Guidance from Harley folks

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redhawk485

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I am going to get back into riding... rode since I was 8 or so years old, dirt bikes first, then dual purpose, then crotch rocket... sold bikes and haven't ridden much at all since then... my last one just graduated and I wanna get back to it and i wanna get a harley... so here are the questions:

Everyone says if I haven't ridden much in the last two decades, I should start with a sportster... I sat on one when I went to test drive and although it feels more like my crotch rockets used to feel as far as stance and size, it feels too small for me now (6-4 and 225 lbs). Should I start with this or maybe something slightly larger?

If I get sportster, I know someone has a 1988 sportster 883 that he will let me have for probably around 4 or 4500... would this be a good one?

I also test drove low riders and really like them, but they are more difficult to maneuver than my crotch rockets and I wanna make sure I get back into it with right bike even if I have to upgrade in a year

I do NOT like the heel toe shifter... my God that felt so weird trying shift with my heel that I almost got off it on the test run and told the guy to drive it back šŸ˜‚ ..... do you ever get used to that if you've been a toe shifter your whole life?

I basically liked all the softails and like the fatboy a lot, including the fat bob, but was told it's harder to maneuver in very twisty roads.... does anyone know this to be fact?

For the record, I do not like the super large fairings and saddle bags and larger bikes like thr ultra limited for example.

Thanks for reading this really long post and thanks in advance for the advice
 
We are the same size, height and weight. Iā€™m on my 68th lap around the sun and Iā€™ll only ride the big touring bikes, because the rest of them are too small for me, and they are for you too, to be honest. But I was off bikes for 30 years until 3 years ago. The Harley I sold in 1989 weighed 615 LBS. The Street Glide I bought in 2020 weighed 834 lbs. Big difference and took about 9,000 miles to get accustomed to.

I think if you buy the Sportster, you will hate it after a week. Just because of your size.

I think you might be really pleased if you could find a Harley Dyna Switchback. Smaller lighter bike, but looks like a touring bike, and would fit you. I think they made them 2012-2016.

Hat tip to @Crazy Carl for schooling me on them.
 
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Diablos said:
Lowrider hard to handle, nobody told me
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I knew someone here would have firsthand knowledge on the subject... I just found it harder to turn and lean, but didn't know if part of that was because I am obviously rusty after 20+ years
 
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Does it have to be a Harley? Sounds like you might be more comfortable on an upright style Japanese bike or one of the many sport-touring bikes that are available. Not trying to put down Harley's but it sounds like one of those types of bike might be closer to what you were used to.

Good luck getting back into it!
 
I love a heel toe shifter, but a lot of people donā€™t, so much so that Harley quit putting the heel shifter on the new bikes. If you find an HD you want and it has a heel shifter, it is real easy to get rid of it.
 
Had a 99 fatboy, lowered 1-1/2 inch in the back and with V&H longshots on it. Rode it all over including Maggie Valley, Cherokee, and Boone/banner elk area. Never had any issues keeping up with normal traffic in the curves (this isnā€™t to say I could keep up with crotch rockets through them) I will say on deep rights Iā€™d scrape the tip of the bottom pipe, and on deep lefts Iā€™d scrape the floorboard, but I was likely pushing it a bit harder than I should have (early 20s and invincible lol).

As far as to a big twin vs a sporty, I donā€™t have lots of experience with them, but I had a neighbor that had a 1200 sporty and a night train (factory blacked out Softail custom) and Iā€™ve ridden his sporty a few times when he wanted to try out my fatboy, I always felt like a circus bear on it, back then I was 6ā€™2 and 215-220.

I actually bought my fatboy from a lady rider that her and her husband swapped bikes a couple of times a year, this was back when you could make money buying them at sticker riding and then selling them for 3-5k over what you paid. She had had just about every Harley (non bagger) that had been made at that point and her new fatboy had come in and was ready to pick up. According to her the fatboy was the easiest to handle of all the bikes sheā€™d owned, I specifically asked about sportys because they get the rep of being a ā€œbeginnerā€ or smaller bike more suited to ladies, she said for her, the big softails (heritage and fatboy back then) were easier to handle due to the front forks not being nearly as prone to ā€œflopā€ at low speeds.

