Sportsters are not Entry Level Bikes
#11
05-04-2014, 02:01 PM
#12
05-04-2014, 02:17 PM
#14
05-04-2014, 02:56 PM
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Frozelandia, Minnysota
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Hundreds, if not thousands, of folks have bought into the "sportsters are a beginner's bike", and many of them regretted it. I wouldn't be surprised if sportsters have turned more people off motorcycles than all other makes and models combined, just because of it. Some opinions here that sporties handle easier than the big twins, but I think my Tour Glide is better balanced and easier to handle, just can't corner as fast, and I think a new rider would find it easier to ride than my 1200 sportster; not that I'd let a newbie on either one of them! 
#15
05-04-2014, 02:59 PM
Moderator
#17
05-04-2014, 03:30 PM
Hundreds, if not thousands, of folks have bought into the "sportsters are a beginner's bike", and many of them regretted it. I wouldn't be surprised if sportsters have turned more people off motorcycles than all other makes and models combined, just because of it. Some opinions here that sporties handle easier than the big twins, but I think my Tour Glide is better balanced and easier to handle, just can't corner as fast, and I think a new rider would find it easier to ride than my 1200 sportster; not that I'd let a newbie on either one of them!
#19
05-04-2014, 03:41 PM
I agree that the 250s are entry level bikes thus a sportster is not. I agree its a smaller size frame than other cruisers. there are different bikes to suite different size riders and difference of preference. if I rode on the highway for hours two up most of the time I might get a different bike but I still have yet to ride two up on my sportster to say if its uncomfortable for us.
#20
05-04-2014, 03:44 PM
Road Warrior
Shortly after I got my Sportster, I started thinking that I should have gotten a bigger bike. However, the more I ride it and learn about Sportsters, the more I like it. First, Sportsters are harder to ride than the bigger bikes. They are more subject to the wind and have more vibration so it takes more skill to control than a heavier machine. Expert Sportster riders have skills! Also, Sportsters are really café racers. They were Harley's answer to the Triumphs that got popular in the 60's. Sportsters were designed to be race bikes and, back in the day, they did well at the track. It is a fallacy that Sportsters are entry level bikes. They were not designed for that purpose.
