I'm 5'9'' and my 1200 sportster fits me perfectly. So it's probably a little small for you. Your knees would probably be way bent on a sporty. Best you sit on some bikes and take test rides. Won't really know what fits till you "try it on".
Is a Sportster to small for a 6'2" guy?
I am currently in the process of getting my motorcycle license, im getting my permit this week and will then be taking one of those motorcycle training classes to get the license.
I have been looking around online at motorcycles, and have the 883 sportster in mind, cause I've always wanted a harley and they arent to expensive. But I read somewhere that they are bad bikes for tall guys. Can anyone comment on this.
Im not sure if a regular sportster or a low-rider is better suited for my height, or if that makes much differnece at all.
This will be the first bike i've ever owned and would appreciate any suggestions on motorcycles, if you think another bike would be better suited for a first timer etc..
I have been looking around online at motorcycles, and have the 883 sportster in mind, cause I've always wanted a harley and they arent to expensive. But I read somewhere that they are bad bikes for tall guys. Can anyone comment on this.
Im not sure if a regular sportster or a low-rider is better suited for my height, or if that makes much differnece at all.
This will be the first bike i've ever owned and would appreciate any suggestions on motorcycles, if you think another bike would be better suited for a first timer etc..
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
I am currently in the process of getting my motorcycle license, im getting my permit this week and will then be taking one of those motorcycle training classes to get the license.
I have been looking around online at motorcycles, and have the 883 sportster in mind, cause I've always wanted a harley and they arent to expensive. But I read somewhere that they are bad bikes for tall guys. Can anyone comment on this.
Im not sure if a regular sportster or a low-rider is better suited for my height, or if that makes much differnece at all.
This will be the first bike i've ever owned and would appreciate any suggestions on motorcycles, if you think another bike would be better suited for a first timer etc..
Based on 2007 specs:
Bike / XL 883R / XL883L / XL883C
Length / 90.1 in. / 89.1 in. / 90.3 in.
seat
Height
Laden / 27.3 in. / 25.3 in. / 26.5 in.
Unladen / 29.3 in. / 26.3 in. / 28.0 in.
(Laden weight based on 180 lbs)
A lot things are based on your particular riding style. However, since you are new your riding style will adapt to what you ride... if that makes any sense. IMHO, it really depends on your body dimensions. My brother had an FXR with forward controls. I rode it a couple of times and it was not comfortable for me. He said he didn't like it at first, but now he wouldn't go back to the mid-controls. It's really a personal preference. Most of time when I ride my legs a stretched out on the crash bar.
You didn't mention your height... so I am not sure what you are calling tall. If I were you I would look around and sit on different bikes. You can customize just about any bike you buy to fit you better. A friend of my has a Yamaha V-Star 1100. He is 6'2" around 280 lbs. He has put a lot of miles on the bike. He has complained about his back and butt hurting... but he has been on 5k to 6k trip on it too. When you compare my FLSTC to his bike, the size is about the same... in fact his is a little longer. His bike cost less than half what my bike cost... Keep that in mind...
In the end, get what you want. It's your money and you won't be happy until you get the bike you want.
I was talking with a guy at work who rides, and he said that the 883 would be to small for a 6'2" guy like myself and suggested the 1200 or others HD bikes that are a bit more than I was looking to spend.
I saw the 1200 Nightster and really like the way it looks and its price is in my budget, and I have read alot of good reviews on it. Im gonna go try and find it in a local dealership soon.
Anyone care to share thoughts on the nightster?
I saw the 1200 Nightster and really like the way it looks and its price is in my budget, and I have read alot of good reviews on it. Im gonna go try and find it in a local dealership soon.
Anyone care to share thoughts on the nightster?