Only downside to mine, and the reason I got rid of it, is that nobody sees you on a bike, and even if they do, they think, oh itā€™s a bike, he can maneuver out of the way. I had multiple close calls due to other drivers, the closest I ever came to laying it down was when an ambulance (no lights or anything) cut a u turn in front of me while i was going 60 grabbed the front brake and felt the front tire lock, released it, dropped down a few gears and rolled the throttle to squeeze past it on the 2 ft apron of asphalt on the other side of the white line. A mile or so down the road was shaking so bad from the adrenaline dump wearing off I had to pull over and take a few to settle down. That dang diamond plate rear bumper on that ambulance looked HUGE!!! Lol
 
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redhawk485 said:
I knew someone here would have firsthand knowledge on the subject... I just found it harder to turn and lean, but didn't know if part of that was because I am obviously rusty after 20+ years
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I prefer a stripped down bike too. Either dyna or softail will handle great for ya.

Mine ready for beartooth highway

20230904_193305.jpg
 
Iā€™d also wait a few months before trying to buy a used (or new) HD. Some dealers have more inventory than they want right now, and that will be exacerbated once the weather gets past leaf season. Better deals to be had.
 
I have been riding over 50 years now and like you started on dirt bikes progressed (so you could say) to various street bike sport bikes etc. I have been on Harleys of different types for over 30 of those years, I am built a little shorter than you at 6'1" at about 220, so here is my opinion on the subject. Yes I have owned sportsters great little round the town bike, short trips solo only rides. Next thing is are you going to ride alone all the time or is the better half going with you? If it is solo only greater flexibility if 2 up, smaller choices. I am not fond of Dynas because the frames flex way to much for me and if you are coming off a sport bike it very hard to set up a consistent apex through a curve on one. Sadly the bike that was the prequel to the Dyna, so to speak was the FXR which for a big bike was an absolute dream to ride. (designed Eric Buell when he worked for Harley). The Softail is a good bike with a low seat height but at your height I would say if you want to be comfortable you will need extended controls. Which brings me to what I currently ride, which because my wife normally rides with me is a Street Glide wifes choice, with extra luggage. But my hands down favorite is a Road King, lower center of gravity (for a big bike) in my opinion some of the nicest styling Harley ever produced. This bike is great for solo or two up. As far as the heal and toe shifter, it is a 30 dollar 10 min. fix to get rid of it if you don't like it , no problem at all.
 
C-doodle said:
Does it have to be a Harley? Sounds like you might be more comfortable on an upright style Japanese bike or one of the many sport-touring bikes that are available. Not trying to put down Harley's but it sounds like one of those types of bike might be closer to what you were used to.

Good luck getting back into it!
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Doesn't HAVE to be a harley but it's kinda what I was hoping for
 
Scooterrolls said:
I have been riding over 50 years now and like you started on dirt bikes progressed (so you could say) to various street bike sport bikes etc. I have been on Harleys of different types for over 30 of those years, I am built a little shorter than you at 6'1" at about 220, so here is my opinion on the subject. Yes I have owned sportsters great little round the town bike, short trips solo only rides. Next thing is are you going to ride alone all the time or is the better half going with you? If it is solo only greater flexibility if 2 up, smaller choices. I am not fond of Dynas because the frames flex way to much for me and if you are coming off a sport bike it very hard to set up a consistent apex through a curve on one. Sadly the bike that was the prequel to the Dyna, so to speak was the FXR which for a big bike was an absolute dream to ride. (designed Eric Buell when he worked for Harley). The Softail is a good bike with a low seat height but at your height I would say if you want to be comfortable you will need extended controls. Which brings me to what I currently ride, which because my wife normally rides with me is a Street Glide wifes choice, with extra luggage. But my hands down favorite is a Road King, lower center of gravity (for a big bike) in my opinion some of the nicest styling Harley ever produced. This bike is great for solo or two up. As far as the heal and toe shifter, it is a 30 dollar 10 min. fix to get rid of it if you don't like it , no problem at all.
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Rubber engine mounts on the dyna must be addressed, and its good practice to add stabilizers (true-trac or sputhe among others). They'll handle
 
I don't want to discourage you from getting what you want. It just sounded like a traditional Japanese upright might be a little closer to what you were used to. Maybe consider sitting on a Kawasaki versys or a Suzuki bandit. They can be had pretty cheap and would be a good way to get your confidence up. If you're not afraid of something a little heavier an fjr1300 or concours are great options. You can always switch later, or just buy more!

