Yea, I had that happen to me when I had my 08 Softail Custom. "Is that a Sportster?"

But, you have to give them credit for being interested in the bike and asking about it. I always will talk to someone about the bike I am riding, whether I own it or not.

And........I have done that too!

That usually happens when I look at a bike and I can't tell what it is because they have changed so much stuff on the bike and put all kinds of skull stuff all over the place, and who knows except the owner, what it "use to be"?

I may not know all the names of the bikes since I have been riding Harleys since 1999, but most of the time, I can sure tell if it is stock or not.

 

I have a 2005 Dyna FXD and about a month ago added a 2001 1200 Sportster Custom to my stable.

After riding that Sporty for about a month, I think you should consider being mistaken for a Sporty as a compliment.

That thing is SOOOOOO much freakin' fun!!!

There's a saying on the Sportster Forum that I have discovered to be kind of true.

"Big twins are for the guys that are too fat to ride a Sporty."

Just for the record, I still love my Dyna too... lol.

 

Or too tall... believe me, I'd have a Sporty if I was about 4 inches shorter. Love those Forty-Eights!!!

(EDIT: love my FXD, too!)

 

When somebody mistakes my FXD for a Sportster it saves me time because I know they don't know Harleys. So I keep it light and listen to the "Had to lay er' down" story; then walk off.

 

those 48s are rad! I'd ride one!

 

To a lot of folks, if it ain't got bags and a windshield, it's a sporty. I used to ride a Street Bob and was asked that all the time. Same people ask me if my Deluxe is a sporty. Ya gotta admit though, the Deluxe is kinda cute.

 

See my original post "hey man nice sportster"

It's the thread that just won't die lol.

 

I had someone come up to me & compliment my bike (Crossbones), and ask if it was a (Sportster) Iron! HA! I nicely corrected him.

Obviously he doesn't know much about motorcycles, or Harleys. Didn't bother me - made me laugh though that someone could mistaken a sportster for a springer.

Anyway, love sportsters. Had one before, and want to add one again!

 

Ditto! I'm 6'6" and chose my FXS due to height. Would've gotten a Sportster 48 otherwise.

 

I have a 2006 Sportster 883L Trike. My husband wants to convert it to a big boy bike by replacing the front end with a wide glide front end. Would that handle okay, better or not at all.