New Bike

[BigChev]

Don't have a bike, but want one, bad! Does anyone have any suggestions on where to start looking at bikes? Or better yet, what I should be looking at? About all I've decided is I want a Harley, no Honda or some other poser bike. (may have opened a can of worms!) When I look in ads and stuff i'm not sure of what some of the terminology means.

I'd like to have a real nice custom chopper, but that is kinda like buying a rock crawling buggy without first beating the crap out of a jeep.

[Budman]

craigslist and cycle trader. I work with a guy with two sporties for sale. He has a 1200 with lots of stuff on it, and an 883 that is like brand new.

[CLYDE]

Mile high treated me well when I bought mine, several years ago.

[6thelement]

sale ya my sporty for $4000.:idea:

[ZappBranigan]

About all I've decided is I want a Harley, no Honda or some other poser bike. (may have opened a can of worms!)

I thought you didn't want a poser bike? :P Every poser RUB out on the highways rides a Harley.

Okay, serious answer: Have you ever ridden a motorcycle before? My guess is no. In that case, the first thing I'd recommend is that you take the MSF course. There are a number of places around that offer them. I live in Englewood and every weekend when I drive by Arapahoe Community College in Litteton I see the parking lot set up for the MSF course. It's a good basic course that will teach you the mechanics of riding and give you safety pointers that you will need to stay alive.

Full Disclosure: I've never taken the MSF course myself. I taught myself to ride in 1982. Honestly, if the course had been available, I probably would have (and should have) taken it. I had to learn a lot of things the hard way and that's just dumb. So don't be like me, :tisk: take the course!

On to the next question: What to get: I'd recommend not getting a Harley. Not because they aren't good bikes (they are, the Sporty 1200 Roadster is my favorite :drool: :drool: ) but because they are expensive and heavy. Learning to ride a motorcycle is not like learning to drive a car. There are completely different skills you have to master, some of which are counterintuitive.

I'd honestly recommend you get a smaller bike in the 500-650cc class for the first year or so. Buy an older used bike and just thrash the hell out of it. If you don't destroy it completely you will be able to sell it for nearly what you paid. I always advise people to buy used because you will drop it. Period. Every rider has. Most of these are low-speed or no-speed drops (parking lot drops, etc) but they can ding up a new bike and that will hurt. Buy a bike that's already got a few dings (and that you only paid $2000 for) and you won't feel as bad.

There are lots of used bikes out there for sale. Especially this time of year, you can get a decent bargain. I just picked up a Kawasaki Spectre 750 in good running condition for $800. Not saying you should get one that old (I had my reasons) but for $2000-$3000 you can get a gently used Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki or Suzuki cruiser that will make a great learning bike, and as I said above, if you don't completely destroy it, you can sell it the next year for just about what you paid and use the money to buy that bike of your dreams. Harleys are nice but they are expensive: A base model 883 Sporty (the smallest and least expensive bike they make) starts at around $6500 and they just go up from there.

And the bottom line is not to worry about being a "poser." A "Poser", by definition, is someone who spends a lot of time worrying about what other people think. I always say: There's them that rides, and there's them that don't. I ride. :thumbsup:

PM me if you have any questions. I've been riding for 25 years and I love helping new riders get started.

[CLYDE]

I would add, that sportys are a very tall bike with a high center of gravity, a design issue that harley has never really addressed. Frong range also does the MSF courses, as does Mile Hi, and fay myers, and some others.

Zapp is absolutely spot on about dropping it. If you are a new rider, go with a starter bike, but be prepared to outgrow it in a hurry, everyone does:D

[6thelement]

2000 sporty 883 screaming eagel .lots of goodies to. it has 16,xxx.miles on it.
light bike for a hd. gr8 shape gr8 price .$4000. mabie take part trade too.
my 17 year old wants a tracker,sidekick or a sami ...will have pics in classifieds soon. just don't buy a junker .:deadhorse:

[jnschwie]

https://home.comcast.net/~JSchwiesow/Allez3.jpg

Its just a cheap starter, but I've put some decent miles on this year.



http://home.comcast.net/~JSchwiesow/jump.gif

[Cranky CJ]

Just because you buy a Harley doesn't mean your not a poser. More posers riding Harleys than anyother brand.

I'm going to depart from the advice above. If you pick a starter bike, i.e., smaller one to start, move up one size. You'll out grow a starter bike almost immediately. My wife had zero riding experience, took the MSF class and I put her on a 1200 Sportster right off the bat. Lots of training and drills done in large parking lots and on the road over the past two months. She has logged over 1000 miles and is dong fine. She now kicks it up to 75 on the interstate. With the proper training and practice you can start on a bigger bike.

[Budman]

cranky's post make me think of a couple of helmet stickers I have...

"18 grand and 18 miles does not make you a biker"

"bikers are a rare breed, but harley owners are a dime a dozen"