Hi all IM new here BTW, Ok I have a question, Im looking to purchase a new bike. I have rode before but not a vtwin.
I was looking at a Sportster 1200r, my concern is I weigh 240# and im 5' 10"- 5'11".
Am I to big for this bike, its the only harley thats realy in my budget. My next bike up I would want is the street BOB, but my budget dosent agree on that one
Thanks for your thoughts and insight!

 

U are not to big for the bike, I am 235 and ride a 883C almost daily. I would recommend that you get a Sporty with forward controls due to your height. Oh and welcome to the Board! What ever you get post pics, in case you haven't noticed we love 'em here!

 

Welcome from Vancouver, WA. my other half, Bruce, rides an 84 Custom Sportster and he is 6' and 270. Forward controls can be helpful but he left his alone and shifts with his heel. Bruces brother is 6'2" and about 180 and he has a 80 Sportster with froward controls and fat bob tanks. Looks nice. my 2 cents.

Penny



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welcome to the forum, good luck with your purchase. be sure to do an intro in the new members section!!

 

Your weight is not a limiting factor for a 1200. But f your budget is, does your choice have to be limited to a new one? If you really want a Big Twin, there are plenty with fairly low mileage that are under $10k, if you can settle for one that's maybe five years old. And quite a number of 2- or 3-year-old Sportsters that can be had for pretty good prices as well. Go to http://www.hdtrader.com and enter your search criteria. It's how I found what I wanted, though budget wasn't the issue. Good luck with your decision.

 

boxer, you should be fine. I'm 5'5" 140lbs, and I actually fit better on a Softtail than a Sporty. The Sportster Custom is a little of a stretch for me sometimes. Unfortunately, the Sporty fits my wallet better than the Softtail. Don't get me wrong, LOVE the bike, it's just unfortunate that budget seems to call trump.

 

I truly appriciate all your help with my decision.
I do agree I like the forward foot controls that the custom has, I wonder if I can get those on the sportsterR?
I would even be alright with highway pegs for a while. I would get used but I want to make sure I get a warranty and get those updated feture they say the 06' of, like the new smoother gear box, and rubber mounted engine, I think that was added back in what 04'?
What would be a decent OTD price on a Sporty r model? 06.
A sporty C was gonna cost me 11,000.00 and some change with tax and freight included!
And that was with a black msrp of 9995.00.
Thanks again!

 

Hi,
I got a 2005 sportster R.I put foreward controls on it.I am 6' 1" and 195.I love it.
I like the dual discs on the front too.I just want the bigger gas tank.When money permits.
Frank

P.S. I got mine for 8499.00

 

Well I just got back from the Harley dealership, I sat on a 883 low and 1200 low, for some reason the lows feel more comfortable than just a regualr 883, I feel to tall on a regular 883.
The price for a 883 low in black OTD he said, would be 8000.00, Im gonna put 1000.00 down on it.
He said he couldnt get roadsters in, he said 3 months and had to order them.
For the price for a 1200 low was 11,300 otd! no way am I going to pay that when I could get a street bob for 14000.00.
So it looks as if the 883 is were my budget is either the Low or the roadster. So would my weight be a factor on a 883?, I would stick forward controls on the bad boy, not right off but mabey in the spring time. This will be my first bike in 5 years, and then at that I only road the streets for one summer.
The dealership guy is kinda annoyed by me since I have changed my mind so many times on what I want. Oh well. Should I get a extended waranty on this bike as well?
Thanks so much for your help!

 

I'd say no to the warranty, but that's just me. The bike already has twice the warranty than it had just a few years ago, and twice the warranty of a lot of other bikes. Besides, I fully plan on voiding my warranty pretty quickly [sm=badbadbad.gif]. There's a couple of recent threads discussing the weight issue on the 883 - take a read, there's good info there including info on doing 1200 conversions. The height info you gave doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The Low is the lowest, the Custom is about half an inch higher, and the R is taller yet. I'm 5'5", I'm almost flat footed on the Custom. At 5'10" you should be fine. The Sportsters can take a little while to get used to their 'fit'. They don't seem to have the low center of gravity that other bikes in Harley's lineup have. Good luck man. Just go out and buy one!