Just trying to give you some good options. You should get whatever makes you happy!

+1 for the msf course.
 
I vote a Fat Boy. Bought one summer of ā€˜21 to get back to riding like youā€¦. Hadnā€™t rode in YEARS!! 6ā€™6ā€ 375, and that scooter had no problem hauling me and Shari all around!! We traded it a year later on an Ultra Limited. Thatā€™s a dang nice ride, tooā€¦.
The Fatty was a great bike, thoā€¦
Very responsive for its size.
 
A little history between the FXR and the Dyna when Eric designed the FXR the Frame had a very strong back bone, that being said it took quite a bit longer to assemble the bike on the line. So Harley in an effort to cut costs and speed up assembly redesigned the frame (removed some of it's rigidity) to make it faster to assemble. Would you notice the difference? It just depends on how hard you ride. As for a a riding course goes, it would not be a bad thing to go through it, if you have been off of a bike for several years, they have both a basic and advanced course depending on your skills, you can check with your local Harley dealer and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
 
Diablos said:
Lowrider hard to handle, nobody told me
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For clarification.. are you saying, "a low rider is hard to handle? Well nobody told me about it" .... or are you saying, "a low rider is hard to handle and no one had to tell me because I know from experience"

Don't mean to be difficult but I couldn't tell for sure šŸ˜‚
 
Scooterrolls said:
A little history between the FXR and the Dyna when Eric designed the FXR the Frame had a very strong back bone, that being said it took quite a bit longer to assemble the bike on the line. So Harley in an effort to cut costs and speed up assembly redesigned the frame (removed some of it's rigidity) to make it faster to assemble. Would you notice the difference? It just depends on how hard you ride. As for a a riding course goes, it would not be a bad thing to go through it, if you have been off of a bike for several years, they have both a basic and advanced course depending on your skills, you can check with your local Harley dealer and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
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FXRā€™s are wonderful. I bought one new in ā€˜85. But good gosh they are old.

Iā€™d hate to initiate a new HD owner on a bike that old.
 
Iā€™d hate to initiate a new HD owner on a bike that old.
You are right about the old part, kind of dates me some. Just trying to give some reference, the one thing I have learned riding over the years is a test ride usually won't tell you much, what you need to do if you can is spend some time on a bike get used to what fits you well and what doesn't, don't go in for what someone else likes make the bike comfortable for you. It's no fun to ride if you have to fight or manhandle the bike.
 
What about a Night Train? Anyone familiar with those? Have a friend of a friend selling one of those and I have not seen it in person but it sure looks bad ace from where I am sitting now šŸ˜ he said it's "basically" a softail
 
Scooterrolls said:
Iā€™d hate to initiate a new HD owner on a bike that old.
You are right about the old part, kind of dates me some. Just trying to give some reference, the one thing I have learned riding over the years is a test ride usually won't tell you much, what you need to do if you can is spend some time on a bike get used to what fits you well and what doesn't, don't go in for what someone else likes make the bike comfortable for you. It's no fun to ride if you have to fight or manhandle the bike.
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Yessir... that is my plan... hoping to get something close to what I need then make it right for me
 
Iā€™ve had a motorcycle license for almost 50 years. Came up on sport bikes and switched over to a Heritage Softail Classic when I was 38.

Personally, Iā€™d pass on a Sportster and get the bike that you really want. I currently ride an ā€˜06 Road King Classic and like it a lot. Great styling, nice highway ride, and the side bags and luggage rack make it practical for daily errands.

I donā€™t think that youā€™ll have much of an issue getting used to a big bike. As far as the heel / toe shifter is concerned, about half the time I used mine as only a toe shifter. Why remove the heel part when you can still operate it as a standard toe shifter? Besides, you might get used to using the heel shifter. I actually like it at times.
 
Scsmith42 said:
... Why remove the heel part when you can still operate it as a standard toe shifter? Besides, you might get used to using the heel shifter. I actually like it at times.
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Yeah, I hadn't really thought of that... maybe I could leave it on for a little while šŸ˜
 
redhawk485 said:
..... and if I get that fatboy I'm gonna take the dern heel-toe shifter off before I leave the guy's house šŸ˜‚
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You might like it at your height.

