newbie here, help me decide what HD to buy

[Eric The Welder]

hello,

im in the market for my first harley, its not my first bike, when i was younger i liked the crotch rockets, and even boiught a 99 Ducati Monster brand new.

but now i like the real bikes.

my question is this, im looking at a real nice 2001 sportster 883, its lowered and has a solo seat that i love, custom paint, screamin eagle pipes and some other upgrades.

first off, im trading my 98 z28 camaro for it, valued at around $5500 is this a fair trade for me for a 01 sportster with some upgrades?

second question is.
do people in the Harley riding world look at the dudes on the sportsters as the loser newbies? lol i dont wanna buy a bike if the other harley guys are just gonna mock me. sportsters look like a nice bike, and a soft tail or duraglide are just out of my price range right now.

thanks alot for the info..

[ZHarleyGirl]

I've had two sporties and both times guy's bought them because I had them maxed out. For 5500 worth of car....I think you can do better? But you said with more upgrades on the bike?

May want to at least look at the 1200 XL custom. The frame is a little longer. Solo seats you can pick up for around $100. I had a nice diamond back with the diamond bib and it was SHARP.

Plus, with a Harley...the bike is just the small down payment for all the cool stuff you will put on it and buy accessories for.

You may get teased a bit or hear comments...even I did...and I'm a GIRL! I just knew I had more in my bank account than they did.

Thing is...the price was right...and most people LOVE them and you will pass up all the other big bikes from the white line, still! So at least get the spunk of a 1200, which is closer to the quickness of the sportbike you remember.

I now have a Softail Deluxe...but it's not getting anywhere fast, but that's ok. The bigger bikes ARE easier to ride (believe it or not). I was surprised at the difference.

My opinion...trade your car...get them to give you some cash back. an 8 year old 883 would probably sell for ...2300-3000. Take a look out there and see what they are selling for.

Don't cut yourself short. This is just my experience and opinion.

GOOD LUCK!

[XDixiecratX]

Welcome Eric enjoy the forum! How many miles on the sporty? Sounds like you can do a lil better. But I ride awide glide and love a Sporty .
Somebody dont like your ride Fug em. thats life. I wouldn t ride around the block on a rice rocket but a lot of people got em. Just sayin.

[soccer]

Welcome to the forum. I agree that you could do a bit better with what you are trading in. I have a street bob and a nightster. Love em both. I get no greif when riding the nightster. Plus the sucker is so quick, I can leave all the noise behind. You should ride what you can afford and what you like.. the heck with everyone else.

[geouhl]

Welcome from near by. I agree with the others that you can do a little better but if a sporty is what you want, go for it. I ride a wide glide as the sporty just doesn't fit me and mine is the bike I've always wanted.

Have you ridden the / a sporty before? Check out the sporty area of the forum for some advice there. There are also a few posts in the Dyna area for guys who just upgraded from Sporty to Dyna.

[TheBoss34]

Ride a skate board first.....Must be the Kentucky Derby talking again!

[XDixiecratX]

Originally Posted by TheBoss34

Ride a skate board first.....Must be the Kentucky Derby talking again!

[chris_lacey]

Welcome from Hamilton, Ontario.

I agree with the herd. You can do better than a frame mounted (as opposed to rubber mounted, 2004 and up) 883 for $5500.

You should be able to at least get a 1200. The 883's only make a bit north of 40hp and will disappoint after the Monster.

I also agree you won't get into a BT for your $5500. Look for a newer 1200 is my opinion.

[Dave63]

Originally Posted by Eric The Welder

hello,

im in the market for my first harley, its not my first bike, when i was younger i liked the crotch rockets, and even boiught a 99 Ducati Monster brand new.

my question is this, im looking at a real nice 2001 sportster 883, its lowered and has a solo seat that i love, custom paint, screamin eagle pipes and some other upgrades.

first off, im trading my 98 z28 camaro for it, valued at around $5500 is this a fair trade for me for a 01 sportster with some upgrades?

second question is.
do people in the Harley riding world look at the dudes on the sportsters as the loser newbies? lol i dont wanna buy a bike if the other harley guys are just gonna mock me. sportsters look like a nice bike, and a soft tail or duraglide are just out of my price range right now.

thanks alot for the info..

First off:
$5500 for a 2001 883, regardless of "extras" is about $1000 too much, especially at the end of the riding season. I'd barely give $4000 for that bike, unless it was spotless, under 5000 miles and came with a case of my favorite beer.

However, the 98 Z28 Camaro isn't worth much to me either, since where I live, most Z28's are dealer made fakes anyway, (sticker package put on at dealer, sold as an original Z car), and you can't swing a dead cat over your head without hitting one around here.

Going by zip code 60601, at 75000 miles on the clock, with as many OEM options as I could hang on it (including automatic) KBB has it worth $5495 in good condition to $5945 in Excellent condition. Personally, I'd wait until spring, sell it outright, and have more to buy a bike with.

Second off:
Do guys on sporties get looked at as loser or newbs? In some circles: Yes. Read the threads here regarding sportsters and how owners are treated. However, if you're going to base your purchase on what others would "think of you" then you may want to take a look at that..... just sayin. You ARE a new Harley owner, so unless you're gonna go out and drop $10K or more for a decent Big Twin, then a Sportster it is, unless the deal of a lifetime drops from the sky, and for $5500, *BLAM* you get a Dyna or a Wideglide, or an older Fatboy. It happens...

Sportsters today aren't even comparable to the 70's or early 80's sportsters that I was riding. They're faster, better looking and a blast to ride.

[Softailguy68]

Welcome to the forum from Tennessee...