I bought my Sportster to learn how to drive. Now that I know that, I wanted a bike for long road trips. Thus, I traded in it for a touring model. But before I talk about the new bike, I want to look back at the old bike. I put almost 4.5 thousand miles on that bike. (Ending with about 10k and starting with 5.5k.) I came close to driving that bike more in half a year than it had been driven its whole life before me. It was dirty when I left. The sales manager said you drive in the rain a lot or just never wash it. I was like maybe a bit of both :) The funny thing is I had just washed it a few weeks ago. As I said, I road this thing. It wasn't a show piece in a man cave. It was a bike on the road, through wind, rain, shine, cold, heat, and etc. Just about the only thing I did avoid was lightning.
After the MSF course, it was obvious that I as most people had no clue what I was doing on a motorcycle, so I needed a lower end model. But after the MSF course, I knew the lowest end Harley didn't fit my height. I was so bunched up on that Harley Sport bike. My legs were killing me. If I had been short, I would have so completely got that bike. Thus, I moved up to the next model group Sportster. I picked a 1200 custom as it fit better, especially with forward controls, and had better resale potential than the 883. It even came with a few extras like saddle bags and a windshield. And it was a shinny red color that official is "candy orange." It was a nice bike.
I remember sitting on other bikes, the model family above the Sportster, I just didn't feel comfortable on. The sales people said you out grow the bike quickly. They were like look at this other bigger bike. You can grow into it. They are completely right about quickly out grow. But I was completely right that if I wanted to learn to ride and be alive afterwards, I couldn't start any higher.
My reasons for a new bike weren't for a flashier bike or a newer one. I mean my new one is those things, but that's not my reasons. Really I want everything that goes into the touring model bikes. Having a good passenger seat. The rear seat on a sportster isn't that nice, and the overall weight limit of a Sportster is barely two people with gear not to mention the weight of the saddle bags and anything else. Being able to ride for long periods of time. The longest consecutive time I've ridden the Sportster was 3 hours. After about 2 to 3 hours, I really start feeling it. Anything under an hour is fine. Plus that vibration on the bike, you really feel it. Try seeing a steady image on the rear view mirror. Plus the leather saddlebags are nice, but don't provide secure storage. On my new touring bike, I can fit two full size helmets in the back trunk and lock it. Thus, basically, it is all those sorts of touring model features I was after.
On the other hand, I had alot of fun with that bike. At the end I was very comfortable with that bike. I take curves faster on it than my car. I was comfortable leaning the bike all the way down and also doing it the right way where you lean yourself and minimize the bike lean. I practiced both, so that I could have the ability to take any corner I'd come across. Also, I could lean it down and flip it back up quick. I could put that bike exactly where I wanted it to go, and more importantly by the end I could stop it exactly where I wanted it to stop :)
And look what that bike gave me. I took it thousands of miles. And because of that experience, I was able to work up to taking the California Superbike School on the Las Vegas race track. There I ran a BMW race model bike around the Las Vegas race track for two days straight. I needed the two thousand miles of riding before I was up to that challenge.
Looking back, the only factor I would have done different is to explored options for a bike I was comfortable with that also had ABS. Even if it meant a non-Harley. That's also why I'm not keeping it around for my wife or kids to learn to ride one day. Safety above all else. When I first bought it, I figured I'd do that when I was doing with it. But without ABS, I don't want them to use it. I'm up to practicing quick stops from 70 mph, but that's after months and thousands of miles. And I'm sure I need even more practice. But ABS helps gives a safety net there. That's it, that's the only thing differently now that I know more. Really if you are looking for a starter bike, get a bike that fits your body type and feels comfortable to sit on and has ABS. Everything else is secondary.
Yes, I out grew the bike, but I accepted that when I bought it. It was the right bike at that time. But now my circumstances and reasons have changed, and I need a new bike to fit me now. That's always important with big purchases or decisions. Know your circumstances and reasons for doing something. And in closing, I'd just say so long Sportster, I hope whoever you land with next has as much fun as I did.
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