Newer rider here. There's a 2008 1200 custom sportster for sale at a local car dealer here in town for $7300 with 1300 miles on it. I am just under 6 feet tall, male and weigh about 220lbs. I've been told the sportster is too small for me. Any opinions? Sounds like a great deal and it would get me into the Harley family. Or should I save my pennies for the Dyna Super Glide?

 

Yes, the FXD will fit you better, and the price for the Sporty is too high IMO.

 

Your under 6' ? You'll be ok....

 

If you're new to riding I'd take the MSF course or some kind of motorcycle instruction course to see if you really want to ride. I was on craigslist the other day looking at bikes and saw a post that said "New bike, low miles. Dropped a few times in parkinglot at low speed. Riding is not for me. My loss, your gain, etc.." I've actually seen a few listings like that.

I have an '87 1100 Sporty that I started off on. Craigslist find. Low miles, really great price. I'm the same height, weight about 200. It has been a great bike to learn on. It's smaller and a good 200lbs lighter than the Dynas. I think that makes a difference. I would have liked to start off with a newer bike, and I'm going to be looking for a bigger bike in the future, but I'm glad that I started with something smaller. I wouldn't want to drop a shiny 7-10k bike due to inexperience.

and that price is on the high side for a used Sportster. Better deals out there.

 

Kinda look like a monkey on a football! Just kidding. I personally think it is a little small for your size.

 

there are over a thousand posts like this.

It all comes down to what you feel most comfy on.
I own a sportster (nightster) I am 215 lbs and 6'4" and I love it. I still have the mid controls too and I 2 up with my GF. So it's whether your comfy or not. so sit on one and see if you can invision riding for multiple hours on it. If you can"t then go bigger.

 

Ya gotta start somewhere...As far as price,could do better.

 

The Sport would be a good bike for you,I know alot bigger guys that ride one,plenty of power.That one is too high priced though.If you want a Harley think about a good used one I see them all the time on Craigs list maybe a 90's model would be a good buy.

 

by harley standards a sportster 1200 is a small bike but by any other classification it is considered a heavyweight bike pushing 1200 cc displacement. it's not a small bike and you won't have any issues with power or anything like that. but of course a bigger bike is always nicer but more coin.

i just started riding and bought a sporster 1200 used for $3000 for a 1998 with 13,000 miles on it once i'm done with it i'll sell it for near what i bought it for. i'm 5'10 205 lbs and it fits me like a glove. if you're just learning i wouldn't recommend buying a new 15 grand bike... you may not even like it some people just hate it and want nothing to do with riding a motorcycle, then you'll be stuck with a very expensive dust collector.

i plan on driving this sportster through next year get a good 5-10 thousands mile on it (got 600 already) then i'm getting a dyna wide glide... for now the sportster is fast, nimble and i enjoy riding it. ultimately yeah i will be getting a big old cruiser.

 

Price is a little high. Size of bike should be ok though. Go have a seat on it and see what you think. I am shorter than you at 5'9" and the custom fits me fine. I changed bars and it fits even better. I test rode a streetbob at demo days at the local dealer and would have to change to forward controls. The forwards on the 1200 custom are forward as in not mids, they are not true forwards in my opinion, but on the streetbob with the mids I felt like I was eating my knees.