A Fatboy is a softail, and itā€™s a smaller frame than a touring bike like a Road King, Street Glide, Road Glide, Electra Glide.

Your more acute knee angle due to your height will make it harder to articulate your foot upward. Which is why I like a heel toe shifter. I never had one till I was 64.
 
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Scooterrolls said:
A Night Train is a softail it was one of Harleys first "blacked out" versions based on a FX softail chassis vs a fatboy which is a FL softail chassis
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I believe the front wheels and fenders are the only difference on these variants of Softtails. No difference in the frames.
 
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FL and FX are prefixes that refer the the front end (actually the F just indicates itā€™s a ā€œbig twinā€ style motor) the ST that comes next means they are softails, meaning it looks like a ā€œrigidā€ (no rear suspension) frame, but itā€™s actually a pair of hidden shocks and the rear end pivots on the frames. The L in FL indicated a Hydraglide style front end, which is wider and has beefier forks and typically a smaller diameter tire (think a fatboy or heritage with the fat short front tire). The X in FX is the sport front end with typically narrower forks (the dyna wide glide is an exception, it has the sport front end just wider spaced forks) and a taller (think 19-21 in) skinny front tire.

All of the ā€œabbreviationsā€ for the different modes mean different things. For example the (FLSTF) or Fatboy, has the big twin motor (F), the wider hydra glide front end (L), on the Softail frame (ST) and the last letter is just for the model name (F).

The Softail is FXST, big twin, sport front end, softail frame.

The Heritage Softail (think a fat boy with spoke wheels, soft bags and a windscreen) is the FLSTN big twin, hydraglide front end softail frame and the N for nostalgia.

Most, if not all FL bikes have floorboards instead of pegs, if youā€™re used to riding a sport bike that may be something you arenā€™t used to.

Btw all the info above was accurate as if about 10 years ago, they may have redone their model designations since then, I know they did something with the softail rear suspension setup in the late 20teens but I donā€™t remember what it was.

When my boys are all grown and out of the house, Iā€™ll pick up another one, itā€™ll most likely be a fatboy with a set of quick detach soft bags or a road king with no windscreen and a set of factory hard bags. I like the looks and handling of them.
 
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redhawk485 said:
I am going to get back into riding... rode since I was 8 or so years old, dirt bikes first, then dual purpose, then crotch rocket... sold bikes and haven't ridden much at all since then... my last one just graduated and I wanna get back to it and i wanna get a harley... so here are the questions:

Everyone says if I haven't ridden much in the last two decades, I should start with a sportster... I sat on one when I went to test drive and although it feels more like my crotch rockets used to feel as far as stance and size, it feels too small for me now (6-4 and 225 lbs). Should I start with this or maybe something slightly larger?

If I get sportster, I know someone has a 1988 sportster 883 that he will let me have for probably around 4 or 4500... would this be a good one?

I also test drove low riders and really like them, but they are more difficult to maneuver than my crotch rockets and I wanna make sure I get back into it with right bike even if I have to upgrade in a year

I do NOT like the heel toe shifter... my God that felt so weird trying shift with my heel that I almost got off it on the test run and told the guy to drive it back šŸ˜‚ ..... do you ever get used to that if you've been a toe shifter your whole life?

I basically liked all the softails and like the fatboy a lot, including the fat bob, but was told it's harder to maneuver in very twisty roads.... does anyone know this to be fact?

For the record, I do not like the super large fairings and saddle bags and larger bikes like thr ultra limited for example.

Thanks for reading this really long post and thanks in advance for the advice
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Skip the Sporty. You took a long break but your body didnā€™t forget, get something that fits you and take it slow. It will come back. As far as the heel shifter, if it has one it can be removed. I love mine but itā€™s personal preference. Go get one and welcome back.
 
redhawk485 said:
For clarification.. are you saying, "a low rider is hard to handle? Well nobody told me about it" .... or are you saying, "a low rider is hard to handle and no one had to tell me because I know from experience"

Don't mean to be difficult but I couldn't tell for sure šŸ˜‚
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Aint hard to handle at all, i throw it through the curves just fine even with my wife on the back. if you like that style you could always go for a new softail based lowrider, that frame doesn't have the um, personality of the dyna (or the looks), but does carry the moniker
 
