thoughts on big and tall guys on sporty's

STEVE07

Trick with the baggers on the grooved roads is just to maintain your speed and let the bike follow the grooves instead of trying to fight it.The major highways around here have been torn up most of the summer and it just makes the commute to work a little more interesting,and when the cars around you see the bike dancing they back off and give you lots of room

__________________

Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more.
click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

NEWHD74FAN

No worries Steve, just thought it was an amusing surprise this morning on my way to work...never a dull moment! And yes, I am sure touring bike would get through just as well...only I would worry a lot more because of all the luggage and trim adding additional weight, bulk and dollars verses my "measly" Sporty dirt bike, all of 600 lbs wet and not as expensive hard bits to damage...but that is JMO...

__________________

Please stop by the "Self Help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more.
>>Self Help Information and Tips<<

phatch

Who cares, if you enjoy it - go for it. Life's too short to be concerned about what others think. I've been told that I'm too small (1.73m, 69kg) for my UC but I've been riding bikes for over 30 years and don't give a hoot.

jerryw618

i think it entirely up too you , ride what you like and love it , (EDIT) everyone else.

Please read and understand the info in this link...

jerryw618

OOOPS my apologies too the group , i didnt mean too offend anyone , just expressing my opinion, sorry.

CatWoman

I get the same sort of thing, Phatch. Although, they usually say something like 'your riding a guy's bike' or when I'm standing alone by it, guys usually ask where my boyfriend/husband is -- it's quite fun to say, she's All MY ride (and I rebuilt her top and bottom ends, myself!)

It truely is -- Whatever you are happy with, at least we ride !!

CatWoman :

DDogg

In '71 I had a 650 Triumph. Thought it was so cool. But, our buddy had a 1200 Sportster. He was (by memory) 6' 4" at least and 220 to 240. We'd get in the ditch about 1:00am a ride em like ya stole. He was so cool. He'd leave me in his rear view mirror every time. Harley has many models to choose from. Big or small, it's a Harley and your riding. Now you can look at it another way. I lost alot of weight 10 years ago (they never found out why) I was 210 now 155. I"m 5' 10". I own a 700lb Fatbob. Is the bike to big for me. Heck no. Do I look a little small on it. Yea, (my daught took a picture). But both feet are flat on the ground. As long as you can handle it, ride it. If I'm feeling good she's looking good. Safe riding on that sporty.

__________________
Treat her good, and she'll ride ya better.

hippie13

my old sporty gets scary on scarified pavement lol . fl's 'glide' right over it tho ;-) hardly even notice the grooves are there
Posted via Mobile Device

RichardS

a couple thoughts here........

As some others have mentioned, yes, ride what YOU want to ride without worrying about what others think!!!

That said.....

Let me call a spade a spade here. No pulled punches, but then again, this is just MY opinion, and ultimately, you have to do whatever you want to do. But since you did ask.....

You're too big for a Sporty.

Plain and simple.

I myself LOVE Sportsters, always have and always will. My first Harley was a Sporty, a 68 XLCH, (the bike was bought used, around three years old at the time, but beat to DEATH, which is how I was able to afford it...I think, don't hold me to this, I paid $300, maybe $400, at the time.)

I have owned many Sportsters since, although always the 1200cc. (except for that XLCH, of course....if you wanted a 1200 back then you had to get an Electra-Glide.)

But as much as I love Sportys, they just aren't cut out for comfortable 2-up riding, not even for short distances, IMHO. Now, maybe that's a function of size in my case too, and I'm not as big a guy as you. I'm 6'00" and 185lbs. When I had a Sporty as my only bike for about 6 months back in '94, it was VERY uncomfortable to go out with Cathy on the scoot with me. Now she's no petite little thing either. She's 5'11", not heavy at all, she's very well-proportioned, (VERY! ), but she and I, together, seemed to OVERWHELM the poor little Sporty!

I have to agree with Glider that even riding solo, for any kind of distance you'd never want to put in the kind of day's ride you'd feel comfortable with on a Big Twin, especially a touring model, and I mean ANY touring model, as opposed to the Sportster.

As someone else mentioned, it's awesome to have TWO bikes!

One, a bagger of course, , to ride 2-up or solo when going out for a nice long ride and most certainly on any "trip".

The "second ride", well, THAT is where the Sporty comes in, so that you have something very, very manageable to throw around and just have some FUN with!

That's why I love FXR's. GREAT bikes....kind of like a Sporty on steroids! Light, awesome handling bikes that are everything a bagger is not. But those differences are what makes the smaller bike the wrong choice for long distance or 2-up riding.

If you can afford TWO bikes, then I'd say , STILL forget the Sporty and buy a bagger for 2-up and/or longer rides and buy a Dyna/FXR type model for your second ride. (that way you have a light bike for "fun", but it's still a "Big Twin")

Hope this helps!

__________________
Did the '60's really happen or was that a dream?

ron1978

i have the aftermarket solo seat with small cushion in it.

__________________
2000 883 harley sportster,candy apple red with ghost flames,drag pipes, blinker relocation mod,willie g skulls added, led spinner bulb tail light, led turn signals