Im buying a used 883 Sporster for my first bike this summer. I have a few questions regarding the details of buying this bike used and getting the most bang for my buck.

1. what is the max miles I would want to buy it with?
2. what year model? I heard any after 2004 is good for beginners because the vibration issue was fixed.
3. where's some good places to look? So far all Ive looked is ebaymotors.


I really want my first bike to be this Harley. Thanks for helpin me make it happen.

 

from my experience buying aharley last year

at first i set $6000 as the limit on a used bike and i wanted 2006 or higher for FI as i am not all that mechanically inclined past installing basic things and basic maintenance. but i am good with computers.

mileage was not really a concern. the sportster motor is essentially bullet proof if it has been taken care of. (from my harley buddy)

i could not find any that fit me good for that price.

so i decided on a brand new Nightster and gave the finger to my bank account and said im doing it.

but where i looked was all of the following:

dealers within 300 miles you can use HD website to do this even for used bikes. its in there someplace click around.
craigslist within 300 miles. i love craigslist.
penny saver / auto trader / whatever you call it in your neck of the woods.
sunday newspapers want ads. i combed the internet of the major cities within 300 miles of me looking at their want ads to.

 

...look, roadkill................this is what I would do.......[some of the info ya left was confusing, too.]
......ya got 4k to spend, [and it's nice to have a few bucks to spend on it once ya get the bike]...SO... get the best HD ya can for say $3800.00.....I've seenprices in this range where "I"M FROM"...they're out there,.............

............the rubbermount is cool, but not ALOT around for under 4k..............


.....Just get the best bike ya can find w/ a belt drive.......milage??...I had a 96 883w/ like 40k miles and it ran great...took good care of it, and I'm older so I don't ride my HD's hard likeI see alot of the younger guys [not gals] doing and seem to do.........don't pass up some good deals on HIGHER milage bike if they look/run well...
....Generally, 'whereI am from', w/ the year round riding conditions, bikes have a little higher milage than some of the midwest, northeast parts of USA...........there are lots of good deals round here in your range.........start looking w/ this great advice here.........

.there is an HD in your future, roadkill, I see it.....B.............
..

 

word.... good stuff thx. I simplified it.

 

......no prob......

.actually, I think I simplified it....but that's cool......latre...have a good one.....B.

 

Most 04's and up will probably run you 5k and up. There were a few issues that were corrected on the rubbermounts, so you might want to take that into consideration. I've owned both solid and rubber, and they are both good scoots.
You should be able to find something if you look around.
Here's 2 good sites to look for bikes in your area:
http://www.cycletrader.com/
http://www.walnecks.com/