Harley Guys

[VenomousSVT]

I took out a sportster. This was a few years back though. In 2005 i believe. After that experience it threw me away from them.

But if you say the quality is up then I have no basis to say otherwise.

you def cant base the opinion of HD on a ride on a sportster... it is the KIA of HD... it is their base model most affordable bike. I am not saying there is anything wrong with the Sportster but lets face it... you cant compare a 08v6 mustang to a gt500kr... they arent even in the same league.

I have a 00 fatboy as well and its a little rough around the edges compared to my vrod. However, it is 7 years older, not fuel injected, and doesnt have near the technology involved. It is a very good riding bike, and still a very good looking bike as well.

I hope to get some shot of both this weekend, I will post them up.

 

[VenomousSVT]

EXACTLY!!!

BEAUTIFUL bike Travis.:rockon::rockon:

thanks brotha :beer:


you know I build the tackiest and ugliest stuff around

 

[Stalker27]

OP, You don't want a 1200 Sporster trust me i had one when i was younger. You won't like it. Most Harley guys consider the 883 Hugger and the 1200 a girls entry level bike not to mention the ride alot more harsh than your bigger bikes.

Also depends on how tall you are as the foot pegs are litteraly right down instead of being in front like the bigger bikes. I say save your money like I did and buy a Softail Nightrain

 

[VenomousSVT]

If I had the money I'd love a Nightster or a Nightrod. But I can pick up a 1200 Sportster around here for anywhere between $4500 and $7000. Plus for a first bike, I don't want anything too special. If I drop a Sportster, who cares? My plans for the bike are: flat black fenders/tank, pin-up girl painted on tank, ape hangers, white wall tires on spoked chrome rims, solo seat, and a rigid conversion.

just remember one thing.....

1. this is your first bike, but does it have to be expendable funds? Would you rather throw away 2 grand after getting tired of the sportster and buying something else, or use that money towards getting what you want from the get-go? Do yourself a favor.... ride as many different models as you can. Call your local HD dealerships and see when they are doing harley demo days. Then be there early and ride every bike they will let you sit on. Then make a decision based on which you liked, which fits you as a person, and which fit your budget. You will find that certian models will fit all the criteria better than others.

 

[VenomousSVT]

OP, You don't want a 1200 Sporster trust me i had one when i was younger. You won't like it. Most Harley guys consider the 883 Hugger and the 1200 a girls entry level bike not to mention the ride alot more harsh than your bigger bikes.

Also depends on how tall you are as the foot pegs are litteraly right down instead of being in front like the bigger bikes. I say save your money like I did and buy a Softail Nightrain

keep in mind.. they DO offer forward controls on a sportster too

but they are still uncomfortable

 

[Stalker27]

^^^ Oh i know. That was one of my 1st mods too it..lol was forward controls but still didn't extend it long enough to my liking & at the time i was only 5'8 My Nightain was MUCH more comfortable not to mention faster & a better ride all around

 

[Silver04L]

Dude, I got my Vstar 650 new for 5500 out the door. It is my first bike. It is not quick, but it looks damn good. I was looking for something that looked good but wasn't too much too learn on. I like Harley's, but the metric bikes are definitely more bang for your buck. You don't start getting things like hidden shocks on Harley's until you get a soft tail. My $5500 650 has one. There are three Sporties where I work, and to be honest, when sitting next to my Yamaha, they don't look like they should cost a couple grand more. You REALLY pay for the name on a Harley

 

[VenomousSVT]

^^^ Oh i know. That was one of my 1st mods too it..lol was forward controls but still didn't extend it long enough to my liking & at the time i was only 5'8 My Nightain was MUCH more comfortable not to mention faster & a better ride all around

the softail models are fantastic, my fatboy ride very nice...... until I slammed it :lol1:

my vrod still rides great, but with $1600 Legends Air Ride on it, I would hope that it would

 

[Stalker27]

Yeah i hear ya. I lowered the softail's rear end down. Made it look soooo much better but had to be careful if i had my ex on the back. It would bottom out to much with someone on the back

 

[VenomousSVT]

Dude, I got my Vstar 650 new for 5500 out the door. It is my first bike. It is not quick, but it looks damn good. I was looking for something that looked good but wasn't too much too learn on. I like Harley's, but the metric bikes are definitely more bang for your buck. You don't start getting things like hidden shocks on Harley's until you get a soft tail. My $5500 650 has one. There are three Sporties where I work, and to be honest, when sitting next to my Yamaha, they don't look like they should cost a couple grand more. You REALLY pay for the name on a Harley

does your 650 have pretty much ZERO clutch feel? My mom has an 04 Vstar 650 and damnit, its hard fro me to even ride. The clutch is so (non existent) when compared to ANYTHING I have ever ridden.

 

[SVT8U]

I have a Yamaha V-star 650. Yeah its slow, its not as pretty as those Harley's. I bought it for $7500 out the door, gets me ~50mpg, is comfortable to ride in the city. I would still like a slightly larger bike that is liquid cooled. My cousin bought a Honda Shadow 750. Looks great, goes pretty well, doesn't overheat you in traffic, and gets `50mpg. $7800 out the door brand new. Harleys are cool but I can't spend that much more money on a Harley when I can get a comparable Yamaha or Honda for half the price.

