general riding style, take a look around for a used Honda Valkyrie or you can go all out with the VTX line.

A friend of mine has a Kawi Vulcan which he loves. Also ran into a TSA guy at ORD that has one, he rides almost year round on his 800 ( think his is a 2002 ).

Just some options to think about aside from the HD plate. The vibrations are not something you would notice until after 1+ hr of straight through riding. The bulk of the used HDs I see around here have ~ 15K miles on them @ 4 years or older.

Myself I have a 2002 Kawi Concours ( solo riding ) and a '94 GL1500 ( 2 up ).

Don't buy into the displacement for a "beginner" BS, that is what the throttle is for.

 

another choice for a bike, is a victory. theyre made by polaris. a little cheaper, 20kish.

my dad has an 07 vegas jackpot, it rides amazing. the power is great (around 105 hp for the 100 ci) so far its been easy to work on, you dont have to adjust valves in it. i love riding it much more than his 07 vtx 1800 or his old 03 vtx1300 or st1300.

ive always been a fan of supermoto's. aprillia makes a 450 and 550 that i like alot, they use vtwins and are pretty well priced (around 7k if IIRC) only reason i like this style back is its just what im used to riding the most, been riding dirtbikes since i was 9. KTM also offers a few models as well.

i recommend the vtx1800 over the 1300. the 1300 is a complete turd, feels no power what so ever, the 1800 scoots, the power delivery is extremely smooth, but its not my style and i feel much more comfortable on the victory.

i highly recommend test riding a few different bikes if your willing to dump 20+ grand on a bike so you get exactly what you want.

 

Quick replies, thanks. Been looking at a couple other bikes. Since the sportster seems to be not a favorite, starting looking at other brands. Liking the Suzuki sv 650. Has rave reviews. Might be the thing for me to start out with.

 

i use the forum hdtalking.com. it is easy to navigate similar to this one. the info on there is amazing. how to on everything. the owner is quick to toss people out for cussin or flamin... here is my bike

 

dont start out on a small bike. once u get going u will want more power, try to purchase right the first time

 

SV650 would be an excellent choice. The V-Strom pictured above is very similar and has the same motor and transmission. The Kawasaki Versys is a pretty versatile ride also. These motorcycles are pretty light compared to the cruisers, so you don't need the big motors unless you need to do wheelies or ride 100+ mph all day. The only stock Harley that will out run me is the V-Rod and maybe a 1200 Sportster.

 

Really looking at Kaw Ninja 250R. I know it's small, but I know I need to learn really how to ride before I step up to bigger bikes. Lots of people really love these bikes. I figure I can ride this for a year or two, then upgrade to something more. Drooled over a Buell Lightning XB9SX on youtube last night.