[59791]

god love johnny..



i just started riding a few weeks ago.. my weapon of circumstance? a $3,500 98 sportster 1200 custom. I have found these truths to be self evident.

1: no matter what, no matter how you seem to trade up bigger in the first year.. my first was a 125cc sundiro roadrunner.. i still haven't gotten it to start.. the harley is my second bike.. technically..

2: It's not "fun" to learn how to ride on a bike this heavy with roads as steep/twisty/off-camber/narrow/pot-hole(y?)/debris-covered as the ones I'm learning on. I often wonder what they would be like on a dirt bike.

3: Anyone that doesn't likes Harley's simply hasn't owned one yet.. I don't know why i love my bike.. I'm not even sure I'm comfortable with admitting my feelings for my bike.. it is after all a *squirms* Harley..

4: It doesn't like to climb hills at all when you forget to push the choke back in.. go figure..

5: a good timing light is arguably more useful then a good towel..

6: a sporty IS a chick bike.. it's roughly equivelent to 9 and a half cute puppy's. if you don't like random chicks constantly coming up to you and asking silly questions about your bike and how they can score a ride on it then this may not be the bike for you.

7: it takes a steady hand indeed to keep that much engine under control. practice is key.


in summery. i don't recommend a sportster as anyone's first bike. they're loud, heavy and can be difficult to control at low speeds.

but i don't regret buying mine one bit. i just wish it didn't look so hokey..

 

[59791]

pplassm.


I ended up with the bike cause its all there was in my area and price range. no bike dealer on this island. i should have gotten a dirt bike but thats life.

i know i havent been riding long enough to be trading up.. there is no good reason for me to be getting a larger bike.. but circumstances being what they were it happened. seems to fulfill the prophecy even if its for the wrong reason.


as for the bike itself.. the cruisers just don't seem to do it for me. i don't like the looks, the culture and from what i've seen so far they don't like to lean as much as i would like it to.

but aside from all that for some stupid reason i LOVE this bike.. i don't get it either.. i don't like other peoples cruisers.. just mine..

 

[59791]

I suppose it's close enough to the line between cruiser and standard that its up for debate.. when you say standard i think sv650 nighthawk. in my book the sporty's seat height, forward controls and weight put it in the cruiser section.

then again.. the only thing HD touches that i would even think about calling a standard is buell's blast..