Edit: I have never had so much fun on the road as I do on my bike. I mostly ride it to work for the gas mileage (why I originally bought it) but will ride it pretty much as often as possible

i thought that too.

I got my bike brand new out the door for 9500.



all harleys arent 30k+ anymore. some are but most all the bikes are under 20grand now and alot of nice ones to be had for under 15

 

[SVT8U]

does your 650 have pretty much ZERO clutch feel? My mom has an 04 Vstar 650 and damnit, its hard fro me to even ride. The clutch is so (non existent) when compared to ANYTHING I have ever ridden.

its a different ballgame than harleys thats for sure. Ive noticed you dont even gotta ride the clutch really slow in first gear like a stop and go traffic situation. Those bikes are smooth for sure. I like te rumble from a harley though... nothing like it




hey man im still waiting on details on your vrod. op:op:op:

im trading mine in on a vrod muscle or nightrod special next year.

I just didnt wanna start out that big

 

[SVT8U]

How tall are you? A Sporty may not be the right bike for you.

im 5-11 250 an my slammed sportster does fine.



you can feel it in your kidneys if you find a giant pothole... but its not bad.... or at least at 23 it doesnt bother me a bit when I get rid of the stock seat and get my progressive shocks itll be un-noticeable


the bike fits me good too..... doest feel too small. maybe if you were a good bit over 6'.... I even have the stock mid controls..... I like to get busy on the backroads and feel better and more controlled with my feet under me as opposed to bikes with foward controls ive ridden.

 

[VenomousSVT]

im 5-11 250 an my slammed sportster does fine.



you can feel it in your kidneys if you find a giant pothole... but its not bad.... or at least at 23 it doesnt bother me a bit when I get rid of the stock seat and get my progressive shocks itll be un-noticeable


the bike fits me good too..... doest feel too small. maybe if you were a good bit over 6'.... I even have the stock mid controls..... I like to get busy on the backroads and feel better and more controlled with my feet under me as opposed to bikes with foward controls ive ridden.

you may feel fine, but you look silly to everyone else :fm:

 

[VenomousSVT]

its a different ballgame than harleys thats for sure. Ive noticed you dont even gotta ride the clutch really slow in first gear like a stop and go traffic situation. Those bikes are smooth for sure. I like te rumble from a harley though... nothing like it




hey man im still waiting on details on your vrod. op:op:op:

im trading mine in on a vrod muscle or nightrod special next year.

I just didnt wanna start out that big

i still havent gotten to do a shoot of the bike yet unfortunately.

I will get some pics soon and make a thread on the details... i dont want to whore up this thread anymore than i have to though, and i have already done that some

 

[CscottsSS]

i see we have the same taste!!

my rod

Wow, that is absolutely the sickest V-rod I've ever seen, can't wait for details and more pics. :banana:

 

[BuckChoklit]

How tall are you? A Sporty may not be the right bike for you.

I'm 5'8"

just remember one thing.....

1. this is your first bike, but does it have to be expendable funds? Would you rather throw away 2 grand after getting tired of the sportster and buying something else, or use that money towards getting what you want from the get-go? Do yourself a favor.... ride as many different models as you can. Call your local HD dealerships and see when they are doing harley demo days. Then be there early and ride every bike they will let you sit on. Then make a decision based on which you liked, which fits you as a person, and which fit your budget. You will find that certian models will fit all the criteria better than others.

Honestly, the bigger bikes don't really do anything for me. I'm really digging the guys that are turning their Sportsters into old-school Bobbers. I'm trying to find information on converting the Sportster to a rigid frame. I believe Biltwell sells replacement bars for the shocks that basically turn it into a rigid.

 

[SVT8U]

you may feel fine, but you look silly to everyone else :fm:

lol


maybe to you youbadassvrodridinmofoyou


ive got some pics on my home computer of me on the bike... looks about like every other dude riding a harley. :dancenana:


I just wanna upgrade to the bigger bike so I can put the girly on the back and its so much more power. my bike has asolo seat and I dunno if im gonna get the 2 up or what. Ive already order my mustang solo, well just see how persistent she s about riding with me

 

[SVT8U]

Yeah i hear ya. I lowered the softail's rear end down. Made it look soooo much better but had to be careful if i had my ex on the back. It would bottom out to much with someone on the back

you look into adjusting the preload on your shocks? or upgrading to heavy duty shocks?

 

[SVT8U]

I'm 5'8"



Honestly, the bigger bikes don't really do anything for me. I'm really digging the guys that are turning their Sportsters into old-school Bobbers. I'm trying to find information on converting the Sportster to a rigid frame. I believe Biltwell sells replacement bars for the shocks that basically turn it into a rigid.

Go to your local HD dealer and sit on some bikes. Sporty is very comfortable and easy to manage... especially for a newb rider.


you can make your own or have anyone that can weld do the rigid conversion. its just steel bar that you weld inplace of the shocks and its called a strut iirc...


i saw pics of a nighster with rigid struts on hdforums but i cant find it now



I wouldnt want to ride a rigid as a commuter bike.... or anything longer than just barhopping and weekend around town errands. have you ridden a rigid?