As Robotech pointed out, "better" is subjective, and the bikes are designed for much different types of riding. So the decision isn't about which bike fits you best, it's more about what type of riding you plan to do.

I would love to have a Sportster in addition to my Dyna. If I had the money for them, I'd have a dresser, a dyna, and a sporty. Each has its own niche, and each niche is a lot of fun.

The longest rides I made regularly on my first sportster were around 600 miles, one way. It was a '72, with the shifter on the right. I had it custom painted, chromed out, with an S&S carb and drag pipes. It was pretty, it was loud, and it was a blast in the twisties. At first I thought the small gas tank would be a problem, but as it happened, my butt needed a break by the time I had to fuel up each time.

Hell, I even had a KZ1000 for a while, a long time ago. Times were hard and a friend gave it to me so I'd have transportation to and from work. It was also a lot of fun to ride. The shaft-drive was a little strange, but I got used to it.

I rode BMX as a kid, and rode a lot of friends' MX bikes around the tracks on non-race days.

I personally found big twin bikes to be a bit strange at first, because I can't toss 'em around the curves like I can a sportster or other sport-type bike.

The lower center of gravity tended to fight me a bit as I leaned into curves, and it was definitely a conscious effort to do it, where it was intuitive with sport bikes.

Don't worry so much about falling over or being unable to control the bigger bike. Just realize that it's not a sport bike, and ride accordingly.

FWIW, I love my forward controls around town, but I've mounted mid-position pegs because they're so much more comfy on the highway.

I also preferred the sportsters with mid controls. Forwards are too weird on a sport bike. Forward pegs were there when I wanted to stretch out a bit.

 

Alkay my bike came from the factory with forward controls on it, I put 13 inch apes on it due to haveing 6 bolts holding my shoulder together (not a motorcyle crash) and drag bars and other lower bars kill me after an hour or so. So some people have reasons for what they do to their bikes. And as far as needing bags to travel thats b.s. I grew up and me and my step dad would take our small *** tent roll it up with a few change of clothes it in strap it the sissy bar of his 68 triumph hard tail and hit the road. I spent many nights sleeping on a picnic table and would nt change a thing it was the best time we had. I know take my sons on trips and we just take what we can strap to the back rest. But hey we are all bother riders so ride free and stay safe and always stop to help each other.

 

You, Sir, hit on some key points here.
SOME people have reasons for doing something, while a large number of others simply follow the "fashion"
Low bars hurt you after an hour of riding, while for many others the destination is less than an hour away
I also travel light, but prefer soft bags over the fender over strapping stuff to the sissy bar. I rarely have a passenger and haven't had a sissy bar in years.
Not sure why you'd sleep on a picnic table, I find ground more comfortable or hang a hammock.
I've always stopped to help riders and my tool kit includes metric tools and even couple Whitworth. (I use same kit on all my bikes)

 

Old Sportsters have a good power to weight ratio. They also are known as filling looseners because of the solid mounted engines. New ones with the rubber mounted motors are ~100 lbs heavier.

And it may be relatively easy to get 100 hp out of a sporty motor. But it's also relatively easy to get stupid power out of a big twin. See my sig as an example of a healthy 103 build, that still drinks pump gas and is very friendly to live with daily. Stock big twins are almost ridiculously underituned from the factory.

And btw Robotech, awesome name, that was an awesome show back in the day.



And really I don't think she's looking to carve canyons or win drag races. I'm guessing reliability, stability, and comfort are high on her list of priorities. All of which the Dyna does better. The only thing the Sportster would have on the Dyna is being able to slip through smaller spaces in traffic. But a new rider isn't going to be lane-splitting or jumping at holes in traffic anyway.

This is pretty true. But don't forget that the muscles and muscle memory for handling a bike are learned. So if it feels like too much to handle now, it'll get easier as time goes on. Probably just one season and you'll be totally comfortable with the weight of the Dyna.



Someone else mentioned Softtails as being friendlier. I certainly enjoyed test riding a Fat Boy a lot before I bought my Fat Bob. I'd say the Bob was way friendlier in everything except a straight line. Which includes intersection turning. Couple that with Softtails being in general significantly more expensive and we're back to the Dyna.



When I first went into a Harley dealership I was pretty sure I was interested in the XR1200 and nothing else. Rode it, tried it, really wasn't impressed. But while I was there I tried a few other bikes. Loved the V-rods and the Fat Bobs. So that brings me to my other suggestion.

The V-Rod seemed a lot more friendly to shorter riders, as I felt pretty cramped on it. It feels very solid from billet and telepathic, as in whatever I wanted to do the bike just flowed right into it. Very friendly and very easy to ride. If you're willing to consider a non-air-cooled Harley give the V-Rod a thorough test ride, you may just absolutely love it.

 

You're not going to like what I'm about to recommend. I would say that if you are a NEW rider that perhaps you should be considering an 883 cc. As an instructor and road captain, I see it all too often that ppl (women in particular...sorry) buy bikes that are way tooooo powerful for them. Don't be in a rush to learn riding skills on a smaller bike - it will make you that much better when you step up to softtail or touring class bike. Just my

Lobo

 

+++ The last two lines says it all. Don't buy into the macho bullshit of some of the posts. Guys usually encourage their girlfriends/wives to buy bigger than can be handled bikes so they don't have to be embarassed by riding along side a smaller bike. I know a lot of women that ride 450 - 650cc class bikes for a few years until they get really comfortable with handling all types of road/traffic/cager situations.

 

I know 2 female riders.
First is about 5'2" and prob 120# Got an 883 for her first bike against my advise. Flopped it on both sides and traded it in for a Fat Boy. Now she barely rides it. Never alone because she's afraid that she won't be able to pick it up if she dropped it.
The other is barely 5' chubby fireplug. Been riding 30+ years that I known her. Used to ride a little 350 Honda then got into Viragos. She's been buying a new(used one) every couple of years because she racks up the miles on them. Every time I see one of them, she's got 40K plus on it ... She's been teaching MSF several years now.
Witch one is biker?

 

If we talk non-Harleys there are a plethora of possibilities. But I'm guessing she'll only be interested in Harleys.

The Sportser Superlow is supposed to be targeted towards shorter riders, and women specifically. But it's still got the heavy Sportster engine and frame.

A few years ago Buell had there starter bike using half of a Sportster motor. I forget what that was called though. It was designed to be lighter weight yet still torquey enough to ride on. Supposedly an ideal starter bike, and it's still kind of a Harley.

Of course starter bikes are usually outgrown. Which means taking a monetary loss when you sell it for something else later.

As to your story of two women, I don't really care how many miles one person accumulates over another, or if one person magically can earn the title "biker" whereas another cannot. We all ride, why do you want to divide us into arguing little groups making fun of each other? United we stand, divided we fall and all of that...

 

Its not the amount of miles, but the commitment, dedication and honesty of the sport.
I don't consider myself a biker. I think I'm in it for the sport. If h-d went out of business tomorrow, I wouldn't shed a tear and would continue to ride and race.
Also I don't intentionally divide "us" into groups. I do my thing and ya'll are free to do yours. I just happen to have more respect for people who ride to ride instead of ride to be a part of something.

 

Sounds to me like you've got a thing to prove. But that's already been mentioned in other posts so I won't rehash that.


Anyway, can't wait for pics of her new ride, whichever direction she goes.