Yes, the 883 and 1200 are the same frame. I think the nightster looks like the Harley 'K', the sportster's predicessor. Cool retro look.
you can get an 883 and make it a 1200 for ~$500 per an article in AMERICAN RIDER magazine.
xlforum dot net has a thread on a conversion.
most 883 will have mid controls.
you CANNOT ride with mid controls. my husband at 6'1 gets horrible leg and hip cramps on my 07 883 low
if you buy an 883, you will want the HP/TQ and make it a 1200 soon,
and most 883 have the mid controls,
so you will have to buy fwd controls.
you will be into some $$ before you really get to ride comfortably
my nephew has a Dyna for $9k in Virginia, i would think you would be happier on a TwinCam than a sporty.
a Nightster is 10k, IIRC
a used Dyna or Softail, with pipes, air cleaner, windshield and some kind of bags will make a GREAT bike, and you won't have to spend all the $$ for that stuff, you can just replace what's not to your taste, as your budget allows, but still RIDE in the mean time.
knees in the breeze is awesome...
xlforum dot net has a thread on a conversion.
most 883 will have mid controls.
you CANNOT ride with mid controls. my husband at 6'1 gets horrible leg and hip cramps on my 07 883 low
if you buy an 883, you will want the HP/TQ and make it a 1200 soon,
and most 883 have the mid controls,
so you will have to buy fwd controls.
you will be into some $$ before you really get to ride comfortably
my nephew has a Dyna for $9k in Virginia, i would think you would be happier on a TwinCam than a sporty.
a Nightster is 10k, IIRC
a used Dyna or Softail, with pipes, air cleaner, windshield and some kind of bags will make a GREAT bike, and you won't have to spend all the $$ for that stuff, you can just replace what's not to your taste, as your budget allows, but still RIDE in the mean time.
knees in the breeze is awesome...
I went down to a harley shop and looked at and more importantly sat on the 883, nightsters and other 1200's and think that they are a bit small.
Some of the Dyna ones seemed to fit me, but then the price increased with them to. he showed me some used bikes, and they had a couple 2006 Suzuki S40 with like 600 miles on em for 4K. The salesmen said its a good first bike, only a 650cc though so it tops out at like 70.
It didnt look that bad, but I like the look of the harley's. The dealers advice was I should get something cheap and ride it around this year, then sell it off for a few hundred less in the spring and go for the bigger harleys that fit me, since if I did buy a roadster i'd be looking to upgrade soon and still owe money on it etc...
Im gonna look around some more, but what do you think of the s40
Im thinking I may want to go bigger in the engine department, but am not sure
Some of the Dyna ones seemed to fit me, but then the price increased with them to. he showed me some used bikes, and they had a couple 2006 Suzuki S40 with like 600 miles on em for 4K. The salesmen said its a good first bike, only a 650cc though so it tops out at like 70.
It didnt look that bad, but I like the look of the harley's. The dealers advice was I should get something cheap and ride it around this year, then sell it off for a few hundred less in the spring and go for the bigger harleys that fit me, since if I did buy a roadster i'd be looking to upgrade soon and still owe money on it etc...
Im gonna look around some more, but what do you think of the s40
Im thinking I may want to go bigger in the engine department, but am not sure
scratch that s40, Im now eyeing the Honda rebel/shadow or the kawasaki vulcan 500. They are fairly cheap new, so im crossing my fingers that I will fit on one.
Im gonna look around some more, but what do you think of the s40
Im thinking I may want to go bigger in the engine department, but am not sure
One like this is around $6k. It's 1100cc and has plenty of size and power. You can get them cheaper than that. It is as big as my 03 FLSTC.
Ive searched around a bit more, and read that a 1200 custom with the forward controls would probly accomodate me. I geuss its a little more stretched out than the regular ones. I dont think or at least dont remember sitting on one at the shop, so im gonna make another trip.
Im kind of in the mind set now that spending 4-5 k on a yamaha, or kawasaki bike that I will HAVE to upgrade in a year may not be a good idea. I basically have some money to spend now on a decent bike (hearts set on a harley) and in the fall plan on returning to school, and by next summer at the latest I am getting a new car so whatever bike I get is gonna be my bike for a while as I dont make 100k a year.
Im kind of in the mind set now that spending 4-5 k on a yamaha, or kawasaki bike that I will HAVE to upgrade in a year may not be a good idea. I basically have some money to spend now on a decent bike (hearts set on a harley) and in the fall plan on returning to school, and by next summer at the latest I am getting a new car so whatever bike I get is gonna be my bike for a while as I dont make 100k a year.
