Always a sportbike guy......... Jumped to HDs a few yrs ago for something different.... About the same specs as u..... Honestly if u r a former sportbike guy..... Can only see two HDs in your mind..... Fatboy ISNT one..... For price...... Get a used Dyna or Bagger... Have both personally (LRS & Streetglide).... The LRS is my daily and the Bagger for trips with the lady.... IMHO I dont see how any crotchrocket guy would want anything else from HD.....

Still plan on adding a S4 Monster to the stable soon....

 

When's the last time you rode?

Depending on how long it's been, consider buying a used cheap bike to see if you're still interested in riding, and get the kinks worked out. Get those skill tuned again.

 

I was about the same as the OP when I got back into motorcycles after a long layoff. I'd had Hondas before that and those were good bikes.
I very quickly got used to the size and weight of the HDs and now I ride a Road King.
The Softails are very very easy to get used to and ride. Love the Fat Boy, Heritage, Deluxe, and many of the others. Hard to imagine that one of them wouldn't suit the OP just fine.

 

this...FZ09....if i had enough $$ id have one right now. You sit more upright than a sport bike. Honestly after a while for me ive grown tired of the size and weight of my harley. They are difficult to maneuver while going slow and difficult to maneuver when going fast around turns lol. I like my FXSTC but am trying to sell it to get an FZ09. It took me a while to realize for my situation and time to ride bikes (usually on weekends, or after work and i live up in the hills) the best bang for the buck at my age is a naked bike. Fun in the twisties, yet light and quick on its feet. These harleys are cool, you just gotta remember its like driving a motorhome. Good for the freeways because they are heavy and solid, not so great in the hills though.

 

I've been riding for 42 years and have owned 27 bikes over that time. Rode metric bikes for 20 years and Harleys ever since. You ride Harleys for the brotherhood, unmatched dealer network and ability to make friends no matter where you go. Harley makes great touring bikes and the other Harley bike families (softails, dyna's, sportsters etc) have their own fans. I would recommend you enroll in a motorcycle safety foundation class if you've been off a bike for a long time. The most versatile bikes Harley makes are streetglides, go test ride one.

 

Just get one of each.

Bought a tour bike for the long weekends
Bought a Wide Glide for going to work and running errands
Bought a ZX14r for when I need to go fast.

Everything covered. Dirt bike is next.

 

"The look and the lifestyle" That's funny. I don't fit into that mold.

 

Just test ride as many bikes/brands as you can until you find what hits home. You will eventually find what you are looking for.

As far as a 'HD lifestyle' , that is really just marketing so don't get too wrapped up in that. There is no more an HD lifestyle than there is a Ford or Honda lifestyle.

 

The cost problem is easily solved as well. There is NO NEED to purchase a new bike. There are oodles of beautiful garage queens that look brand new and have just a few thousand miles on the clock right in your area (unless Virginia has a tundra I don't know about). These can be purchased at significant savings compared to brand new. It is a buyers market right now.

 

I go back and forth between my Road King and my Monster 1200S. 850 lbs vs 465 lbs respectively, depending on my mood. I find both of them equally easy to handle, just can't throw the RK in to the turns as hard as the Monster. Go ride a new 114 Heritage or Fat Bob the new Softail frame is light years ahead of the old frame and the new M8 is their best performing engine ever.