I almost traded my '08 1200C this winter in that pretty sweet trade-in deal. (It was a great deal, as good as you could get, really.)

Had my eye on a Low Rider. But I rode it....just didn't like. I thought I'd really like the 6th gear and the feel of the bigger motor, but......no.

I grew up riding old Triumphs and Yamahas from the '70s, so I like bikes kinda like that. Bikes you *ride* not sit on/in. Sportys are like that for me. The BTs are all like pieces of furniture to me :you sit in them. Plus the handling is slower. I liked the DYnas better than Softails and the baggers, but still...that pretty Low Rider just didn't ride like I wanted. Didn't care for them.

So I took my trade-in diff money (~$5k) and bought a new KLR and kept the Sporty.

No regrets!

 

That is kind of where I'm at. The Sporty is the closest thing to what I started out riding. Although I did test ride a new Wide Glide this spring and was in love by 3rd gear. So far I still have the Sporty. Maybe test another WG next spring We'll see.

 

My '09 1200C could do almost everything I could have asked of it including long
distance runs with some fairly big loads, but I found it to be a somewhat tiring
bike to ride for two or three days in a row. Lots of fun, but tiring. I do
enough 300-400 miles per day riding with friends that I felt it was best to
take advantage of the "Ride Free" trade-in.

The 1200 was a great bike, but I traded it in because a Dyna would better suit
my needs. The Dyna is not as nimble and "sporty", but already I can tell it
will be easier on my aging body. Surprisingly, the most tiring aspect of the
Sportster was the engine racket. Around town or on shorter trips, I really
liked the engine sounds, but after almost two hours of straight slab cruising
at 80 or so, it got to be a bit much. The Dyna is significantly better in that
regard.

Do I miss the Sportster? Hell, yes and I always will, but in the long run I will
be able to do more of the type of distance riding I want to with less stress
on the Dyna while still not going over to a dedicated touring machine.

I just wish I could afford to have both.

 

I too was right there ready to trade in my Sporty for the Deluxe... Changed my mind JUST IN TIME! Now...I find myself riding the Sporty to work 4 days a week still. I love that bike and it'll be in the stable till she has to be put down.

 

This thread is a perfect example of the need for multiple motorcycle ownership.

 

I'm in a similar position.
I bought my first bike in Feb, an Iron 883.

I planned on doing the trade in deal after a year and getting a Crossbones.
But I love my Iron too much to let her go. Plus she's mine, I've made some mods and really personalized her.

I'm still going to test drive the Crossbones, I LOVE the look of it.
But I have a feeling I'm going to stick with the Iron.

 

I have tried most models at several demo days at the local dealers and although they are all great bikes in their own way I still like mine better, I won't be getting one until I can afford two so I can keep my Roadster.

 

I have wanted a 07 or newer Night Train for a long time and I have came clsoe to selling my sporty a few times, but then I can't do it so I mod it some more. I love my sporty and she looks awesome so I'm keeping her. I'm 5'8" about 160 so my bike fits me well. When I get on my Z1000 I am tippy toed since it has a seat height of like 33".

Bigger is not always better, but some people just think the Sporty is a girls bike and it's not. My looks all man.

 

to me it doesnt get better than the all black look of the nightster, iron and crossbones. we are raffling off a crossbones for SPI Bikefest here in texas so i get to ride it around every once-in-a-while and i think its great.
i love my nightster, i think its gotta be one of the coolest lookin' bikes that harley makes, but that said i still plan on trading up for the crossbones or a dyna

 

Listen to your gut hell!I told you it was a bigger slower Sportster,what more did you want?