both those posts help incredibly. Buying through Military Car Sales Im getting a crazy deal, meaning more money off the back for mods muahahahah.

But yes thanks for the info guys

 

What kind of deal are you getting from Military Autos?

 

Beware military auto sales...I'm retired military, so I know those beasts.

Being a big guy and seeing as you have a year to save bucks, get a Dyna Glide and get it over with.

Before you guys start bitching, remember I own a 2010 Iron, plus a 1200C, plus a Road King, so I know what I'm talking about.

I suggest you look at/price a bare bones Dyna Super Glide. You can get one for 11K without trying too hard.

The dyna Super Glide is a full size-full power version of the Sportster. You will not be making any compromises if you select it....Just buy a black one.

Dealers are getting really hungry....really hungry.....They will be even more hungry by the time you are ready to pick one up...they can't cut a sporty near as much as they can a Glide, so keep that in mind when making a deal....Whatever you do, don't make any deals now, just save you wad and buy the scoot in person with your wad bulging out your pants.

 

You'll need forwards. I'm 6' and long in the leg, my Iron didn't leave the dealer without forwards. I would have been bent up like a pretzel with mids. The stock slip-ons make it sound like a briggs and stratton mower; mine were swapped out for a set of cycle-shacks within a week. I added a tuner and a better air filter, and the bike idles and runs smoother.

As far as complaints about power, brakes, seat, suspension... I don't have any of those. I take care of myself, I'm in good physical shape, and I weigh between 155# and 160# depending on the day and the scale, which might have something to do with it; I'm pretty sure the bike has no idea I'm on it when I'm riding. But I also understand that it's a lowered stripped-down XL, not a FL-whatever designed for a super smooth ride for a 300# guy and his 200# old lady. Do I feel every aspect of the road when I ride? YES. Do I like it? HELL YES! I get a big grin on my face and crack the throttle a little more.

It all comes down to what you want. I'm 25, I always knew that "someday" I'd get a Harley, but it was the Iron that hooked me. For me it's the coolest production bike out there, I love riding it, wouldn't change a thing about it except for a few personal details. When I was looking at motorcycles, plenty of people gave me the same old BS lines: "girl's bike" "look at Hondas instead" "eww an 883" "you're gonna be sorry" "buy a Dyna or Soft-tail instead" "you can't even get an 883 through all the gears"... those people were wrong (especially that last one), and some of those very same people now drool over my bike. The Iron has soul, a lot of bikes, Harley or otherwise, don't; soul is something that no amount of chrome or cubes can impart on a bike.

 

I did not care for the mids on my '09 Iron so had forwards installed before I picked her up. Suspension wise, the Iron ois lowered (shocks are 11") so the ride can be pretty brutal sometimes and your back will take a pounding. To fix that I got some a set of 12" Road King shocks and man what a difference in ride. Compared to stock = she's 100% better. The mirrors are ok but suck visually in the upright position, so you may want to look at flipping them so you can see what is behind you, takes about 10 mins to do and if you don't like it you can put them back (free mod so the price is right). Most will find the Iron underpowered and I will be doing the 1200 conversion later this summer but not for racing, just want more grunt. On here you will find so many mods and just as many ways of doing things differently. Just make your changes and make it your own and you'll be happy with it. I know I love mine and slowly but surely the changes will keep coming. Enjoy the ride & be safe.

 

I don't like the stock seat, suspension, bars get old in an hour, sounded pathetic, mirrors are useless (even inverted), pegs were ok (trying forwards at the moment, jury still out), less than a year old and leaking. No problems with the power. It's a torqy and rev happy. Feels like it wants to come out from under me. I feel every pebble in the road on it, and I don't appreciate it. The wind blows it all over the place. Mine's an 09, so if it gets wet it won't crank, due to the genius of engineering a plastic funnel to direct water directly to the fuse box. I have no issues with the brakes, they work just as well as anything else in the price range. It's fun to ride, but it has it's limitations. Plenty of lean to the left, I drag muffler mounting bolts on the right, the little peg feeler on that side is useless. All that said, I do like the bike overall, it's just going to take time and money to get it right. Wish HD would have in the first place. All of these things don't reveal themselves instantly, it takes time in the saddle...going down that one road that you discover you'll never take it down again. And owning a Harley,... well someone always has something bigger, better that costs more and they will look down on your stuff. Lot of HD owners out there that consider the sporty a girl's bike, and for the life of me I can't figure out why...I guess their girls are tough as nails...

 

This is kind of a sad commentary on Harleys. Flys in the the face of those that say that Harleys are greater quality than metrics. And I think that as long as the last sentence stays true, then all the rest of the comment will stay true. Bummer. I've found that I really like Harleys, but I won't buy one new. They aren't worth those kind of prices.

 

I agree.

 

To those who said "you need" xxx It is all subjective. I am 6ft and 235lbs. I ride stock as hell, mids seat and all and I cant complain about it. I am getting forward controls just to see if I like them. As for what I like and what you will like are two different things. Get the bike and ride for a bit then repost with what you like and dont like.

 

Every Harley owner attempted to talk me out of buying an Iron. I'm glad that I didn't listen to them. Love my Iron. The ride was rough but a change of shocks made a tremendous improvement to the ride. The brakes feel soft but I have made several panic stops (cars pulling out in front of me) without a problem. Power was a lot more than I expected after hearing about how slow the bikes were. A lot of engine mods have since been done to my bike but it wasn't necessary, I just don't like anything stock. Pipes are needed to make it sound like a Harley but that would apply to even the big Harleys due to the restrictions on the stock pipes.