Does anyone know if HD runs their "Ride for Free" promotion every year or was 2009's campaign a one time thing? I'd like to get a Sportster and ride it for a few months to gain some experience with a smaller, lighter and less powerful bike before I get a bigger Harley.

 

I think it was a one time deal to sell bikes...

 

Darn ... oh well ... I'll rent a Sportster instead.

 

yeah, maybe you ought to rent a metric instead. a sportster is not an 'entry level bike' like some people would have you believe. a 1200 has a higher hp to weight ratio than most of your big twins and can get you into trouble very quickly. compared to bt's a sportster has a high center of gravity which many people find disconcerting.

most people (who actually know what they are talking about, not just what they heard) will tell you that a softail is a much easier, and forgiving ride..... i cant tell you that, having never ridden a softail (but i have quite a few friends who own them, hence the 'people who actually know comment above), but i can tell having gone from a sportster to a road king is that the rk is a much more stable platform than the sportster. most people are just intimidated by the 'mass' of the bigger bikes before riding them, and wonder why afterwards...

and the ride free promotion was not just a 'one time thing', but it is not done all the time. it pops up every few years or so. i wouldn't wait on it.