I have a buddy looking to buy a Harley and he is interested in a Sporty. He's 5' 10''. What are your experiences? From what I read on-line the wheel base and lengths are pretty much the same between the 883 and the 1200, right?

He's worried he'll be cramped on the Sporty.

 

No geometry diffrences between motor sizes. There are however diffrences between the standover height if diffrent models (L, C, N), I would look these up for details. IMO, 5'10" is a pretty average height. Tons of people taller than that on sporties around here, so I would say that he would be fine on one. Of course, everyone has a diffrent idea of comfort, so the best thing would be to have him sit on one to see if it is cramped. He can always add forwards if he wants more leg room.

 

I'm between 6'-0" and 6'-2" (depending on my foot-wear) with a pretty long leg. With mids, it felt like my knees were at my ears, but with forwards my sportster fits me perfectly. Best thing for your buddy to do is go the the dealership and sit on a couple, because everybody's different. Based on a height of 5'-10" he should have no problem on a sportster. L and N models come with mids from the factory, all of the C models I tried out had forwards from the factory.

FWIW, I tested out a FXDWG with forwards and drag bars and I felt like I was too stretched out to comfortably control the bike.

 

I am 6' on an XLH 883 Hugger from 2003. I have mid controls and it's fine. There are really no fit issues for me.

I don't think I look weird riding it...

I swapped the stock buckhorn bars for some mini-apes that I like better because I can sit more upright. I was leaning forward a little to hold the stock bars. This seems like it would be an issue for someone a little shorter too. More of a rider preference thing and less of a height thing IMO.

 

I'm 6' and ride a '92 1200. I like my mids, but I also have highway bars to stretch out on....he'll be fine.

 

I'm 5'10" and perfectly comfortable on mine.

Rode a FatBob with mids and drag bars a couple years ago and didn't care much for it - prefer the forwards and bars that are pulled back some.

 

I am 6'1". I have a sporty 883 custom that came with forward controls. Wife and I ride 2 up on it. Fun as anything, recommend it strongly. Hope he has as much fun on his sporty.

 

Im 6'2" and ride a nightster with forward controls. Only issue i had was the overall height of the bike. I ended up with 13" RK shocks and absolutely love the riding position now. Its somewhere inbetween mids and forwards when compared to the bigger bikes, but it makes for a semi agressive yet comfortable riding position. I can put enough weight on the pegs to get my butt off the seat when i have to.

 

He will be just fine. I would make sure he gets a bike with forward contorls or adds them on soon. I'm 5'8" and have forwords and would never own a Sporty without them.

 

I'm 6'6", and I have a 1200L. Shouldn't be a problem with fwdctrl.