Donā€™t get the sportster. Youā€™ll just have to sell it soon when you get the bike you want.
If you donā€™t get the night train, let me know a price on it. Iā€™d be interested.
 
redhawk485 said:
I am going to get back into riding... rode since I was 8 or so years old, dirt bikes first, then dual purpose, then crotch rocket... sold bikes and haven't ridden much at all since then... my last one just graduated and I wanna get back to it and i wanna get a harley... so here are the questions:

Everyone says if I haven't ridden much in the last two decades, I should start with a sportster... I sat on one when I went to test drive and although it feels more like my crotch rockets used to feel as far as stance and size, it feels too small for me now (6-4 and 225 lbs). Should I start with this or maybe something slightly larger?

If I get sportster, I know someone has a 1988 sportster 883 that he will let me have for probably around 4 or 4500... would this be a good one?

I also test drove low riders and really like them, but they are more difficult to maneuver than my crotch rockets and I wanna make sure I get back into it with right bike even if I have to upgrade in a year

I do NOT like the heel toe shifter... my God that felt so weird trying shift with my heel that I almost got off it on the test run and told the guy to drive it back šŸ˜‚ ..... do you ever get used to that if you've been a toe shifter your whole life?

I basically liked all the softails and like the fatboy a lot, including the fat bob, but was told it's harder to maneuver in very twisty roads.... does anyone know this to be fact?

For the record, I do not like the super large fairings and saddle bags and larger bikes like thr ultra limited for example.

Thanks for reading this really long post and thanks in advance for the advice
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I owned several bikes from 1990 to 2005. Harleyā€™s and sport bikes. My last was a Hayabusa in 2005. I hadnā€™t rode in almost 20 years, and in August 2022 I test rode a 2022 Road Glide Limited at my dealer and bam, I was back in the game. It was a little dicey to start with, not on the road but slow maneuvering in parking lots.

Now, I swear this RG Limited handles as well as my Hayabusa did. Like @fieldgrade said, I think comfort and fit, along with what your style is are most important. I seriously doubt youā€™ve lost any of your ability to ride. But, you may come to appreciate those larger fairings and saddle bags!
 
SimpleMan said:
I owned several bikes from 1990 to 2005. Harleyā€™s and sport bikes. My last was a Hayabusa in 2005. I hadnā€™t rode in almost 20 years, and in August 2022 I test rode a 2022 Road Glide Limited at my dealer and bam, I was back in the game. It was a little dicey to start with, not on the road but slow maneuvering in parking lots.

Now, I swear this RG Limited handles as well as my Hayabusa did. Like @fieldgrade said, I think comfort and fit, along with what your style is are most important. I seriously doubt youā€™ve lost any of your ability to ride. But, you may come to appreciate those larger fairings and saddle bags!
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Iā€™d never rode a touring motorcycle until I was ready to buy one. Because I knew Iā€™d love it and have to have it.
I did and I do.
Was also surprised at how well it handles. 2022 road glide limited also.
 
ncfirearms said:
Iā€™d never rode a touring motorcycle until I was ready to buy one. Because I knew Iā€™d love it and have to have it.
I did and I do.
Was also surprised at how well it handles. 2022 road glide limited also.
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769C5834-2F1B-4A8D-BD66-A68726A0D252.jpeg
Stock pic, not sure I have any of mine. Had to go to Georgia to find that color. Say hello if you see me šŸ˜ƒ
 
Imma throw this in thereā€¦.
I have always wanted an FXDWGā€¦. Since I was in college
So this winter, imma find me one, solo seat it, straight pipe it, and when Shari doesnā€™t want to ride, Iā€™ll ride the Wide Glideā€¦.. šŸ˜ŽšŸ‘
 
We are close to the same size.
I rode dual sports and dirt bikes for 20 years - took a long break from any bikes until about 5yrs ago. I bought a Kawasaki drifter 1500 for a pretty good deal to see if I would like a big bike. Itā€™s not a hard transition I rode around the neighborhood and then short rides. This spring I rode to Daytona and back.
You will not like a small bike
Iā€™m now getting ready to sell this and buy a newer or possibly brand new touring bike
 
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