Well that says it all... and i know exactly what you mean....(hearts set on a harley) ....
What kind of money are you looking to spend?
I struggled with my Harley purchase for a couple of years. I have friends that ride Yamaha's, Honda's, and Kawasaki's. They are all good bikes... and if I had never ridden my brothers FXR, I probably would not have got a Harley.
If you don't mind a used Bike, you can get a nice used Harley for $6000 - $8000 bucks. Don't get spooked by some of the prices out there. There are more used Harley's out there than you can shake a stick at. Most folks don't put a lot of miles on their bikes and they take real good care of them. Harley Finance will even finance a used bike you find from an individual too (at least they used to)
G
My wife has a 1985 Shadow 500, it's a nice bike, but too small and painful for me to ride(33" inseam).scratch that s40, Im now eyeing the Honda rebel/shadow or the kawasaki vulcan 500. They are fairly cheap new, so im crossing my fingers that I will fit on one.
Buddy of mine has a 1200 Sporty, same frame as an 883 I believe. He's around 6'+. With forward controls it's no problem for him.
Go sit on a Suziki V Strom.
m
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I'm 6'1 and with forward controls, my 883C is fine. Some tall riders even add a thicker seat to left them up even a little more away from the foot controls.
You would obviously want to sit on one first before taking anyone's opinion on it. Many HD dealers rent out. Maybe that may help you decide if it is the bike for you.
I'm not going to tell you to spend $3,000 and more for a Harley model that may fit you better either.
You would obviously want to sit on one first before taking anyone's opinion on it. Many HD dealers rent out. Maybe that may help you decide if it is the bike for you.
I'm not going to tell you to spend $3,000 and more for a Harley model that may fit you better either.
If the bike that your wanting to buy now will be your bike for quite awhile and you like the cruiser style a used V-star is a great beginer bike and can be had for less than $5000.00.
I think buying cheaper for your first bike is a good idea. there has been many that bought more and relized that street riding was not their bag. Then took a loss. Plus on a cheaper bike it won't so much if its dropped in the learning stages.
If you can spare $10,000.00 I recomend one of the Dyna's or Softail. You can find older used for that price.
Renting one would be a great idea. Well worth the $200.00.
I rented one before my fatboy purchase just to make sure.
I think buying cheaper for your first bike is a good idea. there has been many that bought more and relized that street riding was not their bag. Then took a loss. Plus on a cheaper bike it won't so much if its dropped in the learning stages.
If you can spare $10,000.00 I recomend one of the Dyna's or Softail. You can find older used for that price.
Renting one would be a great idea. Well worth the $200.00.
I rented one before my fatboy purchase just to make sure.
I've got an 02 Sportster 1200S model that I bought used for 5200.00 It had 7200 miles and clean and lots of extras on it like stage two pipes, a better touring seat K&N air filter, forward controls that I don't like as well as the standard ones it had originally, and sissy bar. Runs great and I've put over 10,000 miles on it and never had it in the shop except for tires. I'm 6'2" and 180 and find it fine for up to say 100 mile rides. For long trips I take the electra glide. My wife likes to ride on the sporty better than the big one. Blows my mind but she does. Everyone said i'd get used to the forward controls but it will never happen. I don't feel as safe with them or as comfortable.I am currently in the process of getting my motorcycle license, im getting my permit this week and will then be taking one of those motorcycle training classes to get the license.
I have been looking around online at motorcycles, and have the 883 sportster in mind, cause I've always wanted a harley and they arent to expensive. But I read somewhere that they are bad bikes for tall guys. Can anyone comment on this.
Im not sure if a regular sportster or a low-rider is better suited for my height, or if that makes much differnece at all.
This will be the first bike i've ever owned and would appreciate any suggestions on motorcycles, if you think another bike would be better suited for a first timer etc..
The 883 and 1200 are the same bike with smaller bore mainly and usually a lot less goodies. I like the R or S models that still ,up till 08 ,look like a sporty and have the flat sided tank, dual brakes, tack and speedo. The newer ones are better if you don't like the Sportster shake, I do, and have fuel injection too. I like the older ones myself but do like the new nightster too.
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
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